Nerfasin vet is available in two concentrations - a 100 mg/ml (10%) solution for cattle and horses and 20 mg/ml (2%) solution for cattle, horses, cats and dogs.
Nerfasin vet is on sale in 25 ml vials.
For more information visit: www.dechra.co.uk.
The review, announced earlier this year, was recommended to RCVS Council by its Standards Committee following its exploration of the implications of new technologies for both animal health and welfare and veterinary regulation.
The main areas under consideration include the provision of 24-hour emergency cover and the interpretation and application of an animal being under the care of a veterinary surgeon.
The initial stages of this review had been drafted for Standards Committee to consider at its meeting on 9 September, where the outline timetable was also discussed.
Standards Committee Chair Melissa Donald, said: "This is set to become one of our most fundamental reviews of RCVS guidance in recent years.
"Considering the complexity of the issues in question, and their importance to animal owners and the professions alike, it is vital that we allow ourselves enough time to ensure this review is as thorough and comprehensive as possible.
"We have a clear responsibility to seek, understand and, where we can, accommodate the opinions and experiences of as many different people from within and around the professions and the public as possible. I would urge my fellow vets and vet nurses to please find some time to consider these issues very carefully over the coming weeks and months, and to send us their views."
The review will comprise several stages and is expected to take around 12 months to complete. The outline timetable, which may be subject to change, is as follows:
October 2019 – January 2020: six-week Call for Evidence, followed by independent qualitative analysis of all evidence received
February – March: Select Committee-style meetings and independent qualitative analysis of additional evidence gathered [NB this stage is subject to Standards Committee requirements, depending on the evidence gathered.]
April – June: Consider all evidence and draft any new policy
July – August: six-week public consultation on draft policy
September – October: independent review of consultation responses, and production of any proposals for change
November 2020: Finalise any proposals for change and publish any new guidance
To support and promote the various stages of the review the College is also planning a programme of stakeholder engagement, and will also provide regular updates on progress to both Council and the wider profession.
Members of the professions and the public will be able to follow the progress of the review via the RCVS website at: www.rcvs.org.uk/undercare
As part of the programme, BEVA is giving the coaches workshops, discussion forums and online toolkits to develop their mentoring skills. Having been trained by a specialist mentoring professional, the coaches are then paired with recent graduates to give them guidance and support during the foundation years of their careers.
The project, called 'Leg Up', has been driven by BEVA President Renate Weller, and is being trialled over the next 12 months before being rolled out more widely.
Renate said: "All professionals, but especially new graduates need support in navigating their journey through their chosen career.
"With the veterinary industry’s rapidly changing landscape and rising concern around wellbeing, consistent support and guidance have never been more relevant."
Coaching is open to BEVA concessionary members who have graduated within the past three years. They will be able to self-select a preferred coach on a first come, first served basis from the Leg Up section of the BEVA website.
Renated added: "To date access to targeted careers support has most often depended on where you work and who you know. We hope the scheme will encourage and support those entering the profession, giving them the opportunity to discuss their training, development, career progression and self-care with trained professionals who were once in their shoes."
To find out more and to sign up for the Leg Up programme visit https://www.beva.org.uk/Careers/Leg-Up
Dexafast is an injectable corticosteroid with potent, medium-acting, anti-inflammatory activity, indicated for the treatment of a range of inflammatory and allergic conditions in both small and large animal clinical practice.
Dr John Henderson, Large Animal Product Manager at Forte Healthcare Ltd said: "Dexafast 2mg/ml is an excellent addition to our range. This formulation of dexamethasone is used across many species on a daily basis, and Dexafast 2mg/ml gives vets a high-quality presentation of a staple medicine."
Dexafast is available in a 50ml bottle.
For further information, contact your local Forte Territory Manager, visit: https://www.fortehealthcare.ie/product/dexafast-uk-only, or email: enquiries@fortehealthcare.com.
The £11m project, which is backed by Mars Petcare, will include a cutting-edge imaging suite, state-of-the-art treatment facilities and a new linear accelerator.
Plans also include separate cat and dog waiting areas and client walking and comfort areas, seven operating theatres, 15 consultation rooms, recovery suites, lecture halls, a dedicated ICU department and plans for a future hydrotherapy suite.
Daniel Hogan, operations manager at Southfields (pictured right), said: "This is a really exciting time for Southfields and our relocation will provide the region with one of the largest and best-equipped veterinary centres in the UK.
"The team and expertise have grown significantly in the past 18 months. We are very excited to continue to expand the unique and innovative offerings in patient care at our centre.
"Increasing in size will also enable us to provide a dedicated staff wellbeing area and an education centre and lecture hall, which will offer some very exciting qualifications and courses for the wider profession.
"Since our rebranding in 2017, we pride ourselves on leading the industry as a truly multidisciplinary centre with specialists from across the globe, including one of the most illustrious oncology teams in the country. Once this new site is launched, we will be able to offer an even more comprehensive service to our clients and patients."
For more information about Southfields, visit www.southfields.co.uk.
The small animal and business meeting takes place on the 2nd and 3rd October. The farm and business national meeting is on the 18th and 19th September, and the equine and business meeting is on the 9th and 10th October.
The small animal meeting will also cover other topics such as the art of conversations to dentistry, while the farm meeting will focus on team working, competitive advantage, genomics and mental resilience.
All three events include a team-based activity and a social evening which offers the chance to network and exchange experiences and ideas.
Susan Goodfellow, the Chief Marketing Officer at XLVets said: "It's fine to know what we do but to actually experience it as part of our community is quite different. We know that talking to members and being part of a group of individuals that come together to determine their own future is the best way for veterinary professionals to see what's possible and how we strive for excellence together."
XLVets is also encouraging anyone who is thinking about starting their own practice to attend the events; the company has a number of programmes designed to support prospective owners with things like finding funding, identifying the right financial set up, and acquiring the skills needed to lead a team effectively.
Susan says many vets have a strong entrepreneurial mindset but lack support or know-how to allow them to take the first step to ownership: "Locum roles and mobile set ups are often stepping stones to practice ownership but the barriers can seem significant, not to mention any personal reservations people might have about all it entails. Support from like-minded colleagues who can openly share their experiences can help to make it seem possible, desirable and achievable."
Veterinary professionals wishing to attend one of the meetings should contact Colm McGinn, Chief of Implementation, in confidence, at colm.mcginn@xlvets.co.uk or call 01228 711788.
Fynadyne had been removed from sale last year after the Veterinary Medicines Directorate suspended the sale of any medicinal products containing the excipient diethanolamine (DEA), following advice to the European Medicines Agency that it could pose a risk to human health.
Finadyne 50mg/ml Solution for Injection is indicated for the alleviation of acute inflammation and pain in both cattle and pigs. It is also indicated for the alleviation of inflammation and pain associated with musculo-skeletal disorders and colic in horses.
The reformulated product has a shelf life of three years and is now available from wholesalers in 50ml and 100ml vials.
For further information, contact your MSD Animal Health account manager.
Limited to 12 delegates, the masterclass will cover flexible and rigid endoscopy and offer delegates the opportunity to practice techniques under the guidance of Dr Robertson.
The learning objectives include:
The ‘driving skills’ needed for flexible endoscopy, in vivo, to limit the risk of iatrogenic damage to the patient and equipment
Techniques for obtaining endoscopic biopsies and endoscopic foreign body removal
Proficiency in J-manoeuvre, pyloric and ileocolic sphincter intubation in the cat
Approaches to respiratory endoscopy
The assembly of the endoscopy chain (both flexible and rigid endoscopy)
The performance of infraorbital nerve blocks.
Improve's Veterinary Operations Manager, Juliet Pope BVSc Cert SAS MRCVS, said: "Virtually every feline medicine case has the potential to be an endoscopy case and, without it, colleagues can hit a ‘diagnostic roadblock’ in which they find themselves simply repeating diagnostic tests; resorting to polypharmacy in an attempt to ‘treat the treatable’ or referring the patient.
"An understanding of endoscopy and the confidence to perform it can help to overcome this roadblock and reach a diagnosis and definitive treatment plan quickly. This is good for practice performance and it’s also good for patients as it ensures a quicker recovery, with reduced pain and fewer complications."
For more information, visit: https://www.improveinternational.com/uk/coursedate/masterclass-in-feline-endoscopy, or contact Improve International on 01793 759159.
Oxidative stress is an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants which can lead to cell and tissue damage, impacting the health and performance of cattle.1 Virbac says the trace minerals in Multimin are essential structural components of antioxidant enzymes which are required to neutralise free radicals and combat oxidative stress.2,3
Multimin, which comes in a 100ml PET bottle, contains zinc, copper, manganese and selenium. It is designed to be administered during or before periods of high demand in dairy and beef cattle, such as breeding, calving, weaning and vaccination. After injection, it reaches peak levels in the blood after 8 hours4,5 and the liver after 24 hours.4,5
Virbac says Multimin has been proven in 24 peer-reviewed papers and field trials of more than 6,000 cattle, and that it offers a fast, simple and accurate way to top up essential trace minerals at times of high demand, to help improve cattle health and performance.
Lynda Maris, Virbac Large Animal Product Manager said: "Trace mineral requirements are currently primarily provided through the diet and various forms of oral supplementation. However, reduced oral intake, poor absorption from the rumen and antagonism from other minerals means that during periods of high demand, even in apparently well supplemented animals, a trace mineral gap can occur between the trace minerals required for optimum health and performance versus those available."
Lynda added: "Multimin is a great addition to the Virbac Large Animal range. It represents an exciting new opportunity for vets to strengthen their herd health plans, boost practice revenue and help to further reduce antibiotic usage."
For more information, speak to your Virbac Territory Manager or visit the Virbac stand at the BCVA Congress, 17th – 19th October.
References
The materials include eye-catching waiting room bunting, wall displays, posters, leaflets and leaflet holders which offer hints and tips on how to look after pets while fireworks are going off.
Ceva is also launching a series of eight three-minute fireworks videos which offer advice to owners about how they can 'Help take the fear out of fireworks' and more information about Adaptil and Feliway. The videos are presented by Emma Carr, training and charity key account manager at Ceva Animal Health and are available to download via Vimeo and Ceva’s social media tool kit.
Veterinary practices are being encouraged to use the new materials to take part in Ceva’s annual fireworks waiting room display competition, which offers a £200 voucher for the overall best display and luxury chocolate hampers for 10 runners up (hint: entrants get additional credit if they build a display den and plug in an Adaptil Calm Home Diffuser nearby).
Practices taking part in the competition can post pictures of their dens and waiting room displays on Ceva Animal Health UK's Facebook page in October.
Abigail King, senior behaviour product manager at Ceva Animal Health, said: "The extensive marketing support we are putting behind Adaptil and Feliway in the run up to the fireworks season will help educate pet owners on the measures that can be put in place to help their pets with firework fears, while highlighting the benefits of our products."
For further information, or to request the new waiting room material, contact your local account manager or email: cevauk@ceva.com.
The video has now been published on Youtube, from where veterinary practices might like to share it with clients on their own websites, by email or on their Facebook page.
In the video, Cat Henstridge MRCVS explains how from November, in the event of no deal, pet owners will need to have visited their vet 4 months before travel and had their pet vaccinated against rabies. They will then need to return for a blood test 30 days later, wait at least 3 months after that test before travel, and get an animal health certificate no more than 10 days before travel. In addition their animal needs to be microchipped.
Defra says owners should also be advised to visit gov.uk and search 'pet travel' for any updates.
Christine Middlemiss, UK Chief Veterinary Officer, said: "This is a reminder for pet owners of our practical and straightforward advice for pet travel if the UK were to leave the EU in a no-deal situation."
To watch and share the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ckhv5YS7Mw.
Tranquinervin, which contains 10 mg/ml acepromazine, is indicated for anaesthetic premedication, tranquilisation and sedation.
Emma Jennings, Brand Manager at Dechra said: "Tranquinervin provides tranquillisation or a mild sedation for several hours, making it a valuable tool for many day-to-day veterinary scenarios.
"At low doses, acepromazine reduces anxiety which is beneficial for use in horses prior to shoeing or transportation. At higher dose rates, it is an effective sedative for use in situations like dentistry or handling. The relaxant effects also aid examination of the penis in horses and the treatment of tetanus and choke.
"There is also reduced anaesthetic risk reported following sole premedication with acepromazine in healthy horses1."
Tranquinervin is available in a 20 ml vial with a 56 day broached shelf life. It can be used in conjunction with Dechra’s equine anaesthesia and analgesia app which is designed to help you choose optimal anaesthetic protocols and calculate anaesthetic drug doses and administration rates quickly and easily.
For more information, go to: www.dechra.co.uk/products/equine
Reference
The campaign uses Pennies, the digital charitable giving system which invites you to make a small donation when you pay for something by debit or credit card.
For the last four years, Medivet clients have been invited to make a donation of 50p when paying their veterinary bill, and the millionth donation was made at Medivet 24 Hour Shrewsbury this week.
Medivet says the funds raised have played a crucial role in helping to protect the rhino - enabling Wilderness Foundation Africa's Forever Wild Rhino Protection Initiative to support these critically endangered species across a wide range of activities. This includes the treatment of poaching attack survivors plus the care and rehabilitation of orphaned baby rhinos.
In terms of prevention, thanks to Medivet client donations, two cold scent tracker dogs have been deployed – Ella and Ziggy – who work with anti-poaching units, while support has also been provided for intelligence-sharing amongst local law-enforcement agencies. Funds have additionally been deployed to help drive global awareness, provide community services as well as essential field-based veterinary equipment.
Dr John Smithers, Senior Partner and Project Co-ordinator for Medivet Saving the Rhino, said: "We could not be more grateful to our clients for all they have done to help the survival of this iconic species. Their incredible generosity - combined with the support of our colleagues and partners - has made a real difference in the fight against poaching and we want to thank our clients for every donation made."
In South Africa, the Medivet-supported efforts to reduce poaching are co-ordinated by Dr William Fowlds, a former Medivet employee, who added: "This is a truly remarkable milestone and we are overwhelmed by the kindness of Medivet and its clients. The money raised not only helps protect the rhinos but helps bring to justice those responsible for the destruction of these precious and innocent creatures."
Alison Hutchinson, CBE, CEO of Pennies said reaching 1m donations was a remarkable achievement: “Pennies is proud to support Medivet’s Saving the Rhino campaign, and it’s been so inspiring to see one million individual micro-donations made through the digital charity box over the past four years.
"From all at Pennies, thank you and congratulations to the Medivet team and their hugely generous clients for reaching this milestone, for challenging the rhino poaching crisis in South Africa, and proving that small change truly does add up to mean big things."
Three cheers from VetSurgeon.org, too. That's a big achievement by Medivet for an important cause.
Probably the two most popular social media platforms for veterinary surgeons in the UK are Facebook (and its various veterinary groups) and VetSurgeon.org.
Facebook has the advantage that so many people use it to share photographs with family and friends, so they are already on the site and it is only a very short hop over to participate in a veterinary discussion group. That makes it an excellent way to get a broad opinion on almost any subject.
But, and it is a very big 'but', Facebook was never designed to be a platform for sharing clinical information or discussing cases. So, for example, you cannot see the professional qualifications of anyone contributing to the discussion unless they happen also to be your 'friend', so it can be hard to tell whether they have any idea what they're talking about, or are, in fact, the leading light.
There are various other aspects of Facebook that are problematic when it comes to clinical discussions, including the difficulty in referring back to useful information shared and the way in which 'me too' replies can drown out good quality information.
The survey aims to find out how much of a problem vets think these things are, whether certain groups within the profession could be better served by social media - for example those that may find it daunting asking for help in an online group, and what features vets would like VetSurgeon.org to invest in.
The survey can be completed anonymously, but if you give your name at the end, you'll be entered into a draw for a case of champagne (or equivalent).
Take part here: https://bit.ly/2lzzpy4
Please share this story amongst your colleagues!
The VetCompass study, which was based on the records of over 900,000 Westies under the care of UK first opinion veterinary practices in 2016, also found that ownership of Westies has fallen dramatically, to just a quarter of what it was a decade ago. Researchers found that the breed comprised only 0.43% of puppies born in 2015 compared to 1.69% of puppies born in 2004.
The average age of the Westies studied was a relatively elderly 7.8 years, suggesting an ageing population with fewer new puppies entering the population compared to other breed studies carried out by VetCompass.
The most common illnesses suffered by Westies were found to be dental disease (which affects 15.7% of Westies), ear disease (10.6%), overgrown nails (7.2%), allergic skin disorder (6.5%) and obesity (6.1%). Lower respiratory tract disease and cancer were the most common causes of death, with each accounting for 10.2% of deaths in the breed. Spinal cord disorders were the next biggest killer at 7.8%.
Other findings included:
Dr Dan O’Neill, Senior Lecturer and VetCompass researcher at the RVC, who was the main author of the paper, said: "With the ascent of social media as a dominant influencer of public opinion, ownership preferences for dog breeds are becoming increasingly polarised and susceptible to the whims of internet celebrity endorsement and advertising.
"Previously, preferences for dog breeds used to wax and wane gently over time. But VetCompass breed data now show rapid changes in preferences among breeds that create bubbles and troughs of demand that can have far-reaching implications for these breeds.
"Flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds are currently the darling of the nation but this has created huge welfare problems for breeds such as the Pug and French Bulldog. And breeds such as the West Highland White Terrier and Cavalier King Charles have fallen sharply out of favour."
Camilla Pegram, Veterinary Epidemiologist and VetCompass researcher at the RVC, who co-authored the paper, said: "The most common disorders of Westies shown in this study are also common in the wider UK dog population. However, the breed does seem predisposed to lower respiratory tract disease which was a common cause of death in the Westie. Owners should be aware of this as their Westie ages.
"What is particularly interesting is the level of skin disorders, which although relatively high, are still lower than might have been predicted a decade ago. It is possible that the reduction in Westie ownership has relieved the pressure on breeders to breed from less healthy individuals to meet demand and therefore contributed to improved skin health within the breed. Paradoxically, reducing popularity may have led to better health in the Westies that are now being born."
A test by the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory (ARFL) of samples from a newly prepared batch of Bova’s 100mg/ml injectable omeprazole formulation did not detect testosterone, and Racing New South Wales has now released a statement that the product can continue to be used in racehorses following the guidance of Australian Commonwealth and State legislation.
Nick Bova, managing director of Bova UK, said: "Traces of testosterone in the previous batch were less than one millionth of the internationally accepted standard for impurities.
"Independent experts confirmed that there could be no adverse effects on equine health or equestrian sport, however, we have taken steps to identify and completely eliminate the excipient ingredient that contained traces of testosterone."
Nick added: "Bova can confirm that new batches of this product will not contain the previous trace levels of testosterone and therefore Bova are confident there will be no antidoping issues, no matter what the equestrian pursuit is."
Royal Canin highlights that obesity is one of the most common diseases that veterinary professionals face, and impacts patients' quality of life1, as well as their life expectancy2,3. Compliance is a common challenge in weight loss and even those that successfully reach their ideal weight frequently regain weight later. It therefore makes sense, says the company, to focus on prevention as well as long term management for obese cats and dogs.
Caroline Burke, Royal Canin UK Weight Management Specialist said: "Obesity is one of the most common diseases that vets and nurses see in practice, and this webinar is the latest in our programme of education around weight management. Vets and nurses will have the opportunity to learn about how they can help prevent, as well as manage obesity in practice, allowing them to truly make a difference to the lives of their patients."
Alex added: "Obesity is an ever-growing issue for cats and dogs, understanding the risks and prevention techniques is paramount for both pet owners and industry experts.
"This webinar aims to suggest how a lifelong practice monitoring programme can be implemented for the prevention of obesity. Whilst also reviewing the outcomes of weight management and defining types of prevention techniques which can be implemented."
To register for the webinar, 'How to be proactive rather than reactive for effective, preventative obesity management’, visit: https://vetportal.royalcanin.co.uk/cpd/webinar/
Kate, who has worked in practice for 30 years, said: "Pilates does more than just give you a strong core. By tapping into your mental wellbeing even for a short period, it allows that disconnection from the pressures of the day, and encourages the mind to press that reset button. We draw attention to our breathing, our physical well-being, and our mental health.
"By introducing practice pilates once or twice a week, you will find your staff will feel relaxed, mentally calm and engaged. You will also begin to find that they will suffer less and less with those aches and pains brought on by sitting for long periods, and so will suffer less with, and even eradicate lower back pain."
"By helping you practice pilates together as a team, I aim to nurture friendships, allay any clustering of personalities and provide a stable platform for all to be equal."
Practice Pilates has a network of instructors which are allocated to certain regions around the country, and Kate says the aim is to roll out the service, and cluster visits in each area, to keep costs low.
Sessions typically last 45 minutes to one hour, so they can fit into a lunch break.
The company offers a monthly subscription which provides slightly lower per class rates, or a Pay As You Go option. The service is being launched with reduced rate taster sessions.
For information, telephone Kate on 07780 603534 or email: practicepilates@outlook.com.
The Disciplinary Committee heard three charges against Dr Jones.
The first and second charges were that, in March 2018, Dr Jones made signed entries in the passports and made corresponding entries in clinical records of four horses indicating that he had administered an influenza vaccination booster to each horse on 15 March 2018 and in relation to another horse a tetanus booster, when in fact he had administered the vaccination boosters on 21 March 2018, and that his conduct was misleading, dishonest and undermined the integrity of a vaccination process designed to promote animal welfare.
The third charge was that, on or around 21 March 2018, Dr Jones failed to make any entries in the clinical records for a horse in relation to an examination on 21 March 2018.
At the outset of the hearing Dr Jones admitted the facts in the first and second charges, and accepted that his actions were misleading, dishonest and that they undermined the integrity of a vaccination process. However, he disputed certain aspects of the written statements of the College’s witnesses. In particular he wanted his conduct to be taken in the context of the pressures that he was working under on that day, primarily that he was in a stressed state having had to euthanase a valuable stallion at the conclusion of his previous client appointment.
Dr Jones did not admit the third charge, explaining that he did not remember examining the horse on 21 March 2018 as alleged.
Based on Dr Jones' own admissions, the Committee found the first and second charges proven.
Regarding the third charge, the Committee heard evidence from the horse’s owner who said they were present during the examination taking place and the Committee was satisfied that the respondent did examine the horse on 21 March 2018 and that he had a duty to make a brief clinical note on the examination. As Dr Jones admitted that he made no such note, the Committee found the charge to have been proven to the requisite standard.
Having found the charges proven, the Committee then went on to consider whether or not Dr Jones’ proven conduct amounted to serious professional misconduct. The Committee, having considered the aggravating and mitigating factors, found that Dr Jones’ conduct as found proved in relation to both charges one and two, did constitute serious professional misconduct.
However, with regards to charge three, the Committee accepted that the respondent simply forgot that he had examined the horse and, therefore, the Committee was not satisfied that the failure to compile a record entry covering the horse’s examination constituted serious professional misconduct.
The Committee then considered what sanction to impose on Dr Jones in relation to the facts found proven in charges one and two. In doing so it took into account the 78 written testimonials and 4 character witnesses called on behalf of Dr Jones.
Ian Green, who chaired the Committee and spoke on its behalf, said: "The Committee’s decision on sanction has been based on an acceptance that the respondent’s conduct on this occasion was out-of-character, as the evidence of his character witnesses and the contents of the letters submitted in his support by his clients and other veterinary colleagues assert. The Committee also accepts that the respondent self-reported himself to his employer and to the College and has made a full and frank admission of his wrongdoing.
"Consideration was given to whether the sanction of a reprimand and/or warning as to future conduct would adequately reflect the gravity of the misconduct, however, after careful reflection it was concluded that such a sanction could not be justified. The reason is that acts of falsification involve acts of dishonesty by a professional person acting in a professional capacity, and the gravity of the matter arises not simply from the dishonesty but also from the possible consequences of the false certification. It should be clearly understood by members of the veterinary profession that, in appropriate false certification cases, the sanction of removal from the Register is one which may well be imposed."
The Committee therefore decided that suspending Dr Jones from the Register for two months would be the most appropriate sanction.
There are only 11 other practices in the UK that hold the Gold Standard Award for rabbit care. To achieve it, Valley Veterinary Hospital had to demonstrate excellence across all aspects of rabbit care, including pain relief and management, dentistry and airway management.
The practice was commended on its top-quality facilities, including a dedicated exotic department with separate waiting and consulting rooms, as well as kennel areas for rabbits to keep them away from larger animals, relieving them of stress and anxiety.
Valley Veterinary Hospital exotic animals specialist, Tariq Abou-Zahr, BVSc CertAVP(ZooMed) MRCVS (pictured right), said: "I am absolutely delighted that Valley Veterinary Hospital has met the grade to achieve the first RWAF gold status in Wales. I believe that rabbits are just as deserving of excellent veterinary care as cats and dogs, and I am so pleased that I work in a veterinary hospital where we have the facilities to provide this standard of care.
"Rabbit medicine has always been an interest of mine, and I’m very grateful to Vet Partners for investing in such great facilities and to RWAF for considering our application and granting us Gold status."
Applications for the Awards are assessed by Dr Richard Saunders BSc Hons MSB CBiol DZooMed MRCVS, one of the UK’s leading specialists on rabbit welfare and veterinary advisor for RWAF.
Dr Richard Saunders BSc Hons MSB CBiol DZooMed MRCVS, who assesses applications on behalf of the RWAF, said:
"As a dedicated rabbit charity aiming to improve the wellbeing and welfare of domestic rabbits throughout the UK, our requirements to meet a Gold standard in rabbit care are very high. Valley Vets has met all of these standards and I’m delighted to reward a practice in Wales who have demonstrated that they are as passionate about rabbit care as we are.”
The RWAF has published a list of award-winning rabbit-savvy practices on its website which can be viewed here: https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-advice/rabbit-friendly-vets/rabbit-friendly-vet-list/
Any veterinary practices interested in applying for the Rabbit Friendly Vet List should visit https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-vets/vet-membership/
Encouragingly, 88% of the 5046 people surveyed said they keep guinea pigs in groups of two or more, as is recommended by experts and, in fact, required by law in Switzerland. 88% also said they provide their guinea pig with additional space to roam outside of their housing.
Although only 3% of guinea pig owners said they insure their pet, 67% said they take their guinea pig to see the vet once a year or more.
When it comes to nutrition, 76% of owners say they believe feeding hay is the most important part of their guinea pig(s) diet and 65% say it is their guinea pigs’ primary food source. Burgess says that in an ideal world 100% of guinea pigs would be fed hay as their primary food source, so 65% shows there is room for improvement.
Peter Lancaster, marketing manager at Burgess Pet Care said: "Guinea pigs make fantastic pets but, as with other small animals, they have very particular needs when it comes to their welfare. Thankfully, according to the findings of our census, we found that the majority of guinea pig owners who provided answers on the five welfare needs – diet, company, health, environment and behaviour, are conscientious with their care, reflecting their dedication to keeping their pets happy.
"It was fantastic to see the number of guinea pig owners entering the census keep rising by the day, and we’re reassured that there are thousands of well-informed owners out there. However, despite these resoundingly positive findings, there is always work to be done when it comes to improving standards of animal welfare. The information we’ve received from this census does identify the gaps of knowledge in certain areas, and we anticipate these gaps to be much larger when it comes to less-informed and engaged guinea pig owners."
The Osurnia Ear Health Hub includes information about the treatment of canine otitis externa from dermatologists Sue Paterson and Natalie Barnard, advice about responsible antibiotic use, expert tips for vets to use in the consulting room and dog owner educational materials that veterinary staff can use in practice and online. It will also include a podcast interview with Sue.
The hub also provides information, videos and research about Osurnia.
Elanco Animal Health UK Marketing Manager, Rebecca Bryant said: "We know all too well the challenges vets face when treating canine OE and the significant impact the condition has on the quality of life of both the dog and the owner.
"The Osurnia Ear Health Hub is a new disease resource hub on MyElanco, which provides helpful resources for veterinary professionals looking for answers or to enhance their understanding of the disease. We hope that with more easily accessible information, this will help vets to treat OE cases and communicate with their clients."
Visit the canine ear health hub at: www.myelanco.co.uk
Whilst on the subject of information resources, this one has come to my attention. It's a list of other veterinary blogs and resources: https://blog.feedspot.com/veterinary_blogs.
Andrea Tarr, Veterinary Prescriber’s founder and director said: "There is a lot of confusion about the various rules and regulations around medicine storage. This module makes sense of it all. It is an essential read for anyone who deals with veterinary medicines, particularly those preparing for a VMD or RCVS PSS medicines inspection."
Veterinary Prescriber’s reviews are presented as e-learning modules. All the modules are the result of a thorough literature search and collaboration between practising specialists, general practitioners and the publication's editorial team.
Veterinary Prescriber is supported by subscriptions which cost £9.95 per month (cancel anytime) for individuals or £25 per month (for a 12-month contract) for practices. The latter includes 12 months free access to https://cpd.veterinaryprescriber.org for your practice's vet nurses, vet receptionists and SQPs.
To subscribe visit: https://www.veterinaryprescriber.org/subscribe
For further information, contact: carlrussell@veterinaryprescriber.org telephone 07932 044904.
The divestment is expected to be concluded in mid-2020, and Bayer intends to exit its stake in Elanco over time.
Bayer says that combining Elanco and Bayer Animal Health will create the number two animal heath company, with top three positions across a broad range of species and geographies. It also enhances Elanco’s portfolio of leading global brands and bolsters its innovation capabilities and R&D pipeline.
Jeffrey N. Simmons, president and chief executive officer of Elanco, said: "Combining Elanco’s strong relationship with veterinarians and Bayer’s leadership in retail and e-commerce will ultimately benefit all our customers. We look forward to joining our complementary portfolios and capabilities to build a fully focused animal health company, providing a sustained flow of innovation for farmers, veterinarians and pet owners."
What3words divides the globe into a grid of 57 trillion squares measuring three metres by three metres and gives each one a unique, 3 word name.
The app uses the GPS on your mobile phone to display your approximate position on a map, which you can then zoom in on and pinpoint more precisely. It then gives you the 3 word address for the square you're in.
The reason the emergency services recommend What3words is that it can save them precious time getting to the scene of an accident. There are obvious benefits for veterinary surgeons too, not just when called to remote locations, but also when a client's postcode is ambiguous.
What3words is free of charge and can be downloaded for Android and Apple phones. There is also a What3words website, what3words.com, which provides the same service, but that only works online (whereas the app works offline too).
I've reviewed the app in more detail on YouTube here: