The College of Animal Welfare (CAW) has gained approval from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to run a two and a half year long full-time veterinary nursing course from this October. 

For many years, unless students were undertaking a higher education programme, the route to qualifying has been via employment in a training practice alongside part-time study at college.  It has become increasingly difficult for prospective students to find trainee positions leaving many people unable to pursue a career in their chosen field.

Students do not need to be employed whilst on the CAW course, as blocks of work placement are incorporated into the programme alongside blocks of classroom tuition.  In addition to the small animal syllabus students will also cover equine subjects and develop more general veterinary nursing subject skills across the species.

To enrol onto the programme students will need to be a minimum of 16 years of age and have 5 GCSEs at grades C or above including English Language, Maths and a Science subject or equivalent. 

The courses will be held from the College's Leeds and Edinburgh centres.  Home based practice work placements can be requested by those students not normally resident near to Leeds or Edinburgh.  The College does not have accommodation available on site although can assist in sourcing local accommodation where necessary.

Leslie Heaton-Smith, Strategic Director at CAW, commented 'After a 10 year absence of full time NVQ level veterinary nurse training, CAW are delighted to have gained RCVS approval to offer such a programme from its Leeds and Edinburgh centres.  As a course provider and VNAC we are well aware of the difficulty many prospective students have in finding trainee positions in a TP in order to commence their training.  This programme will provide such students with the opportunity to follow their chosen career path when they would have otherwise been unable'.

For further information on the programme please call Sarah McAlister or Donna Clark on 01480 226180.

New research amongst veterinary professionals conducted by CEVA Animal Health, manufacturer of D.A.P.^® and Feliway^®, has revealed that pet owners may be unintentionally fuelling their pets' noise phobias in the run up to the fireworks' season.

According to CEVA's research, up to 95% react inappropriately, for example petting an anxious pet during firework exposure rather than making an effort to ignore the fireworks, thereby reassuring the animal by behaving normally.

The research also suggested that 77% of clients have never taken action to address their pets' noise phobias as fireworks' season is only an annual occurrence. This is despite evidence that noise phobias can affect pets all year round and tend to become worse over time. 

In addition, if owners do seek advice from their vet for noise phobias, it is at the last minute. It is estimated that 46% of clients leave it until the day before the fireworks are due to start before seeking help.

Lucy Brett, product manager at CEVA Animal Health said: "Owners are not doing enough to reduce their pets' firework fears and prevent noise phobias from developing.

"Taking early, proactive action within the practice is the best way to help dogs with pre-existing firework phobias as well as those with mild fears which, if left untreated, may develop into more serious noise phobias."

CEVA Animal Health and Sound Therapy 4 Pets have once again joined forces with the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC), Feline Advisory Bureau (FAB) and PDSA to launch a 'Remember, remember your pets this November' campaign to provide owners with advice on how to look after their pets during the firework season and the precautions they should take to help them cope with their fear of fireworks.

The initiative features a wide range of advice including how to use synthetic copies of natural pheromones, D.A.P. ^® and Feliway^®, to help comfort and reassure fearful pets, creating a comforting den for dogs to retreat to during firework exposure and treating noise phobias using behavioural therapy with the Sounds Scary desensitisation CD (which is the only behavioural therapy product for noise phobias supported by the RSPCA).

For further information, please visit www.petfireworkfear.co.uk.

A new study has found that the UK domestic cat and dog population is larger than previously reported by industry figures. Cats and dogs are amongst the most popular pets in the UK but it has been over 20 years since domestic cat and dog population estimates in the UK have been published in scientific peer-reviewed journals.

The paper published in the Veterinary Record by Dr Jane Murray in the Department of Clinical Veterinary Science at Bristol University and colleagues, aimed to estimate the number of UK domestic cats and dogs and identify the characteristics of their owners. The figures are also useful to the animal health and welfare professions, including rescue charities, which can use these and future estimates to assess population changes.

In 2007, a telephone survey of households randomly selected from the electoral roll revealed that cats and dogs were owned by 26 per cent and 31 per cent of households, respectively. The number of owned cats and dogs were predicted by two variables: the number of people in the household and the geographical location (London/rest of UK) of the household. UK census information and mid-year population estimates of the number of households and the average household size in 2006 in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland were used to estimate that UK households owned approximately 10.3 million cats and 10.5 million dogs in 2006.

Dr Murray said: "Our 95% confidence intervals were 9.4-11.3 million cats and 9.6-11.4 million dogs".

This compares with PFMA estimates of 7.2 million cats and 7.3 million dogs in 2007, and 8 million cats and 8 million dogs in 2009.

Characteristics associated with cat and dog ownership were also identified. Cats were more likely to be owned by; households with gardens, semi-urban/rural households, households with someone qualified to degree level, respondents who were female and respondents who were aged less than 65 years. Cats were less likely to be owned by households with one or more dogs.

The likelihood of dog ownership increased as the household size increased. Dogs were more likely to be owned by households with gardens, rural households and less likely to be owned by households with someone educated to degree level and households with cats or children aged less than 11 years.

Female respondents and those aged less than 55 years were more likely to report dog ownership than other respondents. Dogs were less likely to be owned by households with one or more cats.    

Dr. Murray added: "The study has shown many common factors relating to cat and dog ownership, such as a garden and rural location, but it has also identified some notable differences.  

"In particular, the difference in the level of education achieved by a household owning cats and dogs. The reason for this association is unclear.  It is unlikely to be related to household income as this variable was not shown to be significant but it could be related to household members with longer working hours having less time available to care for a dog.

"Past reports have suggested that the number of pet cats exceeds the number of pet dogs in the UK. However, results from our study suggest that there are similar numbers of pet cats and dogs."

The researchers recommend the study is repeated in 2011, (the year of the next scheduled UK census), as any increase or decrease in population numbers will enable pet ownership trends to be monitored.

The Government has been forced to scrap plans for compulsory dog insurance less than a two weeks since they were revealed in leaked Defra documents.

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has now ruled out the idea.

Apparently, the climbdown followed protests that compulsory insurance was no more than a 'dog tax' which would do nothing to curb the problem of dangerous dogs.

There's a certain irony in the way the story was reported in The Sun newspaper, with the headline: 'Labour forced to ditch pet plan'.

Indeed!

The new Aberdeen clinic will be based at Ardene House Veterinary Hospital, Kingswells in Aberdeen and will provide the out-of-hours cover for a number of veterinary practices in the Aberdeen area, treating their clients' pets at nights, weekends and bank holidays.

Vets Now was founded in 2001 when vet Richard Dixon, saw a gap in the market for not only providing an alternative to the 'on call' service which vets are required to provide by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, but to providing a dedicated emergency service for pets, similar to A & E for humans. Vets Now now treats around 100,000 small animal emergencies every year with clinic teams working purely out-of-hours, to ensure that they are always fresh and ready to provide life saving treatment to pets who are injured or critically ill.

Richard said: "Vets Now has a clinic in Edinburgh and we have recently opened the first of our Vets Now Hospitals in Glasgow which combines emergency care with a range of specialist referral options, serving the whole of Scotland so we're looking forward hugely to extending our service in Scotland by bringing the dedicated emergency service to Aberdeen."

Vets Now will be working with Ardene House Veterinary Hospital, Abervet, Ashgrove Veterinary Centre, Bridge Veterinary Group and Swan Veterinary Practice to deliver their Out Of Hours emergency care.

Veterinary practices who would like to find out more about using the new Vets Now service in Aberdeen should contact Vets Now on 01383 620064.

Grahame Gardner Ltd has announced the launch of a classically styled tunic, the M559, now stocked in bottle green for the first time.

The company says that although there have been numerous ladies tunics available in bottle green, this is the first time Grahame Gardner has stocked a male tunic in the characteristic veterinary colour.

The contemporary design of the M559 incorporates side fastening with the option of contrasting epaulettes, alongside practical pockets and side slits. According to the company, it's a tunic that looks great and performs exceptionally well in the veterinary practice. Stocked in sizes from 34" to 50" (chest), the M559 is one of several new styles introduced within Grahame Gardner's latest 124 page brochure.

To explore Grahame Gardner's collection please take a look at http://www.grahamegardner.co.uk/, or call 0116 255 6326 to order a copy of the new brochure.

The Recruitment Investment Group (RIG) has established a new recruitment agency that specialises in the supply of skilled professionals to the veterinary animal health market.

The newly formed RIG Animal Health Recruit will be working in the "industry" side of the profession to provide a permanent and temporary recruitment service in areas such as sales, technical product, academia, and laboratory work. The company's activities will not be confined to the UK alone, but, due the nature of this work, it will also operate in Europe.

The new company is headed up by James Roadnight, who has over 14 years' experience in working in specialist recruitment within professional and high integrity industries.

James said: "There comes a time in some vets or vet nurses' careers when they can want a change from working in practice and would like to move their skills to industry or academia. And we can help with this transition. Similarly, companies and institutions have a need to recruit personnel and will benefit from working with an agency that specialises only in this sector and should therefore have the strongest candidates available."

For more information, see www.rigahr.co.uk

Medichem International has produced an A4 sized laminated poster which illustrates the correct way to wash and disinfect hands thoroughly.

The poster has a sticky back enabling it to be placed near to hand washing facilities in the practice.

If you would like copies of the poster, they are available free of charge by emailing info@medichem.co.uk and stating your name, practice, address and postcode.

Dechra Veterinary Products has awarded two prizes to Veterinary Nurse students at Myerscough College in Bilsborrow, near Preston. 

The winners of the Dechra prizes were Rebecca Farrow, from Helmsley, North Yorkshire, who was the RCVS Equine Veterinary Nursing Level 3 top student, and Louise Adamson, from Farnworth in Bolton, RCVS Equine Veterinary Nursing Level 2 top student.  The awards recognise the exceptional dedication and commitment that they have put into their studies. 

Kathy Kissick, Learning Manager for Veterinary Nursing at Myerscough College, says: "We are grateful to Dechra for supporting our Veterinary Nurse students and awarding these prizes. We are pleased with the high levels our students continue to achieve.  Both Rebecca and Louise can be very happy with their efforts during their time at the College."

Patrick Markey, Marketing Manger at Dechra Veterinary Products, says: "We recognise the important role Veterinary Nurses have in a vet practice and are pleased to have been involved in sponsoring these awards.  We wish the winners every success in their future careers."

Mary Bale, 45, has been banned from keeping animals for five years today after she admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a cat which she dumped in a wheelie bin, in a case brought by the RSPCA.

Bale, of St Michael's Road, Coventry, was also fined £265 and ordered to pay the costs of the case, which totalled £1,171.

Coventry magistrates' court heard how Bale picked up the four-year-old tabby cat, named Lola, outside the cat's home in Brays Lane, Coventry, and put her into the bin on Saturday 21 August this year.

Lola's owners, Stephanie and Darryl Andrews-Mann, discovered their cat inside the wheelie bin the next day.  She had been there for approximately 15 hours. 

Upon viewing their CCTV the owners saw Bale approach Lola, who was sitting on a garden wall.  She then looked both ways before picking the cat up by the scruff of her neck and dropping her into the bin. 

The RSPCA was alerted after the footage was posted on the internet and Bale was identified.

District Judge Caroline Goulborn said: "I accept that you were in a stressful situation but that is no excuse. The potential to cause harm to the cat was substantial."

RSPCA inspector Nicola Foster said:  "This was a deliberate act and could have had far worse consequences as the defendant had no way of knowing if there was anything like broken glass in the bin, nor how long the cat would be there before she was found, nor if the bin was due to be emptied.

"We are pleased that the Court agreed that a complete disregard was shown for the cat's welfare and that the cat suffered/cat's needs were not met as a result of being stuck inside the bin for so many hours.

"However, we hope that this sentence will act as a deterrent to anyone who feels that it is acceptable to mistreat animals in any way."

In mitigation, Bale said that her father had been taken to hospital following a fall. She said she walked past the house daily and regularly stroked Lola. She said she had asked herself on an hourly basis since the incident why she had put Lola in the bin, but had no answer.

Members of Parliament have recognised the British Veterinary Association's contribution to the promotion of microchipping dogs and the campaign for compulsory microchipping through an Early Day Motion (EDM) tabled by Andrew Rosindell MP (Conservative, Romford).

The EDM is gaining signatures from across all political parties as MPs show their support for a compulsory microchipping scheme that would have a significant and positive welfare impact on dogs by:

• assisting in the return of stray and stolen dogs to their owners;
• improving traceability of puppy-farmed dogs; and
• providing a lifetime of security for a one-off payment.

The EDM is also supported by Dogs Trust (who coordinated the EDM), Cats Protection, Blue Cross, and NOAH (National Office for Animal Health).

Earlier this week Welsh Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones AM announced proposals for the compulsory microchipping of all dogs and puppies sold or homed by licensed breeders, to improve traceability.

Professor Bill Reilly, President of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), said: "Microchipping is part of responsible pet ownership and the BVA believes that all dogs should be permanently identified by microchip before the first change of ownership or at the first veterinary examination.

"Compulsory microchipping allows stray dogs to be reunited with their owners and would help the authorities to crack down on shameful puppy farms, where the health and welfare of both puppies and bitches is compromised, by improving the traceability of the animals.

"It could also assist with the reporting of hereditary health problems and surgical procedures to help us gain as much knowledge and research as we can to improve the health of all dogs.

"I would urge all Members of Parliament to show their support for dogs and their owners by signing this EDM."

The University of Liverpool's CPD Vets has designed and set up a new online course: Professional Skills for Veterinary Nurses, which it says covers many vital areas of professional development.

Jill Macdonald from the University said: "This course provides veterinary nurses with a sound background in many key areas, helping them to effectively manage other staff, create new practice policies, make informed decisions on a welfare and ethical issues, advance their own professional and personal development and ultimately enable them to be more effective in their role and deal with the everyday stresses that practice places upon us!"

She added: "You will work alongside other nurses throughout the course, which provides a valuable opportunity for fellow professionals to share problems, ideas and solutions. We use novel, exciting, practical and applicable  learning and teaching methods such as discussion boards, formation of new protocols and information sheets for practice, critical reflection and journal clubs to name a few. The course is delivered and assessed 100% online over a 23 week period, which is great for busy VNs who need the flexibility to study around work and home life."

The module is also University of Liverpool approved at level 7 (Masters) and is credit bearing, meaning that credits can be accrued towards ultimately achieving a Masters degree. According to Jill, this level of CPD paves the way and opens up new opportunities for VNs to really push forward their education and career.

For more information, either contact Jill on 0151 795 6005 / jillos@liv.ac.uk or visit the CPD Vets website: www.liv.ac.uk/cpdvets