The company points to a study which showed that cats treated Bravecto Plus showed no visible signs of mites at 14 days and 100% efficacy was confirmed at 28 days1. This, says the company, means that Bravecto Plus now gives 12 week control of fleas and ticks, eight week prevention of heartworm disease, treatment of roundworm and hookworm, and treatment of ear mites.
Hannah Newbury, Companion Animal Technical Lead at MSD Animal Health said: "With 1 in 4 cats in the Big Flea Project study having fleas2, we can conclude that pet owner compliance to parasite prevention is currently poor.
"This new licence is an important development for vets and cat owners, offering greater convenience, while helping improve flea and tick compliance. Bravecto Plus builds on the qualities of Bravecto and offers vets and cat owners another tool in the fight against an even broader range of potentially harmful parasites.
"Research by MSD Animal Health shows that 82% of cat owners believe that the ideal flea and tick treatment lasts longer than 2 months3 and vets can offer their cat owners this and more with BRAVECTO PLUS due to its 12 week duration of activity4.
For further information contact your MSD Animal Health Account Manager.
References
The Disciplinary Committee heard three charges against Dr Dhami, relating to events which took place while he was in practice at Vets4Pets in Market Harborough, Leicestershire.
The first charge against him was that, in November 2017, he used excessive force in kicking and stamping on a Staffordshire Bull Terrier he was treating.
The second charge was that, between in October and November 2017, he failed to pay adequate regard to the welfare of a Jack Russell in his care by leaving it in a sink without adequate reason and for an excessive period of time.
The third charge was that, between April and March 2018, he failed to have adequate regard to the welfare of a six-to-eight week old kitten, including providing bedding and warmth.
At the outset of the hearing Dr Dhami admitted to lightly kicking the dog, but denied forcefully kicking it and also denied that he had stamped on the dog, as well as denying the other two charges against him.
In considering the circumstances of the first charge, the Committee heard evidence from two of Dr Dhami’s colleagues stating that the dog had bitten him whilst he was cleaning its ears and, following this, he took the dog out of the consulting room, closed the door and whilst holding the dog’s lead then proceeded to kick her twice, knocking her along the floor both times, and then finally stamp on her when she was prone.
Dr Dhami disputed his colleagues' version of events and stated that he had only delivered two light kicks to the dog’s rump, that neither of these had made her fall to the floor and also denied in categorical terms that he stamped on the animal. Furthermore, he also denied the second and third charges against him.
In considering the evidence as to whether Dr Dhami kicked and stamped on the dog, the Disciplinary Committee found the evidence of his two colleagues to be credible and reliable, and so found all aspects of the charge proven.
Ian Green, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "For the avoidance of doubt, the Committee finds that the admitted kicks administered to [the animal] by the respondent were of significant force. The Committee rejects the respondent’s assertion that the admitted kicks amounted to mere taps on the backside. The Committee finds that the ‘stamping’ was also of significant force."
In regards to the second and third charges, the Committee was not satisfied that the charges had been proven by the evidence it heard and therefore dismissed them both.
Having found all parts of the first charge proven, the Committee then went on to consider whether or not Dr Dhami’s conduct amounted to serious professional misconduct, something that Dr Dhami, following the Committee’s decision on the facts, through his counsel, had admitted.
The Committee identified a number of aggravating factors, including the real risk of physical harm to the animal and the deliberate nature Dr Dhami’s conduct against the animal, committed in anger.
In mitigation, the Committee accepted that this was an isolated incident and that Dr Dhami had been bitten and was in pain. The Committee therefore found that Dr Dhami’s admission of serious professional misconduct was ‘properly and prudently made’.
The Committee then considered what sanction to impose on Dr Dhami. In doing so it took into account some of the written testimonials and character witnesses called on behalf of Dr Dhami. The Committee was also satisfied that Dr Dhami had had a hitherto long and unblemished career, that he had apologised to colleagues immediately after the incident and that, since the events, he had continued to work as a veterinary surgeon without any problems.
In relation to insight about the event, the Committee accepted Dr Dhami had provided some evidence of reflection, in that he admitted kicking the dog and accepted that this conduct, once found proven, amounted to serious professional misconduct.
The Committee decided that suspending Dr Dhami from the Register for four months would be the most proportionate sanction.
Ian Green concluded: "Having regard to all the matters urged by way of mitigation, and having taken into account all the evidence that it has heard, the Committee is satisfied that a period of suspension is sufficient in this case to protect the welfare of animals, maintain public confidence and to declare and uphold proper standards of conduct."
Dr Dhami has 28 days from being informed of the outcome of the hearing in which to make an appeal to the Privy Council.
Open to anyone working in a veterinary setting at any stage of their career, the competition rewards teams and individuals (clinical and non-clinical), who have achieved better outcomes through QI initiatives for patients, clients, the business or the working environment.
Individual winners will be crowned 'Knowledge Champions' and one team will become RCVS Knowledge’s 'Champion Practice'.
Each winner will also receive a £250 reward, tickets to the awards ceremony next calendar year and the opportunity to work with RCVS Knowledge to further promote their quality improvement work.
Candidates can nominate themselves or others for an award.
If you want to nominate a colleague, the deadline is 17thOctober. The deadline to apply on your own behalf or that of your team/practice is 29th November 2019.
Full details are available online: bit.ly/KnowledgeAwards.
Executive Director of RCVS Knowledge, Chris Gush said: "The 2019 awards shed light on the very good work those in the profession are doing to continually enhance quality, so we are delighted to bring the competition back for 2020.
"It is a great opportunity for individuals and teams to showcase their quality improvement initiatives. Whether it is clinically focused or aiming to improve procurement, we are keen to hear about the work that is underway."
Last year's awards highlighted inspirational QI projects such as a drugs audit that led to a ten-fold improvement in usage discrepancy; a quarterly clinical audit that enhanced nursing expertise and trust from veterinary surgeons; and the introduction of guidelines that coincided with the subsequent treatment of 2,639 additional animals.
The case examples submitted by each winner are available to download for free:
'Champion Practice' Vets Now Macclesfield for its anaesthesia audit.
'Knowledge Champion' Louise Northway RVN, Wendover Heights Veterinary Centre, for her anaesthesia audit.
'Knowledge Champion' Alison Thomas MRCVS, Blue Cross, for her case study: Creating clinical guidelines.
'Knowledge Champion' Angela Rayner MRCVS, CVS Group plc, for her case study: Controlled drugs process audit.
For more case examples and QI resources, visit: bit.ly/QIKnowledge
The announcement came in the form of a written statement by the then Home Secretary Sajid Javid to the House of Commons on 23rd July, which said: "The Government is happy to accept all of the MAC’s recommendations on the composition of the SOL and the necessary amendments will be made in the Autumn Immigration Rules changes."
Being on the shortage occupation list means that employers do not need to advertise jobs for veterinary surgeons in the UK for 28 days before advertising abroad (the Resident Labour Market Test). In addition, there are lower visa fees and it provides exemption from the minimum income threshold.
RCVS President Niall Connell said: "Both the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the British Veterinary Association worked together to ensure this outcome, which will see a lowering of the immigration barriers, for example, in terms of visa requirements, for overseas veterinary surgeons who wish to live and work in the UK.
"We also considered this a vital piece of preparation for the UK leaving the EU, as around half of those registering as veterinary surgeons with the RCVS in a given year are non-UK EU nationals and we would not want to see this vital supply of veterinary talent immediately dry up should ‘freedom of movement’ end when the UK leaves the EU.
"We thank Mr Javid for accepting the Committee’s proposals and congratulate his successor Priti Patel on her appointment and look forward to the decision being implemented. The new Prime Minister pledged on the steps of Downing Street to do more to promote the welfare of animals, and having veterinary surgeons on the Shortage Occupation List will help in our mission to uphold animal health and welfare and ensure that vital veterinary work can continue to get done, whatever happens with the relationship between the UK and the EU."
Dr Corsi consulted with Kika's owners about the management of her pregnancy at the end of November 2017, finding at least 4 puppies on an x-ray taken at the time.
The first of five charges against Dr Corsi was that on the 14th December, after being advised by Kika's owners that the dog had produced two live puppies and one dead puppy the previous night, she failed to advise them that Kika needed an immediate veterinary examination.
The second charge was that, having been telephoned for a second time by the owner, she still failed to advise the owners that Kika required an immediate veterinary examination.
The third charge was that, following an examination of Kika that afternoon, and having ascertained that Kika required a caesarean section to remove one undelivered puppy, Dr Corsi failed to perform the caesarean section that day and advised the owner that Kika could undergo the caesarean section (at the practice, performed by her) the next day (or words to the effect).
The charge also stated that she failed to advise the owner that Kika’s health and welfare required the caesarean section to be performed that day; and that she failed to advise them that, if she or another veterinary surgeon at the practice could not perform the surgery that day, Kika needed to be referred to the out-of-hours clinic so that the caesarean section could take place on the 14th December.
The fourth charge was that Dr Corsi failed to recognise that Kika’s health and welfare required a caesarean section to be performed on 14th December.
The fifth charge was that, on 16th December 2017, having been telephoned by the owner at about 5pm and having been informed that Kika was weak and had not been eating post-operatively, Dr Corsi failed to advise the owner that Kika should be presented urgently for a veterinary examination.
The Disciplinary Committee considered the facts of the case and heard evidence from a number of witnesses including the owners of Kika and Dr Corsi, and from Mr Maltman MRCVS who was called as an expert witness on behalf of the College and Mr Chitty, who was called as an expert witness on behalf of Dr Corsi.
Having considered all of the evidence, the Committee found all aspects of the first and second charges proven in their entirety.
The Committee found the majority of the third charge not proved, with the exception of the fact that it found that Dr Corsi did advise the owner that she could undertake the Caesarean section on 15 December 2017.
In light of the Committee’s findings in respect of the aspects of charge three that were not proved, charge four was also found not proved.
Finally, the Committee considered that charge five was found not proved.
The Committee then went on to consider whether the charges that were found proven amounted to serious professional misconduct either individually and/or cumulatively.
Committee Chair Cerys Jones said: "In light of the evidence of both parties’ experts, the Committee was of the view that there was a risk of harm or injury resulting from Dr Corsi’s failure - the Committee decided that this was an aggravating factor.
"However, the Committee took into account that, at the time of both calls, Dr Corsi had a rationale for her decision, that she asked appropriate questions and received answers which led her to make what she considered to be a reasoned assessment.
"She had also made arrangements in both calls to be kept updated either at a pre-arranged time or sooner if Kika’s condition changed. On this basis, the Committee was satisfied that, while this was an error of judgement, it did not fall so far short of what was expected as to amount to disgraceful conduct."
Therefore, the Committee decided that while Dr Corsi’s conduct in Charges 1 and 2 demonstrated a departure from professional standards, the falling short was not so grave as to amount to disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.
The full decision can be read here: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/concerns/disciplinary-hearings/
A few examples of the products in J.A.K Marketing's 'ThinkGreen' portfolio include the Purfect Anaesorber, BAG’EMS biodegradable poop bags, Tick Twister products (made from recycled plastic) and Bamboo stick cotton buds.
The website also gives a snapshot of the sorts of things that J.A.K itself does to reduce its impact on the environment, including the use of environmentally-friendly brown paper and recycled cardboard boxes for packaging. The company has also switched to certified sustainable FSC paper for most of its printed marketing materials (including the master catalogue) and is working with courier companies who have targets in reducing CO2 emissions.
Managing Director, John Holland said: "J.A.K Marketing is committed to the protection and preservation of the world’s ecosystem. By undertaking our productivity and operations responsibly and sustainably, we recognise that reducing the environmental impact of our activities is very important. We will strive to achieve environmental excellence within the veterinary industry and will continue to work closely with our employees and commercial partners to establish and follow the principles of our ThinkGreen policy."
Sales Director, James Johnson said: "With growing interest towards the protection of the environment, we need to make it easier for veterinary practices to identify products where there is a benefit to the environment by simply switching to a like for like ‘greener’ alternative. As part of our long-term strategy, we are dedicated to growing this area of our business, welcoming feedback from the profession of how we can all work together to achieve this."
Those wanting to offer inspiration and feedback can do so on the form at the bottom of the ‘ThinkGreen’ page: www.jakmarketing.co.uk/thinkgreen.
The company says the product is highly effective against common bacteria including Staphylococci, Clostridia, Corynebacteria and Streptococci, and gram-negative bacteria including Bacteroides spp, Pasteurellae, and Proteus spp.
Clavubactin is available in a range of dose strengths to treat all sizes of patient. It is presented as a doubly divisible tablet for accurate and flexible dosing and to help avoid the development of antibiotic resistance associated with under dosing. The tablets come in blister packs of 10, designed to help reduce unnecessary exposure when dispensing in practice.
Dechra Brand Manager Carol Morgan said: "The introduction of Clavubactin to our antibiotic portfolio will give veterinary professionals even more choice of effective and targeted treatments in their day-to-day practice."
The survey was conducted after it was found that only 10% of job adverts on VetSurgeon.org and 16% on VetNurse.co.uk include an indication of the salary. By contrast, a quick analysis of the adverts on other leading job boards for professionals found that 66% of jobs advertised for doctors include salary details, 87% for human nurses, 64% for architects and 92% for computer programmers.
The survey received 1,147 responses: 524 from veterinary surgeons and 622 from veterinary nurses.
When asked how they would likely react to job advertisements seen online or in print:
75.7% of vet nurses said they would read adverts which display a salary first (before those that don't)
54.5% of vet nurses said they would respond to adverts which display the salary first (before those that don't).
28.8% of vet nurses said they would ignore ads that don't show a salary.
Only 18.4% said they would consider the job adverts equally, regardless of whether or not they displayed a salary.
Respondents were then asked what impression it gave them if a practice advertised a job without stating a salary. 66% of vet nurses said 'negative', 32.2% said 'neutral' and 1.1% said 'positive'.
The final question asked how annoying it is to read job adverts which only describe a salary using words like 'competitive' or 'generous'.
1.9% of veterinary nurses said: 'Not at all annoying"
30.7% said 'Mildly irritating'
67% said 'Very annoying. It's a waste of my time to ring and find my definition of 'competitive' is not the same as the advertiser's.'
By comparison, veterinary surgeons were a little less salary conscious, but very much the same patterns emerged (full results of the vet survey here).
The bottom line is that if you spend £99 to advertise a job on VetNurse and you don't advertise the salary, you're effectively throwing away £28 there and then. Might as well just set fire to a £20 and a £10 note. Even if you think that is a price worth paying (and let's not forget that it'll be a considerably more expensive mistake if you advertise elsewhere), you then have to think of the monetary value of having sent someone away with a negative impression of your practice, or worse still if you described the salary as 'competitive' or 'generous'.
It is worth highlighting that on VetNurse and VetSurgeon, employers are invited to advertise the 'Minimum Offer', described to jobseekers as the starting point for discussions, or a salary range. Both are designed to give jobseekers something to go on, whilst still allowing room for negotiation.
To help employers get the most out of their recruitment adverts on VetNurse.co.uk and VetSurgeon.org, we're sharing a special training video, which you can watch below. If nothing else, a quick reminder of what you need to include in the advert:
The study, which was conducted in in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh and Nottingham Trent University, looked at the relationship between the owners of over 2000 Pugs, French and English Bulldogs and their pets.
The researchers found that while 20% of the brachycephalic dogs in the study had undergone at least one corrective surgery, only 6.8% of owners consider their dog to be less healthy than average for their breed.
Furthermore, despite 17.9% of owners reporting breathing problems and 36.5% reporting overheating, a staggering 70.9% of owners still considered their dog to be in ‘very good health’ or ‘the best health possible'.
The average age of the dogs in the study was a youthful 2.17 years, which suggests a particularly steep and recent increase in ownership, and points towards a looming health crisis as they age and their disorders worsen.
The study also revealed that the dog-owner relationship is influenced by expectations in advance of owning a short-muzzled dog.
Dogs whose behaviour, maintenance and veterinary costs were worse than expected prior to ownership led to owners reporting ownership of their dog to be a greater burden.
With more brachycephalic dogs being relinquished to rescue centres across the UK, the researchers say realistic expectations of ownership are crucial to maintaining long-lasting relationships between owners and short-muzzled dogs.
Dr Rowena Packer, Research Fellow at the Royal Veterinary College and leader of the study, said: "With the UK experiencing a brachycephalic crisis, a greater understanding of the relationships between owners and dogs of these breeds is vital.
"Emotional forces may trump rationality, with owners clearly loving their dogs but considering high levels of disease as healthy for these breeds. With the welfare of many thousands of dogs at stake, along with emotional and financial burdens on their owners, research that unravels these complex relationships is much needed."
Dr Dan O’Neill, Senior Lecturer at the Royal Veterinary College and Chairman of the UK Brachycephalic Working Group, said: "After almost a decade working on brachycephalic dogs, I have come to realise that the issue is as much a human problem as it is a dog problem.
"As humans, we design, breed and choose the dogs we own but our dogs have to live, for better or worse, with those outcomes. With such great power comes great responsibility. Deeper understanding of the human reasons for our choices can help us make better decisions and to improve the welfare of our ‘best friend’."
Bill Lambert, Senior Health and Welfare Manager at the Kennel Club, said: "By contrasting perception and reality, this research provides vital insights which can help advance practical tools and resources to enable better understanding of the health conditions these popular breeds can suffer from and inform puppy buyers’ and owners’ decisions. Similarly, it highlights how crucial it is that all those who care about dog welfare continue to work collaboratively to raise awareness of brachycephalic-related conditions, and encourage puppy buyers to do thorough research and go to a responsible breeder who prioritises health. This is the remit of the Brachycephalic Working Group, made up of vets, welfare organisations and breed clubs, who will no doubt use the insight from this paper to inform future work."
Reference
Photo: Charles Bradbury
Dechra says the combination of triamcinolone acetonide and salicylic acid works to provide effective symptomatic treatment, particularly for certain types of otitis externa that are not caused by a bacterial or yeast infection, such as flare ups caused by allergies.
Dechra Brand Manager Carol Morgan said: "Otitis externa is a condition that causes inflammation of the external ear canal and it can have a debilitating effect on cats and dogs.
"Recicort is a moderately potent steroid with an anti-inflammatory and vasoconstrictive action that works by suppressing the inflammatory response and the symptoms of various disorders often associated with itching. It doesn’t contain an antibiotic or antimycotic so it won’t contribute to antimicrobial resistance either.
"This prescription-only treatment is an important addition to our dermatology portfolio for veterinary professionals who are looking for a suite of highly effective and cost effective treatments."
Recicort is available in 20 ml bottles. For more information visit: www.dechra.co.uk
This year’s Protect and Prevent campaign urged rabbit owners to get their rabbits vaccinated, following the continued outbreak of rabbit viral haemorrhagic disease (RVHD2). Veterinary practices were also urged to make sure they were stocking the necessary vaccines to protect rabbits against RVHD2, RVHD and myxomatosis.
The company says that over 5000 campaign packs were downloaded from the Rabbit Awareness Week website and sales of RVHD2 vaccines in the veterinary sector in June 2019 were 55% up on June 2018.
Peter Lancaster, Marketing Manager at Burgess Pet Care said: "We would like to say a huge thank you to the RAW partners, veterinary practices, rescue centres, pet shop retailers and, of course, rabbit owners, for their continued support in helping us to improve the health and wellbeing of rabbits."
Dr Richard Saunders BVSc DZooMed MRCVS, veterinary advisor to RWAF said: "We heard lots of heart-breaking stories from owners and vets alike about rabbits, sometimes whole groups of rabbits, which had not been vaccinated. None of those people realised just how widespread the RVHD2 is, and how easy it is to pick it up. We will continue to campaign and share our message that it is very much better late than never to vaccinate rabbits against all three killer diseases of rabbits: myxomatosis, Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease 1 and 2."
PDSA Vet Nurse, Kristiana Shirley, said: "Rabbit Awareness Week provided us with a great opportunity to engage with rabbit owners and raise awareness of the key preventative healthcare our bunnies so vitally need.
"During Rabbit Awareness Week in June, we saw a significant increase in the number of vaccines given when compared to previous months, and an increase in our rabbit MOTs too, which we hope is just the start of a trend which sees more owners protecting their rabbits from preventable, fatal diseases."
For more information on Rabbit Awareness Week, including free access to rabbit CPD, visit www.rabbitawarenessweek.co.uk
The company says VeggieDent Zen provides the same dental benefits as VeggieDent FR3SH Dental Chews, but also includes L-theanine.
L-theanine is an amino acid which Virbac says is known to positively influence GABA levels in the brain to help reduce anxiety and increase mental focus. According to the company, one VeggieDent Zen chew daily can help to calm and reduce anxiety in dogs whilst also providing regular oral care.
VeggieDent Zen is free from GMO corn, wheat, gluten and meat, and contains no colourants or artificial ingredients. The new chews also hold the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal for tartar control.
Claire Lewis, Product Manager at Virbac said: "Dental chews are a great way for pet owners to provide passive dental care at home. With VeggieDent Zen we are pleased to be able to offer pet owners a convenient, multi-functional approach to supporting their pet’s health and well-being."
VeggieDent Zen comes in 4 chew sizes (Extra-Small, Small, Medium & Large) and is available from the veterinary wholesalers now.
For information on VeggieDent Zen, contact your Virbac Territory Manager.
The survey follows the launch last year of a new feature on VetNurse Jobs and VetSurgeon Jobs which allows employers to highlight the salary and benefits they offer. Specifically, the system allows practices to display a 'minimum offer', described to the job seeker as the starting point for a discussion, or a salary range.
Still, currently only 16% of the job adverts on VetNurse.co.uk and 10% on VetSurgeon.org include the salary, despite some evidence that broadly speaking, advertising a salary can improve response rates.
But do veterinary job seekers want to see the salary advertised, and if so, how much of a different could it make? These are questions this survey seeks to answer.
My guess is that it may be more important to veterinary nurses than veterinary surgeons, because there is probably a greater variability in salaries amongst nurses, and more jobs where you'd struggle to pay the mortgage.
It'll be interesting to see.
To take part in the survey, which is completely anonymous, visit: https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5110214/Should-veterinary-salaries-be-advertised. It's 4 quick fire questions which should take you less than a minute.
It might explain why, according to the research, around 14% of British adults actively encourage fox visitors into their garden, with 10% of adults leaving out food, water or toys for foxes and 48% of them admitting they would feel disappointed if their garden fox did not return at night.
Bayer highlights research which showed an increase in the number of foxes infected with Angiostrongylus, from 7.3% in 2008 to 18.3% in 20152,3.
More recent work led by the aptly named Professor Mark Fox at the Royal Veterinary College has shown that, in the Greater London area, nearly three out of four foxes (74.4%) are infected with the parasite.4
Mark said: "We had previously mapped the distribution of Angiostrongylus in pet dogs by seeing how many cases every small animal practice in Britain had seen over the previous 12 months. This revealed the parasite’s widespread distribution coupled with hotspots of infection in Greater London/south-east England and South Wales, where dogs were four to five times more likely to be infected than elsewhere in the country.
"We then investigated why hot spots were seen in these locations and, apart from land type, dog density and climatic factors, we found that the mere presence of foxes locally increased the risk of infection in dogs five-fold."
"The overall prevalence of infection in Greater London was very high, at just under 75 per cent4, and prevalence was maintained at this level throughout the year. These results suggest that foxes act as year-round, wild animal reservoirs of infection for urban dogs."
Donna Tomlinson, Bayer Senior Brand Manager said: "The recent ‘pet foxes’ pet owner research results coupled with the lungworm prevalence fox studies highlights the growing concern of the spread of Angiostrongylus vasorum in the UK and the need for adequate preventative measures for pet dogs.
"Veterinary professionals are perfectly placed to advise dog owners on the risk of their pets becoming infected with the parasite, including the growing role of foxes as potential wild animal reservoirs of Angiostrongylus, as well as advising pet owners to use a monthly spot-on prevention such as Advocate.
"Treatment with products containing moxidectin, such as Advocate, not only kills lungworms present at the time of treatment but also kills larvae after ingestion preventing new infections. Regular monthly use prevents disease and ensures that no lungworm larvae are shed in dogs’ faeces which helps to prevent the spread of the parasite in the environment."
To highlight the increased prevalence of lungworm in foxes Bayer has created a poster for veterinary practices, which you can get from the Bayer Vet Centre at: https://www.vetcentre.bayer.co.uk/marketing-and-resources/advocate-fox-poster
Lead author Professor Clare Rusbridge, Chief of Neurology at Fitzpartick Referrals, conducted the study because of a lack of clarity on the recognition and diagnosis of the clinical signs associated with CM as opposed to syringomyelia (SM).
CM is an abnormality in the skull, making it smaller, and impacting on the brain to alter the flow of cerebrospinal fluid; this results in pain and a collection of fluid pockets within the spinal cord. These fluid pockets are commonly known as SM and over time can cause irreversible damage to a dog’s spinal cord. However it is not clear whether signs of pain in affected dogs are due to CM or SM or both.
To try to rectify this, Clare studied the medical records of all the cavalier King Charles spaniels diagnosed with CM-associated clinical signs presenting to her at Fitzpatrick Referrals over a five year period. She documented the historical and examination findings and related them to the MRI findings, including presence and size of the SM.
She found common signs in all dogs were vocalisation, spinal pain (neck, middle or lower back), reduced activity, reduced stairs or jumping ability, aversion to being touched or groomed, altered emotional state (described as being more timid, anxious, withdrawn or aggressive) and sleep disturbance.
A tendency to rub or scratch at the head or ears was common but was more likely in dogs with small or no SM suggesting that this may be a sign of head discomfort associated with CM. Head and ear rubbing was not associated with the presence of material within the middle ear (a condition which is also common in this breed and often given the acronym PSOM).
The only signs that were specific to SM were phantom scratching, scoliosis (twisted spine) and weakness and these were only present when the SM was large (at least 4mm wide).
Clare says this study is important because it suggests that CM alone is a cause of pain in many dogs. The aim now is to use the information gained in this study to develop a questionnaire to determine risk of CM and monitor the response to clinical signs.
Photo: Charlie on a bad day
The survey, which received 2445 responses from BVA members, found that 16% of vets and vet students have personally experienced discrimination within a veterinary workplace or learning environment in the past twelve months, while 20% had witnessed discrimination.
Senior colleagues were most commonly responsible for the discrimination (47% of incidents), with discrimination from clients accounting for 35% of incidents.
Sex discrimination was the most common type reported (44% of incidents) and was particularly prevalent in academic settings and in production animal, equine, and mixed practices.
Race discrimination was the next most commonly reported (27% of incidents).
Respondents also gave details of discrimination in relation to other protected characteristics, including age, sexuality, disability and gender reassignment.
Younger vets were more likely than older vets to have personally experienced discrimination in the past year (27% of those under 35 had experienced discrimination).
Female vets were more than twice as likely to have experienced discrimination than their male colleagues (19% and 8% respectively).
The incidence of discrimination was higher amongst vets from a range of minority ethnic backgrounds. Those who described their sexual orientation as bi, gay or lesbian were twice as likely to have personally experienced discrimination in the past year.
Despite the high incidence of discrimination reported, responses to the same survey showed that only 56% of the profession feel concerned about discrimination.
British Veterinary Association Junior Vice President Daniella Dos Santos (pictured right) said: "This is the first time anyone has collected such a significant body of evidence on this issue and the results are truly shocking. It is completely unacceptable that so many members of the veterinary team are subject to discrimination not just from clients but from members of our own profession.
"Worryingly, it seems that the scale of the issue will come as a surprise to many members of our profession and so it is vital that we all join the conversation and reflect on what role we can play to improve equality and inclusion. The veterinary team must become a safe and supportive environment for everyone. We cannot accept anything less for ourselves, for our colleagues and for our profession."
Only 12% of respondents were satisfied with how their incident had been dealt, rising to 23% among those who felt able to report. Daniella said: "Many of the experiences documented in our report are shocking and distressing and this distress is often compounded by what comes next. It was very saddening to hear that so many people have felt unable to report their experiences or that their reports were handled badly by those who received them.
"Experiencing discrimination can be very traumatic, without the ‘double-whammy’ of having your complaint dismissed or mishandled by managers or senior staff. We need to make sure everyone who experiences discrimination is able to get the outcome they deserve.
"Through the discrimination questionnaire we heard many distressing stories from vets, students, vet nurses and other colleagues. We are incredibly grateful to them for sharing these with us so that we can raise awareness of what’s happening in our veterinary workplaces."
To raise awareness of the scale of the issue, the BVA is inviting all members of the veterinary team to join a "Big Conversation on equality and inclusion in the veterinary professions", starting with the release of its report on the current situation on discrimination, which can be downloaded here, then inviting everyone to join online engagement sessions through social media and BVA members to feed in views via their regional representatives ahead of Council on 24 July.
The equine events will initially take place at Rossdales Equine Hospital in Suffolk on 22nd October and at Ashbrook Veterinary Hospital in Cheshire on 5th December.
The roadshow will see a range of speakers renowned in the fields of equine veterinary medicine and QI share practical examples of improving outcomes for equine patients. Interactive workshops, real-life scenarios and case studies will show how QI techniques can be applied in practice to help teams prevent and respond to errors.
Confirmed speakers include Professor Debra Archer, Head of Equine Surgery and Professor in Equine Surgery at the University of Liverpool, Dr Alice Bird, Senior Clinical Anaesthetist at the Animal Health Trust and Dr Rachel Dean, Director of Clinical Research and Excellence in Practice, VetPartners.
President Elect of BEVA, Tim Mair, said: "There are many challenges to being an equine vet and running a successful equine practice. Even in large practices and equine hospitals, there is a risk that we operate in our own little bubble and assume that what we are doing is best practice, whereas in reality we could often do a better job.
"Clinical governance and quality improvement are tools that allow us to critically appraise our day-to-day work and identify ways in which we can continuously improve what we do – to the benefit of our patients and clients, as well as to ourselves."
For the full programme and to buy tickets, visit bit.ly/RCVSKnowledgeEvents.
Anyone interested in booking an RCVS Knowledge roadshow for their region can do so by contacting ebvm@rcvsknowledge.org.
The survey, which takes about 5 minutes (I timed it), is designed to canvas opinion about the priorities for learning and development.
Rich Casey, Junior Vice President of the VMG (pictured right), said: "From marketing to HR to financial planning and all points in between, today’s veterinary leaders require expertise in every aspect of running a successful business.
"We want to create a truly valuable, constructive and evidence-based CPD calendar for next year. Views from those working in the profession will help us to fully understand what good leadership and management look like in the veterinary world and we will then make sure that the programme promotes best practice in these important areas. We thank everyone who takes the time to complete the survey."
The survey can be accessed here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/VETCPDPR
The initiative was launched by the RCVS and the BVNA in 2016 to identify and find solutions to some of the specific issues facing the veterinary nursing profession.
In July 2016 it published the VN Futures Report and Action Plan which set out 31 actions under six broad strategic aims.
To follow up these actions, six working groups were formed to look at the broad strategic areas and, in June 2018, it was decided to set up a VN Futures Board to help coordinate and oversee the work of these groups. The Board comprises the RCVS Veterinary Nurses Council Chair and Vice-Chair, Racheal Marshall and Liz Cox, and the BVNA President and Vice-President, Wendy Nevins and Jo Hinde.
Outgoing Chair Wendy Nevins said: "In its first 12 months, the VNF Board has really got to grips with the direction and legacy of the VN Futures initiative. The clarity and direction it has brought is reinvigorating the Working Groups. The next 12 months will see a real focus on delivery of the original findings of the VFN Futures initiative."
The VNF initiative is nearly three years into its original five-year life span and the Board reported that progress thus far has included the development of two new Diplomas in Advanced Veterinary Nursing, more resources to help both VNs and vets navigate Schedule 3 and publication of career case studies to demonstrate the diverse roles available in the profession.
Wendy added: "The VN Futures project has a fixed five-year horizon to make sure we keep focus on what the profession said it wanted – and needed – to be delivered. At the end it will be for the profession to decide how well this has been done – and what comes next."
The Board also confirmed plans to have a presence at the Royal Veterinary College’s Student Veterinary Nurse Fest this summer, as well as events at the BVNA Congress in October and the British Small Animal Veterinary Association Congress in April 2020.
Racheal Marshall said: "The energy and life of the VN Futures initiative comes from veterinary nurses so we are excited to be taking this back out to meet nurses and ask them for their thoughts and comments on how these issues – like career progression, further qualifications, and emerging agendas like One Health – matter to them. We are really looking forward to a busy program of congress events in order to hear from people!"
To download the VN Futures Report and Action Plan and view some of the initiative’s latest blogs, case studies and other online resources, visit: www.vetfutures.org.uk/vnfutures/
The double-blind placebo-controlled study will examine whether the pheromone collar can help reduce the severity or development of certain potentially problematic behaviours in puppies and it is open to puppies less than 12 weeks of age.
Puppies will have to wear a collar until they are six months of age and their owners will be asked to complete a check sheet relating to their puppy’s behaviour every month. Each month a new collar will be sent direct to their home.
To encourage enrolment, the University of Lincoln is offering veterinary professionals a £10 voucher for every successful sign up to the trial.
Owners who complete all questionnaires will receive a pack of canine health and welfare goodies from Ceva Animal Health. The pack will include Adaptil Junior, Adaptil Transport and Logic Oral Hygiene Gel.
Owners will also be entered into a draw to win an iPad.
A marketing pack is available to raise awareness of the study and includes a waiting room poster, owner leaflets and a social media post for Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
For further information, email the University of Lincoln at puppydevelopment@lincoln.ac.uk.
Achieved by VMG members who have demonstrated an ability to effectively manage a veterinary practice, hospital or unit, the CVPM is aimed at experienced managers and members of the veterinary team in a leadership or management role. The qualification tests the knowledge of candidates in areas including management, HR, communication, marketing and financial planning.
VMG Director Georgina Hills (pictured right) said: "Effective veterinary leaders require expertise in all aspects of running a successful business, as well as a deep understanding of the veterinary sector and the CVPM is unique in testing their knowledge across the board. It is increasingly recognised as a benchmark for excellence and we are delighted to have seen an uplift in applications last year."
Further details on the CVPM and the application form are available here: https://www.vetmg.com/education/cvpm/
The charge against Ms Law was that in November 2017, having performed surgery on Kiwi, a German Shepherd/Wolfhound-cross dog, to address gastric dilation volvulus (GDV), she failed to obtain informed consent to the entirety of the surgical process and management, including post-operative aftercare.
The charge also stated that she failed to provide adequate analgesia to Kiwi before, during or after the surgery, failed to provide appropriate and adequate fluid therapy to Kiwi, failed to offer an appropriate and adequate post-operative care plan and/or post-operative transfer for Kiwi to another practice and failed to inform the owners that there would be nobody present at the practice to provide post-operative monitoring and aftercare for Kiwi for approximately seven hours during the night.
Finally the charge stated that Ms Law allowed Kiwi to remain at the practice overnight from 12:30am to 07:45am without adequate monitoring or post-operative aftercare.
Ms Law admitted some of the charges against her, including that she had failed to obtain informed consent, failed to offer an appropriate and/or adequate post-operative care plan, failed to inform the owners that there would be nobody present at the practice and allowed Kiwi to remain at the practice overnight without adequate monitoring and/or post-operative aftercare. However, she denied that she failed to provide adequate analgesia or fluid therapy to Kiwi.
The Committee found all of the charges proved, with the exception of failing to provide adequate analgesia during the perioperative period.
Having considered the facts, the Committee then moved on to consider whether the admitted and proven charges against Ms Law amounted to serious professional misconduct, taking into account any aggravating and mitigating factors. The aggravating features were that, as a result of Ms Law’s failures in relation to analgesia and fluid therapy, there was either actual injury to Kiwi, or a risk of such injury.
In mitigation, the Committee considered that she promptly and accurately diagnosed GDV, and proceeded to perform the necessary emergency surgery. The Committee considered that the charges related to a single isolated incident and that Ms Law has had an unblemished career to date. They also noted that Ms Law had made open and frank admissions as to the majority of the charges.
The Committee found that the conduct of Ms Law set out in the majority of the charges did not amount to serious professional misconduct. However, in the judgement of the Committee, Ms Law’s conduct in allowing Kiwi to remain at the practice overnight without adequate monitoring or post-operative aftercare did amount to serious professional misconduct.
Jane Downes, who chaired the Committee and spoke on its behalf, said: "The Committee considers that the respondent (Ms Law) has insight into the serious mistake that she made in failing to ensure that Kiwi was checked or monitored overnight. The Committee has found that this was a single isolated incident, which involved a serious lapse of clinical judgement, which will probably stay in the mind of the respondent for the rest of her career.
"The respondent has been in practice for some nine years now, and apart from this incident, there is no suggestion that the respondent has fallen short of the standards expected of her on any other occasion. The Committee does not consider that there is a risk that the respondent is likely to leave an animal overnight after major surgery again, without ensuring that it is checked during that time, and, as such, the Committee considers that there is no future risk to the welfare of animals so far as the respondent is concerned."
The Committee considered that the finding of disgraceful conduct in a professional respect in this case is too serious for no further action to be taken, having regard to the need to maintain public confidence in the profession and declare and uphold proper standards of conduct.
The Committee therefore concluded that the appropriate sanction in this case was to issue a reprimand to Ms Law, in relation to the finding of serious professional misconduct.
Jane Downes added: "The Committee considers that this sanction, coupled with the findings of fact and disgraceful conduct made against the respondent, is sufficient to maintain public confidence in the profession and uphold proper standards of conduct. The Committee does not consider it necessary to issue a warning to the respondent about her future conduct, on the basis that the Committee has concluded that there is no risk of repetition."
There were three charges against Ms Creese, all pertaining to the period between July 2016 and November 2017.
The first charge was that she failed to ensure that there were adequate systems and processes in place for out-of-hours’ care for in-patients.
The second charge was that she publicised that the practice had "24 hour care provided by our vets at our practice" and/or "Care 24/7 for your pets" on its website, which suggested that staff were present at the practice 24 hours a day when they were not and as such publicity was dishonest and/or misleading.
The third charge against Ms Creese was that she failed to ensure that Kiwi's owners were informed about arrangements at the practice for out-of-hours’ care for in-patients.
At the outset of the hearing, Ms Creese denied all the charges against her.
After hearing evidence from relevant witnesses, the Committee considered that the practice did have in place systems and processes for out-of-hours care for in-patients and that there was no evidence of repeated or ignored failures of these systems and processes. The Committee therefore found the charges against Ms Creese not proved and all three were dismissed.
For the study, 309 university students were randomly assigned to one of three four-week stress prevention programs featuring varying levels of exposure to animal-assisted activities and evidenced-based stress management content.
The research found that students who were considered at a higher risk of poor academic performance saw a significant boost in executive function including improvements in attention, memory, self-regulation and improved cognitive function when they received exclusive exposure to interaction with the dogs.
This improvement was not seen in students who participated in a more traditional stress management learning program using lectures containing information about stress management or sessions that combined such information with lower levels of animal interaction.
Lead study investigator, Associate Professor Patricia Pendry, from Washington State University said:"Academic stress and associated negative impact on student performance is a significant issue for universities today and something we need to better address.
"While more traditional learning programs continue to play a role, the results of the study are exciting as they indicate this type of intervention can be a positive stress management tool especially for students who are at-risk of poor academic performance.
“We know from previous research the positive effects of animal visitation programs on the mood3 of college students – and even recently discovered their positive effect on stress hormone levels4. However, this is the first study to demonstrate that more frequent and regular inclusion of dogs can positively affect aspects of cognitive functioning that may be more difficult to change with existing interventions."
Study co-author and expert in Human-Animal Interaction expert Professor Nancy Gee said: "This study was informed by previous research and reinforces the growing body of evidence showing the benefits of pets for people in many different contexts and for at-risk groups.
"This type of animal-assisted stress reduction program is both easy to implement and low cost – offering a fantastic way for universities to support their students. After participating, participants feel calmer and more socially supported and this leads to an improvement in mental health and cognition.
"My hope is that evidence-based interventions which are already gaining popularity can become common practice in educational settings."
References:
Tracey, who started working in practice as a trainee in 1986 and qualified in 1989, spent her nursing career in both mixed and small animal practice in her home town of Hinckley, Leicestershire before retiring in 2018.
She says the book is mainly aimed at people thinking of embarking on a career as a veterinary nurse, but she also hopes colleagues in the profession will enjoy it, particularly those who are newer to the profession and have an interest in how things have progressed over the last three decades.
Tracey said: "Having enjoyed a very long career as a veterinary nurse, I wanted to take the opportunity to share some of my experiences, the happy, the sad and the sometimes downright crazy!
"The role of the veterinary nurse has changed so much over the last thirty years and continues to evolve with each passing year. My story is a light-hearted journey from my early years as a fresh-faced trainee to a fully qualified head nurse, will all the highs and lows along the way.
"The book will hopefully appeal to all members of the veterinary profession, past, present and future as well as to animal lovers everywhere. It was written from the heart to celebrate the work that veterinary nurses do, the diversity of their role and the steep learning curves that many of us had to climb."
You can read a sample of the book here.
Confessions of a veterinary nurse is available from all good bookstores, and Amazon, priced at £10.99.
This year the congress is being organised in collaboration with the British Veterinary Dermatology Study Group and will form the Group’s autumn meeting.
The main scientific topics are skin and ear surgery, skin biology, host-microbial interaction, dermatophytosis, exotics dermatology and clinical pharmacology. There will be a three-tiered programme:
Basic level: providing updates on the topics covered
Intermediate level: advanced information for those with a good grounding in veterinary dermatology
Advanced level: more specialist subjects, including human dermatology
For the first time, there will also be a dedicated nurses programme, taking place on Saturday 28th September.
Laura Buckley CertVD DipECVD MRCVS, Local Organising Committee (pictured right), said: "Congress is always a major event in the veterinary dermatology calendar, featuring some of the world’s leading specialists, and this year showcases some of Liverpool’s spectacular historic sites.
"As always there will be commercial and poster exhibitions featuring state-of-the-art veterinary products and leading research in veterinary dermatology respectively."
This year’s social programme includes the Welcome Reception on Thursday 26th and the Dinner Dance on Friday 27th September. The Welcome Reception will be held at Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral, designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. It is the largest Cathedral in the UK and the fifth largest in the world.
The Dinner Dance will take place at Revolución de Cuba overlooking the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Albert Dock.
For further information and to register please visit the congress website: www.esvd-ecvdcongress.com