The BEVA has welcomed the news, whilst expressing its concern that the drug was suspended without consultation with the veterinary profession in the first place.
Jon Pycock, BEVA President said: "It remains a concern to BEVA that this mechanism was not put in place before the suspension of flunixin was imposed. Contrary to assertions by the VMD, wholesalers were unable to meet the demands of the veterinary profession and clinical use of this medicine was disrupted within 24 hours of the VMD’s initial announcement.
"We are surprised by the Regulator’s lack of awareness of availability in the supply chain and question why there was no consultation with the veterinary sector before the suspension was enacted. The VMD has been aware of this issue since March 2018 and it appears that no contingency was put in place to consider the animal welfare impact of this decision until it was too late."
BEVA Junior Vice President and Specialist in Equine Surgery Tim Mair continued: "Flunixin is a unique medicine in managing pain and sepsis in horses with colic. The VMD appeared to believe that this medicine could be substituted for other veterinary medicines and this is simply not the case. The release of stock from manufacturers is a short-term solution and, looking forward, we would like assurances that the VMD will fast track applications for the modification of product licenses to ensure that equine vets have continued access to these products."
Professor Kate White, Senior Vice President of the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists added: "Provision of pain relief is essential to maintain animal welfare. The loss of these products would hinder the work of vets working with horses and donkeys and in zoos where they are first line drugs for the management of pain. Use of flunixin in these animals can be undertaken safely with no impact on human health."
Stock of flunixin held by manufacturers will be distributed alongside a ‘caution in use’ letter that will explain the restricted use of this product. BEVA is reminding all equine vets that the horse’s food chain status must be checked when using this product – either using the paper passport or the recently launched chip checker on the central equine database website.
This multimillion pound centre will support the provision of advanced first opinion and referral equine services in the Midlands.
Senior Partner Richard Stephenson said: "It was a great honour and pleasure to have His Royal Highness visit our new premises, and our staff eagerly anticipated meeting Prince Charles and showing him the wonderful facilities we now have."
Amongst these are a Fujifilm SonoSite Edge II portable ultrasound system. Richard added: "Pool House is a well-known practice – we’ve been in existence for over 150 years – and we have developed a reputation as a specialist equine imaging centre, with radiography, ultrasound and MRI capabilities. The new facility has been designed to give us increased theatre capacity and stabling, and we needed an additional ultrasound system to match this expansion."
"The demands of equine practice mean that ultrasound is often required in difficult circumstances, and we need systems that can cope with extreme temperatures, dust, straw, mud, water and the occasional knock. Many pieces of equipment used in veterinary medicine were originally intended for a human clinical environment, so can’t stand up to the rigors of our work – they’re simply not fit for purpose. However, SonoSite systems are perfect for us; they’re robust, highly portable and very intuitive to use, which is important for intermittent ultrasound users."
All bar one of the suspended drugs contain the NSAID flunixin. The other affected drug is the antibiotic, Tribrissen:
Allevinix 50 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Cattle, Pigs and Horses (Ceva Animal Health)
Cronyxin Injection, 5% w/v Solution for Injection, for cattle and horses (Cross Vetpharm Group Ltd)
Finadyne 50 mg/ml Solution for Injection for cattle, pigs and horses (Intervet UK Ltd)
Flunixin 50 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Cattle, Horses and Pigs (Norbrook Laboratories Limited)
Meflosyl 5% Solution for Injection for horses and cattle (Zoetis UK Limited)
Norixin 5% Solution for Injection for cattle and horses (Norbrook Laboratories Limited)
Pyroflam 50 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Cattle, Horses and Pigs (Norbrook Laboratories Limited)
Tribrissen 48% Suspension for Injection for horses, pigs and cattle (Intervet UK Ltd)
The British Equine Veterinary Association says that the decision to suspend the drugs was taken without consultation with the veterinary profession, and is urging the VMD to overturn the suspension in horses not destined for the human food chain, to reduce the potential impact on equine welfare.
Jonathan Pycock, BEVA president said: "BEVA is fully supportive of all attempts to promote food safety, however flunixin is widely viewed as the gold-standard pain killer in horses and is commonly used in horses undergoing both elective and emergency surgery, for the crippling pain associated with laminitis and for severe forms of colic.
"BEVA is calling on the VMD to immediately enable limited batch release of flunixin for use in horses not destined for the human food chain in the interests of animal welfare. The equine veterinary profession has always been open to consultation with the VMD on a range of important matters relating to responsible medicine use, antibiotic resistance, horse identification, passports and the horse meat issue. BEVA is perplexed as to why the VMD failed to consult with the equine veterinary industry on the animal welfare impact of withdrawing such an important drug.”
The Care About Cushing’s website is designed to give horse owners the information they need to spot the signs of Cushing's, thereby prompting diagnosis by their veterinary surgeon.
The online resource includes monitoring tools, personalised alerts, owner guides and webinars. It also offers downloadable self-assessment checklists on Cushing’s disease and laminitis to take owners through the signs to look out for.
Owners whose horses have been diagnosed with Cushing’s are encouraged to sign up as a Care About Cushing’s member to keep up-to-date with the latest information about the disease and create a personal profile for their horse in order to monitor progress. One of the membership benefits is an 'ask the expert' section where members can ask questions about Cushing’s disease and laminitis.
The Care About Cushing’s resource supports Boehringer’s ‘Talk About Laminitis’ initiative to raise awareness of the signs of laminitis and its link with Cushing’s disease.
Talk About Laminitis now runs throughout the year and as part of the campaign the laboratory fees for the blood test which detects Cushing’s (the basal ACTH test) are free.
Liz Barrett, equine business head at Boehringer, said: "Our Talk About Laminitis disease awareness initiative has been hugely successful in highlighting the link between laminitis and Cushing’s disease and helping to diagnose Cushing’s. So much so that Cushing’s is now in the top five equine diseases recorded in the UK1."
For further information on Talk About Laminitis or Care About Cushing’s, visit www.talkaboutlaminitis.co.uk, www.careaboutcushings.co.uk or contact your local Boehringer territory manager.
Reference
NEV was first identified in 2013 by veterinary surgeon Dr Isabel Fidalgo Carvalho, who went on to found Equigerminal to develop a commercially viable NEV diagnostic test that can be used by veterinary surgeons, vet labs and horse owners.
Isabel says that NEV - the equine equivalent of HIV - is often misdiagnosed or hidden by other diseases that induce similar symptoms, like anaemia and neurological issues in horses. It is most commonly confused with the Swamp Fever virus (EIAV) and Equine Herpesviruses (EHV).
Indeed, when they tested a number of horses with anaemia, Equigerminal researchers first believed they had found the presence of a divergent strain of the Swamp Fever Virus (EIAV) - because the horses cross reacted with EIAV, but were negative in the official tests. Subsequent research found they were actually suffering from NEV.
Equigerminal says it is believed that NEV is present in up to 10% of horses. Isabel said: "We did test 213 samples from Ireland and found 7% of positive samples for NEV. These Irish horses were horses that usually travel to UK and other locations for sports events."
For the new test, a veterinary surgeon needs to take a blood sample which is sent to the Equigerminal lab.
Isabel says treatment is currently targeted towards improving the general well-being of the horse, health monitoring, and boosting the animal’s immune system. The next stage is to find a treatment, and ideally a cure for NEV. Meantime, Isabel said: “We now need to raise awareness of the problem and help vets to diagnose this disease correctly.”
From October 2020 it will be mandatory for all owners to microchip their horses, ponies and donkeys, or face a fine of up to £200. The new Central Equine Database will then allow local authorities and police to track down the owners of dumped horses and make sure they are punished. It will also mean lost or stolen horses will be reunited with their owners more easily.
Lord Gardiner, Animal Welfare Minister, said: "The government shares the British public’s high regard for animal welfare and it is completely unacceptable that hundreds of horses and ponies are left abandoned every year by irresponsible owners.
"That is why we have today laid new regulations in Parliament requiring horses to be microchipped. This will bolster the ability of local authorities and police to identify abandoned animals, ensuring these beautiful creatures receive the care they deserve and that those who mistreat them will face the consequences."
The BVA has welcomed the move as an important step forward for horse welfare and the integrity of the UK food chain.
British Veterinary Association Senior Vice President Gudrun Ravetz said: "We welcome this announcement to extend compulsory microchipping and believe that the measures represent an important step forward for horse welfare and the integrity of the UK food chain. The one-off cost of microchipping a horse is minimal while the animal welfare benefits in terms of being able to identify lost, stolen, abandoned or fly grazing horses, and identify horses in the face of disease outbreak, as well as the benefits to the integrity of food chain safety, are enormous.
"Universal microchipping of domesticated horses ensures that the legislation has value, the cost of implementing the new Central Equine Database (CED) is not wasted, and that food safety is protected. Together these measures will protect horses, ponies and donkeys from irresponsible owners, help loving owners to be reunited with their animals and keep the food chain free from potentially contaminated horse meat."
The regulations for the database were laid in Parliament today and, subject to parliamentary approval, will come into force on 1 October 2018.
In the trial, published in the Equine Veterinary Journal, synovitis was induced in the right intercarpal joint of 24 horses by intra‐articular injection of 0.5 ng lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Escherichia coli. After intra‐articular challenge, the nutraceuticals resulted in significantly lower synovial fluid TP, TNCC and PGE 2 compared with placebo, leading the authors to conclude that: "The preventive administration of these nutraceuticals showed anti‐inflammatory effects in this validated synovitis model."
Dr Maarten Oosterlinck DVM, PhD, Dipl. ECVS, one of the authors of the study, said: "Nutraceuticals are often used in the management of osteoarthritis, which is a common cause of chronic lameness in horses but their 'curative' efficacy remains controversial and the quality of the relevant studies is generally low. We set out to evaluate ArtiTec in a well-designed and controlled study. Our research shows that ArtiTec significantly decreased joint inflammation and could be useful in preventing the onset of arthritis."
Cavalor also points to a further field trial of the product by vets in Belgium which showed that it improved lameness in 74% of cases.²
ArtiTec contains glucosamine, MSM, chondroitin, hyaluronic acid, blackcurrant extract, feverfew and pineapple, turmeric root and Boswellia Serrata.
Lieselot Hamerlinck, managing partner at Cavalor said: "Joint supplements account for 34% of the equine supplement market so we know how important these products are to horse owners. Cavalor ArtiTec is the result of an extensive research and development programme and its anti-inflammatory effect has been documented in both scientific studies and a field trial. It can also be used in combination with our other joint supplements, Arti Matrix and Arti Base."
For more information, contact Zebra Products on 01352 763350.
References
Jon Pycock, President of BEVA said: "A significant number of BEVA members have young children and we want to make it as easy as possible for them to enjoy Congress without having to worry about making separate plans for childcare at home. We have already had a great response to the idea and it’s looking like the crèche is going to be very popular."
The theme of this year's Congress is helping horse vets celebrate the benefits and pleasures of their job.
In addition to the social and scientific programme at Congress, there will be special sessions on reproduction, non-clinical aspects of being a vet, succession planning, a moral maze debate on specials manufacturing and role play demonstrations on how to manage difficult situations in practice.
Dr Juan Samper, Associate Dean for students and instruction at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine will be giving the plenary lecture on the challenges and opportunities in equine practice.
There will also be specific lecture streams for veterinary nurses, equine dental technicians and farriers.
For more information on the BEVA Congress crèche or to reserve your child's place, contact Jocelyn@beva.org.uk or call 01638 723558. BEVA says places are limited so early booking is advised.
The BEVA Congress programme can be viewed at www.bevacongress.org.
The ten-minute online survey aims to gather a snapshot of horse health over the period of a week.
The results help to identify trends in endemic equine diseases and help the Blue Cross steer equine awareness, education and research.
This year the survey includes some welfare questions to help guide knowledge in response to what the charity calls 'the UK’s horse welfare crisis'.
The National Equine Health Survey is run by the Blue Cross in partnership with the British Equine Veterinary Association. Dodson and Horrell is helping to cover the costs of running the scheme.
Supporters of the survey include the British Horse Society, Horse Trust, Redwings and the Pony Club.
Medal-winning riders Mary and Emily King, and Yazmin Pinchen (pictured right) also support the survey.
Visit www.bluecross.org.uk/NEHS or email NEHS@bluecross.org.uk to register and take part, which carries the chance of winning prizes including Star Lister Clippers, a Lister Adagio Trimmer and some Burford Ariat boots.
The first charge was that in April 2016, having examined a horse named Alfie on behalf of his owner, Mr Villar gave an opinion to the potential buyers but failed to make it clear that he had not undertaken a pre-purchase examination; failed to declare to the buyer that he had a conflict of interest with regard to the owner; and, failed to explain the pre-purchase examination process to the buyers.
The second charge was that, in July 2016, during a telephone conversation with the buyer, Mr Villar was dishonest and failed to provide clear and accurate information because he told the buyers that he had only been asked to trot Alfie to check he was sound when he had, in fact, carried out a more substantial examination.
The third charge was that Mr Villar had offered to either the owner or the buyer, or both, that he would prepare a veterinary insurance certificate in relation to Alfie when he knew he did not have sufficient records (eg the microchip or passport number) to do so.
The fourth charge was that Mr Villar failed to respond adequately to communications from the buyers about Alfie.
The Committee found that Mr Villar had not in fact carried out a pre purchase examination (“PPE”) and referred to guidance from the British Equine Veterinary Association which identified that pre-purchase examinations are carried out on behalf of buyers. It noted that in this case, Mr Villar had undertaken an examination on behalf of the owner. Accordingly, it did not find that Mr Villar had failed to explain the PPE process to the potential buyers.
However, the Committee did find that Mr Villar had failed to declare that he had a conflict of interest in regards to Alfie’s owner. The Committee said that Mr Villar should have told the buyer that he had been acting on behalf of the owner and was not a neutral party in the potential sale.
The Committee found all aspects of the second charge not proven, on the basis that it was not satisfied so as to be sure that Mr Villar had told the potential buyers that he had only been asked to trot Alfie and check that he was sound.
The Committee found all aspects of the third charge proven on the basis that, in an email sent to the College in March 2016, Mr Villar admitted that he did not have the sufficient records to prepare a veterinary insurance certificate.
The Committee found the fourth charge not proven on the basis that the buyers were not his clients. The Committee therefore concluded that he had no obligation to respond to them, and indeed could not do so in certain respects in order to preserve the confidentiality of his client.
The Committee then determined that the charges found proven, when taken individually or in combination, did not amount to serious professional misconduct.
Ian Green, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "The following mitigating factors were present in this case: the circumstances of the incident, the fact that there was no premeditation, the fact that he was requested by his client to advance an opinion to [the buyers] concerning Alfie and that his ill judgement was on the spur of the moment and the fact that he had no financial gain. These are all important factors. Likewise, the fact that he did not know that the [buyers] regarded him as their pre-purchase examination vet is an important matter.
"The respondent’s conduct was clearly against the principles of behaviour articulated by Mr Morley [who acted as an expert witness for the College] in his expert report and in his evidence. Nevertheless, the Committee does not find that in the particular circumstances of this case, namely being asked to speak to a potential purchaser without warning and without being made aware of the contractual arrangements which had been made between the respondent and [the owner], the respondent should not properly be the subject of a finding of disgraceful conduct in a professional respect."
The company warned last year that Equip Artervac would be out of stock from the end of November 2017 until mid-2018, but says that the re-availability of the vaccine means many vaccinated stallions and teasers should now be able to have their six-monthly booster dose within the normal designated timeframe.
Equip Artervac is indicated for the active immunisation for horses against equine arteritis virus to reduce the clinical signs and shedding of virus in nasal secretions following infection.
For further information, contact your Zoetis Account Manager or the Zoetis Technical Team on customersupportUK@zoetis.com or 0845 300 9084 choosing option 1.
The National Equine Health Survey is a snapshot survey, conducted by the Blue Cross in conjunction with the British Equine Veterinary Association during the month of May each year, sponsored by Dodson & Horrell and Zoetis. Last year 5,235 people took part and returned records for 15,433 horses.
The 2017 survey found that 39% of those who carry out faecal worm egg counts do so at four-monthly intervals, 22% do so at 8-12 week intervals and 2% do so at six-weekly intervals.
Dr Wendy Talbot, equine vet at Zoetis said: "The NEHS results show that there’s still a lack of understanding about the purpose and benefits of FWECs during the grazing season. For the most effective results FWECs should be conducted every 8 to 12 weeks between March and October. They will indicate which horses are passing the most worm eggs in their droppings and mean that horses are only treated when necessary.2 Remember though that FWECs don’t remove the need to treat horses at specific times of year for encysted small redworm, tapeworm and bots, none of which will show up in FWECs.3"
References:
This, says Spillers, suggests that older horses, whether or not they have been diagnosed with insulin dysregulation, need an appropriate diet and management plan to help minimise the risks associated with insulin dysregulation such as laminitis.
The two studies1,2, which were conducted in collaboration with Michigan State University, aimed to find out more about the relationship between insulin dysregulation, dietary adaptation, and ageing to help guide more appropriate feeding regimens for senior horses.
Both studies investigated tissue insulin resistance and the insulin response in healthy adults compared to healthy senior horses adapted to diets with varying levels and sources of hydrolysable and structural carbohydrate (starch, sugar, and fibre).
Results from both studies showed insulin responses tend to increase with age in healthy horses, regardless of the diet they had been fed prior to evaluation. The insulin response, for example, was highest in the senior horses fed a starch rich meal even when they had been adapted to such a diet.
Clare Barfoot, RNutr, the research and development manager at Spillers said: "These studies confirm that even healthy older horses can have an increased insulin response compared to younger animals.
"This suggests that the energy sources used in the diet of senior horses and their effect on insulin dynamics need to be carefully considered.
"Practically, this means restricting the overall amount of starch and sugar in the diet especially for those horses that already have additional risk factors such as obesity, native breeding or PPID."
Dr Neil Bryant from the AHT, who is leading the research, said: "EHV is a major welfare concern for horses and foals and causes emotional, as well as financial strains, on horse owners and breeders around the world. It can strike any horse at any time so a vaccine will be of global welfare benefit to all horses, including the thoroughbred and sports horse breeding industries, and would help control this serious and sometimes fatal disease."
As a viral infection, EHV can cause respiratory disease, abortion or fatal illness in new born foals and neurological disease in adult horses, with signs ranging from slight wobbliness through to complete paralysis. The disease can strike any horse at any time because the virus, like other herpesviruses (such as the cold sore virus in humans), becomes dormant within most horses early in their life. It then re-emerges when the animal is later stressed such as when transported or mixed with new horses. A seemingly healthy pregnant mare may suddenly, and without warning, abort her unborn foal or may show signs of respiratory disease including mild fever, coughing and discharge from the nose. A horse which appears fit and well may suddenly show abnormalities when walking and within hours may be unable to stand.
Despite the potential severity and impact of outbreaks, there is still no vaccine that is licensed to protect against the neurological form of the disease and abortions still occur in highly vaccinated horse populations. The AHT says protection afforded by existing vaccines currently in use is sub-optimal, something that was highlighted by the 2016 abortion storm in Hertfordshire in fully vaccinated animals.
Neil added: "We have become aware of a pressing need for progress towards a new and improved EHV-1 vaccine. Just last month, the AHT was again called upon to work with the racing industry and affected parties in dealing with confirmed cases of EHV-1 abortion in premises in Yorkshire and Suffolk."
To that end, the charity has now established the Equine Industries EHV Vaccine Steering Group. Chaired by Professor Joe Brownlie of the RVC, the steering group includes world-renowned experts on both human and equine herpes viruses from a number of research establishments, who have concluded that the most appropriate way forward is for the AHT to design a modified live virus (MLV) vaccine.
After securing funding from a large number of organisations, including the Alborada Trust, EBM Charitable Trust, Horserace Betting Levy Board and the Racing Foundation, Paul Mellon Estate, Thompson Family Charitable Trust, Coolmore Ireland, Newsells Park Stud, Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association and Juddmonte Farms, the AHT has begun its five-year research programme.
Neil added: "We’re at the beginning of a very exciting and potentially ground-breaking vaccine development. Through our research, we will construct different viruses with attenuating mutations and assess their suitability as MLVs. We hope our findings will enable further development by vaccine manufacturers in creating an effective vaccine to protect against the serious clinical signs induced by EHV-1."
Jon (pictured right, in blue) has devised the fundraising event as part of his BEVA Presidential year. He has put together three routes in Yorkshire to suit all abilities, over the same roads used by Ron Kitching, the champion 1930s road racer. Each route starts and finishes at York racecourse and will be supported with signage and feed and watering stops along the way.
Participants can choose from a 35 mile largely flat 'trot' which takes in the city of York, a 66 mile slightly hilly 'canter' skirting the Yorkshire Wolds and a 91 mile 'gallop' over the Rosedale Chimney, which, according to Jon has "enough ascent to make Sir Chris Bonnington happy!"
There will also be a short family ride on the afternoon of 2nd June so that children and less practised cyclists can get involved.
To enter visit http://www.wheelsinwheels.com/BEVA_Presidents_challenge_Sportive_UK.php
For further information visit www.beva.org.uk
The new briefing will summarise the latest veterinary innovations, resources and research which are of practical value to vets in practice. In other words, only what you strictly need to know.
Need to Know content will be curated by three practising veterinary surgeons: Liz Barton MRCVS (Small Animal, pictured right), Aoife Byrne MRCVS (Equine), and Rachel Tennant MRCVS (Farm Animal). It replaces InDigestion, VetSurgeon.org’s previous monthly newsletter which only linked to the most popular content on the site itself. By contrast, Need to Know summarises developments from all sources.
VetSurgeon.org Editor Arlo Guthrie said: "In these days of information overload, our aim here is to provide busy veterinary surgeons with a really succinct summary of anything that really matters, wherever it comes from."
Need to Know is the result of a new partnership between VetSurgeon.org and Vetsnet, a veterinary wellbeing resource hub set up by Liz to support her colleagues in the profession, and the bulk of any additional advertising revenue generated by the initiative will be ploughed back into Vetsnet.
Arlo added: "Since VetSurgeon launched back in 2008, content has been entirely curated by me. I like to think that has worked reasonably well. Still, having practising veterinary surgeons involved editorially is a big step forward in making sure our content is always useful and relevant."
Anyone subscribed to receive emails from VetSurgeon.org on registration will automatically receive Need To Know.
If you have subscribed, but are NOT receiving emails from VetSurgeon.org, you usually need to log into your email account online and move emails from VetSurgeon.org from your spam or junk folder into your inbox. Some email providers (notably Hotmail) also allow you to ‘whitelist’ emails from certain people and organisations. In that case, add 'vetsurgeon.org' to your whitelist.
If you have unsubscribed from emails from vetsurgeon.org in the past and now want to resubscribe, email support@vetsurgeon.org and we’ll remove you from the exclusion list.
Mr Smith was convicted of conspiracy to commit a fraud in which potentially dangerous horses were drugged and then sold to unsuspecting owners, at Maidstone Crown Court in June 2016. He was given 30 months' imprisonment, which formed one of the charges heard by the Disciplinary Committee.
There were also a number of charges related to his treatment of five different animals while in practice at the Lakeview Veterinary Centre in Folkestone, Kent. The charges were:
In relation to a Clydesdale mare named Grace on 14 August 2014 he failed to perform an adequate examination and/or undertake sufficient investigation and/or take a history of her; that after his initial visit to Grace on that day he failed to respond adequately to the owner’s telephone reports that Grace had deteriorated and/or failed to improve; and, that he failed to make adequate clinical records for Grace.
Between 29 September 2014 and 31 January 2015, in relation to a Labradoodle named Holly, he failed to keep adequate clinical records.
In relation to a cat named Maisey the allegations were that he failed to examine and investigate the cat adequately, he made a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and gave insulin to administer to the cat without first undertaking the minimum investigation required, failed to keep adequate clinical records and sent an incorrect, misleading and dishonest statement to the RCVS regarding his treatment of Maisey. All charges date between 30 October and 19 December 2014.
In relation to a cat called Comet the allegation was that between 1 April and 17 April 2015 he failed to keep adequate clinical records and failed to respond adequately and appropriately to concerns raised by the owner.
Regarding a Yorkshire Terrier with diabetes named Poppy the allegation was that in two emergency out-of-hours calls made by Poppy’s owner to Mr Smith in April 2015 regarding the dog’s condition, he failed to recommend veterinary treatment or keep adequate clinical records. Furthermore, when the owner attended the practice following the two calls and the death of Poppy, he attributed the care to another member of the practice and failed to communicate effectively with the owner.
Having heard from a number of witnesses, including Mr Smith, and having received representations from Mr Smith in relation to the above charges, the Committee found almost all of the charges proven, with the exception of those relating to Mr Smith’s alleged conversation with Poppy’s owner at the practice following her death.
The Committee then went on to consider whether the various proven charges amounted to disgraceful conduct in a professional respect and whether the conviction rendered Mr Smith unfit to practise veterinary surgery.
In relation to the clinical charges the Committee found that, both individually and cumulatively, they amounted to disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.
The Committee also determined that the conviction rendered Mr Smith unfit to practise veterinary surgery and noted that it involved prolonged dishonesty, breach of trust, disregard for animal health and welfare and a "total abrogation of Mr Smith’s professional responsibilities."
Cerys Jones, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "The Committee was particularly concerned because the dishonesty went to the heart of Mr Smith’s responsibilities as a veterinary surgeon. His registration as a veterinary surgeon enabled him to take part in the conspiracy, and that role involved him conducting certified examinations on animals and supplying drugs for administration to animals. Reliable and honest certification is a vital element of the veterinary surgeon’s public role."
In considering the sanction against Mr Smith the Committee looked at the clinical charges and the conviction separately.
In relation to the clinical charges the Committee found that his treatment of the animals in these cases was fundamentally incompatible with being a veterinary surgeon. The Committee therefore directed that Mr Smith’s name should be removed from the Register of Veterinary Surgeons.
The Committee said that the case demonstrated that Mr Smith’s lack of treatment or his inappropriate treatment of these animals caused harm and that in some regards, for example the writing of accurate and contemporaneous clinical notes, Mr Smith demonstrated a total disrespect for the Code of Professional Conduct.
The Committee went on to say: "Further, he deliberately lied to his regulator. He demonstrated deep-seated attitudinal issues including a misplaced belief in his own abilities and had no insight or commitment to do anything different in the future. In those circumstances the likelihood of repetition was significant in the Committee’s view."
In considering the sanction for his conviction of conspiracy to commit fraud the Committee took into account a number of aggravating factors including the premeditated nature of the conduct, the fact it was repeated over four years and the fact that harm was caused to both animals and people as a result of his actions.
Cerys Jones said: "As the decision notes, some of the riders were novices or children and as a result of their experience they lost confidence in riding a horse. As the independent veterinary surgeon Mr Smith was in a position of responsibility because he was certifying the horses as to their suitability. A particularly aggravating feature in this case is that Mr Smith had previously been removed from the Register for falsely certifying horses for export."
In relation to the conviction the Committee also directed that the Registrar remove Mr Smith from the Register.
Mr Smith has 28 days from being informed of the Committee’s decision to make an appeal against it.
The full findings can be found here.
The manufacturer has identified that there is a potential for decreased levels of the preservative Chlorobutanol hemihydrate in the following batch: J2101-03 Expiry 11/2018.
Oxytobel is distributed in the UK by Bimeda UK. Veterinary practices that have purchased this batch number should contact Bimeda to arrange collection.
Any queries in relation to return of the product or credit for the product returned should be addressed to Kay Cowton, Bimeda UK Sales on 01248 725400 or email: uksales@bimeda.com
For further information on the recall please contact Bela-pharm GmbH & Co.KG: +49 (0) 44 41 873 294.
The researchers say that ultimately the study should help with the development of guidelines to help all riders assess if they are the right weight for the horse or pony they intend to ride, to enhance both equine welfare and rider comfort and enjoyment.1
Dr Sue Dyson, Head of Clinical Orthopaedics at the Animal Health Trust’s Centre for Equine Studies, Newmarket, who led the study said: "While all the horses finished the study moving as well as when they started, the results showed a substantial temporary effect of rider weight as a proportion of horse weight.
"The results do not mean that heavy riders should not ride but suggest that if they do they should ride a horse of appropriate size and fitness, with a saddle that is correctly fitted for both horse and rider.
"We must remember that this is a pilot study: further work is required to determine if horse fitness, adaptation to heavier weights and more ideal saddle fit will increase the weight an individual horse can carry. This should help us further in our quest to develop guidelines for optimum rider: horse bodyweight ratios."
As the average weight and height of humans continues to increase there is growing debate about relative rider-horse sizes, with riding school horses epitomising the variety of weights of rider that a single horse may be exposed to.
Numerous inter-related aspects are involved with the horse and rider combination including the age of the horse, its fitness and muscle development, the length of its back and the presence or absence of lameness. The rider’s skill, fitness, balance and coordination are important factors, as is the fit of the saddle to both the horse and rider. The type, speed and duration of work and the terrain over which the horse is ridden must also be considered.2
To date little research has been conducted on the effects of rider weight on equine welfare and performance. To address the shortfall World Horse Welfare, the Saddle Research Trust, the British Equestrian Federation and a number of other organisations helped to fund a pilot study last summer, the results of which have now been analysed.
The influence of rider to horse bodyweight ratios on equine gait and behaviour: a pilot study1 assessed gait and behavioural responses in six horses ridden by four riders of similar ability but different sizes. The riders were all weighed in their riding kit and were subsequently categorised as being light, moderate, heavy and very heavy. Their body mass index (BMI) was also calculated.
Each rider rode each horse in its usual tack and performed a set pattern of exercises comprising mainly trot and canter. Gait, horse behaviour, forces under the saddle, the response to palpation of the back, alterations in back dimensions in response to exercise, heart and respiratory rates, salivary cortisol levels and blink rate were assessed for each combination.
The riding tests for the heavy and very heavy riders were all abandoned, predominantly because of temporary horse lameness. This was likely to have been induced by bodyweight rather than BMI, given that the heavy and moderate riders had similar BMIs, both being classified as overweight, yet only one of the moderate rider’s tests had to be abandoned. An ethogram, developed by Dr Dyson specifically to assess behavioural markers which may reflect pain in ridden horses3, was applied. The scores which may reflect pain were significantly higher in the horses when ridden by the heavy and very heavy riders.
The study also raised the issue of rider height and saddle fit. The owner of one of the test horses had a similar bodyweight: horse bodyweight ratio to the heavy rider and was of similar weight, but significantly different in height (157.0 and 185.5 cm, respectively). This large difference in height has major potential implications for saddle fit for the rider and consequently the rider’s position and weight distribution. The taller rider sat on the back of the cantle, overloading the back of the saddle and making it more difficult to ride in balance, with the heel being in front of a vertical line between the shoulder and ‘hip’.
Roly Owers, Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare, said: "These pilot results are certainly not surprising but are very significant in adding vital evidence to inform an appropriate rider: horse weight ratio. It is common sense that rider weight impacts equine welfare however many might not fully understand or recognise this. What is desperately needed is basic guidance to help riders identify a horse or pony that is right for them and this research is a vital step in that direction.”
The study was generously supported by World Horse Welfare, the Saddle Research Trust, Frank Dyson, British Equestrian Federation, British Horse Society, Pony Club, Polocross, The Showing Council, The Showing Register, The Society of Master Saddlers, Riding for the Disabled, British Eventing, British Dressage, the British Horse Foundation, the Worshipful Company of Saddlers and Endurance GB.
Saliva was collected from 237 horses at the UK welfare charity, Bransby Horses, where EquiSal Tapeworm saliva testing was used to inform on anthelmintic administration over the course of a year. This diagnostic-led approach reduced the use of anti-tapeworm treatments by 86% compared to 6 monthly interval treatment strategies.
Austin Davis Biologics Ltd, the maker of the EquiSal Tapeworm saliva test, says it accurately diagnoses horses with a tapeworm infection, providing a low, borderline or moderate/high diagnosis.
Treatment is recommended for horses with a borderline or moderate/high result2.
In this latest study, the company says most horses diagnosed below the treatment threshold in the first saliva test remained below the threshold in the following two tests and 168 horses (71%) required no anti-tapeworm treatment at all.
Importantly, no increase in tapeworm infection prevalence was observed during the study period and only seven horses received treatment following all three saliva tests, suggesting that some horses are more susceptible to tapeworm infections.
The EVJ has prepared a podcast summarising the study findings here: https://evj.podbean.com/e/evj-of-the-hoof-podcast-no-1-march-2018-use-of-saliva-based-diagnostic-test-to-identify-tapeworm-infection-in-horses-in-the-uk/.
The study authors have also prepared a video abstract which can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/254338616 .
EquiSal saliva collection kits are available at trade prices to veterinary practices and SQPs. Contact enquiries@equisal.com or visit www.equisal.com for more information.
The OIE represents 178 Member countries and territories with international surveillance programmes that monitor antigenic drift among equine influenza viruses, and its Expert Surveillance Panel (ESP) for EIV makes annual recommendations for the composition of equine vaccines.
ProteqFlu, manufactured by Merial Animal Health, is currently the only vaccine in Europe to meet these recommendations.
Brand manager Dr Clare Turnbull said: "These recommendations, which have been in place since 2011, call for the inclusion of both Florida Clade 1 and 2 strains; as these are representative of the EIV strains that competing horses encounter globally.
"Although all licensed vaccinations should give clinical protection to individuals when challenged with a heterologous strain, mathematical modelling demonstrates that when scaled up to population level, this mis-match between challenge strain and vaccine strain significantly increases the risk of an epidemic occurring."
The FEI imposes mandatory equine influenza vaccination for horses competing under their jurisdiction to improve equine welfare by reducing clinical disease in individuals; but also because of the financial losses that an outbreak could have on the equine sport industry.
Göran Akerstrom, veterinary director of the FEI said: "The FEI has been a part of a Public Private Partnership with OIE for many years and we admire the work that they do in disease surveillance and global animal health.
"We stand behind their recommendations on vaccination for equine influenza and recommend our athletes to discuss these with their veterinary surgeons when considering their vaccination schedules."
For further information on FEI vaccination requirements visit https://inside.fei.org/node/3289
Themed 'Controlling Disease Threats at Home and from Abroad’, this year's conference will highlight the increasing importance of OVs in safeguarding the UK’s international trade and in protecting human health through disease surveillance and control.
The conference programme includes dedicated lecture streams aimed at large animal, small animal and equine practitioners. Improve says that lecture content has been tailored to cover areas of key relevance for more than 8,000 OVs due to revalidate their qualifications in March 2019. The programme also includes interactive workshops, including drop-in question and answer sessions offering practical advice and guidance on the revalidation process.
An exhibition of products and services for OVs runs alongside the conference.
David Babington MRCVS, Business Development Director at Improve, said: "This conference remains the only event dedicated to the needs of OVs. They receive industry updates from leading figures in the veterinary sector, attend lectures on OV work from experts and, in so doing, work towards their CPD revalidation requirements. We’re currently finalising a packed programme for this year’s conference and urge OVs to take advantage of our time-limited Early Bird offers and register without delay."
For more information on the Official Veterinarian Conference and Exhibition or to register visit: www.officialvet.com
BEVA says it was aware, from both younger members and their employers, that there were some equine fields, for which the association had no courses, where newer graduates were lacking in clinical skills.
The new Equine Practice Fundamentals Programme comprises 10 individual CPD courses with a mix of lectures and hands-on practicals. BEVA says it builds on the broad training delivered by the universities to specifically provide the pragmatic knowledge and hands-on clinical skills needed by those in the early stages of an equine veterinary career.
The content was designed on the back of consultation with over 60 senior practitioners from across BEVA’s membership.
The average senior practitioner rated the likelihood that they would encourage recent graduates to attend the programme as 9/10 and BEVA says feedback on the initial course proposal was highly encouraging.
The courses cover:
David Mountford, Chief Executive of BEVA, said: "Because BEVA doesn’t seek to make a profit on its CPD we can deliver an outstanding programme that is both highly regarded and affordable. We anticipate that the series will become essential CPD for those looking to establish themselves in equine practice, for practices looking to support the development of new staff, and for employers looking to differentiate between candidates."
The first five courses will be running during 2018 and again in 2019 together with the remaining five. The full series of ten courses can be booked at a discounted rate. Alternatively, each course can be booked individually.
For further information visit https://www.beva.org.uk/Home/Education/CPD/The-Fundamentals-of-Equine-Practice
Equine glandular gastric disease is a complex syndrome that is distinct from gastric ulceration. A number of studies now indicate that it is an inflammatory gastritis, predominantly at the gastric outflow, which has different causes and risk factors from gastric ulcers. As such, medication effective in treating gastric ulceration may be less effective for this specific condition.
The clinical signs of EGGD are diverse and non-specific and may be mild or recurrent. They may include changes in temperament, changes in rideability, unexplained weight loss, reduced appetite or cutaneous sensitivity manifesting as biting of the flanks or resentment of girthing, grooming, leg aids or rugging. Recommendations for reducing the prevalence of disease, based on putative risk factors, include providing rest days from work, maximising turn-out, minimising management changes and other potential stress factors and minimising changes in equine companions and human carers.
The new guidelines have been published by a group of equine medicine specialists, based on a review of published and unpublished evidence. The intention is to provide veterinary practitioners with up-to-date guidance on risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, dietary management and prevention of EGGD.
David Rendle, an internal medicine specialist at Rainbow Equine Hospital in North Yorkshire who chaired the group and is a consultant editor of UK Vet: Equine said: "Our findings challenge long-standing dogma on EGGD, a condition about which there is currently very little advice available to vets and horse owners. It is becoming increasingly clear that the distinction between disease of the squamous and glandular mucosa is important clinically and the group felt that updated guidance may help to improve management of EGGD in practice."
Provision of evidence based clinical guidelines should enable practitioners to adopt more standardised and logical approaches and base EGGD management decisions on the most current data.
Professor Josh Slater, Professor of Equine Clinical Studies at the Royal Veterinary College said: "Clinical guidelines are commonly used in human health care and have been shown to improve clinical outcomes by condensing data from large numbers of research publications and promoting rapid adoption into clinical practice. These new guidelines represent a step forward in the management of this complex condition by combining a consensus of expert opinion with the best available current clinical research and evidence."
Mark Bowen, Professor of veterinary internal medicine at the University of Nottingham who is based at Oakham Veterinary Hospital said: "Whilst the panel hasn’t come up with miracle cures there was universal agreement that new treatment options have to be integrated in a logical and responsible manner."
"Our understanding of this condition is in its infancy but we hope that the summary document, which also highlights the gaps in our knowledge, will provide a useful framework for vets to follow and will be a stimulus for future research."
The guidelines can be found here: https://www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/full/10.12968/ukve.2018.2.S1.3
Photo: Marked multi-focal depressed haemorrhagic and fibrinosuppurative lesions
The Investigating Committee and the Disciplinary Committee are responsible for conducting desk-top investigations and disciplinary hearings in response to complaints, disclosures and notifications that may amount to serious professional misconduct by Registered Farriers.
As the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons did in 2015, the FRC is splitting off its disciplinary functions from that of its Council, meaning it now needs to recruit new members to perform the role.
More information is available in VetSurgeon Jobs, here.