The webinar is the first of several events which will focus attention on patients owned by the estimated 80% of owners who feel that their pets with canine osteoarthritis (OA) may be suffering from off-days that can be associated with breakthrough pain¹.
During the session, Matt will explain the impact breakthrough pain has on the pet and owner and how to approach it more effectively using analgesic and rehabilitation tools and strategies.
James Beaumont, Marketing Manager at Animalcare, said: “Veterinary surgeons have told us that they estimate that nearly half of their canine OA cases on daily NSAIDs experience breakthrough pain.²
"Additionally, a proportion of pet owners state their dogs experience off-days and believe their pet suffers as a result of the condition³."
Animalcare says that some of the main factors in osteoarthritis breakthrough pain can include variable plasma drug levels between doses, intermittent treatment protocols or poor owner adherence with the vet’s recommendation, flare-ups and disease progression.
To register for the event, visit: https://tinyurl.com/43bm8mdx. All those who register will also be able to view a recording and enter a free prize draw for the chance to win tickets to attend London Vet Show live in November.
Jurox says the reformulation will also help reduce waste associated with unpreserved ampule formulations and will help streamline portfolios with a requirement for only one buprenorphine listing.
Dr Dan Cripwell BSc (Hons) BVSc CertAVP (EM) CertAVP PgCert (VPS) MRCVS, Advanced Veterinary Practitioner and senior veterinary technical advisor at Jurox (UK) Limited, said: “I am delighted that Jurox can provide the UK veterinary market with this evolution of our multidose buprenorphine formulation. We constantly strive to provide the veterinary profession with first class clinical and technical support and our ability to perform in-house product research and development is also a great strength; this allows us to remain agile enough to make adaptations in an area where not much has changed in the past few years.
“In this instance, we were able to examine what improvements could be made to our existing drug portfolio and respond to the profession’s feedback with the redevelopment of the commonly utilised opioid analgesic, buprenorphine. Our hope is that, as well as the recent mixing claims added to the product licence, this development will encourage the best clinical use of the drug and, in turn, improve patient experience and outcome.”
For more information, contact your local Jurox account manager, phone 0800 500 3171, visit www.jurox.com/uk or email customerservice@jurox.co.uk.
If, as is predicted, social distancing methods need to be employed to reduce the spread of the virus, or clients find themselves having to self-isolate, video consultations may offer a way in which veterinary practices can continue to serve their clients, maintain animal welfare and, importantly, revenue.
VetHelpDirect's video consultation system, which was announced earlier this year, is still in the Beta testing phase, and the plan had been to roll out the full service in May.
Under the circumstances, however, the company has decided to offer the service to all practices immediately, free of charge for the next three months.
To use the video consultation service, you do need to subscribe to use VetHelpDirect, a service through which you can manage client reviews of your practice. That costs £38 per month, per practice and a further £12.50 for branch practices.
Susie Samuel, CEO of VetHelpDirect said: “The Coronavirus presents a very real business risk to veterinary practices and a health risk to staff.
"As cases increase, animal owners in quarantine will not be able to visit the vet when their animals become unwell. In these cases, veterinary practitioners will not be able to discuss an animal’s symptoms with their owner in person and could end up relying solely on telephone consultations which would most likely be conducted free of charge.
"Our video platform allows vets to collect payment for a consultation as usual, hold the consultation with the animal’s owner and if a pet needs to be seen, the owner could, in theory, drop it off at the surgery without making personal contact with the vet clinic staff."
VetHelpDirect has not yet decided precisely what the video consultation service will cost after the free period, but it is likely to be around the £20 per month mark. In addition, there is a 3% transaction fee charged by the payment processer.
For more information, contact Susie Samuel susie@vethelpdirect.com
COMMENTDespite the emergence of a number of online-only, limited-service veterinary video consultation providers, it seems like very few, if any independent practices are yet offering this service. There is a danger that unless they do so very soon, they will find themselves at a real disadvantage to the first movers. But there is still time; according to VetHelpDirect's research, 38% of people say they would use video consultations with their own vet but only 7% with a vet they don't know..
The review, which had been due to start in late 2019, will now start in April 2020.
Melissa Donald, Chair of the RCVS Standards Committee (pictured right), said: "Regretfully, as the scope and complexity of the review became clearer following Council’s approval of the project, it was also apparent that the original methodology, and the timetable set for it, was not going to be suitable to the task.
"Therefore, over the past few months, the Standards Committee and College staff have been working hard with the external research agency to revise the methodology and we have now reached the stage where we are confident we have got it right, and can now proceed with the review.
“While we regret the delay, as this review relates to fundamental principles about the provision of veterinary care, it is vital we get it right and that the process is as comprehensive as possible. It is better that it is right than rushed.”
Under the new methodology the review has been split into the following stages:
Melissa added: “Invitations to our regional focus group discussions, which will be selected randomly from amongst the professions by our research agency, will be going out soon and I would urge anyone who receives an invitation to come along and share their views and ideas.”
For further information, see: www.rcvs.org.uk/undercare
HSR, which provides emergency and routine specialist orthopaedic and neurology services, now offers video consultations with a specialist and a pet transportation service. It has also introduced strict strict biosecurity and operational preventative measures.
Clare Hamilton, Managing Director, says, “Our priority is to continue to offer gold-standard service for both routine and emergency orthopaedic and neurological cases whilst doing our utmost to limit the spread of Covid-19 as much as possible. We are to all intents and purposes, ‘business as usual’ with additional hygiene measures to protect clients and staff”.
HSR is asking clients that if there is a chance that they have Covid-19 and/or have come into contact with anyone with the virus they do not attend the hospital in person, but instead contact via email or telephone to discuss their pet’s treatment on an individual basis. Clients visiting the clinic are being asked to wait in their cars until their appointment, whereupon the animal is collected from the car by one of the team for its clinical examination. The vets are then speaking to the clients by telephone to discuss and gain consent for any further investigation or treatment.
For vulnerable clients who are self-isolating and in need of their services, HSR is offering a pet ambulance service for collection and drop off of pets. They will then have a video consultation with the specialist. Medications will be posted out and advice given over email or telephone.
Clare added: “We are doing all we can to support colleagues and clients in what are unprecedented circumstances. We recognise the strain on many practices having to reduce the number of appointments in the face of staff shortages. We want to reassure vets that we are happy to offer advice and support with cases, and continue to take referrals during this difficult period. We also have free online CPD for practices via our website as meetings are postponed or cancelled”.
The practice advises clients and referring vets to check for further developments on social media, or sign up to their email list for updates.
The sessions, which are delivered by the company's territory managers and cover things like toxicology, ophthalmology and the management of epilepsy, will now be streamed live to computers, tablets or smart phones.
Product Manager Will Peel (pictured right) said: "We know that concerns over coronavirus are affecting our customers so we want to make it as easy as possible for them to benefit from the information imparted in our Lunch and Learn sessions while normal service is disrupted.
‘We hope that these measures will also help us offer more virtual workshops in the future to make our sessions more accessible for busy veterinary staff and we are looking at the possibility of organising virtual drop ins from our sales team in the future.’
For more information visit: https://www.tvm-uk.com. To rearrange a previously booked session contact your local territory manager or email help@tvm-uk.com.
Teleradiology company, VetCT, is calling for companies developing and deploying AI in the field of veterinary diagnostic imaging to impose the highest standards of self-regulation. In an AI position statement released on their website, the company highlights the opportunities and risks associated with the use of AI to interpret diagnostic images.
In the joint statement, company owners Victoria Johnson and Julien Labruyère (pictured right), said: “We strongly welcome the introduction of appropriately developed, tested and implemented AI tools into our profession, to provide solutions to improve resourcing and benefit animal welfare.
“There is a limited pool of veterinary radiologists and an ever-increasing need for expert interpretation of radiographs and more advanced diagnostic imaging modalities.
"This presents a huge opportunity for the development of AI and related technologies to better address demand, save time and potentially improve clinical knowledge and outcomes.
"However, it is important to note that, unlike human radiology, there is no official framework for the regulation, governance and quality control of AI tools in veterinary radiology.
"This means that there should be a very strong onus on companies and individuals to adhere to the highest standards of medical tool development when creating AI solutions.”
“If AI is released into veterinary practice without appropriate oversight or governance there is a significant risk of misleading results, misdiagnosis, and negative impacts on patient welfare.
"This, in turn, may undermine trust in AI and create a culture of hesitancy to adopt new technologies at a time when innovation is much needed to improve access to advanced care.”
The company is advocating for a series of self-regulatory measures to be applied by companies developing AI in order to safeguard both animal welfare and the liability of the veterinary surgeons using these tools in clinical practice.
The full position statement and a list of recommendations can be here: https://www.vet-ct.com/gb/our-services/ai-veterinary-radiology/
Part of the Goddard Veterinary Group and based at Wanstead Veterinary Hospital in East London, the College takes most of its students from vet practices in London and the home counties.
At the time of the inspection, the College had 34 students on its Registered Veterinary Nurse course and 15 students working towards their Level 2 animal care and welfare assistant qualification.
Ofsted inspectors found that the College’s apprentices learn and work in very supportive environments and value the support they get from the tutors and clinical coaches.
In their report the inspectors said: “Apprentices’ academic and welfare needs are met well.
"Apprentices enjoy their training and would recommend it to others.
"Leaders and managers have a clear rationale for delivering their training.
"They aim to train apprentices so they become skilled veterinary practitioners and develop a career in the sector.”
Group Training Manager and Head of Centre at the college, Emma Eve-Raw, said: “To receive such positive feedback from Ofsted is very rewarding.
"Our team prides itself on inspiring the next generation of veterinary nurses and veterinary nursing assistants and we have a flexible approach to give students the best chance of reaching their full potential.
“We offer hybrid learning to make it easier to balance studying alongside working in practice and every student is assessed to find out how they best learn, so their course can be tailored to suit them.
“We are also very proud of our teaching team, as we have more than 100 years of RVN experience between us and our senior teaching team spends time in practice every year to ensure their practical knowledge is kept up to date.”
The ISFM says Congress will offer veterinary professionals an extensive scientific programme designed to support a multi-modal and cat friendly approach to caring for feline patients with acute upper urinary tract disease and other emergencies.
Speakers will include Søren Boysen (Emergency & Critical Care), Serge Chalhoub (Internal Medicine), Laura Owen (Soft Tissue Surgery) and special guest Allyson Berent (Non-Invasive Surgery).
Sam Taylor MRCVS, ISFM Veterinary Specialist Lead (pictured right) said: "We seem to be seeing more and more feline urinary cases, urolithiasis and acute kidney injury - and of course the familiar blocked cats!
"In Dublin, I can’t wait to hear how to approach these cases as well as look more in-depth at ECC and discuss cat friendly critical care amongst many other topics from all angles – surgery, medicine, behaviour, imaging and more!’
The 2023 ISFM Feline Congress Dublin is open to veterinary surgeons and nurses of all experience levels.
https://icatcare.org/congress-2023-dublin/
Based at UCLan’s Preston Campus, the new school will deliver foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate courses in areas such as veterinary medicine, bioveterinary science, veterinary clinical practice, veterinary physiotherapy and rehabilitation, and clinical animal behaviour and training.
Professor Graham Baldwin, UCLan Vice-Chancellor, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be creating an innovative and dynamic veterinary school. UK veterinary schools are highly prestigious, so we are thrilled to be launching only the second school in the north of England and one of only 11 in the UK.
“We have taken massive strides in developing all areas of human health provision in recent years, and animal health will now join our ever-expanding portfolio of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, biomedical sciences and optometry.”
Professor Cathy Jackson, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, said: “Our new veterinary school will be focussed on producing much needed industry ready graduates for our region, particularly as recent figures have highlighted a national shortage of vets and a sector heavily reliant on vets educated in the European Union.
"As with our medical and dental schools, we have demonstrated we want to break down barriers and make education accessible to all. It’s no different with our veterinary school and we want to open the doors and offer a pathway for any student, no matter of their background, into this rewarding profession, while maintaining the very highest of education and professional standards.”
The Batchelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVMS) course at UCLan is a five-year programme with ‘hands-on’ modules from Year 1, rather than in the later years as delivered in more traditional programmes.
UCLan says it is collaborating with Myerscough College for some of its programmes to give students access to state-of-the-art, sector-leading facilities, which have recently benefited from a £35m investment.
In addition, UCLan will become one of the first universities in the world to make use of a digital, virtual dissection platform for teaching animal anatomy using veterinary Anatomage technology.
UCLan is planning to welcome the first intake of UK and international students to veterinary sciences BSc and foundation courses in September 2022 while BVMS students will be welcomed from 2023.
For more information, visit www.uclan.ac.uk/schools/veterinary-medicine.
There’s no filming skill required. Just get someone to point the phone so that the subject fills the screen. Make sure they hold the camera in landscape orientation, and hold it still. And speak clearly. That’s all there is to it. Then upload your film to a file sharing site like Dropbox or wetransfer, and send a link to your film to support@vetnurse.co.uk.
All films will then be subject to peer-approval, and those that pass will be shared on Brains and Drains, the new YouTube channel for the veterinary profession, where they will join a growing free resource designed to help veterinary nurses, technicians and veterinary nursing assistants around the world.
Ideas for things you might like to film a demonstration of include:
The best five films will win £100 each from VetNurse.co.uk. The overall winner will also get a £50 high street voucher from Training Progress, which is also providing another 4 runner up £20 voucher prizes.
Aside from the chance to win, there are lots of other reasons for making movies. First, it's an achievement to have a film published on our peer-reviewed channel, which can be a nice addition to your CV.
Secondly, it’s a great opportunity to showcase veterinary nursing skills as an example to those practices which don’t make the most of their nursing team.
Lastly, you may have something else you’d like to promote, such as a training organisation or educational establishment. If that is the case, we’ll happily include a big plug for it!
If you have any questions, or need any help or advice, making a film, contact me (Arlo) at support@vetnurse.co.uk
The competition closes at the end of July 2021.
The role was created last November when the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) started allowing para-professional staff to support vets in carrying out TB testing in England.
UK Farmcare says there are now 49 fully authorised ATTs in England with another 21 TB testing under veterinary supervision and three undergoing the theory part of the training.
To become an ATT, applicants must be at least 18 years old, hold a valid UK driving licence and passport, possess a clean criminal record and then be approved by the APHA. Applicants also need at least three graded GCSEs or equivalent in English, Maths and a science or food production subject and at least six months cattle handling experience.
https://ukfarmcare.com/an-introduction-to-the-att-role.
The company says that Daxocox achieves significant improvement of clinical signs associated with the pain of osteoarthritis (OA) in dogs1,2 and also helps reduce the risk of breakthrough pain.
Breakthrough pain is defined as “an abrupt, short-lived, and intense pain that breaks through the analgesia that controls pain”3. Risk factors for breakthrough pain in cases of canine OA include poor owner compliance, variable plasma drug levels between doses, natural or exercise induced flare-ups and disease progression.
According to research carried out by the company, veterinary surgeons estimate that nearly half of their canine OA cases on daily NSAIDs experience breakthrough pain4, whilst owners put the figure much higher at 80%5.
Animalcare says that as well as compromising patient welfare and increasing the risk of clinical consequences such as wind-up pain (hypersensitisation), breakthrough pain risks owners losing confidence in their vet and/or the recommended treatment plan for their dog. This may lead owners to independently stray from the treatment plan, with potentially damaging consequences. In its research, 87% of vets agreed that avoiding breakthrough pain is critical to the management of canine OA4.
Animalcare adds that because of the pharmacology, there is no risk of risk of over-accumulation or need for mandatory treatment ‘breaks’6. Also, adverse effects were found to be no different from any other NSAID1,2 and there was no increase in treatment-related adverse effects at up to 5 times the recommended dose7, so Daxocox has a broad margin of safety and is well tolerated by dogs7.
James Beaumont, marketing manager at Animalcare said: “Daxocox’s weekly administration of a flavoured tablet addresses some of the challenges of managing canine OA that I’m certain most vets will identify with. Breakthrough pain is a real problem and by being able to provide consistent pain control, in a compliance friendly formulation, Daxocox is a real game changer for canine OA management.
For more information, visit: www.animalcare.co.uk, or contact your local Animalcare territory manager, or Animalcare’s head office on 01904 487687.
References:
Course delegates will learn a range of practical skills, including understanding oneself and others, practising positive thinking, nutrition and fitness, day-to-day demands and confident teamwork.
The six-part course consists of 17 modules which count for over 20 hours CPD. It can be accessed through an online learning platform with an accompanying workbook and reflective exercises.
Carolyne Crowe, Head of Training at the VDS, said: "We all know that veterinary nurses are a vital part of the practice team, and that they work tirelessly to improve the health and wellbeing of animals in their care. However, I’m sure even the most confident amongst us would often like to have more faith in our own abilities and judgements, to be able to speak up more assertively in situations we find challenging and take back control.
“We’re passionate about helping nurses to feel more relaxed and in control, and our Confident Vet Nurse programme can give them the tools to do that, with highly experienced coaches and nurses coming together to deliver this practical course. We have been there, we know what it’s like, we understand, and we can help you to build your confidence to get what you need from your life and from your work.”
Emma Stansfield, Head Veterinary Nurse at the RVC Beaumont Animal Hospital and and Stress Management and Wellbeing Trainer and Coach at VDS Training (pictured right) said: “Veterinary nursing can be tough. It can easily chip away at your confidence, leading nurses to undervalue their role and capabilities. I’ve had to work hard on my building my confidence over the years and I see many nurses struggling with self-doubt and a lack of confidence in their abilities.
"What so many of us don’t realise is that developing confidence is a process and with specific intention and activity it grows over time. Rarely do we receive guidance on how to build our confidence; people assume they have it or they don’t. This course aims to challenge that view by guiding nurses through the key aspects of confidence building, to help you become the best version of yourself, where you trust your own judgement and value your own contribution.”
The Confident Vet Nurse course costs £97 + VAT and can be booked at: www.vds-training.co.uk/courses/event/the-confident-vet-nurse.
Ms Benson faced six charges.
The first was that between January 2018 and November 2019 she took a number of bags of dog food and two horse wormer syringes from the practice without paying for them.
Charge 2 alleged that between November 2018 and November 2019 she took a number of items of animal food and one or more boxes of horse wormer and paid less than the correct amount for them.
Charge 3 was that between October 2018 and November 2019 she arranged for or allowed a friend to receive a discount on items from the practice, without consent from the practice.
Charge 4 alleged that in December 2019 she asked a veterinary surgeon colleague to input details of treatment and/or medicine for her cat into the clinical records of another of her animals that was also registered to the practice.
Charge 5 was that in relation to charges 1, 2 and 3, her conduct was dishonest.
Charge 6 alleged that in relation to charge 4, her conduct was dishonest, potentially compromised the integrity of a professional colleague and was potentially detrimental to animal welfare.
At the outset of the hearing, Ms Benson admitted to charges 1,2,3,4 and 6 of the allegations and the Committee accepted these admissions. The Committee considered evidence from Ms Benson’s colleagues including witness statements, written testimonial and clinical records for her animals.
When asked about taking items from the practice, Ms Benson explained that she did not intend to take items without paying for them and that she had not realised how much she had taken. She also explained that she had paid back in full what she owed to the practice. The Committee considered that Ms Benson’s conduct had involved a degree of premeditation as she had repeatedly taken items over an extended period. They also considered that there had been a potential risk of injury to animals resulting from Ms Benson’s request to incorrectly write up her animal’s veterinary records.
The defence attested that no actual harm had come to any animal because of Ms Benson’s actions and that she previously had an unblemished career in veterinary nursing. She had also admitted most of the charges against her and paid for the items she had taken in full.
Cerys Jones, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee considered that in the case of Ms Benson, there had been a potential risk to animals had her pet’s records been incorrectly completed, although no harm resulted. The request to alter the records had been a short, single event, but the taking of items had been repeated over a period.
"The Committee also considered that Ms Benson had abused the trust placed in her as a senior nurse with managerial responsibility. We took into account that there was some evidence of Ms Benson being overloaded by work, but there was no evidence of any health condition during the time of the misconduct which might explain her actions.”
The Committee therefore found Ms Benson guilty of serious professional misconduct and decided that a nine-month suspension from the Register was the most appropriate sanction.
Cerys Jones said: “The Committee accepted that Ms Benson had developing insight in making her admissions and we give her credit for her long unblemished career. She admitted to a large part of the allegation, expressed remorse for her actions and has repaid the practice. We have also heard a number of positive testimonials which spoke positively of Ms Benson’s recent conduct.
“However, dishonesty is a serious matter in relation to professional practice and taking no action in response to the serious nature of Ms Benson’s disgraceful conduct would not be proportionate or serve to protect animals and maintain public confidence in the profession.
“Having carefully considered matters, the Committee decided that the appropriate and proportionate sanction, was to suspend Ms Benson’s registration for nine months.”
Ms Benson has 28 days from being informed of the outcome of the hearing to appeal the Committee’s decision.
The training will take place in locations across BSAVA’s regional network in the UK, and is open to large, small, and equine veterinary teams.
The sessions will cover the complexity of abuse and the impact of domestic abuse on children, how to recognise abuse/non-accidental injury in animals, how to document information and what to do when dealing with disclosure from a human victim of abuse.
They will also give guidance on setting up a practice protocol and identifying a practice links adviser who will assist those involved in the veterinary team to manage suspected cases of abuse.
Invited guests will include representatives from human and veterinary health, welfare bodies and policy makers.
Vicki Betton, Vice-Chair of The Links Group said: “We’re thrilled to be rolling out our programme of in-person training days with BSAVA.
"Abuse of any vulnerable member of the family, human or animal, is a difficult subject for many to even consider, but with reported cases of domestic abuse reaching an all-time high during the pandemic, its essential that teams are aware of the issue and have a practice protocol in place for if they feel something isn’t quite right with a case.
“We’re looking forward to exploring the most effective ways veterinary teams can recognise and act on suspected cases of non-accidental injury or disclosures of domestic or child abuse.”
The training days are free for BSAVA members and £50 (inc VAT) for non members.
So far, dates have been confirmed for Nottingham on 18th April and Exeter on the 29th June. Others are planned for the Metropolitan, Southern, Wales and North West regions.
To book your place, visit: https://www.bsava.com/education/cpd/regional-cpd
CardioCare is based on research carried out at the Purina Technology Center which explored how nutrients can support the ailing heart. First, a series of metabolomics studies identified metabolic changes that occur in MMVD. Then the company developed a ‘Cardiac Nutritional Blend’ to address these metabolic changes and evaluated it in a clinical study.
The main elements of the Cardiac Nutritional Blend include carnitine precursors, antioxidants and medium-chain triglycerides. Purina says the latter provides an alternative energy source that is easy for the struggling heart to use, something which is particularly important as the metabolomics research revealed that dogs with MMVD showed less efficient cardiac energy metabolism1.
The company highlights a 2019 clinical study, which showed that the Cardiac Nutritional Blend has the potential to delay disease progression in dogs with preclinical MMVD. Over the six-month study period, dogs with preclinical MMVD fed the Cardiac Nutritional Blend showed a reduction in left atrial size, while an equivalent group of dogs fed a control diet showed an increase. Additionally, none of the dogs fed the Cardiac Nutritional Blend progressed from stage B1 to B2 during the study, while 37% of dogs fed the control diet showed progression2.
Purina also says that while the research to date has focused on MMVD, the nutrients in CardioCare are recognised to be beneficial under conditions of cardiac stress and the diet may prove a useful tool to provide support in a wider range of conditions. The company recommends that the diet be considered as part of the management plan for any dog with cardiac insufficiency.
Dr Libby Sheridan, Purina Scientific Affairs Manager for the UK & Ireland, said: "Metabolomics research has the scope to drive huge advances in managing a range of conditions. We’re proud to be at the forefront of this exciting field and bring the benefits of our findings to vets in practice.
"CardioCare opens up a new avenue of support for patients with cardiac insufficiency and vets can use this diet as a tool to complement medical treatment."
CardioCare will be available from 30th June. Contact vettechline@purina.nestle.com for more information.
References
Presenters at the webinar will include: Professor Melissa McDermid MD, MPH, division head, Occupational & Environmental Medicine, University of Maryland, Prof. Clare Knottenbelt BVSC MSC DSAM MRCVS, owner and founder of specialist referral service, Hawk and Dove, and previously clinical director of the Small Animal Hospital at the University of Glasgow Veterinary School, Sam Fontaine MSc, lecturer and director of the MSc Advanced Practice in Veterinary Nursing and module leader within the BVMS programme at The Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine. There will also be a video from the oncology centre at The Queen’s Veterinary School, Cambridge University.
The webinar will also look at the use of Closed System Transfer Devices, such as Tevadaptor, to improve safety and break down barriers to treatment across all practices.
Clare Knottenbelt (pictured right) said: “Pets with cancer need to be able to access chemotherapy treatments locally. The advent of new closed administration systems mean that practices can now safely administer chemotherapeutics in house without the need for large investment, but still protecting the health of their staff."
Delegates will be able to to submit questions to the speakers and will receive a certificate for one hour of CPD. The session will be recorded so it can be watched again.
For the full programme or to register, visit: https://aesculap-academia.eventbritestudio.com/160802290981
Designed to help veterinary practices save clients' time and improve compliance, VetsDeliver supplies Bravecto - the company's 12 week flea and tick treatment - with the wormer of the vet's choice, by post.
Before the pandemic, practices registered clients for the service online or during an appointment and clients would have to collect the first treatments from the practice.
In response to the pandemic, however, MSD has made now it possible for clients to register from home and get their first treatments sent by post.
Amanda Melvin, Marketing Manager for Companion Animals at MSD Animal Health said: "We are all in unchartered territory and we appreciate the pressure veterinary teams are under to continue to care for their clients and local pet community.
"Many businesses are having to add new services to support online facilities and home delivery, and for vets there is also now a need to reduce footfall into practice while still generating income. Making sure effective parasite control is available will help improve compliance as temperatures rise and the risks to the health of our pets increase. It's one less thing for you and your clients to worry about."
For further information, contact your MSD Animal Health account manager or go to www.msd-animal-health-hub.co.uk/vetsdeliver.
The one-hour webinar, titled 'Calm in the Corona' takes place between 11am and 12 noon on Saturday 25 April and is being supported by the RCVS Mind Matters initiative.
The session will look at some of the common responses to uncertainty during the pandemic, with an emphasis on how to recognise and nurture more adaptive or helpful responses that do not lead to heightened anxiety or distress.
Topics will include creating routines, setting boundaries and how to seek social support despite quarantine measures.
Building on the interactive approach from previous VetKind conferences, student veterinary nurses and veterinary students will be invited to share their coronavirus experiences, ideas and successes with their colleagues.
Jenny Moffett, Managing Director of SkillsTree and VetKind facilitator said: "Although we’re all talking about social distancing right now, it’s more accurate to think of it as physical distancing. Social support is more important than ever, and webinars can be a really effective way to connect, and work together on a common challenge.
"We know that many students may be facing heightened stress and anxiety right now as they worry about the impact the pandemic may have on their own and their family’s health, their education, their finances, their housing and so on. We hope that this webinar will provide some effective coping strategies and an opportunity to share fears and worries and find constructive solutions to them."
Those that wish to take part in the webinar should email avsvetkind@gmail.com. An automatic reply with the link to participate in the webinar will then be emailed back.
The new service will offer all the chemo and surgical options.
Matthew (pictured right) said: "At Eastcott, we have amazing facilities and staff to care for pets with cancer, so we are proud to launch this comprehensive new oncology service.
"We have a custom-designed chemotherapy room, multiple sterile theatres - including our interventional radiology theatre - and state-of-the-art imaging facilities, with a 64-slice CT scanner and advanced ultrasound equipment.
"We are able to manage the full range of tumour types including maxillofacial tumours, from diagnosis to treatment.
"We use a variety of techniques to allow accurate staging, including minimally invasive biopsy and lymph node harvesting, as well as sentinel lymph node mapping and advanced medical imaging.
"Treatment options include advanced soft tissue surgical oncology and the full range of medical oncology. This may involve standard and metronomic chemotherapy, intracavitary chemotherapy and immunotherapy, such as the melanoma vaccine.
"We pride ourselves on helping owners understand our treatment plan through the whole process and emphasise the importance of making the right decisions to maintain the welfare of our patients.”
For more information, visit www.eastcottreferrals.co.uk.
Hartpury says its four-year BSc (Hons) Equine Veterinary Nursing degree – accredited by the RCVS – is designed to produce a higher calibre of veterinary nurse than foundation degrees, top-up courses and apprenticeships alike.
The new degree is a sister qualification to the university's BSc (Hons) Veterinary Nursing degree, which is also accredited by the RCVS, and graduates will be able to join the RCVS VN Register, meaning they can practice as a veterinary nurse with specialism in equine veterinary nursing.
The new course covers a range of subjects, including clinical anatomy, professional veterinary nursing practice, surgical nursing, diagnostics and pharmacy management. It will also include a placement at an approved RCVS equine veterinary nursing training practice, which helps students gain valuable experience and connections for their careers.
Final-year students are able to concentrate on an area of equine veterinary nursing that particularly interests them, which will help them to stand out from the crowd when they graduate.
Catherine Phillips, Head of the Veterinary Nursing Department at Hartpury University, said: "Our new BSc (Hons) Equine Veterinary Nursing degree will add so much value to the profession as well as to graduate outcomes.
"It has been developed by equine veterinary nursing experts to provide our graduates with the vital clinical skills and knowledge to enjoy a successful and rewarding career in a highly valued profession.
"One of the major benefits of our links with equine veterinary practices and hospitals is that we’re able to provide students with access to a clinical placement at an approved RCVS equine veterinary nursing training practice.
"Undertaken in one continuous block, this will allow our students to develop equine-specific clinical skills and become a valuable part of the veterinary nursing team.
"Our students could also gain experience with more than 70 different animal species on campus, volunteering outside their studies with our animal collection, or as part of our equine and canine therapy centre teams."
The webinars already available cover subjects like cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), emergency diagnostics and traumatic brain injury, presented by experienced emergency vets Aoife Reid, Liron Levy-Hirsch and Jacqueline Seymour.
More content is due to be added to the library in the coming weeks, including guest webinars from TVM UK on rodenticide and seizure management, and from clinical psychologists Dr Jo Becket and Dr Jess Brown on “thrive, not just survive” and “when stress gets too much”. There will also be a session from ECC specialist Tobias Grave (pictured right) on how to deal with some of the most common pet emergencies.
Tobias will also be on hand to help veterinary surgeons and nurses whose practices use Vets Now for their out-of-hours service with both general advice and a second opinion on potentially complex cases via the new support line.
Tobias said: “Covid-19 is bringing fresh challenges to vets and vet nurses every day. With clinicians seeing a caseload which is mainly emergency and often having to triage patients over the phone or by video consult, it’s never been so important to come together as a profession.
"Both our webinars and our specialist support line for practices who use our service will help equip vet professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to deal with challenging emergencies in practice."
You can find Vets Now’s library of free ECC webinars here.
As part of the package of measures announced by the Chancellor Rishi Sunak in mid-March, businesses in the retail, hospitality, leisure and childcare sectors are eligible for a 100% business rates holiday for a year in England, Scotland and Wales, offering a vital economic lifeline when many may have had to close or operate with reduced turnover and staffing. In Northern Ireland, all businesses are eligible for a three-month business rates holiday covering April, May and June.
However, veterinary practices, many of which have remained open to provide essential care and treatment for pets and production animals, are not eligible for business rates relief, despite the fact that many are high street businesses and a significant proportion of their income comes from retailing medicines, treatments and other pet products.
The BVA says it has heard directly from hundreds of members who now fear for their future, and a recent survey released by the RCVS indicates that a quarter of practices have seen their weekly turnover reduced by 75%, and about 66% have seen it halved.
The Association has written to the Treasury and devolved government departments to ask why the veterinary profession has so far been overlooked for financial support, while other high street businesses that remain open including food retailers, hardware stores and pet shops are eligible for rates relief.
It has also mobilised its members to contact their local MPs and devolved parliamentarians with their concerns. Several hundred have already downloaded template letters from the BVA website, and parliamentarians representing a wide cross-section of regions and parties have already pledged their support. Ben Lake, MP for Ceredigion, has also tabled a Parliamentary Early Day Motion (#339) recognising the value of vets and pushing for the profession to be given access to business rates relief.
Daniella Dos Santos, BVA President, said: “The Government has repeatedly given thanks to vets for continuing to maintain animal health and welfare and public health and support the food supply chain in these challenging times. But that makes it all the more disappointing that the profession’s pleas for financial support so far seem to have fallen on deaf ears. Veterinary practices are rightly remaining open to provide 24/7 essential care and fulfilling their duty to maintain animal health and welfare, but many are struggling to stay afloat as they grapple with dramatic reductions in turnover and scaling back their rotas to keep colleagues and clients safe.
"It’s been really heartening to see that parliamentarians across the political spectrum value their local vets’ role in their communities and have offered to put pressure on the Treasury and devolved governments to give practices access to vital financial support. We hope that such a strong and united call will be answered soon, and will continue to urge government to help practices to continue their valuable work in these difficult times."
Firstly, pets that haven’t received primary vaccinations due to the coronavirus outbreak and develop an issue that would have been prevented by a vaccination they were unable to access, will now have that condition covered under their Agria policy.
Secondly, the company has now made it possible for owners of cats and dogs under the age of five to set up a 'Four Weeks Free' policy - which would ordinarily be set up in practice - themselves.
Simon Wheeler, Managing Director of Agria Pet Insurance (pictured right), said: "We have introduced these additional products during the pandemic to ensure that pets remain covered despite new and significant challenges faced by vets and owners. We hope that they alleviate a little of the pressure faced by veterinary staff and worry felt by owners."
Robin Hargreaves, who is Agria's Vet Lead and helped develop the solutions said: "Times are pretty tough in practice right now, and operating on a restricted basis isn’t ideal for us or the pets registered with us. One thing that would make life even harder would be if the percentage of uninsured pets was to rise.
"With Agria making it possible for owners to activate their own 4 Weeks Free policies at this time, even owners that can’t see vets as usual can still protect their pets with insurance.
“Relaxing restrictions around cover for unvaccinated pets will come as a huge relief in some cases, enabling any pets that have missed primary vaccinations or gone past their booster date due to current restrictions to still be insured."
For more information, visit: agriapet.co.uk/guide