Dechra Veterinary Products has launched Anesketin, an anaesthetic licensed for cats, dogs and horses.
Anesketin contains ketamine 100mg/ml solution for injection and is indicated for induction of anaesthesia. In cats, it can also be used as a sole agent for restraint and minor surgical procedures where muscle relaxation is not required.
Dechra Brand Manager Carol Morgan said: "Anesketin is a versatile product which can be used as a sole agent in cats or in combination with appropriate sedatives and analgesics in cats, dogs and horses for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia.
Anesketin is available in 10 ml vials. The withdrawal period for meat, offal and milk is one day and the product does not require any special storage conditions.
For further information, visit www.dechra.co.uk
Mr Wood pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent images of children at Portsmouth Magistrate’s Court in December 2017. Following his conviction, Mr Wood was given a community sentence, fined and made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for five years.
Mr Wood’s application for restoration was based on the argument that he was professionally competent to be restored to the Register, that he had strong mitigation for his original conviction (for which he had demonstrated remorse), that he had a low chance of reoffending, had engaged proactively with the Probation Service and rehabilitative courses, and that had completed his community service.
In considering Mr Wood’s application, the Disciplinary Committee took into account a number of factors including Mr Wood’s acceptance of the Committee’s original findings, the seriousness of the original findings, protection of the public, the future welfare of animals in his care should he be restored, the length of time off the Register, his conduct since removal from the Register, efforts by Mr Wood to keep up-to-date with his continuing professional development (CPD), the impact of removal from the Register on Mr Wood and public support for his restoration.
However, on balance, the Committee decided that Mr Wood was not currently fit to be restored to the Register.
Ian Arundale, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "In essence, the Committee decided that the facts of the charge justifying removal from the Register and the underlying criminal behaviour were too serious for Mr Wood to be restored at this time. It concluded that because Mr Wood continued to be subject to a sexual harm prevention order, notification requirements for sexual offenders and because he remained on the Barring List by the Disclosure and Barring service until January 2023, he was not fit to be restored to the Register at this time.
"The Committee accepted that Mr Wood had made significant efforts to rehabilitate himself but it was not persuaded that he was fit to be restored to the Register because ancillary orders relating to the underlying criminal offences remained in force. The Committee noted that at the time those orders were made Mr Wood was described as having an addiction and although the Committee accepted that there was a low risk of future reoffending, it decided that because the orders were still in place for public protection reasons, Mr Wood was not fit to be restored to the Register."
The full report of Mr Wood’s restoration hearing can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary
Merial Animal Health has launched Certifect, a new POM flea and tick treatment for dogs.
The product was launched at a series of presentations by the survival and bushcraft expert, Ray Mears (pictured right) last week.
The connection between Ray Mears and a new flea and tick treatment for domestic dogs became clear as he recounted his experience of contracting Lyme Disease in the UK. Indeed, by the time he'd finished describing the crippling pain he'd suffered and the industrial quantities of morphine and tramadol he'd needed, most vets in the room were probably ready to place an order for a tonne of the new product.
But to dismiss it as just a polished marketing exercise would be wrong. According to the Health Protection Agency, cases of Lyme disease in people have risen from 296 in 2001 to 953 in 2010. It is thought that because the disease is difficult to diagnose, it is likely to be significantly under-reported. In addition, a study by Faith Smith from the University of Bristol last year found that of 3534 dogs examined, 810 (22.9%) were carrying at least one tick.
So, what about the new product? Well, it's essentially Frontline Combo (fipronil + the insect growth regulator, S-methoprine) but with added amitraz. At the low dose contained in Certifect, Merial explained that amitraz doesn't demonstrate acaricidal properties itself, but instead potentiates the effect of the fipronil and causes ticks to detach or fail to attach. It also causes ticks to move around more than they do normally, thereby exposing them to more fipronil.
Merial says the acaricidal effect of Certifect can be seen two hours after application, and that more than 90% of ticks are eliminated within 24 hours. After treatment, Certifect prevented 94.5% to 100% of ticks attaching until day 29, thereby reducing the risk of disease transmission. In terms of integrated flea control, think Frontline Combo.
Certifect can be used on pregnant and lactating bitches, on puppies from 8 weeks weighing more than 2kg, and on dogs which live in households with cats.
The procedure was performed in Canada through an international collaboration between partners from Germany, Canada and the UK, who say that this was a case where the placement of the tumour made it impossible to operate without severely impacting the dog’s quality of life. The most suitable treatment was a total excision of the growth and reconstruction with an implant.
The implant was designed with medical CAD tools by German company, Voxelmed, using 3D imaging from the affected area. The dog's veterinary surgeon, Julius Liptak, contributed to the design to ensure it met specifications and allowing him to plan the procedure in advance.
UK company Renishaw then additively manufactured the patient specific implant (PSI) at the Additive Design In Surgical Solutions (ADEISS) Centre in London, Ontario, Canada.
Ed Littlewood, Marketing Manager at Renishaw’s Medical and Dental Products Division said: "Without the advancements in additive manufacturing technology, this dog would not have had such a long and happy future ahead of him.
"Prior to this case, many veterinary surgeons were unaware that the technology was available. Similar procedures are now being planned in Germany and further research is underway to see how animals can benefit from additively manufactured PSIs.
Jan Klasen, veterinary surgeon, 3D designer and CEO of Voxelmed said: "Without AM technology, it would have been almost impossible to reconstruct the dog’s maxilla after tumour removal, because the area was extremely complex in geometry. The implant had to have a similar shape and functionality as the dog’s existing bone structure.
"Using additive manufacturing to maintain the original shape and function of the oral and nasal cavity ensures a high quality of life for the dog, just as a naturally shaped skull and maxilla helps the dog to breathe and eat easily."
To read the full case study, visit http://www.renishaw.com/en/additive-manufacturing-in-veterinary-surgery-saving-a-well-loved-member-of-the-family--42950.
Mark, an Advanced Practitioner in Zoological Medicine, is well known in the profession, having lectured in the UK and internationally, as well as having numerous articles on exotic topics published in peer reviewed veterinary journals.
Mark said: “I’m really pleased to be joining Pennard Vets, which has seven sites across Kent, and is owned by its employees, which made it a particularly attractive place to join, as I now also own a stake in the business and can help shape the future of it. I can’t wait to meet our clients and their pets and hope to make a real difference to their lives.”
Andy Green, Director at Pennard Vets, said: “Mark is the most qualified vet in the South East of England working in exotics, and we are delighted he is bringing so much experience to Pennard Vets.
"We hope to become the go-to practice for all exotic pets in the South-East and believe that our new and existing clients will all benefit from Mark’s unique and thoughtful approach to veterinary care.”
www.pennardvets.com
Running throughout October, the campaign is designed to raise awareness among dog owners of how Adaptil Calm can help dogs cope during the fireworks and Christmas party season.
The advertising campaign will target 3.3 million pet owners and it will air on over 60 channels including C4 channels (Channel 4, E4, More4, Film4, Drama, Good Food, Really, W and Home), Sky channels, ITV2 and ITVBe.
Abigail King, behaviour product manager at Ceva Animal Health, said: "The fireworks and party season can be an extremely upsetting time of the year for the nation’s pets.
"By highlighting the benefits of Adaptil at this key time of the year we hope to ensure that dogs are better prepared for the challenges of fireworks and loud noises."
Ceva says the TV advertising campaign will be supported by a digital campaign for both Adaptil and Feliway.
To watch the Adaptil TV advertisement visit https://www.adaptil.com/uk/Success-Stories/Finley.
When you post a job advert, or a shout for assistance on VetSurgeon Jobs, it is emailed to subscribers immediately and fed out onto other social networks. You can further extend the reach of your post by sharing it yourself and (with "Share and reward") encouraging other members of your team to do likewise.
I have taken the decision to drop the charge for advertising because it seems very clear now that we all face a very grim few months ahead, and it has never been more important that we all pull together and support each other, both personally and in business.
Of course, removing the charge for advertising for help on VetSurgeon.org and VetNurse.co.uk is not, in and of itself, going to save anyone from going under, but I hope perhaps other veterinary suppliers might follow my lead and consider dropping their prices until such time as everyone is back on their feet.
I have a number of other ideas in the pipeline, all designed to help bring the profession together and support each other, which I will announce shortly.
In the meantime, there's a forum discussion for sharing ideas to make the next few months more bearable, here: Getting through coronavirus. Do come and share your thoughts, and I will email the best ideas to all members.
And take care, everyone.
Ceva Animal Health has launched Amodip, described as the first ever cat-friendly amlodipine licensed for veterinary use for the treatment of hypertension in cats.
Amodip is a chicken-flavoured, two-way break chewable tablet; its 1.25mg tablet size is designed for accurate dosing of cats, with a two-way break for administering 0.625mg to smaller cats. Each box contains 100 tablets in blister packs.
Ceva says these features should make it easier for pet owners to be compliant with the recommended treatment protocol and ensure that each cat is getting the right dose, reducing the risk of side-effects.
Amodip will be supported by videos and literature on how to measure hypertension in practice easily and with less stress, written by the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM).
For further information or to request copies of the ISFM hypertension materials, contact your local Ceva Animal Health territory manager or call 01494 781510.
Being an intranasal vaccine, Bovalto Respi IN triggers mucosal immunity in the nasal passages and throat area. It can be delivered from 10 days of age without the need for a booster and provides immunity for 12 weeks, from 10 days after vaccination.
Boehringer says it has also been shown to be effective in the face of MDA (maternally derived antibodies).
The new bottle now has a wider neck, which apparently makes for a better fit with the accompanying Respisafe applicator and nozzle.
Brand manager Matt Yarnall said: "The Respisafe applicator ensures that vaccination is a comfortable process for both farmer and calf and the improved fit will make the job even easier.
"With an intranasal vaccine, it is important that the vaccine droplets coat the mucosa of the nasal passages, where they can begin to work. If they are too big, then the vaccine can run out of the nose, and if too small then the droplets are carried into the lungs and are wasted. The Respisafe system ensures that the optimum size of droplet is administered to the right place in an efficient and easy way.”
Bovalto Respi Intranasal protects against the two main respiratory viruses – RSV and PI3, and during its development it was tested against current strains, that are associated with causing disease in cattle1.
Stock of the new bottles will start to enter circulation with vets from mid-July, with an expectation that the existing version will still be in circulation until early in the new year.
Reference
The study1, which was conducted by surgery resident Dr Charlie Brincin at Highcroft Veterinary Group (soon to be Bristol Vet Specialists) and orthopaedic surgeon Dr Matt Matiasovic at Manchester Vet Specialists, looked at the records of 825 dogs that had been treated surgically for unilateral MPL at 10 referral centres, and then had a planned follow-up visit, including radiographs.
The frequency of, and reasons for, changes in further recovery recommendations were investigated.
The findings demonstrated that if the dog made an uneventful2 recovery after surgery, was presented without owner concern, and if no abnormality was found on physical examination, then radiographic findings only led to a change in recommendation in 3% (13/432) of these dogs.
Researchers say that this reflects similar research on the influence of follow-up radiographs in human medicine, and those of previous veterinary studies on post-operative radiographs, following uncomplicated tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO). These particular studies3,4 showed radiography had an impact on post-operative management in just 2%-3.8% of cases.
As a result of the MPL and TPLO studies, Highcroft Veterinary Referrals and Manchester Veterinary Specialists will no longer systematically perform follow-up radiographs on their patients, unless justified clinically.
Charlie said: “Radiographs are not without additional costs or risks - including radiation exposure, sedation-associated risks and strain on veterinary staff.
"Radiographic intervention should be clinically justified and our study suggests that if the dog had an uneventful recovery and is presented without owner or clinician raised concern, then repeat radiographs might not be necessary.
"This study also highlights the value of a thorough owner history and clinical examination for clinical decision-making when re-examining dogs following this orthopaedic surgery.”
The MPL study also evaluated factors which significantly increased the risk of finding radiographic abnormalities at routine follow-up, and those which led to a change in post-operative recommendation.
Lameness, administration of analgesia at follow-up, and history of unplanned visits prior to routine re-examination were associated with increased odds of a change in postoperative plan (P < 0.001).
In the absence of owner and clinician concerns, the odds of having a change in convalescence plans were not different, whether or not isolated radiographic abnormalities were present (P = 0.641).
References
Vetoquinol has announced the introduction of Melovem to the UK market. Melovem is a new injectable preparation containing 5mg/ml meloxicam which is licensed for use in pigs and young cattle.
According to the company, meloxicam is the most widely used veterinary non steroidal anti-inflammatory injection in the UK. Presented in 100ml bottles, with a lower dose formulation, Melovem can be a cost-effective NSAID solution to leave on-farm.
Mark Leddy from Vetoquinol said: "We are pleased to be the distributors of Melovem in the UK. Melovem provides vets and farmers with a new, cost-effective meloxicam injection that is suitable for on-farm use."
Contact your Vetoquinol representative for more information on Melovem, or call Vetoquinol on 0800 1608197.
The programme gives farmers and veterinary surgeons access to new resources, enabling a coordinated and consistent approach to farmer training in the responsible use of antibiotics.
The development of the AMBP Programme has been led by NOAH in partnership with a group of stakeholders from across the industry including farmers, vets, the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA), the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and leading academics, to create a training programme for all those working in the sheep, dairy, beef and pig sectors.
NOAH says the programme will raise awareness, knowledge and understanding of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and help drive best practice in a consistent manner across UK farms when it comes to using antibiotics.
Training modules are available for farmers to access via the NOAH website or directly through an online Lantra eLearning platform.
In addition to the direct farmer offering, veterinary surgeons will also be to access resource materials, enabling them to deliver training to their clients. This veterinary resource centre will follow soon.
NOAH Chair, Gaynor Hillier, said: "We know that there is a real demand for this type of accessible training and we’re delighted to be able to lead the way in making it available.
"This new collaborative, cross-sector strategy on training will support both farmers and vets, demonstrating that our farmers have the skills to use antibiotics responsibly, providing reassurance to consumers and policy makers. NOAH is happy to be building on existing antibiotic stewardship achievements within the farming sector as ensuring best practice is vital to safeguard the future efficacy of antibiotics for us all.”
Biosecurity Minister Lord Gardiner said:
"The UK is at the forefront of global efforts to tackle antibiotic resistance. Recent statistics show there has been a 27 per cent drop in use of antibiotics in food-producing animals in the UK since 2014 - meeting a government commitment two years early.
"Our farmers and vets must be commended for driving down antibiotic use in livestock to this all-time low - setting an excellent example for others around the world to follow. But it is vital we continue making progress.
"We welcome this new responsible use of antibiotics farmer training programme, which will support the animal medicines industry to take another positive step towards tackling resistance, safeguarding antibiotics for future generations."
Photo: Lord Trees introduced the launch event and outlined his support for the AMBP programme.
Following the news on Friday that a Bulldog and Pekingese had failed their vet checks at Crufts, a further four animals have failed: Chervood Snowsun, a Clumber Spaniel; Secret Charm Avec Dibest, a Mastiff; Ithani, a Neapolitan Mastiff and Ch Buzz Lightyear At Dereheath, a Basset Hound. All were disqualified from winning Best of Breed, or representing their breed for the remainder of the competition.
The veterinary checks have been introduced by the Kennel Club to ensure that Best of Breed awards are not given to any dogs that show visible signs of problems due to conditions that affect their health or welfare.
Dog World magazine appears to have got hold of a copy of the Clumber Spaniel's Veterinary Health Check Record, and interviewed the owner:
The vet checks have, predictably, polarised opinion. The owners of the Bulldog Mellowmood One In A Million have already setup a facebook page: 'A group dedicated to honoring the win of Ch Mellowmoods One in a Million AKA Jenny who was wrongfully stripped of her Best of Breed win at Crufts based on a political move by the Kennel Club.'
Elsewhere, there has been a considerable amount of support for the vet checks:
The survey, which received 2445 responses from BVA members, found that 16% of vets and vet students have personally experienced discrimination within a veterinary workplace or learning environment in the past twelve months, while 20% had witnessed discrimination.
Senior colleagues were most commonly responsible for the discrimination (47% of incidents), with discrimination from clients accounting for 35% of incidents.
Sex discrimination was the most common type reported (44% of incidents) and was particularly prevalent in academic settings and in production animal, equine, and mixed practices.
Race discrimination was the next most commonly reported (27% of incidents).
Respondents also gave details of discrimination in relation to other protected characteristics, including age, sexuality, disability and gender reassignment.
Younger vets were more likely than older vets to have personally experienced discrimination in the past year (27% of those under 35 had experienced discrimination).
Female vets were more than twice as likely to have experienced discrimination than their male colleagues (19% and 8% respectively).
The incidence of discrimination was higher amongst vets from a range of minority ethnic backgrounds. Those who described their sexual orientation as bi, gay or lesbian were twice as likely to have personally experienced discrimination in the past year.
Despite the high incidence of discrimination reported, responses to the same survey showed that only 56% of the profession feel concerned about discrimination.
British Veterinary Association Junior Vice President Daniella Dos Santos (pictured right) said: "This is the first time anyone has collected such a significant body of evidence on this issue and the results are truly shocking. It is completely unacceptable that so many members of the veterinary team are subject to discrimination not just from clients but from members of our own profession.
"Worryingly, it seems that the scale of the issue will come as a surprise to many members of our profession and so it is vital that we all join the conversation and reflect on what role we can play to improve equality and inclusion. The veterinary team must become a safe and supportive environment for everyone. We cannot accept anything less for ourselves, for our colleagues and for our profession."
Only 12% of respondents were satisfied with how their incident had been dealt, rising to 23% among those who felt able to report. Daniella said: "Many of the experiences documented in our report are shocking and distressing and this distress is often compounded by what comes next. It was very saddening to hear that so many people have felt unable to report their experiences or that their reports were handled badly by those who received them.
"Experiencing discrimination can be very traumatic, without the ‘double-whammy’ of having your complaint dismissed or mishandled by managers or senior staff. We need to make sure everyone who experiences discrimination is able to get the outcome they deserve.
"Through the discrimination questionnaire we heard many distressing stories from vets, students, vet nurses and other colleagues. We are incredibly grateful to them for sharing these with us so that we can raise awareness of what’s happening in our veterinary workplaces."
To raise awareness of the scale of the issue, the BVA is inviting all members of the veterinary team to join a "Big Conversation on equality and inclusion in the veterinary professions", starting with the release of its report on the current situation on discrimination, which can be downloaded here, then inviting everyone to join online engagement sessions through social media and BVA members to feed in views via their regional representatives ahead of Council on 24 July.
Petplan has launched this year's Insurance Advisor Award in association with VetSurgeon.org, and is calling for nominations.
The award is to recognise the hard work and dedication that Petplan Insurance Advisors (PIAs) do to highlight the importance of insurance to pet owners so that they are protected financially.
Petplan says pet owners often look to vet staff to help them better understand veterinary procedures, treatment and medication, but they're also increasingly looking for advice about insurance, and that is why it is important that a formally trained member of staff is available to answer customer queries when it comes to pet insurance.
Petplan works with over 4,000 veterinary practices throughout the UK to promote pet insurance. These are Appointed Representative (AR) practices who receive training and certification to speak about specific insurance policies. The PIA scheme is an extension of this - AR practice staff can train to become a dedicated Pet Insurance Advisor by registering on www.petplan.co.uk/pia
Becoming a PIA allows vet staff to earn valuable CPD points whilst developing transferable skills such as confidently promoting products and handling client objections.
Deputy Veterinary Practice Manager Kelli Vogt, of Polsloe Veterinary Clinic in Exeter, who won the 'Petplan Insurance Advisor Award 2010', said: "The scheme is such a great programme and I recommend it to all my colleagues and anyone that will listen. It's a great link between veterinary practices and insurers and it means that we can really help pet owners have financial security should anything happen. The more pet owners are informed of the importance of pet insurance the more likely it'll become mandatory, which will allow them to always get the best possible treatment for their pet without having to worry about the financial implications."
Director of Petplan, Neil Brettell said: "We are incredibly proud to help recognise the hard work and dedication that Petplan Insurance Advisors give their customers, helping to keep them constantly informed and up-to-date. So please get your nominations in!"
To nominate your dedicated colleague for the Petplan Insurance Advisor Award, please visit www.petplan.co.uk/pia. The PIA of the Year will receive a 16GB Ipad2 with WiFi, worth £399.
Nominations close on 9th September and the nominees will be judged by industry professionals. The winner will be announced at the annual BVNA Congress, taking place from Friday 7th - Sunday 9th October 2011.
For information on how to become a PIA contact Vetline on 0800 316 8800 or alternatively log onto www.petplanpia.co.uk.
To find out more about Petplan visit http://www.petplan.co.uk/
Christine will take over from Nigel Gibbens who is stepping down at the end of February 2018 after 10 years in the post.
Christine, who comes from a farming family in the south of Scotland, is an experienced veterinary surgeon who worked for a number of years in private practice in Scotland and the north of England, prior to joining the Animal Health agency (now part of the Animal and Plant Health Agency) in 2008 as a Divisional Veterinary Manager in Scotland.
Since 2016, she has been working as the CVO in New South Wales, Australia, where she has led major improvements to biosecurity across many farming sectors.
Christine said: "I am delighted to have been appointed and it will be a privilege to lead my veterinary colleagues to support our farming and food industry in this hugely important role.
"I am very much looking forward to working again with the team at Defra, its agencies, the devolved administrations and all the individuals and groups which will contribute to meet future challenges across animal health and welfare.
"The UK Government has made no secret it wants to cement its place as a world-leader on animal welfare as they leave the European Union, and I’m delighted to have an opportunity to play a part in that."
Nigel said: "I would like to congratulate Christine on her success against a strong field of candidates and I am certain she will be a great addition to the department.
"Her breadth of experience from work within Government and in the private sector will enable her to provide excellent veterinary leadership to the Defra group to deliver government’s ongoing commitment to maintaining our high animal health and welfare standards and to represent the interests of the whole of the UK internationally."
Animal Welfare Minister Lord Gardiner added: "I warmly welcome Christine to her important role. She brings to it a wealth of experience and enthusiasm.
"This Government is embarking on an ambitious programme of animal welfare reform, including plans to increase the maximum sentence for animal cruelty to five years in prison and introducing mandatory CCTV in all abattoirs. Christine will be invaluable in helping us in achieving world leading standards.
"I thank Nigel Gibbens for his outstanding contribution as CVO over the past ten years. Leaving the department at the end of February, he is hugely respected across the veterinary community and beyond – leading on responses to disease outbreaks including avian influenza and advising government on issues from antimicrobial resistance to animal welfare."
British Veterinary Association President John Fishwick said: "We’d like to congratulate Christine Middlemiss on her appointment as the UK’s next CVO and welcome her return to Defra - as well as to the UK, following her 16 months as CVO in New South Wales, Australia.
"As Christine notes, she will take up her role amidst EU Exit negotiations when the vital role veterinary surgeons play in so many areas of political and public life must be championed and considered more than ever.
"The work of all vets in government is indispensable in protecting and promoting animal health and welfare and public health, and current UK CVO Nigel Gibbens CBE has been crucial in steering this with calm direction and sage insight from the heart of government.
"We hope to continue our effective working relationship with the new UK CVO, and really look forward the opportunity to work with Christine moving forwards."
Christine will take up her new role as CVO for the UK on the 1 March 2018.
This, says the government, would be one of the toughest sanctions in Europe, strengthening the country's claim to be a global leader on animal welfare.
The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill comes after a public consultation held last year which found that more than 70% of people supported proposals for tougher prison sentences. It will allow the courts to take a tougher stance on things like dog fighting, puppy and kitten abuse, and neglect of farm animals.
The new Bill has been welcomed by animal welfare charities.
Chief Executive for the RSPCA, Chris Sherwood, said: "This reform is long overdue. Those responsible for extreme cruelty towards animals or those criminal gangs involved in organised animal crime will now face the tough justice they deserve.
"We need to better protect our animals and the RSPCA hopes that this new Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill will give courts the powers they need to punish those responsible for the most unimaginable cruelty to animals.
"We also believe this will act as a much stronger deterrent to others and help us stamp out animal cruelty once and for all."
James Yeates, Cats Protection’s Chief Executive said: "We very much welcome this announcement which is an important step in ensuring the UK is one of the world leaders on animal welfare issues.
Claire Horton, Chief Executive of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, said: "The introduction of this bill is a landmark achievement, which will make a profound difference to dogs and cats in England and Wales."
Now, when you search Google for something which includes the word 'job' or 'jobs', Google presents an easy-to-filter list of local vacancies. You can also search in other locations.
One of the criteria for a job advert to be listed in Google for Jobs is that it must first have appeared on a webpage written with special code which allows the search engine to read the advert correctly.
VetSurgeon Jobs has been upgraded to include this code, and jobs advertised on VetSurgeon.org are now appearing on Google for Jobs.
VetSurgeon Editor Arlo Guthrie said: "We've known this was coming for some time, so we made sure VetSurgeon Jobs would be ready as soon as Google unveiled the new system.
"It has yet to be seen how widely Google for Jobs will be used by veterinary surgeons looking for a job. Back in the day, you'd have to wait for the latest copy of Vet Times to arrive in the post in order to find a job. Then came the internet, and with it a small handful of job websites worth checking for veterinary vacancies, of which VetSurgeon Jobs is one.
"Now, Google for Jobs provides one-stop search from most of the big players, although not all veterinary job boards are compatible with the new system and notably Indeed is excluded from Google for Jobs search results.
"The question now is whether jobseekers will continue to go directly to their favourite job website, or search Google first. Either way, though, you'll find jobs advertised on VetSurgeon.org!"
What do you think of the new Google for Jobs feature? Comment below.
Zoetis has announced the launch of Contacera (meloxicam) 15mg/ml oral suspension, a non-steriodal anti-inflammatory preparation for horses.
According to the company, meloxicam has been shown to hold advantages over Phenylbutazone for the alleviation of musculoskeletal inflammation and pain in horses over six weeks of age1,2,3,4.
Contacera can be mixed with food or syringed directly into the mouth to ensure compliance. It is available in 100ml or 250ml bottles, with a measuring dose syringe and a syringe adaptor. Contacera solution for injection is also available.
Penny McCann, Equine Product Manager, Zoetis UK Ltd, said: "Contacera is an exciting addition to our NSAID portfolio. Due to the potential clinical advantages of Meloxicam, Contacera gives vets an important additional option for NSAID management. It is a logical fit with the other products in our range and benefits from a choice of presentations."
For further information, contact your Zoetis Account Manager, visit www.zoetis.co.uk, or ring Zoetis' Customer Support: 0845 3008034
For the study, Luisa De Risio, clinical research and excellence director at Linnaeus and a co-investigator, is collaborating with neurology specialists and primary care vets at Linnaeus practices to recruit cases.
Luisa said: “Canine idiopathic epilepsy is a disease that is common in many breeds of dog and can significantly impact the quality of life of both affected dogs and their owners.
"However, there is limited knowledge concerning the role of genetic factors in susceptibility to the disease in most breeds.
“The overarching aim of this large-scale collaborative study is to identify the genetic factors contributing to the risk of developing idiopathic epilepsy as this could help develop tools to lower the incidence of the condition in future generations.
“The study will initially focus on the Border Collie and Italian Spinone, as they can suffer from a particularly severe and life-limiting form of epilepsy, before expanding the study to other breeds in the future.
Dr Sally Ricketts, the geneticist leading the study at the Kennel Club Genetics Centre in the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Cambridge, said: “We are very excited about this collaboration, which will facilitate our sample collections to enable study of this debilitating disease.
For more information on the study, visit www.canine-genetics.org.uk/research/epilepsy.
Photo: Sally Ricketts, senior research associate at the Kennel Club Genetics Centre, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge; Luisa De Risio, clinical research and excellence director at Linnaeus and Christopher Jenkins, research assistant at the Kennel Club Genetics Centre, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge.
In the study titled “Safety of early postoperative hydrotherapy in dogs undergoing thoracolumbar hemilaminectomy”, the medical records of a single referral hospital in Sweden were retrospectively reviewed to identify dogs that had been treated with hemilaminectomy for acute or chronic thoracolumbar IVDE and had commenced hydrotherapy within five days after surgery.
Information collected from the medical records included signalment, presenting clinical signs, severity of neurological signs, initiation and duration of hydrotherapy, postoperative complications and follow-up.
Postoperative complications were considered major if there was a need for hospitalisation, surgery or if the dog died or was euthanised as a direct consequence of the complication.
A complication was deemed minor if outpatient medical treatment was sufficient to rectify it.
A total of 83 dogs were included in the study.
Hydrotherapy was started within a mean of 2.7 (one to five) days after surgery and consisted of swimming without underwater treadmill (UWTM) in dogs with severe paraparesis or paraplegia.
With neurological improvement, and when supported ambulation was possible, UWTM was initiated.
Ninety-six percent of the dogs used swimming as postoperative hydrotherapy, starting with a mean of 2.7 days after surgery, fifty-seven percent of the dogs used UWTM as the postoperative hydrotherapy, starting with a mean of 13 days after surgery.
Forty-five percent of dogs used both hydrotherapeutic modalities.
Dr Abtin Morjarradi, corresponding author for the paper, said: “A total of 10 minor complications were recorded during the study period, including surgical site infection (SSI) (n=5), diarrhoea (n=4) and urinary tract infection (n=1).
Major complications were recorded in 26 dogs during the study period and included euthanasia (n=13), acute dermatitis (n=1), spinal abscess (n=1) and disc extrusion (n=1).
Reasons for euthanasia were urinary incontinence (n=5), lack of neurological improvement (n=2), clinical suspicion of progressive myelomalacia (PMM) (n=2), persistent pain (n=1), aggression (n=1) and widespread cellulitis with an abscess caudal to the right stifle without known cause (n=1).”
Abtin added: “Follow-up visits for 71 dogs were performed at a mean of 15.3 (9 to 30) days, and 68 dogs at a mean of 45.9 (30 to 111) days, after surgery.
"At the first follow-up visit 68% of the dogs were ambulatory with Modified Frankel Score (MFS) 4 or higher.
"At the last follow-up visit 97% of the dogs were ambulatory with MFS 4 or higher, with 34% demonstrating normal neurological function. None of these dogs deteriorated after the initiation time of hydrotherapy.”
Nicola Di Girolamo, Editor of JSAP, said: “Whilst previous studies indicate that early rehabilitation may be beneficial after acute spinal cord injury, the optimal timing to start hydrotherapy is unclear.
“Despite a high number of complications being recorded in the present study, it is not clear how many of these complications were directly related to the initiation time of hydrotherapy and therefore further research is required.”
The full article can be found in the December issue of the Journal of Small Animal Practice: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jsap.13412.
Following legislative changes, the British Veterinary Association has updated its 'Good Practice Guide to Handling Veterinary Waste' for England and Wales.
Supported by the Environment Agency the Guide primarily consists of a quick-reference poster enabling vets to categorise and segregate veterinary waste in line with Environment Agency requirements. The poster defines the types of hazardous waste, outlines the types of containers required and sets out the appropriate classification codes.
The Guide is complemented by more detailed web guidance which incorporates useful templates to download.
BVA President Carl Padgett said: "All businesses have a duty of care to ensure that all waste is stored and disposed of responsibly, that it is only handled or dealt with by those authorised to do so and that appropriate records are kept of all waste that is transferred or received.
"The BVA Guide has been a popular resource for the profession since we first launched it in 2008 making it considerably easier for vets to comply with Hazardous Waste Regulations. The revised poster is hopefully an incentive for practices to check if their requirements have changed and ensure they're still up-to-date."
The poster and web advice are available at http://www.bva.co.uk/activity_and_advice/1641.aspx and BVA members will receive a hard copy of the poster to display in their practice.
The first charge related to his conviction on two counts of common assault by beating two individuals at an incident in December 2016, as a result of which he was made subject to a community order and a restraining order, as well as being fined and made to pay a victim surcharge and costs.
The second charge related to him undertaking, or attempting to undertake non-emergency surgery on the eyelid of one of the individuals referred to in the first charge, and administering, or attempting to administer, a Prescription-Only Veterinary Medicines to the same person.
The third charged related to an allegation that he had supplied the same individual with a Prescription-Only Medication other than in accordance with a valid prescription.
The second charge and third charges related to incidents which occurred some considerable time before the assault, not as a consequence of it.
At the outset of the hearing Mr Sutcliffe admitted the first and second charges against him and that these constituted serious professional misconduct. He denied the third charge. In relation to that charge the Committee found that, having considered the totality of the evidence, it was unable to be sure that the College had proved the allegation to the requisite standard of proof, namely so that the Committee was sure. Accordingly Charge 3 was dismissed.
The Committee decided that the convictions in the first charge rendered Mr Sutcliffe unfit to practise veterinary surgery and that his conduct in Charge 2 constituted serious professional misconduct.
The Committee then went on to consider sanction.
The Committee considered the aggravating features for both charges. For the first charge it considered the actual injury to one of his victims and risk of injury to the other, noting also that both of his victims were vulnerable people and one was a child, and that the overall incident during which the assaults occurred lasted over a seven hour period.
For the second charge, aggravating factors were that the non-emergency surgery performed by Mr Sutcliffe was wholly inappropriate, that there was a risk of injury to the individual on whom he performed the surgery and that his conduct was reckless.
The mitigating factors considered by the Committee were that Mr Sutcliffe recognised the gravity of the findings against him and demonstrated insight into the allegations, that the incident in charge 1, though prolonged, was an isolated one, that the incident in charge 2 was consensual and did not result in actual harm and that neither charge had any connection with Mr Sutcliffe’s veterinary practice, nor did they affect client care or animal welfare.
Professor Alistair Barr, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "As recognised by the Committee, the respondent has displayed insight as to the seriousness of his behaviour. Having regard to the evidence of all the character witnesses and the written testimonials the Committee accepts that the respondent’s conduct as set out in charges 1 and 2 was wholly out of character and, therefore, there is no significant risk of repeat behaviour. The Committee considers that the respondent would be fit to return to practise, having regard to his excellent track record as a veterinary surgeon to date, after any period of suspension.
"Having regards to the aggravating and mitigating factors in this case, the Committee has decided that it is sufficient to maintain public confidence in the profession and declare and uphold proper standards of conduct to give a direction for suspension of the respondent’s name from the Register of Veterinary Surgeons.
"The Committee considers that the period of suspension must be sufficient to mark the seriousness of the charges but must be proportionate and fair in the circumstances of the case. The Committee has therefore concluded that the appropriate period of suspension is six months."
Mr Sutcliffe has 28 days from being informed of the Committee’s decision to appeal to the Privy Council.
VetSurgeon member Andrew Dobson of The Barn Equine and Large Animal Practice in Great Wakering, Essex has won the inaugural Petplan Equine Vet of the Year Award.
Owners and riders all over the UK were invited to send in nominations for this new people's award. A short list of three finalists was then drawn up and the winner selected by an independent panel consisting of Jo Whitaker, brand manager for Petplan Equine; Alison Bridge, editor-in-chief of Horse&Rider magazine; David Stickels, head of fundraising for the AHT, and David Dugdale, president of the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA).
Andrew was nominated by a number of his grateful clients and their glowing testimonials impressed the judges enough to give him the edge over his closest rivals for the title.
"This award is intended to recognise the amazing hard work and commitment of people within the equine veterinary profession and those who provide outstanding service to horse owners," explained Jo Whitaker. "We received some very strong nominations and all three finalists are clearly exceptional vets. Andrew Dobson was nominated by a number of his clients and they all stressed his professionalism and devotion to the horses in his care and how he regularly goes beyond the call of duty in making sure that both horses and owners are given the very best treatment."
Suzy Dorey was among the clients to nominate Andrew: "When I came across Andy I realised that he was an old fashioned type of vet and had the time and patience to deal with the horses and just as importantly the clients. I cannot recommend Andy highly enough and would like to see him given recognition of some sort for being a dependable, down-to-earth vet."
Andrew said: "I am absolutely stunned. I'm so honoured and amazed to of received the Petplan Equine Vet of the Year award. I really enjoy what I do and would like thank all my clients, Petplan Equine, the Animal Health Trust and Horse&Rider for their support."
Clinicians at the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals at the Royal Veterinary College have become the first team in the UK to successfully treat acromegaly in a cat with hypophysectomy surgery.
According to the RVC, this make it the first centre in the UK, and only the fourth in the world, to offer this procedure. The patient groups that might benefit from this RVC-exclusive procedure include cats and dogs with non-functional pituitary tumors, cats and dogs with hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's disease) and cats with acromegaly or hypersomatotropism.
The RVC says removing the pituitary gland and the associated tumour which causes acromegaly or hyperadrenocorticism is the gold standard treatment in humans suffering from these diseases since it offers the greatest chance of a complete cure for the disease.
Prior to the RVC offering surgical treatment, the only treatment options available for acromegalic cats in the UK were radiation therapy or simply treatment of the resulting diabetes mellitus. The latter can prove extremely difficult and frustrating and the former unpredictable, unreliable and/or ineffective. Even when a complete response to the radiation therapy eventually occurs, hormonal abnormalities usually persist.
Dr Stijn Niessen, leading the hypophysectomy team at the Royal Veterinary College, said: "I'm extremely proud to be able to offer this unique surgery for the first time in the UK at the RVC. As a relatively new and innovative procedure in veterinary medicine there are risks involved, as is recognised with every form of neurosurgery of this level. However, despite these risks, this surgery does offer owners a chance for the best possible result for their pet using a single procedure. Hypophysectomy therefore represents the most elegant treatment method currently available enabling complete removal of the brain tumor and normalisation of damaging excessive hormone levels that are causing hormonal diseases like acromegaly and hyperadrenocorticism.
"Especially when a pituitary tumor is diagnosed late, the alternative treatment method of radiation therapy might well take too long to take effect and devastating neurological signs might occur due to the pressure of the pituitary tumor on the surrounding brain. In such cases, hypophysectomy can make an instant difference in relieving that pressure. However, in general, we would advocate the procedure to be considered as soon as possible following diagnosis, thereby preventing the animal's body from becoming more and more negatively affected by the excessive hormone levels associated with pituitary diseases like acromegaly and hyperadrenocorticism."
Dr. Niessen, a European Veterinary Specialist in Internal Medicine with research interests in diabetes and endocrinology and world-expert in acromegaly, will be selecting the patients suitable for the new treatment, preparing them for surgery and managing the aftercare programme. The longer-term aftercare programme will include hormone replacement treatment administered through eye-drops (usually temporarily) and tablets (permanent) to manage the hormone production lost through removal of the pituitary gland.
The surgery itself will be performed by Patrick Kenny, a European and American Specialist in Veterinary Neurology and Neurosurgery.
The RVC says the surgery would not be possible without the multidisciplinary approach at the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, which includes the Internal Medicine, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Diagnostic Imaging, Anaesthesia and Emergency and Critical Care teams as well as a team of highly qualified nurses.
To support ongoing research in this field, the Royal Veterinary College is offering free blood tests for all diabetic dogs and cats which include fructosamine evaluation and screening tests for the presence of acromegaly in cats. Cats that record high hormone levels indicative of acromegaly will qualify to undergo a free CT scan for confirmation. If acromegaly is confirmed, all possible treatment options will be discussed with the client, including the hypophysectomy procedure. To request a free blood test for a patient please visit: www.rvc.ac.uk/cic
Veterinary surgeons currently managing a cat or dog with a pituitary tumor who are considering referral of this case can also contact Dr Stijn Niessen for further information at the QMHA on 01707 666365 or at qmhreception@rvc.ac.uk