There are a mix of online and in-person events.
On the 27th February at 7:00pm, Derek Flaherty, Professor in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia will cover common complications with veterinary anaesthesia and how you can deal with them during this in person event.
On the 29th April and 30th September, Tobi Wagner, Head of Cardiology at Southern Counties (pictured), will test your echo interpretation skills in an interactive online webinar.
On the 11th March, 1st July and 11th November, Tobi will be hosting Echo Clinics: small-group four-hour practical sessions which will look at how to obtain the necessary echocardiography views that can aid decision making in day-to-day clinical practice. Echo Clinics cost £375.
For nurses, Katie Foley and Tom Chapman will be hosting an in-person session looking at suture techniques on Thursday 6th February.
https://www.scvetspecialists.co.uk/vet-professionals/cpd
The webinars will be available as live podcasts and will also be able to be viewed on demand on the Dechra Academy.
In the strangles webinar, Dave Rendle, Gayle Hallowell and Richard Newton will explore the current landscape of strangles control, focusing on the role of vaccination, testing and quarantine measures.
In the disease prevention webinar, Gayle Hallowell, Dave Rendle, Tamzin Furtado and others will give an insight into chronic disease management and preventative vaccination to improve uptake and optimise treatment outcomes.
Both webinars broadcast from 8pm GMT, with a live Q&A session from 8:45pm, finishing at 9:15pm GMT.
https://membership.elearning.vet/Dechra-equine-medicine-series.
The practice is now accepting dental referrals, including for dental, oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Hannah said: “I am proud to join the Fitzpatrick Referrals team to extend their referral offering to include this very important aspect of small animal veterinary treatment.
"Working alongside a world-class team with state-of-the-art facilities is a fantastic opportunity.”
https://www.fitzpatrickreferrals.co.uk/services/dentistry/
The group, which opened in 2021, is also securing sites in Newcastle and Halesowen for a further two practices which are due to open in 2026.
Harrison Family Vets says at least £350,000 will be invested in each of the new practices which will be staffed by a team of six initially.
Operations director, Kristie Faulkner said: “In less than four years we’ve opened seven extremely successful practices and quickly established a reputation for being a great place to work.
"We’ve built a team where everyone’s individual strengths and personality traits contribute to what we do, in a family-orientated environment.
“We take pride in creating very modern and well-equipped surgeries that are designed around the pets we treat, and we push the boundaries of what’s possible when it comes to pet care.
"In addition, all our team members are also trained, or currently in training for, the Fear Free Accreditation, to significantly reduce fear, stress and anxiety for both pets and their owners, which means every pet’s visit to Harrison Family Vets is as positive as possible.
“Crucially, we also offer pet owners far more affordable pet care than the large corporate chains and our total wellness plan is one of the best value offerings on the market.
"When this is combined with our exceptional team and pioneering practices, it’s not unusual for us to have hundreds of pet owners registering with us in new locations before we even open.
“We’re now looking forward to embarking on our next phase of growth and making our unique offering available to even more veterinary professionals and pet owners throughout the country.
"We would urge anyone interested in joining us in Stoke, Sheffield or Darlington, as well as Newcastle or Halesowen, which will launch in the next phase of openings, to contact us now.”
https://www.harrisonfamilyvets.co.uk/
Ian, who qualified from Melbourne University in 2004 after completing a neuroscience degree at Edinburgh University, first joined Rowe as a general practitioner in 2007.
He said: “Personally this achievement is incredibly rewarding, but I also see it as an important step for veterinary neurology in the UK.
"It’s a fast-growing field with an increasing need for expert treatment and care so it’s exciting to see it recognised at this level.”
https://www.rowereferrals.co.uk
The course offers practical tips and is also designed to help vets understand their obligations under the Code of Professional Conduct when discussing costs with clients.
RCVS CEO Lizzie Lockett said: “Discussions around the costs of veterinary treatment are not always easy and can sometimes give rise to misunderstandings or lack of clarity between clients and veterinary teams.
"We recognise the challenges these conversations present and the pressures veterinary professionals face.
“Meanwhile, the ongoing Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation has highlighted that animal owners are not always satisfied with the level of information they receive in order to make an informed choice about treatment options.
This course supports the development of veterinary surgeons’ and veterinary nurses’ communication skills so that they can discuss treatment costs more transparently with their clients, helping to reduce potential misunderstandings and build trust.”
The course takes 45 minutes to complete and features an interactive scenario as well as expert video advice from experienced veterinary surgeons.
https://academy.rcvs.org.uk
For the study, which was funded by the charity Songbird Survival, researchers collected the nests of 103 blue and great tits, and tested them for the presence of 20 insecticides.
Fipronil, imidacloprid and permethrin were the main culprits, detected in 100%, 89.1% and 89.1% of the samples respectively.
Overall, a higher number of either dead offspring or unhatched eggs was found in nests containing a higher number of insecticides, higher total concentration of insecticides or a higher concentration of fipronil, imidacloprid or permethrin, which the authors say suggests contact exposure of eggs to insecticides in nest lining may lead to mortality and lower reproductive success.
The BVA responded by calling for more research and encouraging vets to work with clients to ensure responsible use of parasiticides.
BVA President Elizabeth Mullineaux said: “Parasiticides play an important role in preventing and treating parasites in animals, which if left unaddressed can lead to bigger health and welfare issues in both animals and people.
"But it’s important they are used responsibly, and this work from the University of Sussex and SongBird Survival highlights the need for more research into how parasiticides affect the environment and wildlife and the associated risks.
“Rather than blanket use, we strongly encourage vets and owners to take a risk-based approach to prescribing or recommending these medicines, reflecting an animal’s exposure to parasites."
Reference
The patented system is made from lightweight carbon fibre and can be installed and removed from the back of the car in minutes.
The makers point to research carried out by Hartpury University in 2018 which concluded that allowing dogs to repeatedly jump clear from vehicles with high boot compartments may be inadvisable1, suggesting that it could contribute to ligament and joint injury.
In addition the system would logically be helpful for owners of older, less mobile dogs, or perhaps those recovering from surgery.
Prices start at £1995.
https://www.doganddrive.co.uk
Veterinary advice and care has, of course, always been contextual, but the term has gained greater traction due to the cost of living crisis and the Competition and Markets Authority investigation.
At Congress, there will be several "Big Issue" panel discussions on this subject, with speakers exploring how the profession can play a role in building a better understanding between vets and clients on the topic of vet fees.
On the afternoon of day two, delegates will be able to hear an update on the CMA review and what to expect from it over the next few months from Martin Coleman, Panel Chair and Panel Inquiry Chair of the CMA.
On the final day (Saturday 22nd), the Big Issues module will bring discussions from the RCVS on the latest under care guidelines, an update on Schedule 3, and a look at the future of the regulation changes.
The day will end with a panel discussion on the ethical challenges that professionals face in practice, and the impact that they can have on individuals within the practice team
Advance tickets available at: https://www.bsavacongress.com until 5th February.
However, when asked by VetSurgeon.org which audience - veterinary professionals, it's staff or the public - it was referring to, or what threats to safety and wellbeing were posed by X, the College refused point blank to answer.
So the real motivation remains unclear.
On the one hand, it could be a ridiculously over-sensitive move to protect its unknown audience from opinions that its staff find objectionable.
On the other hand, it could perfectly well be argued that short form social media reduces every discussion or debate to "I'm effing right and you're effing wrong", which is not appropriate for a scientific profession.
Equally, one could also argue that engaging in polarised debate online is not terribly good for one's wellbeing.
Or one could just argue that it's a terrible platform owned by a strangely meddlesome and interfering American.
However, given the College's strange refusal to expand on the reasons for its withdrawal, the first explanation seems more likely.
But who knows?
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/news/rcvs-statement-on-x-formerly-twitter/
Jess, who works as an ECC locum in the North of England, launched the new service to provide sustainable travel options, with a particular focus on creating holidays for time-poor professionals and their families, organising combined leisure and volunteering trips, eco and adventure holidays off the beaten track, and business travel around conferences and events.
The company operates through Not Just Travel to offer holiday deals and discounts exclusively to veterinary professionals.
Jess said: “Having worked in the industry myself, I know the demands staff are under.
"They are incredibly busy but desperately need a well-earned break.
"We take the stress out of the booking process for them, by offering them specifically tailored options to meet their needs and allow them to reset and recharge.”
In addition, VetSetters have partnered with the charity VetLife, donating £5 from each booking in order to support the charity’s work in protecting the mental wellbeing of staff in the industry.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/384018824510499/
The range includes Digestive Care, a supplement formulated with natural prebiotics and fibre to support gut motility and promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, and Urinary Care, which contains dandelion, cranberry, and vitamin C to help reduce the risk of urinary issues, such as bladder sludge.
Skin and Coat Care with antioxidant-rich spinach and linseed, is designed to support skin and coat health, while Vitamin C Care combines vitamin C, cranberry and blackcurrant to support immune function and vitality.
Claire Hamblion, Marketing Director at Supreme Petfoods said: "Over half of rabbit owners take their rabbits to the vet at least once a year.
"They are becoming much more engaged with their pet’s health care needs and want to provide high standards of care.
"Our new range meets the growing demand for products that offer health benefits beyond basic nutrition.”
www.supremepetfoods.com
Ms Evans was charged with causing or allowing a veterinary nurse colleague to order a prescription-only medicine from a practice supplier knowing that it was intended for human use, and made a false entry prescribing the medication on the clinical records of a cat belonging to her nurse colleague.
She was also charged with falsely recording details purporting to be the results of the blood tests on cat and then entering notes on the animal's clinical history which falsely indicated that there had been a meaningful result, and then indicating to the animal's owner that there had been a meaningful result, when in fact the tests had failed to produce any meaningful results.
The final charge was that her conduct in making the false entry for the prescription-only medication, and all elements of the second charge was dishonest and misleading.
Ms Evans admitted the first charge on the basis that she had allowed rather than caused the order to be made, all the other facts of this charge were admitted.
She admitted the second charge on the basis that she had failed to inform the cat’s owner of the test results, all the other facts of this charge were admitted.
She also admitted that elements of her conduct had been dishonest and misleading.
Having found the charges proven by Ms Evans’ admissions, the Committee considered whether her admitted actions and conduct amounted to serious professional misconduct.
Ms Evans, through her legal counsel, accepted that the admitted charges passed the threshold for serious professional misconduct, though that question still needed to be determined independently by the Committee.
The Committee found that Dr Evans’ conduct had breached several key parts of the Code of Professional Conduct and its supporting guidance, particularly around honesty and integrity.
It also found aggravating factors in this case, including the risk to human health by allowing the prescription-only medication to be ordered knowing it was for human use, the abuse of her professional position, the breach of client trust, the potential adverse impact on the welfare of the cat for whom she falsified the blood test records, and the potential adverse impact on the welfare of the cat for whom she had falsely recorded the prescription-only medicine.
The Committee found no mitigating factors relating to the facts.
Paul Morris, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said in relation to the first charge: “In the Committee’s view, this irresponsible approach to a prescription-only medicine risked human health, potentially compromised an animal’s welfare, since the clinical record suggested the cat had been given Fluconazole when it had not, constituted an abuse of the trust placed in her as a registered veterinary surgeon and was in breach of legal provisions designed to safeguard human health.
“Such behaviour falls far below the standard expected of a registered veterinary surgeon, undermines public confidence in the profession and would be considered deplorable by colleagues and the public alike.
"The Committee was thus satisfied that charge 1 on its own amounts to disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.”
He added: “Acting dishonestly runs contrary to one of the most fundamental principles of the profession.
"The public need to know that they can rely on the honesty and integrity of the people to whom they entrust the care and welfare of their animals.
“Further, Dr Evans’ conduct in both incidents had the potential to undermine public confidence in the profession of veterinary surgery and bring the profession into disrepute.
"In all the circumstances, the Committee was satisfied that Dr Evans’ behaviour as reflected in charge 2 fell far short of the standard expected of a veterinary surgeon and amounted to disgraceful conduct.
“Accordingly, the Committee found proved the allegation that Dr Evans was guilty of disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.”
Having found serious professional misconduct in relation to all charges, the Committee considered what the most appropriate and proportionate sanction would be for Ms Evans’ actions and conduct.
In doing so, it considered 137 positive references and testimonials from Dr Evans’ professional colleagues and clients, poor staff morale at the practice at the time as well as compelling, exceptional evidence relating to Dr Evans’s health at the time of the two incidents.
In mitigation, the Committee considered the fact that Dr Evans had no previous disciplinary history and had a hitherto unblemished career as a veterinary surgeon; her open and frank admissions; the circumstances of pressures at work exacerbated by Dr Evans’ desire to please everyone and not let anyone down; the fact that Dr Evans was feeling very isolated; the significant insight into her conduct and its impact; effective and targeted remediation to ensure there would be no likelihood of the conduct being repeated; genuine expressions or remorse and apology; support from her employers; and the very significant number of positive testimonials.
Summing up the Committee’s decision on sanction, Mr Morris said “In all the, somewhat exceptional, circumstances of this case, the Committee was satisfied that a reprimand and a warning not to behave in this way again, would provide adequate protection to animals, as it was satisfied Dr Evans was most unlikely to ever make such a flawed set of decisions again.
“The Committee was satisfied that Dr Evans does not represent a risk to animals going forward, indeed from the character evidence it is clear that she always puts the welfare of animals first.
"She has also shown, since this episode, that she can work under pressure and not resort to making bad decisions and thus the Committee considered the wider public interest would best be served in this case by a reprimand and a warning.
“Notwithstanding the serious nature of Dr Evans' conduct, the Committee was satisfied that a fully informed member of the public would not be shocked if Dr Evans were allowed to continue to practise.
“The decision of this Committee is, therefore, that Dr Evans be reprimanded and warned about her behaviour.
"Dr Evans should, however, be under no illusion of how serious it is to have a finding of disgraceful conduct in a professional respect made against her and she should not take lightly the decision of this Committee to reprimand and warn her.”
www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary
Clare (pictured) who is currently the General Dental Council’s Interim Executive Director for Legal and Governance, will be joining the RCVS as its most senior legal officer at the end of March 2025.
A qualified solicitor, Clare started her practice as a Solicitor Advocate in criminal law, before undertaking roles in regulatory bodies in the healthcare and financial sector.
She joined the General Dental Council in March 2023 and has been in her current role there since March last year.
When she joins the College, Clare will have a dual role.
As Registrar she will be responsible for keeping, maintaining and publishing Registers of veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses, including oversight of the various mechanisms via which veterinary professionals can join the Register, what they need to do to stay on the Registers, how they may leave or be removed and registration appeals.
As Director of Legal Services, she'll provide leadership and guidance on legal matters within the organisation, including guiding RCVS Council through the development of oral and written legal advice, as well as sitting on committees and working groups in order to ensure the College’s activity is within its legal remit and represents best practice.
RCVS Chief Executive Officer Lizzie Lockett said: “I am sure the RCVS, the professions and the public will benefit from her very relevant experience from senior roles within the General Dental Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, and Financial Conduct Authority, as well as her private sector legal experience.
“She joins the College at a time of change, with our continued push for new veterinary legislation, the ongoing Competition and Markets Authority investigation of the sector, and a new strategic plan for the College due to be approved this spring.
“The Registrar is the senior legal figure within the organisation, and I am looking forward to Clare contributing her legal expertise on these significant areas of work.
"She joins our very capable legal team, who I am sure will benefit from her leadership, as she will benefit from their sector expertise.”
Clare said: “I am delighted to join the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to contribute to the valuable work of safeguarding the interests of the public and animals by supporting veterinary professionals to provide the highest standards of care.”
VetSurgeon.org extends a warm welcome to Clare and wishes her all the very best in her new position.
One small but nevertheless important point is that perhaps a better aim would be to support veterinary professionals in providing just a 'high' standard of care, rather than the 'highest' standards.
It's this constant striving for the 'highest' standards from both a regulatory and clinical perspective that is driving up the cost of veterinary care and making it unaffordable.
The guidance was written by Hany Elsheikha, Head of the European Scientific Counsel for Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP).
For a copy of the bulletin, contact your Zoetis Account Manager or call Customer Support on 0345 300 8034.
The CertAVN was launched in May 2019 as a modular, advanced professional qualification allowing veterinary nurses at all stages of their careers to develop their professional skills and knowledge.
The CertAVN framework sets out the professional values, skills and behaviours required of the higher education institutions responsible for providing the training and support for CertAVN students.
There are currently five accredited course providers in the UK:
The proposed standards for accreditation are set under three areas: curricula and assessment, educators and assessors, and learning culture.
Julie Dugmore, RCVS Director of Veterinary Nursing, said: “In order to make sure that the CertAVN remains up to date and fit for purpose, it is important that we consult on the accreditation standards at regular intervals.
"We welcome constructive and specific feedback from veterinary nurses at all stages of their careers – whether you have already undertaken the CertAVN or are perhaps considering doing so in the future – as well as the wider veterinary team, educators, and employers of current and potential CertAVN holders.
“Your insights will help us ensure that the standards continue to enable veterinary nurse educators to deliver the best training and support possible for CertAVN students."
The consultation runs until 5pm on Monday 3 March 2025.
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/our-consultations/review-of-the-certavn-framework
The programme includes a mix of online and in-person sessions hosted by Blaise's multi-disciplinary team.
Lara Dempsey, head of soft tissue surgery at the hospital, will start with ‘To close or not to close, that is the question’ on Monday 27th January.
Lara's online session will cover tips and tricks for open wound management and wound closure options, case studies and her preferred products to use in practice.
On Thursday 8th May, head of anaesthesia and analgesia Jacques Ferreira (pictured) will host a one-day workshop on pain management, taking place at Blaise.
Attendees will develop their understanding of acute and chronic pain, and the difference between them.
Jacques will also discuss the future of nerve blocks and share techniques that can be used in practice.
Julie Davis, hospital director at Blaise, said: “We have an incredible team here at Blaise and are very much looking forward to sharing our collective knowledge with colleagues from across the veterinary profession.
The full programme of free CPD events:
www.blaise-referrals.com/vet-hub/cpd-events
Hedgehogs: A Practical Guide for Vets aims to help vets assess sick hedgehogs and administer emergency treatment to stabilise them so they can be transferred to a wildlife rescue centre for specialist care.
Hannah, who has examined and treated more than 1,500 hedgehogs since setting up her sanctuary four years ago, said she also wants to create more awareness that hedgehogs seen during the daytime need urgent help.
She said: “As soon as a hedgehog comes out in the day it is usually a cry for help and they should be taken to the vets or a rescue centre as a matter of urgency.
“I wrote the book to help vets who are more familiar with treating small pets like dogs and cats know what to do if a sick hedgehog is brought to them, and to increase their confidence when treating wildlife.
"There are three simple things that every sick hedgehog needs, which are warmth, fluid and pain relief.”
https://www.facebook.com/p/Hannahs-Hedgehog-Rehabilitation-100070882987122
Great Workplaces by BVA is an accreditation scheme designed to recognise and reward positive workplace culture in both clinical and non-clinical veterinary workplaces.
The first webinar: 'How to have more good days at work' will be hosted by BVA Junior Vice President, Rob Williams (pictured), and VDS Training’s Carolyne Crowe.
The speakers will discuss strategies to support physical and psychological wellbeing at work and explore how to create a safe and inclusive team environment that supports everyone's needs.
Rob said: “This webinar series is designed to help your team identify practical steps to improve your veterinary workplace and create a working environment that allows the whole team to thrive.
"We’ll be diving into the first session with lots of practical tips and strategies and I hope to see many of you there.”
https://www.bva.co.uk/great-workplaces
https://mybva.bva.co.uk/ems-event-calendar/building-great-workplaces-how-to-have-more-good-days-at-work.html
The new product is being sold through e-retailers including Pet Drugs Online, Animed and Pets at Home.
Frontpro is claimed to kill fleas within 8 hours and protect dogs from fleas and ticks for one month.
It is suitable for all breeds aged eight weeks or older (weighing two kilograms or more) and can be given with or without food.
A company spokesperson said: "Boehringer Ingelheim is committed to expanding access to high-quality parasite prevention for dogs, which is why we’re proud to introduce an effective new option.
"Frontpro chewable tablets provide effective protection from fleas and ticks, while complementing the regular care and advice pet owners receive from their veterinarians."
www.uk.frontline.com
The refreshed packaging keeps the same colour scheme, but the graphics indicating the product uses stand out better.
The company has also added an area on the side of the carton for owners to note the date each dose is given.
What can I say, it's a slow news day.
To date most of these imaging procedures have been performed by vets within the group’s small animal first opinion veterinary practices.
The company says its Foundations in Diagnostic Imaging for Nurses training is designed to give its nurses more clinical stature in first opinion practice.
The programme will teach nurses the workings of an x-ray machine, common X-ray positions and contrast material.
It will also cover the principles of CT and MRI, showing how to set up and operate each piece of equipment, and how to support patients through these imaging procedures.
Finally, the course will provide the training nurses need to be able to perform ultrasounds within the current RCVS legal frameworks.
CVS says it believes this is a first in the veterinary profession
Tara Ryan, Chief Veterinary Nursing Officer at CVS said: “Imaging is a brand new area that we are starting to delegate to our nurses.
"Having heavily invested in our small animal first opinion practices over the last decade, we have a wide range of imaging equipment at many of our sites.
“Excitingly, this programme will open up the ability for nurses to start to contribute more information - to help vets identify and diagnose conditions and diseases in patients.
"It is another big step that we are taking to empower our brilliant nurses and to enable them to make a great clinical contribution towards the care of our patients – and to be the nurses they want to be.”
CVS is prioritising the consulting room and Schedule 3 delegated tasks as important areas for improving what it calls 'nurse optimisation'.
The company recognises that 'buy in' from veterinary surgeons is vital to the success of its efforts to optimise the role of its nurses, and the group has also published guidelines to provide clarity around effective delegation under Schedule 3.
The new presentation is honey-flavoured and is available in 30ml or 100ml bottles with a syringe for precise dosing.
It has a two-year shelf life and a broached shelf life of six months.
Dechra companion animal brand manager, Thomas Johnson, said: “The addition of Felimazole Oral to our product range will provide vets with the flexibility to prescribe Felimazole as either a tablet or oral solution to accommodate the preferences of both the cat and its owner.
"This, combined with our extensive endocrinology resources, will ensure that vets have all the necessary tools to support their feline hyperthyroid cases.”
https://www.dechra.co.uk/cushings-connect
https://www.dechra.co.uk/addisons-connect
https://www.dechra.co.uk/search?q=felimazole#/search=Felimazole
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/dechra-endocrinology-app/id1660737534
The company has updated its waiting room board kit for veterinary staff to create a visual reminder of the importance of prompt diagnosis and management of dental disease and a tailored dental home care regime.
There is also a Pet Dental Health Month social media pack which includes imagery, videos and copy to use on your practice social media channels and client-facing waiting room screens.
Dental charts are also available to help explain dental aftercare in post-op appointments.
Will Peel, Marketing Manager at Animalcare said: "We know that veterinary staff recognise the importance of oral health, so we’ve created this range of materials specifically to support veterinary practices and to help people better understand how they can maintain good dental health in their pets.’
www.animalcare.co.uk/dentalhealthmonth
The theme for the 2025 conference is how to make veterinary work sustainable, creating teams that can reliably work at their best, feel positive about work, and feel supported and valued by their team.
Keynote speaker, Amanda Oates BA (hons), MSc Strategic HRD, C.C.I.P.D. (pictured) will be talking about the concept of restorative veterinary practice, and how it relies on establishing a restorative workplace culture.
There will be three streams at the conference.
In the first stream, VetLed founder and Training Director, Dan Tipney will be joined by guest speakers to help delegates understand how they can make a difference to the way they work using human factors tools and techniques proven in human medicine and other safety-critical professions.
In the second stream, VetLed’s Community Lead, Hannah Godfrey, will be joined by human behaviour expert Katie Ford to help delegates understand themselves as humans, to acknowledge and accommodate their own needs and the needs of others, and to work better as a team.
The third stream will be hosted by VetLed Managing Director, Cat Auden, and a Chartered Psychologist, Ergonomist, and Human Factors Specialist. In this stream, delegates who are already familiar with human factors concepts will be encouraged to think big, share ideas, and shape the veterinary profession.
Tickets: £190.80
https://www.vetled.co.uk/conference