Defra has been roundly criticised in the media today for reportedly spending £181,000 on redesigning its website.
Here's the old website. Apparently deemed 'too agricultural' for its use of brown.
And here's the new one:
A vast improvement, and depending on what the £181,000 bill included, it may not have been as overpriced as it sounds.
Either way, it prompted a great quip from Tory environment spokesman Nick Herbert: 'At least it's now clear that, like the rest of the country, Defra has gone off Brown.'
Virbac has announced the reintroduction of chews as part of its dental range.
VeggieDent chews are available in packs of 15 in sizes suitable for small, medium and large dogs. The chews contain chlorhexidine and have a texture and shape designed to optimise plaque removal by physically abrading the tooth surface during chewing.
Product manager Chris Geddes said: "The gold standard of dental hygiene is regular brushing, but that isn't always possible, and products such as this are ideal for those difficult cases."
For further information please speak to your Virbac representative, phone 01359 243243 or email admin@virbac.co.uk.
Boehringer Ingelheim VetMedica has published its equine endocrine webinars online for veterinary professionals to view on demand at www.prascend.co.uk/webinars.
The webinars, which cover 'Diagnostic challenges in equine endocrine disease', presented by equine internal medicine specialist Andy Durham from the Liphook Equine Hospital, and 'A problem-based approach to equine laminitis', presented by equine internal medicine specialist Dr Catherine McGowan from the University of Liverpool, are each one hour long.
Participants will each receive CPD certificates for participation.
MSD says the campaign will help veterinary nurses and front-of-house staff start the conversation about parasite control by asking clients about their pets' favourite hiding places, where parasites are often found. The supporting campaign tools and materials are designed to help practice staff then uncover pet owner needs to ensure they get the best recommendation.
Amanda Melvin, Marketing Manager at MSD Animal Health said: "Vet nurses and front-of-house staff are usually the first contact pet owners have with the practice. Yet the potential they have to add value to the whole consultation process is often underestimated.
"Our ‘No Hiding’ campaign has been designed to make use of this expertise by helping them find a way of sharing their knowledge. When it comes to pet owners this is usually best achieved by sharing those conversations about the unusual quirks and habits of their pets. That way they can uncover their hiding places and give them the best advice on parasite control."
The ‘No Hiding’ campaign offers a range of resources for practices including in-practice training, social media support, and interactive waiting room resources - demonstrating the practice’s expertise and allowing pet owners to share in the unique hiding habits of their pets.
For further information, contact your MSD Animal Health account manager.
Maeve Cuffe, Junior Brand Manager of large animal products, at Forte Healthcare Ltd said: “As dairy herds increase in size, routine fertility visits result in larger numbers of cows requiring prostaglandin treatment.
"Also, some vets now recommend two shots of prostaglandin instead of one in certain synchronisation protocols.
"The 25 dose presentation of Genestran is a great addition to the range, helping vets keep enough prostaglandin in stock, while minimising waste.”
Genestran 50ml is available in all veterinary wholesalers now.
Technical questions about Genestran should be sent to: vets@fortehealthcare.com
'The new discovery in feline communication' symposium was held during the ISFM (International Society of Feline Medicine) International Feline Congress from 8th - 10th August.
The symposium was presented by Professor Patrick Pageat DVM MSc PhD HDR Dipl ECAWBM-BM Hon Dipl CLECVe, who researched and developed both Feliway and Adaptil, and Dr Andy Sparkes BVetMed PhD DipECVIM MANZCVS MRCVS, veterinary consultant at ISFM.
Patrick presented ‘the science behind the new pheromone discovery’ and covered how it was developed, how it works and why it is a step up from the existing pheromone products. Andy followed with ‘Feliway Optimum: clinical evidence’ and featured the clinical data behind the new product and how it outperforms existing pheromones.
To register for ‘the new discovery in feline communication’ symposium on demand, which equates to one hour’s CPD, email cevauk@ceva.com.
It's the final call for comments on the draft new RCVS Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons, as the consultation closes on Friday, 24 June 2011.
The new draft Code, which is intended to replace the existing RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons, was produced by a Working Party set up by the RCVS Advisory Committee.
The new Code is a short, principles-based document using the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe's Code of Conduct as the starting point. It will be supported by additional advice on specific areas of veterinary practice or issues, for example, clinical governance.
New requirements in the Code include compulsory continuing professional development, the RCVS Health Protocol and more on clinical competence. It also contains an updated declaration to be made by veterinary surgeons, which gives increased emphasis to animal welfare.
The new Code, together with the consultation paper, can be downloaded at www.rcvs.org.uk/codeconsultation.
Comments, which are welcomed from the profession and the public, should be sent by email to Christopher Murdoch, Secretary to the Guides Review Working Party, at c.murdoch@rcvs.org.uk by Friday, 24 June 2011.
A separate consultation will open shortly on a draft RCVS Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses.
76 vets, 34 nurses and 7 other practice staff took part in the survey, which was conducted at the VetsNow ECC Virtual Congress. Participants were asked a number of questions on antibiotic resistance and UTI management.
47% of vets said they currently feel confident prescribing antibiotics for suspected UTIs in the absence of culture and sensitivity results. However, 84% would be confident if they were able to use a rapid in-house sensitivity test.
77% of the participants said they were concerned about the increasing emergence of antimicrobial resistance.
Rachel Kirkby MRCVS, Business Development Director, said: "Antibiotic resistance is a huge threat to both human and animal healthcare across the world. We all need to work together to address it, and at Test and Treat we want to make it easier for vets in practice to do their bit by prescribing antibiotics according to best practice."
Test and Treat says the problem is that while many vets are keen to tackle resistance, it is not always easy to avoid empirical prescribing in practice. Of the vets surveyed, 65% reported that they are typically not able to obtain an accurate clinical diagnosis prior to prescribing antimicrobial therapy.
Rachel said: “It can be frustrating for vets to have to prescribe empirically when they don’t have any information on antibiotic sensitivity. But logistical constraints often mean that it’s not practical to send samples off to the lab.”
Test and Treat's U-Treat system consists of two rapid tests: a 5-minute assay that can confirm the presence of infection and a 30-minute assay that evaluates antibiotic sensitivity. With this diagnostic tool, vets can therefore select and prescribe the most appropriate antibiotic within an hour.
Rachel said: "Since you get results so quickly, you can use the test while the owner waits – or, in the current situation, more likely goes for a walk and comes back. This means that vets can get their patients started on the most appropriate treatment right away.”
U-Treat is currently validated for use in dogs and cats, but company says it is also looking to license it in rabbits and human healthcare.
To find out more about U-Treat, contact Test and Treat’s National Sales Manager Jo Nickerson on Jo.Nickerson@tandtreat.com or visit http://www.tandtreat.com.
The Blue Cross is calling for nominations from veterinary practices across the country for its Veterinary Nurse of the Year Award 2009.
The annual award is presented at the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) Annual Congress. It recognises the contribution of veterinary nurses in educating the public about responsible pet ownership and the welfare of pets in the community. This year's Congress will take place on 9-11 October at the Kettering Conference Centre, Northamptonshire.
Last year's award was won by Rebecca Darbyshire for her outstanding contribution to animal welfare, both within her veterinary practice and among the local community in Pocklington, York.
Rebecca Darbyshire was nominated by vet and colleague Matt Brash at Battlefields veterinary clinic in Pocklington.
Mr Brash said: "Rebecca is an outstanding, unassuming professional nurse. She runs all of the clinics that a modern day nurse does, but still has the time for anybody - whatever they need, whenever they need it. She has developed such a close relationship with our clients that they would often rather see her than a vet!"
Nominations for this year's award can be made by completing the nomination form on The Blue Cross website at: www.bluecross.org.uk/BVNA2009 or by contacting Sally Leathem on 01993 825577. The deadline for nominations is Friday 14 August 2009.
The Blue Cross has taken the lead in animal care for over a hundred years. Its four animal hospitals provide a lifeline for pet owners on low incomes. Its community vet services also cater for elderly and disabled people. Without the charity's hospitals, and the services they provide, many people would be without the benefits that pet ownership can bring.
Sheila Wills BSc BVetMed CertSAM DipECVIM-CA MRCVS, specialist in internal medicine, has joined Wey Referrals, the Surrey-based multi-disciplinary veterinary referral practice.
Professor John Innes, Referral Director at CVS (of which Wey Referrals is a part) said: "We are delighted to welcome Sheila to our specialist team at Wey Referrals. Her experience and knowledge will further strengthen the service we offer and her appointment is another important step in the development of our referral team in the South East. Attracting the highest calibre talent is important to CVS because we want to build a referral team, whose members are not only clinically excellent but who also possess first rate communication and inter-personal skills."
Sheila said: "I am excited to be joining the CVS specialist team and look forward to working with like-minded colleagues who are passionate and dedicated to providing the highest level of patient care and client communication. I am delighted to be able to offer a specialist internal medicine service in both feline and canine medicine and look forward to offering a comprehensive service to CVS clients and expanding the internal medicine service further in the future."
Sheila graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 1998 and spent five years in small animal practice before undertaking an FAB Residency in Feline Medicine at the University of Bristol.
Shortly after her residency, she was appointed Head of Small Animal Medicine and the Feline Centre at the Animal Health Trust where she was based for two years before moving to a major veterinary laboratory in December 2009. She recently returned to the University of Bristol as a teaching fellow in feline medicine.
Sheila acquired her ECVIM Diploma in Internal Medicine in September 2010 and is a Recognised European Veterinary Specialist in Internal Medicine. She became an RCVS Recognised Specialist in Feline Medicine in March 2012 and enjoys all aspects of feline medicine with a specialist interest in feline renal and ureteric disease. She is a member of the ICC Feline Expert Panel and an editorial board member for the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery.
Turning Over a New Leaf – How to Make Sustainable Change in the Veterinary Profession includes contributions from a range of organisations including the RCVS, Mars Veterinary Health and Investors in the Environment (iiE).
The report covers upcoming changes to the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme, the value of external accreditation to support sustainability, and how to approach behaviour change within your team.
Two further articles highlight how changes in clinical practice can combat antimicrobial resistance and reduce levels of surgical waste.
The report also features the personal experiences of practice sustainability leads, who discuss how they have worked with others to improve their sites.
Ellie West, Environmental Sustainability Lead at Linnaeus said: “Changing how we work day-to-day, when we are all so busy as a profession, can be a lot to juggle but sustainability brings a huge range of benefits.
"As well as helping the environment, it can promote the wellbeing of our patients and colleagues while also improving our performance as a business.
“It is important, however, to avoid dictating what sustainable change should be made because it will vary greatly between different teams and locations.
"This report shares ideas from contributors with a variety of roles and responsibilities, who have taken different approaches to supporting the environment but are all united in their commitment to delivering excellent clinical care.”
Sue Paterson, RCVS Junior Vice-President and RCVS Council lead for Environment & Sustainability, said: “Contributing to this report highlights the importance of working together as a profession to understand the environmental challenges we face and adopt solutions that will benefit our planet and the animals we care for.
"Upcoming changes to the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme will cover sustainability across a range of areas and we are committed to ensuring the veterinary profession can fully realise the benefits of this new guidance.”
April Sotomayor, Principal Consultant at iiE, added: “This report offers a range of perspectives that highlight how the veterinary profession can become a leader in sustainability and a shining example to other sectors.”
Download Turning Over a New Leaf – How to Make Sustainable Change in the Veterinary Profession here.
Some 150 practices currently use Vidivet, which was set up by Ben Sweeney MRCVS (pictured) in 2020.
He said: “I started VidiVet as I wanted people to be able to access high quality, impartial care for their pets that allows them to make more informed decisions around their treatment with expert information, rather than resorting to the internet.
"As a vet I also wanted to make life easier for those working within veterinary practices.
"VidiVet relieves part of the burden veterinary practices face by offering a trusted digital triage service for their clients.
"Our digital service can provide a helpful extension to a practice which dramatically reduces admin and saves time for the in-house team.
"Crucially, we offer peace of mind and reduce anxiety for pet owners, and with over 96% of VidiVet out of hours calls redirected to the pet owner’s registered vet, it can really enhance the practice bond by using digital care to augment physical care."
Before the Provet partnership, OOH case notes were sent to client practices which then had to enter them onto their systems manually.
Vidivet says the intregration with Provet means less admin and time savings for practices and a quicker follow up for pet owners.
https://vidivet.com
https://www.provet.cloud
TR Biosurgical will be officially launching its new surgical treatment for canine glaucoma at the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists annual conference in Chicago at the start of November.
TR-ClarifEYE is an sub-scleral implant placed in the eye in a procedure that takes around 30 minutes.
TR Biosurgical CEO Craig Woods DVM said: "TR-ClarifEYE is made from new silicone substrate subjected to a unique process which reduces fibrosis and enhances healing."
"Until now, the primary treatment options for canine glaucoma have been laser surgery, cryosurgery, evisceration or enucleation. Certain procedures can be either complicated and expensive, or fail to save the eye. Previous implants have met with only limited success, and TR-ClarifEYE appears to overcome many of the problems with glaucoma implants."
"This new implant is a relatively easy surgical approach. It has limited post-op complications. It seems to provide long term glaucoma management in the majority of patients, most of which are able to reduce medications."
For more information about TR-ClarifEYE, visit: http://www.petglaucoma.com
Practitioners interested in learning more about this procedure, click here and 'start conversation' with Craig
Vétoquinol, the makers of Zylkène, is offering the chance for a veterinary professional to receive a bursary towards the Centre of Applied Ethnology (COAPE) Behaviour Diploma, worth £5000.
The company says behavioural training offers a wealth of benefits to veterinary practices and staff, including safer pet handling, improved client loyalty and a more comfortable environment for animals, as well as the opportunity to help increase the clinic's income.
The COAPE Behaviour Diploma is designed to help professionals further their knowledge of behavioural issues and gives them the skills to deal with situations that may arise during the course of their work. It is broken down into 3 one-year-long courses, each costing £5000.
Jodie Foster of Haygate Vets in Telford was the recipient of last year's bursary and has since been voted the VN Times Welfare Nurse of the Year. She said: "I'd been interested in doing this course for some time, so it was amazing to hear that I'd been selected. I have found it challenging at times, but it's also been very rewarding and has really helped to improve my confidence when dealing with behavioural situations at work.
"The course tutors were fantastic and really fuelled my desire to further develop my knowledge of animal behaviour. The course definitely contributed to being awarded the prize from VN Times so I would strongly recommend that anyone with an interest in pet behaviour applies for the bursary."
To apply, complete the application form at www.zylkenepet.co.uk/COAPE by 10 August 2014, explaining why you want to further your knowledge of animal behaviour and what you hope to achieve on completing the course.
Captains Nicola Housby-Skeggs and Claire Budge, the first two members of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC) to achieve the RCVS Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (CertAVP), have been presented with their certificates at Belgravia House.
The two Captains were visiting the RCVS as part of a 'Meet the RCVS Day' organised for a group of Officers from the RAVC. The Captains were presented with their Certificates by Vice-President Peter Jinman.
Capt Nicola Housby-Skeggs had completed a mixture of small animal and equine modules in order to achieve her Certificate, and was positive about the modular approach. She said: "It's reassuring to know you can have a break if you need to. The compulsory module on professional key skills was also more useful than I had anticipated, as it focused on aspects that you don't really have time for at vet school, such as management, and health and safety."
Meanwhile, Captain Claire Budge appreciated the fact that many of her modules could be completed via distance learning. She said: "It was great that I could continue with my studies even when serving in Afghanistan. My only regret is that when I started the Certificate back in 2008, there wasn't the range of modules available that there is now. For example, I would like to have done one of the new Animal Welfare, Ethics and Law modules. However, there is no reason why I can't just take this as continuing professional development - that's the benefit of the modular approach."
More information about the CertAVP can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/modcerts.
'Meet the RCVS Days' give members of the veterinary team the opportunity to visit the College and find out what goes on behind the scenes. If you would like to join a future event, please let Fiona Harcourt know, on f.harcourt@rcvs.org.uk. Reasonable travel expenses are paid.
Under the direction of Hilary Jackson and Rosanna Marsella, the manual has been revised and updated to provide a resource focused on the clinically relevant aspects of dermatological diseases. It also includes several new chapters and various sections have been expanded.
This new edition keeps the same format as the third edition. The initial chapters review the basic structure and function of the skin, discuss a logical approach to history-taking and outline the core investigative tests that can be performed. A separate chapter on skin cytology has been added to this edition, providing information on common skin diseases which the association says should be useful to all practitioners.
The introductory section is followed by chapters taking a problem-oriented approach to common dermatological conditions, including papules and pustules, scaling, and erosions and ulcerations. The chapters on pyoderma, ear disease and atopic dermatitis have been expanded and there are two new chapters dedicated to feline dermatological conditions.
A chapter covering the indications for allergy testing and the use of allergen-specific immunotherapy is also new to this edition. The main purpose of an allergy test is to confirm the clinical diagnosis of atopic disease and to identify the relevant allergens, which can then be selected for allergen-specific immunotherapy.
The final section of the manual focuses on the major skin diseases encountered in dogs and cats, and includes a chapter on topical treatments, which have an increasingly important role in the management of small animal dermatology patients, either as a sole therapy or as part of a multimodal treatment regime.
The BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Dermatology is available as a print edition (£90; £60 to BSAVA members), which can be bought at the BSAVA online shop, and a digital edition (£90; £60 to BSAVA members), accessible via the BSAVA Library.
Human Factors is the application of human psychological and physiological principles and limitations to the design of processes and systems to reduce human error, increase productivity and enhance safety.
Trainetics has operated in various sectors such as aviation, ergonomics and human healthcare for many years.
As part of its move into the veterinary sector, it is working with a team of team of well-known figures in the profession: Bradley Viner, Holger Volk, Vicky Lipscombe, Tom Cardy and Andy Fiske-Jackson.
Tom said: “The potential impact of human factors on the veterinary industry is huge. What we are able to offer delegates is a unique experience to improve their situational awareness and decision-making.
“It is something which I believe delegates will find incredibly insightful as part of their career progression and it can improve how we treat our patients every day.
“Within the veterinary profession, human factors is still relatively new, however, its true scope within the industry lies in understanding and applying systems-thinking methodology to our complex, adaptive profession.”
Holger said: “When I first had the chance to become consciously incompetent in a flight simulator at BA with Trainetics, it was a fantastic opportunity to learn about my own limitations and how to better overcome them.
“Part of the immersive experience is learning about human factors, situational awareness, decision-making, workload management, system performance and health and wellbeing.
“We can learn so much from the aviation industry and vice-versa, and these unique courses can provide real opportunities to better ourselves as a profession and as individuals.
www.trainetics.co.uk
Pfizer's Vet Support+ has launched the Practice Management Academy, which offers online training in the key management disciplines required to run a successful veterinary business.
There are twelve courses which cover four key areas of management: financial operations, staff management, client relations and marketing. Participants can choose to study individual courses, a specific area of management, or enrol in the full Practice Management Academy.
The courses are four weeks in length and contribute up to ten hours of CPD learning through a mix of interactive activities, case studies, questions and a student learning forum.
Each course is also allocated a Pfizer Business Consultant to work as an online expert tutor, posing questions and stimulating forum discussion amongst the students.
Pfizer says that the significant cost saving e-learning represents over external CPD is making the Academy a popular choice for all members of the practice team, especially those who may be taking on new management responsibilities or those looking for a refresher. According to the company, one large vet group has already taken twenty places on each of the courses to improve the practice management skills across its extensive team.
Ned Flaxman, Director Business Innovation said: "Using an E-Learning platform is a well-trodden path, ideal for busy individuals wishing to improve or gain new practice management skills without leaving the surgery, or sofa. However, unlike some e-learning which can leave the participant feeling like they are gaining theoretical know-how only, and working in somewhat of a silo, our Academy offers an 'online campus'. This provides a flexible, convenient and supportive training environment for shared theory and practical learning with other colleagues from the veterinary profession under the guidance of e-tutors and experts."
For further details visit http://www.vetsupportplus.co.uk/
Kruuse has launched a range of seven specialized sterile surgical disposable drapes and gowns developed for the surgery team working in equine clinics or hospitals.
The company says its new surgical sets have been designed so they include a comprehensive set of sterile drapes, towels, instrument covers and adhesive tapes needed to perform particular procedures:
Andrew Groom, Managing Director, Kruuse UK Ltd. said: "This exciting new range of products increase the Kruuse's equine product portfolio and develop further our commitment to provide specialist species available products to support the veterinary practitioner."
The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) has announced that it is reducing the cost of its CPD by 50% this year and making its webinars free to members.
David Mountford, Chief Executive of BEVA said: "Last year we were able to capitalise on some efficiencies in other areas of BEVA operations. We are delighted to be able to hand the resulting benefits directly back to our members across all our CPD programme during 2013."
The Association says its CPD covers a broad range of topics is aimed at busy vets who need to build CPD points, whether new graduates, equine or mixed practitioners. It takes the form of clinical workshops, regional meetings, nursing meetings, webinars and one, two and three day practical courses, held in the UK.
This year's courses include:
For more information, visit http://www.beva.org.uk/news-and-events/beva-courses or ring +44(0)1638 723555 or email info@beva.org.uk.
CVS Group has announced that European internal medicine specialist Caroline Kisielewicz MVB CertSAM DipECVIM-CA is joining ChesterGates Veterinary Specialists with effect from 1 October 2014.
Caroline Kisielewicz graduated from University College, Dublin in 2006 and, after working in first opinion small animal practice for two years, completed an ECVIM-residency training programme at the Small Animal Hospital at the University of Glasgow in February 2013.
Most recently she has been working at the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals at the Royal Veterinary College. She is interested in all aspects of small animal internal medicine, particularly emergency medicine, transfusion medicine, immune-mediated diseases and endocrine diseases.
CVS Referral Director, Professor John Innes said: "We are delighted to welcome Caroline to our specialist team at ChesterGates. She is a rising star in internal medicine and I believe it is a measure of CVS' growing reputation for offering a diverse range of career options that we are attracting some of the strongest talent from the specialist vet pool.
"Caroline joins Ellie Mardell and Chris Saul here at ChesterGates to help us to offer an even more comprehensive and user-friendly internal medicine service."
Caroline said: "I was keen to join this excellent multi-disciplinary specialist referral hospital with its dynamic, friendly and close-knit team. Working at ChesterGates gives me the opportunity to provide the highest standard and quality of care and treatment for my patients, clients and their referring vets."
Norbrook Laboratories has launched Cefimam DC intramammary ointment, a new dry cow preparation containing the 4th generation cephalosporin, cefquinome.
The company has also released a Polish language version of its Best Practice Guide for On-Farm Mastitis Control, in response to demand from producers with non-English speaking farm-hands.
Norbrook vet Chris Geddes said: "I believe this is the first time that such a guide has been produced to cater for farm-hands of a different nationality working within the UK. Good mastitis management starts with good education; giving everyone on the farm the same opportunity for learning the best techniques for prevention means that we help minimise incidences of mastitis, which costs the dairy industry millions of pounds in lost revenue every year.
"This prevention includes a thorough and consistent approach to dry cow management. The early drying off period is often a risky time, when pre-existing subclinical infections can bed-in. The cow is also at increased risk of gaining new infections due to lack of udder hygiene procedures that would normally occur at milking, and weakened immunity as she approaches calving. Our new cefquinome preparation is a valuable addition to have in the treatment armoury for dry cow management. It has broad-spectrum activity and high cellular penetration to help tackle hard-to-manage cases with the aim of returning to maximum productivity by the start of the milking season."
Cefimam DC will be available at all veterinary wholesalers in packs of 24x and 120x 8g intramammary tubes. Vets can obtain both English and Polish versions of the Best Practice Guide for On-Farm Mastitis Control from Territory Managers.
For further information or copies of the Best Practice Guide for On-Farm Mastitis Control in English or Polish, contact your Territory Manager or call Norbrook GB head office on 01536 741 147.
The 12-strong crew, aged between 18 and 60, left Marina San Miguel, Tenerife on 22nd March and rowed 2,875 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean, arriving in Falmouth Harbour, Antigua 42 days, 2 hours and 30 minutes later.
Each of the crew of the 12-metre boat, Roxy, rowed more than 1.5million strokes and burned over 5000 calories a day.
During the journey, the team had to battle with ocean storms and seasickness, not to mention extreme blisters and callouses. Simon lost almost 10kg.
Simon, who was a rowing novice before this, raised almost £15,000 for MacMillan Cancer Support. He said: "It’s without a doubt the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I can’t put into words how I’m feeling right now. The sense of achievement is a little overwhelming.
"The journey was everything I wanted it to be - tough both physically and mentally but hugely rewarding and one thing is for sure, I wouldn’t be standing here at the finish line if it hadn’t been for each and every one of the incredible crew. What a gorgeous group of people who will remain lifelong friends. After catching up with my family, the thing I was most looking forward to was a good meal!”.
The crew were welcomed to Antigua by a flotilla of smaller boats with many of the crew’s families onboard, before a reception at the Antigua Yacht Club.
The 2-day course, which includes both theory and practical sessions, will be taught by Ingrid Tundo, lecturer and head of the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Department at the University of Edinburgh (pictured right), at IM3's Advanced Centre for Education near Dublin on the 10th and 11th August 2021.
The course will cover all the basic aspects of veterinary dentistry including oral examination and charting, dental radiography, local anaesthetic techniques and basic oral surgery including extractions.
The cost of the course is £600 and there's a 15% discount for BVDA members (so if you're interested in the course, then joining the BVDA is a bit of a no-brainer).
To register, visit: https://www.bvda.co.uk/education/courses/essential-dentistry-for-vets, or email Rob Davis (BVDA Education Officer) at davis4ginger@yahoo.co.uk for further information.
Bayer Animal Health has announced it'll be running the 'Be Lungworm Aware' campaign in April 2011. The campaign is targeted at dog owners to raise awareness of the risks associated with the lungworm Angiostrongylus vasorum.
A Bayer spokesman said: "Over the past years, the spread of A. vasorum has been cited by independent experts, and disease caused by this parasite is increasingly diagnosed. Previous lungworm awareness campaigns have been successful in increasing dog owner awareness of A. vasorum and how their dogs can become infected. However, there is still a lack of recognition as to the signs associated with this infection, so the continuing education of dog owners is extremely important."
The national 'Be Lungworm Aware' activity for April includes TV, radio and print advertising in the form of an educational 'public information' style feature. A national awareness day is also planned for 6 April, which will include radio broadcast and web chat TV, and feature veterinary surgeon Luke Gamble and TV presenter Jenni Falconer.
Bayer has produced a package of veterinary support materials to allow practices to take part in the campaign and raise awareness at a local level. Materials include: an educational waiting room wall display and DVD, and client leaflets. A PR pack has also been produced which contains useful images and information which can be used on websites and in newsletters, as well as a press release for issuing to the local media and radio stations. To order these support materials, practices should contact their local Bayer representative or ring 0845 2574798 quoting 'Be Lungworm Aware'.