The Saddle Research Trust has announced the launch of a new paper explaining the significance of saddle fit on the health and welfare of horse and rider.
Saddle fitting, recognising an ill-fitting saddle and the consequences of an ill-fitting saddle to horse and rider was written by equine vet Dr Sue Dyson together with Master Saddlers and saddle fitters Mark Fisher and Sue Carson.
The paper has been published in the Equine Veterinary Education Journal, the official education journal of the British Equine Veterinary Association and is free to view until April 2016.
The paper encourages vets to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team with saddle fitters, trainers and physiotherapists, to help educate horse owners about the multiple problems that can be caused by ill-fitting saddles.
Key advice includes:
The paper also includes a glossary of saddlery terms, an explanation of saddle fit accessories, a range of informative photographs and a section on who is qualified to provide professional advice on saddle fit.
The paper concludes: “Correct saddle fit for horse and rider is an important equine welfare issue and the veterinary profession needs to recognise this and be at the forefront of helping to educate the horse owning public. Ideally veterinarians should work in conjunction with professional saddle fitters, trainers and physiotherapists to improve both horse and rider comfort.”
The AHT has published the first research paper of its kind which looks at idiopathic epilepsy (IE) in the Italian Spinoni, a breed where the prevalence of IE has been found to be 5.3%, compared to 0.6% estimated to be seen in dogs generally in UK first opinion practice.
Dr Luisa De Risio, Head of Neurology at the AHT and lead researcher on the paper, said: "Idiopathic epilepsy is the most common chronic neurologic disorder in dogs but it can be more common in some breeds than others, for example Irish Wolfhounds, Border Collies and Italian Spinoni. Sadly, we see a lot epileptic dogs in our clinic, including these breeds as well as Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers, so research being undertaken at the AHT, and around the world, is very important in helping owners of dogs with epilepsy to be able to control the effects of the disease.
"The Italian Spinone is a wonderful breed but is highly affected by idiopathic epilepsy. To our knowledge, no one has conducted such a large-scale research study in this breed to be able to gain a better understanding of how the epilepsy manifests, how prevalent it really is and, importantly, which factors may contribute to survival in these dogs.
"With the backing of the Italian Spinone Club of Great Britain, the AHT was able to design a questionnaire for the research study and work with the Kennel Club to invite over 3,000 Kennel Club registered Italian Spinone owners to aid our research by completing the questionnaire.
"1,192 owners participated in the research and of this sample, 63 Italian Spinoni had IE. Owners of affected dogs were then invited to complete a further questionnaire and asked to make the dog's medical records available. This gave us a very large amount of data to analyse from which we were able to glean a lot of very useful information about the clinical characteristics of idiopathic epilepsy in Italian Spinoni."
The research also looked at survival times of those dogs in the study with IE. Survival was significantly longer in Italian Spinone with no cluster seizures and in Italian Spinone in which antiepileptic medication was initiated after the second seizure rather than after more than three seizures.
Luisa continued: "From this sample we were able to conclude that idiopathic epilepsy in this breed often has a severe presentation but starting treatment with antiepileptic medication after the second seizure, and aggressive treatment of cluster seizures, may improve the survival of these dogs.
"The input in treatment design and modulation by a specialist veterinary neurologist with expertise in canine epilepsy can help to optimise treatment success and the dog's quality of life.
"We hope these findings will help to increase veterinary knowledge and understanding of this horrible disease and give Italian Spinoni, and other affected breeds, the best chance of fighting IE.
"Epilepsy is one of the most complex and difficult diseases to treat, with several variables in any case, but it is important for owners not to give up hope and to seek a consultation with a veterinary neurologist who specialises in epilepsy, if possible."
The next phase of the AHT's research in the Italian Spinone is to identify the genetic basis of this condition, with the aim of identifying the genetic mutations responsible so that a genetic test could be created. This research is currently on-going in Italian Spinoni and Border Collies and requires more DNA samples from affected and unaffected dogs.
Luisa said: "A genetic test is the only way to successfully help breeders identify carriers and select matings which are most likely to produce unaffected dogs. However, the genetics, like the condition itself, are very complex so the development of such a test is still likely to be many years away. The most we can do for these lovely dogs now is to share these findings across the veterinary profession and to do our best to treat each dog as well as we can."
The full paper is titled 'Idiopathic Epilepsy in the Italian Spinone in the United Kingdom: Prevalence, Clinical Characteristics, and Predictors of Survival and Seizure Remission' and is published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine on an open-access basis.
Photo: © Caroline Granycome
VetNurse.co.uk has officially launched a completely revamped job advertising section designed to make it quite simply the best place to browse and advertise jobs for veterinary staff online.
VetNurse Jobs now allows jobseekers to search for veterinary positions by distance from their front door (or from a city, county or country). Other filters allow them to narrow the search yet further, by job title, contract type, hours or practice/employer type. Each advert now also includes a map of the location, and a link to contact the advertiser at the foot of the page.
Jobseekers can subscribe to receive email or RSS alerts the moment a job advert is posted on VetNurse Jobs. Alternatively, they can now 'follow' or 'like' dedicated VetNurse Jobs pages on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter, to have VetNurse Jobs delivered direct to their timelines.
For advertisers, VetNurse.co.uk remains the largest community of veterinary nurses and support staff to advertise in front of. And its free. But now recruitment adverts are pushed out onto other social networks and there's work being done behind the scenes to push them up the search rankings too. What's more, the advanced new search tool also means that where before users had to sift their way through a long list of vacancies, adverts will now be far better targeted.
Arlo Guthrie, Publishing Editor said: "My aim with VetNurse Jobs has always been to support veterinary practices by eliminating the need to pay for recruitment advertising. But it's not enough just being free. We need to be the best, too."
Petlog is announcing details of National Microchipping Month at BSAVA, which this year will include a special offer through which pet owners can update their registered details free of charge, and a 10% discount on SureFlap microchip cat flaps to all veterinary practices that agree to stock SureFlap and take part in the June initiative.
Celia Walsom, Petlog Executive said: "On top of the launch of National Microchipping Month 2011 we will be releasing details about the 'Petlog's Featured Practice' competition, our social media campaign enabling veterinary practices to send in images of themselves with their happy customers: selected images will be featured online and there will be a unique prize for the overall winners.
She added: "Visitors to the Petlog stand will also be able to pick up their own personal copy of the Kennel Club's Veterinary Practice Guide to Dog Health on a handy disk."
Meanwhile, you can see SureFlap on stand 203 at Congress or visit: www.sureflap.co.uk/trade.
Virbac, in conjunction with the European Veterinary Dental Society, has launched an online dental charting system called the Electronic Veterinary Dental Scoring System for use by small animal practitioners.
The system aims to enhance the performance of clinicians conducting dentistry and to encourage a thorough review of the oral cavity during the annual check up.
The system allows you to record clinical findings on online dental charts and build up a history for each patient. There are also a series of tutorials to help in making clinical decisions. Virbac says the e-VDS system also encourages owner compliance with treatment regimes as it provides downloadable materials, including an assessment of their pet and follow up reports.
Dr Gottfried Morgenegg-Wegmüller, who was the EVDS project lead on this development, said: "It was always my vision to give veterinary dentistry the importance it deserves. The most effective way to achieve this is by targeting the general practitioner and encouraging them to have a closer look at the oral cavity of their patients."
Victoria Hudson, Product Manager for dental products at Virbac, said: "Poor dental health is a major issue for dogs and cats yet many practices are yet to capitalise on the opportunity to help increase the animal's welfare and health. Many owners are simply unaware of the importance of caring for their pet's teeth.
"The new e-VDS system is a great leap forward in dental care, offering not just electronic charting but a raft of additional support materials, all of which are practical and easy to use. We hope many practices will be keen to try it - and will soon be reaping the benefit!"
e-VDS is available free of charge on http://www.my-virbac.co.uk/, Virbac's practice support portal. Practices can also contact their territory manager for more details.
The group attributes part of its success to the various initiatives it runs for employees, including a scheme through which every member of its 220-strong team is allowed five fully paid donation days each year so they can volunteer to support meaningful local causes.
Employees also receive a £500 cash gift when they become new parents or adopt a child and can take 'peternity leave', which offers anyone with a new pet two fully paid days off work to help the animal settle into their new home.
Team members also get birthdays off (with cakes), a health care scheme, subsidised Fitbits and gym memberships.
Tim Harrison, managing director at White Cross Vets, said: "Making White Cross Vets a great place to work is vitally important to us, especially because our people are such a fundamental part of our success. Plus we’ve just launched the second of five new practices that will open during a 12-month period, so we’re continually expanding and recruiting.
"Being at the forefront of the veterinary industry with a wide range of innovative and high-quality employment initiatives, many of which are ideas from individual team members, helps us to attract and retain the best people. This enables us to grow quickly whilst fostering a close-knit and highly motivated team. This ethos also translates into the level of care and standard of service that our clients receive, which is something we’re very proud of."
Merial has announced that its canine NSAID, Previcox, is now now uniquely licensed for the relief of pain and inflammation associated with dental surgery in dogs.
According to the company, an estimated 70% of dogs over 2 years of age may have some degree of periodontal disease1, and painful extraction of teeth is often necessary for the successful management of this condition.
Merial says that Previcox has been demonstrated to control the pain associated with dental surgery, in a double-blinded, controlled trial2 in which dogs underwent maxillary canine tooth extraction. The results showed that Previcox treatment significantly reduced pain scores post dental surgery, making it the only NSAID with a specific claim for relief of post-operative dental pain. Results of physical examination and blood testing also confirmed the peri-operative safety profile of Previcox, with no treatment-related adverse effects noted during the trial.
To find out more, contact your Merial Territory Manager on 0870 6000 123. For more information about Previcox visit www.previcoxfordogs.co.uk
References
1 Wiggs RB and Lobprise HB. Periodontology. In: Veterinary Dentistry, Principles and Practice. Philadelphia: Lippincott-Raven; 1997. p1872 Merial Internal data PR&D0116401.
The RCVS has issued a reminder that you have just over a week to put forward nominees for the annual VN Golden Jubilee Award.
The Award is given in recognition of an outstanding contribution to the profession, animal welfare and/or patient care and nominees can be veterinary nurses, veterinary surgeons or lay people. It was launched in 2011 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first RCVS veterinary nursing training course.
Nomination forms need to be submitted by 5pm on Friday 24 April. The principal nominator must be a registered veterinary nurse or veterinary surgeon although the two supporting proposers can be lay people.
The winner will be chosen by a panel of VN Council members and will receive the accolade at RCVS Day – the College’s Annual General Meeting and Awards Day – on Friday 10 July.
The nomination form is available to download from www.rcvs.org.uk/goldenjubilee. For further information contact Annette Amato, Deputy Head of Veterinary Nursing, on a.amato@rcvs.org.uk or 020 7202 0713.
The kit contains a guide to effective ear cleaning, an illustrated step-by-step instruction guide on how to administer the Canaural, and a diary and consultation pack so owners can engage with the diagnosis and treatment of their pet’s ear infection.
The Healthy Ears Combi Kit comes in a resealable wipe-clean bag and is available free of charge from veterinary wholesalers.
Dechra Brand Manager Claire Morgan said: "The new kit will give owners more confidence in the important role that they play in their pet’s ear health and encourage them to engage in the treatment plan, thereby supporting veterinary professionals in the cycle of care.
"As well as serving as practical storage for the products, it acts as a reminder to dispense CleanAural as well as Canaural, as the self-cleaning mechanism of the animal’s ears is often compromised by infection.
She added: "CleanAural does not compromise the antimicrobial activity of Canaural1 so they are perfect partners for maintaining healthy ears."
Free Healthy Ears Combi Kit can be ordered via your veterinary wholesaler.
Reference
Eravac is an injectable emulsion ready for administration without the need for reconstitution beforehand. Containing 10 vials with individual doses, the new presentation is is indicated for the immunisation of pet rabbits from 30 days of age.
For more information, visit: https://www.hipra.com/portal/en/hipra/animalhealth/products/detail/eravac-pets
Lindsay Newell, a Derbyshire veterinary nurse, has been struck off by The Veterinary Nurses Disciplinary Committee of the RCVS, after she was found guilty of the unlawful possession of veterinary medicines and failing to give regard to welfare in respect of six animals.
The hearing for Ms Newell, who did not attend and was not represented, concluded on 18th November 2015. It related to two main charges against her. The first was that, on 29 November 2012, she was found in possession of a number of veterinary medicines without lawful permission.
The Committee heard that the RSPCA and police officers had attended Ms Newell’s home on that day, where they found veterinary medicines, including controlled drugs, stored in an insecure cabinet within an insecure shed. It heard that during a police interview, she agreed that she was not allowed to possess some of the drugs and subsequently accepted a police caution, which the Committee took as an admission of the offence and therefore found the charge proved.
The second charge was that, between 1 and 29 November 2012 at the Burton Wildlife and Rescue Centre in Etwall, Derbyshire, she failed to give any or sufficient regards to the welfare of six animals in her care. These charges relate to an RSPCA investigation of the rescue centre on 29 November 2012 which found two animals dead and the rest of the animals emaciated and in poor physical condition.
The animals included a male lamb found dead in its pen, a ‘furry-faced’ lamb which died just over a week after the investigation took place, a female goat which died 12 hours after being taken to a veterinary practice for treatment and a pig which died during the investigation process, as well as an adult ewe and a pony which both survived. The charge against her also cited her failure to supply an adequate diet, obtain any or any adequate veterinary attention and explore and address the cause of the weight loss for these animals.
The Committee found all parts of the second charge proved and was satisfied that Ms Newell failed to give sufficient regard to animal welfare as is required by the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses.
In deciding its sanction, the Committee considered a number of aggravating factors in this case. It found that, in respect of both charges, the misconduct was “sustained over a period of time rather than being a single and isolated incident” and that, in respect of the second charge, that there was “actual harm caused to animals, which resulted in the deaths of four out of the six animals.”
The Committee felt that this constituted reckless disregard for animal welfare rather than deliberate acts but, nevertheless, said that these animals unnecessarily suffered for a period of at least four weeks due to inadequate diet and that, as rescue animals that were already vulnerable, the expectation was that they would be given the appropriate level of care. It also found that Ms Newell had demonstrated limited insight into her behaviour. Furthermore, it considered that a Magistrates’ Court had also disqualified Ms Newell from keeping sheep, goats, pigs, and equines for a period of five years.
In mitigation it considered that Ms Newell did show some insight into her behaviour in relation to the first charge by making admissions during her police interview, as well as the fact that the animal sanctuary, which opened in 2008, had no complaints or cause for concern prior to 2012.
Ian Green, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee is of the opinion that removal of Ms Newell’s name from the Register of Veterinary Nurses is the only appropriate sanction based upon the severity of the facts found proved.”
Woodley Equipment has launched the g-Pet species-specific glucose meter with a special introductory price of £9.50
Woodley says the g-Pet Glucometer makes testing quick easy and economical. Just insert a test strip, apply blood, and get results in 10 seconds.
The company highlights the following features of the new system:
Normal RRP is £49.50. Special introductory offer price is £9.50 for the next four weeks. Price includes meter, lancet, tips, 10 strips, manual, case and control solution.
For further information, or to organise a no-obligation in-practice demo, telephone 01204 669033 (option 1), or email: sales@woodleyequipment.com
Alternatively, visit www.woodleyequipment.com
Eurovet has launched Relaquine 35 mg/ml Oral Gel for Horses - a licensed acepromazine (ACP) in a gel format.
The company says Relaquine can be used to sedate horses for examination and in stressful situations that some horses find hard to deal with such as farriery, box rest, dentistry and clipping where highly-strung horses can cause problems. Relaquine is administered orally or mixed with food and is available as an adjustable syringe format containing 10 ml of gel.
Relaquine is the fourth product launch this year by Eurovet and the company says there is more in the pipeline for 2011.
Relaquine Oral Gel is expected to be available to order from veterinary wholesalers from Monday 16th May. Eurovet is also offering an introductory promotion: for further details contact Eurovet on 01223 257933.
Pfizer Animal Health, maker of the equine wormers Equest & Equest Pramox, has launched Stable Mate, a new app to help horse owners manage their daily equine healthcare regime and get maximum enjoyment from their horse.
Pfizer says the new app has been described by testers as 'undoubtedly the best equestrian electronic management system you could wish for'. It includes an organiser in which to keep horses' records and details of their management requirements. It also includes Track My Ride, a GPS mapping and exercise planning service, and a news feed direct from Horse & Hound.
Stable Mate allows users to keep records for up to six horses on their iPhone. They just need to enter the information needed to keep track of each horse's health routine, including worm control, vaccinations, dentistry, farriery and feeding regime. The app then creates a calendar of events, appointments and reminders designed to make it easy for owners to keep their horse's essential healthcare needs on course.
Records can be passed to a yard manager or friends when the owner goes on holiday, making a temporary transfer of care straightforward. Stable Mate also offers general equine health advice, from the essentials of pasture management to understanding vaccination protocols.
Track My Ride is a GPS navigation system that allows owners to map the route, duration and speed of each ride. Pfizer says it's a great device for planning and monitoring exercise programmes, that owners can use it to explore new hacking routes safely and that they'll never have to worry about finding their way back to their horse box again when hunting or doing a long distance ride. Details of each ride are stored in a history log and can be shared with friends through social media.
Paul Blanc, Pfizer's equine brand manager said: "We have tried to develop an app that is all about the horse and their owner, making it as easy as possible for owners to keep their equine health care on track as well as add to the fun and pleasure with their horse. Stable Mate has well and truly surpassed our expectations. We hope that owners and riders find Stable Mate useful and enjoyable."
Stable Mate is currently available only for iPhone with Android and Blackberry coming soon.
Stable Mate is available free from the iPhone App Store http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/stable-mate/id532341393?ls=1&mt=8. To find out more visit www.wormingyourhorse.info.
XLVets, the collaborative group of 45 independent small animal practices, has announced the launch of 'Scratch Below the Surface', a campaign to raise awareness of skin conditions amongst pet owners.
As part of the campaign, practices within the group - which aims to establish itself as a nationwide 'quality mark' for independent care - will be offering skin check clinics for owners who are concerned that their pet may be suffering from a dermatology issue.
Paul Sands, BSc, BMedVet, CertVD, MRCVS, veterinary dermatologist from Scarsdale Veterinary Group, explained the rationale for focusing on skin conditions: "Skin conditions in dogs and cats have many underlying causes and may require a range of treatments and long-term management strategies to keep a pet healthy and itch-free. Summer can be a particularly bad time for sensitive pets as pollens and other allergens are at their highest in the warmer months.
"The Scratch Below the Surface initiative aims to help pet owners recognise the signs of skin conditions in their pets and encourage them to talk to their vet about preventive measures to carry out at home, such as flea and tick control. They will also receive support from their veterinary team in planning long-term management strategies for pets with ongoing skin conditions."
Practices in the group will also be collecting data about the types of dermatology conditions seen, geographical variances, and common and unusual cases.
XLVets says it will be producing case studies, blogs and articles, designed to benefit practices both within the XLVets group and the wider veterinary community.
To find out more about the campaign, visit: www.xlvets-pets.co.uk.
To find out more about joining the XLVets group, telephone 01228 711788.
Norbrook Laboratories Ltd has relaunched its website with a focus on veterinary technical support, farmers and pet owners, and a new online recruitment system.
The new site has sections dedicated specifically to farm animal, equine and pet healthcare. Norbrook says each section will feature articles and information on relevant issues in addition to help and support for the company's animal health pharmaceutical product ranges.
Alanna Carty, European Marketing Director said: "Animal Healthcare is a massive area within which there are a range of very different users and requirements. On our new website, we have categorised three specific groups - Farm Animals, Horses and small companion animals or pets. Users can now easily navigate directly to the specific area they are interested in and obtain the information they need in an instant. In addition, we have included articles and information on relevant topics eg Bovine Respiratory Disease or Arthritis in cats and dogs which will help animal health carers to keep abreast of key issues in what is a fast-changing environment"
The new site also incorporates a Veterinary Technical Support section dedicated to veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and practice managers. Alanna said: "Time is a precious commodity for veterinary surgeons and nurses. They need information on drugs and treatments as quickly as possible and our new website has been designed to meet this need. Our quick search allows vets and assistants to quickly identify products they may wish to use and our full Product Compendium is also available online."
The site also includes a new online recruitment section which aims to streamline the process for the 3000 or so applications the company currently receives each year.
Mrs Louise Kirk, Head of Personnel said: "The beauty of the online recruitment system is that it makes life easier for everyone involved in the process. Applicants have more time to complete the application form because they can begin online as soon as they become aware of the advertised position. They can begin to complete the form, save it and return to it or amend it until they are happy to submit it, at which point they receive a confirmation email and a pdf copy of their application form. However the system also allows for the form to be downloaded and posted to applicants who are unable to use the online system."
www.norbrook.com
The practice is one of few in the UK to use radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy, which, it says, has an average, a 95% success rate in treating cats with hyperthyroidism.
Stephanie Lalor MRCVS (pictured right), an RCVS Specialist in Feline Medicine at Willows said: "The new therapy is non-invasive and is the gold standard of treatment for cats with hyperthyroidism. It is safe and highly effective and a single injection can be curative. Patients do need to be screened for their suitability and ideally they are treated with medical therapy prior to the RAI.
"Due to the radioactive nature of the treatment, patients must stay with us for 15 days after the injection. Our patients stay in luxury cat condos during their hospitalisation and their day-to-day care is over-seen by our lead radioactive iodine nurse, Vicky Maund."
The new unit is part of a £1 million investment in Willows which includes a dedicated operating theatre for minimally invasive procedures, a range of specialist treatment rooms and more than 40 new kennels.
Toby Gemmill, clinical director at Willows, said: "We are already extremely well placed to offer a wide variety of specialist treatments and this extension has provided us with the space to expand our services further. The new radioactive iodine unit is very exciting and allows us to build on our gold level cat-friendly clinic status."
For more information, visit www.willows.uk.net.
Additional credit is given if the display includes a den, and the top ten displays win a luxury chocolate hamper.
Ceva says the aim of the exercise is to highlight preventative steps pet owners can take to manage their pets' firework fears and the benefits of building a den to help calm and reassure dogs during the firework festivities,
Claire Russell, pheromone product manager at Ceva Animal Health, said: "Our display competition is one of the highlights of the veterinary practice year with veterinary professionals creating innovative displays that capture the imagination of their clients and help educate them on the preventative measures that they can adopt at home to help manage their pet’s firework fears."
Ceva has a range of marketing materials for veterinary practices to use in the competition, including waiting room materials.
For further information, contact your local Ceva territory manager.
The BVA has released more results from the Voice of the Profession survey, which show that 67% of vets have seen dogs that needed conformation altering surgeries and caesareans in the last year.
Every year the Kennel Club receives over 3,200 data submissions from both vets and dog owners about conformation altering surgeries and caesareans carried out on Kennel Club registered dogs. Sharing data about conformation altering surgeries and caesareans is vital to help build a picture of the current situation, and facilitate measures to improve health and welfare for future generations of dogs.
The information collected by the Kennel Club provides details of breeding lines appearing to perpetuate certain defects. For example, data submitted for caesareans prevents the registration of puppies born to a bitch that has already had two litters delivered by caesarean section while data submitted for conformation altering surgeries allows the Kennel Club to make decisions on whether or not to allow affected dogs to be entered for shows.
In the longer term, measures implemented by the Kennel Club will include analysis of all submitted data to create a research database that will provide an evidence-base to influence the future of dog welfare.
When asked about operations carried out on Kennel Club registered dogs, the majority of vets said that they do submit data on conformation altering surgeries (60%) and caesareans (65%) however 15% of survey respondents revealed that they never submit data. Those vets who do not always report gave ‘time’ as the main reason for not doing so.
BVA is working with its members to raise awareness of the Kennel Club’s new online system, which takes a few minutes to complete, to encourage a data drive that could reduce avoidable hereditary problems, prevent further lifelong discomfort and suffering, and improve health and welfare for dogs.
BVA President Sean Wensley said: "Vets are seeing concerning trends in dog health and welfare, especially with the current public want for designer dogs and brachycephalic breeds, so the need for a record of conformation altering surgeries and caesareans carried out in daily practice has never been more important. Owners can submit data on their dogs’ operations yet data from veterinary practices is vital for the Kennel Club’s evidence base as it offers additional validity that many owners are not able to provide, ensuring robust and informative data for now and the future."
Other reasons vets gave for not always submitting data on conformation altering surgeries and caesareans, included:
BVA is urging vets and practice teams to recognise the importance of submitting this data and to work with their clients to ensure delivery of the best welfare outcomes for dogs. To support its members, BVA has compiled FAQs on conformation altering surgery and will be taking further questions to the Kennel Club Dog Health Group. To assist with the process of data submission in daily practice, BVA has developed a poster that can be downloaded at www.bva.co.uk/dog-breeding.
Ceredigion veterinary surgeon Robert Alun Merfyn Evans has been suspended from the Register for six months by the RCVS Disciplinary Committee after he admitted to misconduct relating to tuberculin testing for cattle he owned and failing to register the births and deaths of cattle.
Mr Evans appeared before the Committee on the 11th February, when he admitted the two heads of charge of misconduct against him.
The first head of charge related to the fact that, between 24 June and 29 June 2013, he deliberately failed to bring to attention of Wyn Lewis MRCVS, an Official Veterinarian (OV) and fellow director of Mr Evans’ practice in Cardigan, the cattle on his farm requiring intradermal comparative tuberculin tests; that he tested certain of the cattle himself despite not being the OV for those tests and having a conflict of interest; and that he provided inaccurate and incomplete information to his practice for the completion of a report on the testing to be sent to the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA). This misconduct was then repeated the following year between 19 June and 1 August 2014.
The second head of charge against Mr Evans related to breaches of the Cattle Identification (Wales) Regulations 2007 between 4 July 2005 and 20 June 2014, namely the fact that he failed to register the birth of five calves and the death of nine cows. These were accepted as being specimen charges reflecting a much larger total number of breaches over the whole nine year period.
Mr Evans’ misconduct first came to light when a late return was sent to the AHVLA in August 2014 regarding the TB testing of 51 live animals on his farm in June 2014. When the report was scrutinised the AHVLA noticed that 26 animals shown on the return as dead were still registered, while 20 animals that were tested were not registered. When the AHVLA investigated, Mr Evans immediately admitted that he had misled Mr Lewis on two occasions and carried out his own testing despite not being the OV.
The Committee heard that he did this because he did not want it to be found out that he had unregistered cattle on his farm. Regarding the unregistered cattle, the Committee heard that this stemmed from a mistake made by Mr Evans in 2005 or 2006 whereby he mislaid a batch of around nine bovine passport application forms sent to him to register the birth of calves on his farm, a legal requirement for the purposes of animal health, disease control and safeguarding the food chain.
As a result of poor IT skills and being profoundly deaf, Mr Evans felt unable to seek support online or by telephone, was too embarrassed to tell others and, furthermore, felt that it was impossible to correct his mistake without being in breach of the law. So, for a period of nine or 10 years, he failed to register the birth of calves on his farm. His failure to register the deaths of cattle, was also caused by administrative failings. His breaches of the cattle registration regulations were subject to criminal proceedings and on 14 October 2015 he plead guilty at Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire Magistrates Court to 14 offences for which he was given a conditional discharge for 18 months and ordered to pay costs of £1,000.
The Committee considered that a suspension from the Register would be in line with the seriousness of the charges against Mr Evans. Professor Alistair Barr, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "The Committee agrees that the lengthy period over which these offences took place, his betrayal of his colleague, and the undermining of the reputation of the profession and of the system of disease control, taken together with his dishonesty, make it impossible to impose a lesser sanction than suspension.
"The Committee finds that the respondent, who is a man of good character, has fully accepted his guilt, and has real insight into the seriousness of his conduct. He cooperated fully with the investigations and with the County Council who prosecuted him in the Magistrates [Court], and with the College. He made an open and frank admission about his misconduct from the outset.
"The course of conduct on which he embarked and which has led to these charges was the result of a simple mistake at a time of considerable stress to him. He was not guilty of deliberate misconduct at the outset but… what started as an innocent mistake took on a life of its own and led him to deliberate and dishonest misconduct because he did not know how to get himself out of the predicament he was in."
Professor Barr also said that there was no financial gain in Mr Evans’ actions and that animal welfare had not been compromised as the cattle were well cared for and in good health and that Mr Evans’ actions in carrying out the tuberculin tests on the unregistered cattle himself demonstrated that he was concerned about identifying any disease in his herd.
He added: “In all the circumstances the Committee has decided a proportionate sanction is that the respondent’s registration should be suspended for a period of six months.”
The Committee’s full findings and decision are available on the RCVS website (www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary).
MSD Animal Health has announced the European launch of Activyl, a novel flea and tick treatment containing indoxacarb, an active that is new to animal health and which - uniquely - is activated by flea metabolism.
Activyl is licensed to treat and prevent flea infestations in cats and dogs. Activyl Tick Plus (indoxacarb + permethrin) controls fleas and ticks in dogs.
According to MSD, Activyl is the first flea control product to use metabolic activation, or bioactivation, to kill fleas. It is a topical, once-a-month ectoparasiticide containing indoxacarb, an agent that, because it is new, has no known flea resistance. Following application, indoxacarb is taken up by fleas where it is converted into an active metabolite. This metabolite causes fleas to stop feeding and they die within hours. Unlike insects, mammals mainly convert indoxacarb into non-toxic metabolites so they are not exposed to the active insecticide.
MSD says that Activyl also disrupts the flea life cycle by inhibiting the development of flea larvae. This aids in the environmental control of flea infestations and helps prevent re-infestation for up to four weeks. It may also be used as part of a treatment strategy for flea allergy dermatitis. In laboratory and field studies, Activyl has been shown to have a fast initial and persistent speed of kill that results in greater than 95% efficacy in preventing flea infestation for a full four weeks (MSD Animal Health, data on file).
Dr. Linda Horspool, BVMS, PhD, DipECVPT, MRCVS, global technical director for companion animal pharmaceuticals and parasiticides at MSD Animal Health said: "This innovation is the first time that a pro-insecticide, requiring activation by flea enzymes to produce a highly insecticidal active metabolite that kills adult and developing stages of fleas in the immediate environment of treated pets, has been used to provide flea control in dogs and cats."
Dispensed in clear pipettes that can easily be opened with one hand, Activyl is fragrance-free, dries quickly and remains effective following shampooing, swimming and exposure to sunlight. Seven sizes are available to treat small to extra-large dogs (five sizes) and small and large cats (two sizes). The product is approved for use in puppies and kittens from eight weeks of age.
Activyl Tick Plus is exclusively for dogs. In addition to indoxacarb, Activyl Tick Plus contains permethrin, an acaricide with proven efficacy against ticks. Studies have shown that Activyl Tick Plus kills more than 90% of common tick species including those known to carry such diseases as Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis and Lyme disease (MSD Animal Health, data on file).
Once applied, Activyl Tick Plus kills fleas for up to four weeks and kills and repels ticks for three to five weeks. It remains effective following swimming and exposure to rain or sunlight. The product is also provided in easy to use applicators in a variety of different sizes and has been approved for use in puppies from as young as eight weeks of age. Activyl Tick Plus is not for use on cats.
David Hallas, BVSc and companion animal franchise leader at MSD Animal Health said: "Both products will be available strictly through licensed veterinarians, benefiting dogs and cats and their owners by controlling fleas in an innovative way."
Voter turnout was more or less the same this year as last: 10.9% (or 1,435) of those eligible to vote. The average over the past 10 years is an 8.8% turnout.
The two places available on VN Council will be taken by new members Matthew Rendle and Racheal Marshall who gained 547 votes and 537 votes respectively.
Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS Acting Registrar, said: "I’d like to congratulate all those who were successfully elected, and re-elected, to Council, and thank all those who took part in this year’s elections – whether by standing as a candidate, casting a vote or submitting questions for the candidates to answer."
Liz Cox, Chair of VN Council, added: "Many congratulations to the two brand new members of VN Council – I look forward to working with them over the coming years and seeing what they can bring to help drive the profession forward."
All the successful candidates will take up their positions at RCVS Day – the College’s Annual General Meeting and Awards Day – on Friday 15 July 2016 at the Royal Institute of British Architects.
Each candidate in the elections was invited to produce a short video in which they answered questions put to them by fellow members of the professions and which appeared on the RCVS YouTube channel. The videos provided by the RCVS Council candidates received 1,169 views while those provided by the VN Council candidates received 779 views.
The elections were run on behalf of the College by Electoral Reform Services.
The British Small Animal Veterinary Association has announced that it is offering a new, enhanced legal service for its members, in conjunction Harrison Clark Rickerbys.
From 1st October, BSAVA members will be able to benefit from discounted rates and special fixed-fee packages for their personal and professional legal needs.
The BSAVA says that Harrison Clark Rickerbys' specialist team has a vast experience of acting for small animal veterinary practices, as well as referral practices and animal hospitals throughout the UK.
Charlotte Thornton-Smith from Harrison Clark Rickerbys said: "The team is delighted to provide dedicated membership benefits to the BSAVA and keen to work with its members to advise on any of their legal issues. We have a longstanding relationship with the BSAVA which stretches back over twenty years and have substantial experience of acting for veterinary practitioners, both personally and professionally. We very much hope that members of the BSAVA will take advantage of the special packages and discounted rates we are offering."
For more information, visit www.bsava.com
Feeling creative? Vetoquinol is offering nurses the opportunity to win a first prize of £500 of high street vouchers by designing an imaginative waiting room display focusing on urinary incontinence.
To enter, apply to Vetoquinol for the Propalin waiting room display pack, create a unique display and then send the company a picture. There are 15 prizes to be won before Christmas. The winning display will receive vouchers worth £500, second prize wins £300 worth of vouchers and the third prize wins £200 of vouchers. The 12 runners-up will each receive £50 worth of Amazon vouchers.
Call 0800 169 8197 for your starter-pack. Visit http://www.propalin.co.uk/ for terms and conditions.