The winning images were selected from nine finalists, shortlisted from hundreds of entries that were taken by vets, both in their professional and private lives.
And the winners are ...
Sophie said: “I was very surprised to win with my photo of a newborn calf standing next to me during the closing phases of surgery.
"I'm not that slow at suturing up, it’s just the calf was very alert and standing before I finished!
"For me this photo encapsulates the best parts of farm vetting: prompt decisions, safe handling, great outcomes, teamwork.
"I’m very proud to be a farm vet and exceptionally pleased this photo will be seen by current farm vets and hopefully will inspire future farm vets from all walks of life to pursue a veterinary career.”
Katherine, who is a third year Veterinary Medicine student at the Royal Veterinary College, said: “I'm absolutely delighted to have my photograph selected as the winner of the category, especially against such impressive entries.
"I was on a morning visit to a game reserve with a local vet in South Africa, when the sunrise highlighted the small oxpeckers on the backs of the giraffes, frantically flying to and fro.
"With the giraffe curiously watching us, I managed to capture the moment all three birds landed on its back, creating the image representing all creatures great and small.”
Sam Price said: "I took the image of my dog, Winnie, while on a campervan trip on the north coast of Ireland.
She loves nothing more than a beach day as you can see so I felt this was a fitting photo for the brief.
Thankfully there was a rare bout of sunshine on the day which made for some nice lighting and Winnie is pretty photogenic, which always helps!"
BVA President Malcolm Morley said: “The winning images stood out to us for many reasons, but we particularly liked how each one captured the essence of the category it was entered into; Sophie’s image of a c-section on a cow was so touching and really demonstrates the daily life of many of our valued farm vets; Katherine Edmondson’s photograph of the giraffe and red-billed oxpeckers was stunning but also truly embodied the All creatures great and small element; while Sam Price’s photo of Winnie the dog literally jumping for joy stole our hearts and genuinely made us all break out in smiles.
“Congratulations to all the winners, and also a huge well done to all the finalists as well, it was a really tough decision but you should be proud of the incredible photographs you entered and your talents.”
Online veterinary pharmacy Vet-Medic has announced the results of a survey which showed that veterinary practices are charging pet owners 100% more than online pharmacies for well-known drugs.
The survey compared the prices charged by veterinary practices, online pharmacies, pet superstores, supermarkets and veterinary medicine suppliers. Amongst other things, it found a six-pack of Frontline for cats available online for £16.33, vs £38.95 in practice. Optimmune was available for £23.86, compared to a practice in North London selling it for £59.81.
Andrew Evans, Managing Director of Vet-Medic said: "This research offers huge insight into the pricing structures of pet medication. When we commissioned the research to help us keep our own pricing competitive, we made an assumption that online shopping should come out cheaper but were staggered by how much."
He added: "Not many pet owners are aware that vets are obliged, in most circumstances, to provide them with a prescription when asked. How and where the prescription medicine is purchased is actually the owners' choice."
The BVA responded to the survey yesterday. President-Elect Harvey Locke said: "The Vet-Medic claim that veterinary practices are over-inflating the price of veterinary medicines is an unfair accusation.
"Veterinary practices will mark up the cost of the medicines they supply in order to cover the costs of keeping and dispensing them. This includes having trained staff available, buying the necessary equipment, and storage facilities that are governed by strict rules, and covering the cost of wasted medicines that have a short shelf life.
"Online pharmacies have similar overheads but are able to buy in much larger quantities than the average veterinary practice due to the much higher volumes sold. Many of the internet prices revealed in the survey are around the same cost as veterinary practices can buy the medicines from wholesalers suggesting that some of the internet companies are sourcing cheaper drugs abroad.
"As with many products buying online can be cheaper and consumers have a choice. Many pet owners choose to use the veterinary practice pharmacy because a lot of advice and assistance is available, including demonstrations on how to administer the treatments.
"Vet-Medic's assertion that pet owners don't know that they can obtain a prescription from their veterinary surgeon is also false. Over 50% of UK practices are registered under the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme. One of the conditions of the scheme is that a notice must be displayed in the waiting room informing clients that prescriptions are available on request, the price of a prescription, and the price list of the top ten medicines that the practice has dispensed in the last three month period.
"It's important to remember that under the law veterinary practices are not allowed to fix the price of medicines. As they are independent businesses this means that it is up to each practice to charge according to their own circumstances to cover their individual overheads."
The BEVA has welcomed the news, whilst expressing its concern that the drug was suspended without consultation with the veterinary profession in the first place.
Jon Pycock, BEVA President said: "It remains a concern to BEVA that this mechanism was not put in place before the suspension of flunixin was imposed. Contrary to assertions by the VMD, wholesalers were unable to meet the demands of the veterinary profession and clinical use of this medicine was disrupted within 24 hours of the VMD’s initial announcement.
"We are surprised by the Regulator’s lack of awareness of availability in the supply chain and question why there was no consultation with the veterinary sector before the suspension was enacted. The VMD has been aware of this issue since March 2018 and it appears that no contingency was put in place to consider the animal welfare impact of this decision until it was too late."
BEVA Junior Vice President and Specialist in Equine Surgery Tim Mair continued: "Flunixin is a unique medicine in managing pain and sepsis in horses with colic. The VMD appeared to believe that this medicine could be substituted for other veterinary medicines and this is simply not the case. The release of stock from manufacturers is a short-term solution and, looking forward, we would like assurances that the VMD will fast track applications for the modification of product licenses to ensure that equine vets have continued access to these products."
Professor Kate White, Senior Vice President of the Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists added: "Provision of pain relief is essential to maintain animal welfare. The loss of these products would hinder the work of vets working with horses and donkeys and in zoos where they are first line drugs for the management of pain. Use of flunixin in these animals can be undertaken safely with no impact on human health."
Stock of flunixin held by manufacturers will be distributed alongside a ‘caution in use’ letter that will explain the restricted use of this product. BEVA is reminding all equine vets that the horse’s food chain status must be checked when using this product – either using the paper passport or the recently launched chip checker on the central equine database website.
The introduction of the compulsory microchipping law in April 2016 has meant that puppies have to be microchipped by 8 weeks of age and the breeder has to be recorded as the first keeper. This has, up to now, incurred further and often unexpected costs for new puppy owners or breeders who have had to pay an additional fee for the transfer of keepership.
From 1st February practices using BackHome microchips will register their newly implanted microchips with the UK based reunification database, PETtrac, and the online transfer of keepership from breeders to new owners will be free. A postal transfer will cost 50p.
BackHome Product Manager Madeline Haynes said: "We have listened to feedback from the veterinary profession who have stressed the importance of not only providing a fast and reliable service from a pet reunification database, but also the need for free transfer of keepership from a breeder to a new owner.
"We are delighted to have been able to facilitate this through the move to PETtrac."
PETtrac is a UK based, DEFRA compliant reunification database that offers 24/7 customer service, 365 days of the year.
The move to PETtrac will not affect pets already registered with BackHome Microchips, whose lifelong registration with previous database supplier PetLog remains unchanged.
For more information, visit: www.virbac.co.uk
*Postal transfer of keepership from breeder to new owner will cost 0.50p
The company has identified that inconsistencies in the cleaning process have led to low levels of a previous product being carried over into the Stresnil batch no PP1466, EXPIRY: 30-09-2019.
For more information about the recall, contact Matthew Edwards: elanco_orders@lilly.com or telephone: 01256 779519.
In so doing, the book provides a fascinating insight to the cognitive errors inherent in the human mind which can lead us to think any treatment, conventional or otherwise, is working (when actually it isn't). As such, it's a must-read for any veterinary surgeon, student or veterinary nurse interested in improving their critical thinking, regardless of their stance on alternative medicine.
No Way To Treat A Friend explores, in detail, the evidence for and against a whole raft of 'alternative' veterinary medicines, diagnostics and beliefs, including chiropractic, herbal, homeopathy, traditional Chinese medicine, raw feeding, kinesiology and the anti-vaccination movement. So it's also a useful one-stop reference for any vet or nurse who has concerns about any of these things, or who just wants to be better informed when the subject comes up in discussion with pet owners.
Much if not all of the book is just as relevant to the use of alternative medicine in humans. Perhaps more so because the authors are able to reach their conclusions unclouded by the issue of the 'placebo effect', something which does not occur in animals. Thus they're able to focus on the simple question: 'Does it work?'
No Way To Treat A Friend is peppered with laugh out loud moments and it's a thoroughly uplifting read for anyone who takes joy in how science helps us understand the world; to paraphrase the authors, how understanding what causes a blood orange sunset or a full-circle rainbow only enhances the sense of wonder.
No Way To Treat A Friend is available from Amazon.co.uk, price £14.99.
Ziapam is licensed for the short-term control of convulsive disorders and muscle spasms of central and peripheral origin, and for use as part of a sedation or pre-anaesthetic protocol. It is presented in packs containing 6 x 2ml vials.
Simon Boulton MRCVS, marketing manager at TVM said: "As a scheduled intravenous drug it is important that we have batch traceability and the proper monitoring of any side effects of such drugs to make sure current guidelines for use in the SPC are correct. Ziapam is kept at the same concentration of the previously used human generics on the cascade for ease of transition."
Simon added: "Furthermore, we’ve purposefully priced Ziapam such that it is only costs a few pence per dose more than the human generic."
TVM UK has also produced a dosing guide for practices which illustrates the different indications and associated treatment guidelines.
For a copy of the dosing guide or for more information, contact your local Territory Manager, email: help@tvm-uk.com, or call: 01737 781 416.
A Jack Russell from Thurso had a bit of a surprise last week, when it looked down the stethoscope to find Prince Charles at the other end.
The slightly unlikely encounter happened when the prince visited the newly-extended North Highland College Rural Studies Centre.
The purpose-built centre, which houses veterinary nursing, gamekeeping and equestrian students, boasts a nurse training area complete with theatre, prep room, isolation area and consultation room, where Prince Charles was invited to watch a bandaging demonstration and listen to the dog's heart murmur.
Over seventy guests attended the event and were introduced to Prince Charles before he was presented with a gift from vet nursing student Paula Morgan. Paula from Ayrshire, who is a former veterinary nursing student of the College said: "The facility is an absolutely fantastic asset to the College. It is so good for students having the equestrian studies section based just across the courtyard here too! It was a great honour to present Prince Charles with his gift at his visit to the newly revamped centre."
Alternative picture caption, anyone?
TVM says Emedog provides less wastage, provides easier dosing and is a solution designed specifically for veterinary use.
Simon Boulton MRCVS, Marketing Manager at TVM said: "The use of apomorphine in practice is a vital first-line response when emesis is required due to the ingestion of unwanted substances.
However, 86% of vets questioned thought that wastage was an issue with Apometic and many thought that dosing was difficult in very small animals due to tiny volumes. The new solution is Emedog. Practitioners must be aware that the dose of Emedog is different to that of Apometic and use accordingly."
TVM have provided a dosing guide as part of a changeover pack to aid in the transition. For a copy, contact your local TVM territory manager, email them via help@tvm-uk.com, download from www.tvm-uk.com or ring 01737 781416.
Cytopoint is an injectable monoclonal antibody therapy for dogs that targets and neutralises the cytokine IL-31, a mediator of allergic itch1.
Zoetis says the new claim was granted following a randomised, double-masked, multi-centred, placebo-controlled study which looked at Cytopoint’s efficacy and safety for the treatment of pruritus associated with allergic dermatitis in client-owned dogs. The study showed that Cytopoint significantly decreased pruritus, and improved skin lesions.2
Allison Henry, Product Manager Companion Animal Dermatology at Zoetis UK, says: "Allergic dermatitis is one of the most common skin conditions in dogs.3 The associated clinical signs – including scratching, hair loss and skin lesions – are disruptive for the dog, impacting their quality of life and that of its owner. Allergic skin disease is one of the most frequent reasons owners present their dog to a veterinarian.
"The licence extension demonstrates further innovation from Zoetis in the field of veterinary dermatology, and across the continuum of care, increasing the treatment options available to manage pruritus. Apoquel remains an ideal choice for short-term control due to its ability to provide rapid itch relief within four hours4 for as little as one day.5 This enables pruritus to be tightly controlled during the diagnostic work up,7 as well as being used for longer term control where tablets are the preferred method of administration.
"The sustained duration of action of Cytopoint makes it better suited to long-term management of pruritus, particularly when administering tablets is a challenge. Other benefits, such as no restrictions on age or with comorbidities, coupled with the flexibility of the new claim, make it a useful treatment at an earlier stage for more unique cases, e.g. young dogs or those with comorbidities."
For further information, contact your Zoetis Account Manager.
watch?v=A8EJ8LpLVzw&feature=youtu.be
References
In one of the finest pieces of investigative journalism since Watergate, the erstwhile-criminal-law-barrister-cum-tv-reporter Robert Rinder discovered that he could buy a wormer for his dog from some online retailer for half the price that he'd bought it at his veterinary practice.
Incensed by his discovery that things can cost less online, Mr Rinder then asked a handful of pet owners whether they could recall seeing a sign at their practice to advise them that they could buy things cheaper elsewhere.
None could. But then I'll bet if he asked whether they could remember a sign for the toilet, they'd have struggled.
Still, by now certain they'd found evidence that pet owners are being 'fleeced', Watchdog then rang 70 practices to ask for the price of some common drugs and then compared them to the prices being offered by online retailers.
Their research confirmed the awful truth. Some places really do charge more than others.
Honestly, who, in a million years, would have guessed?
BBC Watchdog (piece starts at 42:25).
The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has severely reprimanded and warned as to his future conduct a veterinary surgeon who failed to make sufficient enquiries about the location or condition of a cat; unreasonably refused to provide it with first aid and pain relief; and failed to provide it with adequate 24-hour emergency care.
Following a three-day hearing, the Committee found Marcus Kutschera, of South London Emergency Veterinary Centre, Streatham, guilty of serious professional misconduct in relation to events on 16 May 2011. Mr Kutschera was Clinical Director of the practice, which provided out-of-hours emergency services to several London veterinary practices. At about 1.45am, the practice received two telephone calls from a representative of a registered charity about a cat, which the caller considered should be seen by a veterinary surgeon as soon as possible. The charity was itself a client of one of the practices whose out-of-hours emergency services were provided by the South London Emergency Veterinary Centre. The cat was later euthanased by the RSPCA.
After listening to a recording of a telephone call between a representative of the charity and Mr Kutschera, during which Mr Kutschera failed to ask about either the condition or location of the cat, the Committee was in no doubt that the caller believed Mr Kutschera would not see the cat unless he was able to pay when it was presented. The Committee said that, once the telephone call had been received, the primary responsibility of the veterinary surgeon was the welfare of the animal, and Mr Kutschera had no good reason not to see the cat or to follow the procedures set out in the Guide to Professional Conduct 2010. If he had made proper inquiries, he would have been able to make a provisional diagnosis that the cat was likely to be euthanased. Mr Kutschera was guilty of unreasonably refusing to provide first aid and/or pain relief to the animal, and of failing to provide adequate 24-hour emergency care.
The Committee concluded that Mr Kutschera's conduct fell far short of that to be expected of a veterinary surgeon. Although he did recommend that the cat should be taken to the RSPCA, his primary concern was the ability of the client to make a payment on presentation of the cat, and not the animal's welfare. He had a responsibility for ensuring that proper emergency cover was provided.
In mitigation, the Committee noted that the event was a single, short telephone call between Mr Kutschera and the client in the early hours of the morning, and there was no evidence to suggest similar behaviour on his part on other occasions. Mr Kutschera accepted that he made no inquiries into the cat's condition or location, and the Committee accepted that he had shown some insight into what went badly wrong. He said that he had subsequently changed his practice when speaking to clients on the telephone. The Committee also took account of the impact on Mr Kutschera of the case hanging over him since the complaint was made in August 2011 and, as the cost of the Disciplinary Committee inquiry was not covered by his professional indemnity insurance, he had taken on a substantial financial commitment to pay for legal representation.
Professor Peter Lees, chairing and speaking on behalf of the Committee said: "The primary purpose of the sanction is not to punish but to protect the welfare of animals, maintain public confidence in the profession and uphold proper standards of conduct. Whilst there are undoubted financial issues that can arise in the operation of an out-of-hours service, the primary responsibility of the veterinary surgeon is for the welfare of the animal."
The Committee recommended that Mr Kutschera undertake, within 12 months, continuing professional development training, with a particular emphasis on animal welfare, ethics and client care, in the context of providing out-of-hours services. It imposed on Mr Kutschera the sanction of a severe reprimand and a warning as to his future conduct.
Hipra, a veterinary pharmaceutical company with subsidiaries in 19 countries, has opened in the UK and launched Eficur (ceftiofur hydrochloride).
Eficur is a ready to use injectable suspension for the treatment of bacterial respiratory disease associated with Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida and Histhophillus Somni in cattle and additionally Actinobacillus pleuropneumonia, Streptococcus suis and others in swine.
Eficur is also licensed for the treatment of acute interdigital necrobacillosis (panaritium, foot rot) and the bacterial component of acute post-partum (puerperal) metritis in cattle.
Eficur is available in a presentation of 50 ml, 100 ml and 250 ml. The 250 ml presentation also includes an innovative unbreakable protector.
For further information please contact: Hipra UK on 0115 812 0499 or uk@hipra.com, or visit www.hipra.com
All practising veterinary surgeons, nurses and student nurses are invited to take part in the survey, the purpose of which is to ascertain the extent of anaesthetic monitoring, attitudes towards it and how confident people monitoring anaesthetics are.
The survey also aims to identify particular strengths and any areas of weakness, with the overall objective being to optimise vet and nurse student education and promote professional development if necessary.
The survey, which is anonymous, can be found at: https://goo.gl/Vwq1CJ. It should take 5-10 minutes to complete.
Elisabeth said: "Your opinions and experiences are extremely important to us, and we’re very grateful for your help with the survey.”
This brings the total number of UK pet insurance companies that offer FirstVet veterinary consultations with their policies to 19, including Co-op, Costco, PETtrac, ManyPets and CoverMyPet.
Launched in 2016, FirstVet now operates in seven markets: the UK, US, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, delivering more than 30,000 consultations per month.
David Prien, CEO at FirstVet said: “FirstVet was founded with the passionate goal of making pet care more accessible for everyone.
"Our new partnership with Petwise Senior reflects our commitment to ensuring all pets, including senior pets, receive the best possible care they deserve after all those years of companionship, friendship and loyalty.
"Since launching, FirstVet has helped nearly one million pet owners around Europe.
"I really look forward to supporting Petwise Senior pets through our FirstVet app and to the many stories that will come from this great partnership!”
Bayer Animal Health, maker of Advocate, says that since February, veterinary surgeons have reported more than 80 cases of canine lungworm infection in the UK, of which six have died.
The fatal cases were reported in Salisbury, Crawley, Ipswitch and Essex.
Of the 84 cases reported, 43 practices said it wasn't their first. With no requirement for compulsory reporting, Bayer says it is likely that other cases have gone undocumented.
Although the majority of cases reported to Bayer were found in the South of the UK, others were reported as far north as Paisley in Scotland. This, says the company, adds to the increasing base of evidence that lungworm is endemic throughout much of the UK and continues to pose a significant threat to dogs.
Recent research by Bayer found that 37% of veterinary surgeons thought cases of lungworm had increased in their area over the last five years.2
The company also points towards a study from the University of Bristol which examined the fox population and found further evidence of the parasite's spread across the UK.3 The research suggests that the overall prevalence of A.vasorum in foxes is 18.3% in the UK, significantly higher than a previous study published in 2008, which reported a prevalence of 7.3%.3
The South East is reported to have the highest prevalence, with 50% of foxes now found to be infected (more than double the previous figure). In the North of England and Scotland, 7.4% of foxes were found to be infected despite none being found in this region in the earlier study.
Dogs which have picked up a lungworm infection can show a number of different symptoms including breathing difficulties, a lack of energy, coughing and persistent bleeding. However, the clinical signs can be varied and some dogs may appear healthy in the early stages of infection.
Gavin McAulay, a cardiorespiratory specialist at New Priory Veterinary Hospital in Brighton said: "With often confusing symptoms, the clinical judgement of vets is key in ensuring an animal is diagnosed and treated against lungworm as soon as possible. In many scenarios lungworm should be a consideration to be assessed in the background whilst investigating other conditions, however monthly prevention is key. There is evidence with other parasite diseases that suggests the more animals you treat, the better protected other animals in the area are."
Bayer’s 'Act Against Lungworm' campaign is urging veterinary surgeons to encourage monthly lungworm preventative treatment. Prevention which stops larval shedding will also help limit the geographical spread of the disease.
Donna Tomlinson, Senior Product Manager for Advocate said: “With the continued spread of lungworm in the UK, it is important to ensure that our 2017 ‘Act Against Lungworm’ campaign resonates with local communities. We have the case studies to show that lungworm has been reported across the UK, but we rely on the support of vets to help get the message out.
"This year we are putting local vets at the center of our communications, with dedicated campaigns planned in every region. This is a great opportunity for practices to get involved in a local media campaign, talk about their first-hand experiences with the parasite and encourage pet owners to visit them for advice on preventative treatment.”
Veterinary surgeons can report cases to their local Bayer Territory Manager or practices can log their own incidences directly by emailing lungworm@bayer.com.
'Act Against Lungworm' veterinary campaign materials are available for practices to display in waiting rooms, as well as leaflets to assist practitioners in communicating to dog owners the importance of protecting their pet against lungworm. These can be ordered at the Bayer Vet Centre (www.vetcentre.bayer.co.uk).
References:
Credelio Plus is a palatable, chewy, monthly tablet which contains milbemycin oxime for the control of the gastrointestinal nematodes: hookworm (L4, immature adult (L5) and adult Ancylostoma caninum), roundworms (L4, immature adult (L5) and adult Toxocara canis and adult Toxascaris leonina) and whipworm (adult Trichuris vulpis). Also for the prevention of angiostrongylosis by reduction of the level of infection with immature adult (L5) and adult stages of Angiostrongylus vasorum (lungworm) with monthly administration. Also for the prevention of heartworm disease (Dirofilaria immitis).
Credelio Plus also contains lotilaner for the immediate and persistent treatment of ticks (Dermacentor reticulatus, Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus and I. hexagonus) and flea (Ctenocephalides felis and C. canis) infestations in dogs.
Credelio Plus is licensed for puppies as young as 8 weeks and weighing 1.4 kg or more.
Tina Hunt, General Manager of Elanco UK/Ireland said: "The launch of Credelio Plus represents another exciting evolutionary leap for Elanco’s parasiticide portfolio.”
Cat Henstridge MRCVS, otherwise known as 'Cat the Vet' said: "As a companion animal vet, one of the common challenges I see from pet owners is the need to remember and administer multiple treatments to cover a variety of parasites.
"So a simple, easy-to-remember treatment will be welcomed by my clients who need a combination solution to protect their dogs from ticks, fleas and worms.”
To mark the launch of Credelio Plus, Elanco is inviting vets and nurses to register for an online event at which the astronaut Major Tim Peake will talk about the lessons he’s learnt about leadership and teamwork, performing in high-pressured environments and the future of medicine and science. He'll be followed by Cat Henstridge, who will give a presentation about the power of wider veterinary teams working ‘better together’ to support each other, and how practices can start to reconnect with their clients following lockdown.
Lepha McCartan, BVetMed MRCVS, Veterinary Technical Consultant, Elanco Animal Health, will also speak about Elanco’s ongoing work within the parasite space. There will also be a live Q&A where attendees can put questions to the panel.
To sign up for the launch event, visit https://www.myelanco.co.uk/brand/credelio-plus-launch-registration
Louise had achieved great things in her all-too-short life. Born in February 1974, she qualified as a veterinary nurse in 1999. She gained the DipAVN (Surgical) in 2004 and the DipAVN (Medical) in 2007. She then qualified as a Veterinary Technician Specialist (Emergency and Critical Care) in 2011 and as a Veterinary Technician Specialist (Anesthesia) in 2014.
Along the way, she was widely published, contributing to over 35 publications and lectures worldwide on all aspects of anaesthesia, emergency and critical care, surgery and infection control.
In 2016 Louise received the inaugural Bruce Vivash Jones Veterinary Nurse Award, presented by the BSAVA as the primary recognition for outstanding contributions to the advancement of small animal veterinary nursing. It is the highest award the Association can bestow on a veterinary nurse. That year, she also received the The Veterinary Nursing Golden Jubilee Award for her leadership role in the profession as a clinical director for a veterinary group, her advocacy on behalf on the profession and her research work into antimicrobial resistance.
At the time of her death, Louise was the Clinical Support Manager at Vets Now.
We all live on in the hearts and minds of the people we knew in life and from the moving tributes that have appeared in such large numbers online, it is clear that Louise was one of those rare individuals whose ripples will keep spreading for years to come:
Along with many many others i feel absolutely shell shocked to hear the news that Louise O'Dwyer is no longer with us. I've had the privilege of working with her and only ever in her shadow. The world will not be the same without her. A terrible loss to the profession. If there was anything she would have wanted it would be that the Veterinary Nurses in this world could realise their potential. I am sure that no-one will disappoint her. Good night beautiful lady - you were not a star but a supernova. Georgie Hollis.
I feel greatly honoured to be able to call Louise my head nurse and then my Clinical Director, but most importantly a friend. She was an inspiration to nurses up and down the country. It has been said what Louise didn’t know wasn’t worth knowing. Nick Shackleton RVN.
Louise had a natural ability to inspire and foster talent in others; her passion and dedication to emergency and critical nursing led her to become a leading veterinary nurse, mentor, author and teacher respected throughout the international ECC community. We were privileged to be able to call Louise a colleague as well as a much loved friend and she will be sorely missed, not just by the Vets Now team, but by everyone across the veterinary profession. Amanda Boag MRCVS
I feel honoured to have known her and share the deep sadness, expressed by hundreds of her friends and colleagues at her untimely passing. Sue Paterson MRCVS
Prior to the start of the hearing, the RCVS received correspondence from Mr Kombert confirming that he did not intend to attend the hearing, either in person or via a video-link, nor did he intend to send legal representation in his stead.
The Committee, chaired by Dr Martin Whiting, decided to proceed with the hearing in the absence of Mr Kombert and any legal representation, on the basis that it was in the public interest and the interests of justice to proceed and that Mr Kombert had been given the opportunity to attend or be represented.
The Committee heard that staff at the practice where Mr Kombert was working as a locum had undertaken a check of the medicines kept in the practice’s controlled drugs cabinet and discovered that 5.5ml of ketamine and 1.5ml of methadone was missing. After the code to the controlled drugs cabinet was changed, Mr Kombert was observed taking an additional 3ml of methadone, which he then administered to himself while on duty at the practice.
After Mr Kombert was confronted with the evidence, he was given the details of the Vetlife charity for support and asked not to return to the practice.
The police were contacted and, on 4 January 2019, Mr Kombert was arrested and interviewed. He received a police caution for theft, with conditions that he should attend and complete a drug-use awareness course, and engage in a restorative justice process, which involved attending the practice to discuss his offences. At this meeting, Mr Kombert admitted stealing the drugs and administering them to himself while on duty, which meant he was not in a fit state to see patients. He apologised for his actions and the matter was then also reported to the RCVS.
In relation to the fact that Mr Kombert had accepted the police caution, made the admissions at the restorative justice meeting and had emailed the RCVS apologising for his actions, the facts of the case were found proven.
The Committee then went on to consider if Mr Kombert’s actions amounted to disgraceful conduct in a professional respect (henceforth called ‘serious professional misconduct’), something which Mr Kombert had admitted to in correspondence with the RCVS.
The Committee found that Mr Kombert’s actions did amount to serious professional misconduct. Dr Martin Whiting, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "The respondent’s conduct was dishonest; it constituted both a breach of trust and an abuse of his position with regards to access to veterinary medicines; it risked animal welfare and jeopardised the reputation of colleagues. It fell far short of the conduct expected of a member of the profession and amounts to disgraceful conduct in a professional respect."
The Committee then considered what the appropriate sanction against Mr Kombert should be, taking into account both aggravating and mitigating factors.
In terms of aggravating factors, the Committee took into account the risk of harm to animals, his dishonesty, the premeditated nature of the misconduct, the breach of trust and the fact it was repeated.
It also took into account three previous matters recorded against Mr Kombert in the United States of America.
These were: a letter of admonition from the Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine for practising when his licence had expired; a stipulation order from the same body in which he agreed to relinquish his licence in that state following an allegation that he took controlled substances from a veterinary practice and self-administered them; and a criminal conviction in New York State for obtaining an opioid controlled drug by deception, for which he was sentenced to three years’ probation. The Committee was made aware of the New York State criminal conviction after Dianne Norris, a Probation Officer based in that state, had contacted the RCVS after hearing about the inquiry and informed the College that Mr Kombert was in breach of his probation conditions.
Dr Whiting said: “The Committee has considered the witness statement of Ms Dianne Norris, a probation officer employed by Putnam County Probation in New York, who was responsible for supervising the respondent as part of his probation. Ms Norris explained that the respondent breached his probation on numerous occasions, which took place from November 2017 to 2018…. As a result of the breaches, Ms Norris required the respondent to increase his attendance at support groups to an inpatient treatment program for 28 days from 13 July 2018. He failed to attend.
"Ms Norris explained that warrants were issued for the respondent’s arrest…. The Committee noted that the conduct of the respondent in relation to obtaining controlled drugs from his employers for his own use while in the United States of America was similar to his conduct … [described in] the charges."
In mitigation the Committee considered that Mr Kombert had consistently admitted the charges against him as well as accepting and agreeing with the evidence against him.
However, the Committee decided that in light of the seriousness of his misconduct, including dishonesty and risk of serious harm to animals, removal from the Register was the most appropriate and proportionate sanction.
Summing up, Dr Whiting said: "The respondent has failed to uphold the requisite standards to be expected of him on multiple occasions. The Committee considers that the only sanction that is sufficient to protect the welfare of animals, maintain public confidence in the profession and declare and uphold proper standards of conduct is one of erasure."
Mr Kombert has 28 days from being informed of the outcome of the hearing in which to make an appeal to the Privy Council.
The full facts and findings from the case can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary
Davies says its Cardiac Electrophysiology Laboratory, headed by Pedro Oliveira (pictured right), is one of only four centres in the world to perform the procedure, and it has usually required human medical support. The fact that they've been able to operate independently means the procedure should now start to become more readily available.
The procedure involves introducing special catheters via peripheral veins into the heart, where they are used to record the electrical activity of the heart muscle, thereby allowing the identification of the source and mechanism of cardiac arrhythmias.
Once the abnormal tissue is found, it is destroyed using intense localised energy delivered by another specialised catheter: radiocatheter ablation.
This technique is common in human medicine but very rare in veterinary medicine because of the level of specialisation needed.
In the past, the cardiology team at Davies needed the support of a consultant and a cardiac physiologist from the human field to help carry out the surgery. Having now done it unaided, Pedro is confident that in time Davies will be able to help considerably more patients, promptly after diagnosis.
Pedro said: "In three years we have treated one cat and 19 dogs. Several cases did not survive long enough for surgery despite a waiting time of only a few days to up to two weeks from referral to the procedure. Most of these dogs were puppies. This is incredibly frustrating as if performed early these procedures are curative for most patients."
Davies says that to date it has had a procedural success rate of 100%, with recurrence of the arrhythmia in just one dog. The remaining dogs were cured from their arrhythmias and recovered fully except for two dogs that had sustained too much heart muscle damage and continued to suffer from congestive heart failure.
Pedro added: "Hopefully in the future severe muscle damage can be avoided by early referral when the arrhythmia is detected. If you diagnose a cardiac arrhythmia, especially supraventricular tachycardia, please consider this treatment option because it is very likely to be curative."
The Davies cardiology team can be contacted at cardiology@vetspecialists.co.uk.
Incidentally, Pedro has also co-authored (with Ruth Willis and Antonia Mavropoulou) a new book on electrocardiography. Guide to Canine and Feline Electrocardiography will be published in September 2018 and is available for pre-order on Amazon now, priced at £89.99.
Merck, part owner of Merial, has announced a merger with Intervet Schering-Plough.
However, rumours that Merck plans to sell its 50% stake in Merial and move forward with Intervet Schering Plough are incorrect, according to Merck spokespeople.
They'll have to start thinking about what to call themselves soon. Merial-Intervet-Schering-Plough is a bit of a mouthful.
Virbac has launched the UK's first blood test for BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) which, according to the company, will provide practices with a significant opportunity to improve the prognosis for many of the UK's male dog population that suffer from the condition but go undetected.
Odelis CPSE is the first ELISA test to screen, diagnose and monitor BPH. Virbac Product Manager Chris Geddes MRCVS believes that the test is an important step forward in the diagnosis of the condition: "Not only does Odelis CPSE provide a simple and reliable alternative to rectal palpation, it will also give an objective measure of the degree of BPH present."
According to Chris, although BPH affects over 80% of entire male dogs over five years old, many go undiagnosed until the condition is advanced and symptoms become apparent. "Whilst regular screening is recommended in elderly dogs, rectal palpation is not a particularly popular process to carry out routinely without the presence of symptoms.
"We know that currently diagnosis of BPH falls well below the incidence, however this new test means that practitioners can now routinely monitor 'at-risk' dogs, e.g. stud males, elderly dogs, and those with a previous history of BPH. Bloods can be taken at practice visits, or routinely at vaccination boosters or annual health checks for example. So the test is not only good for animal welfare, it's a great business opportunity too".
There are three labs in the UK selected to carry out the test: Biobest; Carmichael Torrance; and Nationwide Laboratories.
Information is being mailed to all practices. Your first test free, and all positive test results recorded up to 31st October will receive a 'buy one get one free' promotion for Ypozane (osaterone acetate), the first-line treatment for BPH.
Alternatively, contact your local Virbac territory manager, or call Virbac on 01359 243243.
Insistor, which contains methadone hydrochloride, is now available in the UK in a 10ml bottle for use in dogs and cats, POM-V.
Chanelle says Insistor can also be used for analgesia in animals experiencing post-operative pain or pain caused by trauma.
Chanelle’s Head of Sales and Marketing, Killian Gaffney, said: "Insistor joins Chanelle’s extensive anaesthetic, analgesic and sedative range. Insistor (methadone hydrochloride), Butador (butorphanol) and Bupaq (buprenorphone) complete the 360° Opiod suite of products from Chanelle.
"We are pleased to add Insistor to our portfolio of products, which builds the offering to veterinary surgeons of anaesthetic products."
Peter Keniry has convictions dating back to 1986 in his native South Africa for fraud and impersonating a veterinary surgeon. The College says that in the UK, he has been known to steal the identities of legitimately registered members in order to support fraudulent applications for employment or practise fraudulently.
The College says that in the past, Mr Keniry has been able to gain employment in large and small animal practice and greyhound racing. He is known to have ties in Norfolk, Swindon, Somerset and possibly Cornwall.
Michael Hepper, Chief Investigator at the RCVS, has worked with several police forces in order to bring Mr Keniry to justice. He said: "Peter Keniry’s modus operandi is to steal the identity of properly registered members to obtain work as a veterinary surgeon. As he impersonates members of the College whose names are legitimately on the Register, this can make it extremely difficult, even for practices that do check prospective employees’ credentials, to identify him.
"He is well known to the College and to the police having been convicted in 1998, 2001, 2005 and 2011 and has served custodial sentences for practising as a veterinary surgeon and fraud.
"Peter Keniry is a repeat offender and we suspect that he will continue to re-offend. We hope that by publishing his photograph it will help practices recognise him and contact the RCVS Professional Conduct Department should he apply for employment as a veterinary surgeon."
The RCVS Professional Conduct Department can be contacted on profcon@rcvs.org.uk or 020 7202 0789.
The Queen's Medal is the highest honour the College can bestow upon a veterinary surgeon.
Dr Johnson is the Chairman of World Horse Welfare, travelling internationally and lecturing on behalf of the charity with a particular involvement in fundraising, profile-enhancing and education. He is also the Chairman of the World Horse Welfare International Committee, and a regional representative for the Veterinary Benevolent Fund as well as being Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Lancashire.
After graduating from the University of Liverpool in 1969 he established an equine and farm animal practice in 1974 on the Fylde Coast. He then quickly became involved in many other lines of work, lecturing at the Myerscough College for thirty years, acting on the Agricultural Training Board, and serving as RCVS President from 1993-1994. He was also an RCVS Council Member for 28 years (1986-1998; 2000-2016) and served on many RCVS Committees.
Barry said: "This is an enormous honour for a practitioner from Lancashire. I have always enjoyed being a veterinary surgeon and am grateful to my colleagues and clients for making my career so fulfilling rewarding and fun."
He was nominated by fellow veterinary surgeon, Dr Peter Jinman, a current member of RCVS Council. In his nomination Dr Jinman said: "There are few members who have contributed so much of their personal time for the benefit of the veterinary profession both locally and nationally… That this has been done often without the knowledge of the public or the rest of the profession and at no little personal expense, demands recognition… Barry represents the very best of what a veterinary practitioner can achieve both in terms of his profession and in wider society."
The College has also announced that Kathy Kissick has won this year's Golden Jubilee Award, the highest honour that can be bestowed on a veterinary nurse.
Kathy is a trustee of the Alderney Animal Welfare Society and has previously acted as the Head of School for Veterinary Nursing and Farriery Science at Mysercough College in Lancashire. She qualified as a veterinary nurse in 1983 and, since then, has acted as an external examiner and adviser for a number of veterinary nursing course providers over the years and is currently on the editorial board for The Veterinary Nurse.
She has also been very active within the RCVS, initially as a nursing examiner and then as both a Member and then Chair of the RCVS Veterinary Nurses Council.
Kathy said: "I am delighted, honoured and humbled to accept the Golden Jubilee award and hope that I can continue to inspire veterinary nurses, throughout their careers, to always do the very best for their patients, clients and colleagues but not to forget to follow their dreams."
The winners will receive their accolade at this year’s RCVS Day, which takes place on Friday 7 July at the Royal Institute of British Architects.