MDC Exports has launched the Soft E Collar in a small size suitable for rabbits.
According to the company, the Soft E Collar provides an effective barrier to a treatment area while ensuring an animal can eat, drink and sleep in comfort. It allows free movement of the head, neck and body so an animal can carry on as normal, being less likely to get depressed during recovery.
MDC says that unlike a traditional 'Elizabethan' collar, the Soft E Collar is flexible, lightweight, can withstand chewing, folds flat for easy storage and springs back into shape when needed.
Sandra & Steve Ayers, RSPCA Rabbit Rehoming, Reading Branch said: "We fitted the collar for a few days on a newly spayed rabbit. It didn't appear to get in the way when she was feeding and looked less cumbersome than the traditional plastic buster collars."
Melvyn Driver, Managing Director of MDC Exports said: "The design of our Soft E Collars has proved to provide great relief for dogs and cats post op, giving them a better quality of life at a difficult time. We're delighted that vets and rabbit welfare officers are championing the Soft E Collar too, as rabbits deserve the best care too."
For more information about the Soft E Collar, visit www.mdcexports.co.uk.
She said: "The veterinary family – which is my focus as BVA President – is part of the international scientific community, and we are a diverse profession with far-reaching influence and impact in so many areas of political and public life ... A healthy veterinary workforce is vital for UK animal and human health."
With the residence or working rights of UK-based EU vets a 'top five' priority for the profession in forthcoming Brexit negotiations, Gudrun highlighted workforce issues: "The UK veterinary profession relies heavily on EU graduates, who have felt the impact of the EU referendum result since day one … In the meat hygiene sector alone, some estimates suggest 95% of veterinary surgeons graduated overseas.
"That’s why our first action after 23 June was to call on UK governments to protect the status of EU veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses currently living and working in the UK. It was encouraging to see some of these key priorities … make it into the Prime Minister’s list of negotiating priorities. But we have said from the outset that our members need certainty and reassurance, so we urge the Government to make that firm commitment now."
"We know vets remain nervous about the changes to come, with many of our members concerned about the threat Brexit poses for UK animal health and welfare … Yet we can also see the opportunities Brexit presents, and BVA is determined to work with the Government to seize these opportunities, where they exist, to improve standards."
Highlighting opportunities that Brexit could offer in terms of improving animal health and welfare, Gudrun suggested a tightening up of the Pet Travel Scheme to reduce the growing trend of illegal puppy imports and improvements for welfare at slaughter. She said:
"The Welfare at Time of Killing or WATOK Regulations for England … are a case in point about the welfare-mismatch that could occur between domestic standards and those of our trading partners under the new Brexit arrangements. By failing to bring in evidence-based parameters for all waterbath stunning of poultry, [the] legislation has rendered it impossible for Official Veterinarians to protect the welfare of all chickens at slaughter. The regulations are simply not for fit for purpose, and could call into question England’s claim as a leader in high animal welfare."
The BVA President then shared a highlight of an early meeting between BVA and the then new Defra Secretary of State Andrea Leadsom MP last July: "We were pleased to hear [the Defra Secretary of State’s] vision to make the unique selling points of 'UK PLC' high animal welfare and food safety standards. It's a commitment that BVA fully backs ... To ensure our high standards continue, it is essential that we maintain existing veterinary certification and controls to satisfy our own consumer demand for quality and safety. Official statistics put the value of UK livestock outputs at £13 billion and not a penny of that could be realised without veterinary input."
Gudrun concluded by saying: "We can only make a success of Brexit if we harness our veterinary resource in clinical practice, public health, government services, conservation, academia, research and industry. We are a small profession but our impact is significant."
The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Rural Affairs and Biosecurity Lord Gardiner of Kimble responded, saying: "In my role at Defra I am continually reminded of the importance of the relationship between vets and government - most recently in tackling the outbreak of Avian Influenza in the UK. Your thoughts and ideas are invaluable as we manage the many opportunities and challenges posed by exiting the European Union, ensure the highest standards of animal welfare, protect the country from new animal disease threats, and attract the brightest and best into the profession.
"I look forward to continuing to work closely together as we push ahead with our plans to create a world leading food and farming industry based on high standards of animal health and welfare."
To find out more about the BVA’s work on the UK’s exit from the EU, visit www.bva.co.uk/news-campaigns-and-policy/policy/future-of-the-profession/brexit/
Eilona's is one of 50 new jobs created by the company in the last 12 months alone, across a range of positions including veterinary surgeons, nurses and client care co-ordinators.
Eilona said: "White Cross Vets has an unrivalled reputation for offering exceptional pet care, as well as being recognised as a great place to work, which really appealed to me. To become the group’s 200th employee is fantastic and I’m really looking forward to the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead."
Tim Harrison, Managing Director of White Cross Vets, said: "Welcoming 50 new team members into the White Cross family in the last 12 months is a major coup and we’re delighted to have created a 200 strong team with Eilona’s appointment. We are already planning to expand our team further over the coming months, with three new practices due to open before the end of this year, which makes it a very exciting time for us."
The new GPCert programme, led by course director Owen Davies MA VetMB MVetMed MANZCVS (Small Animal Medicine) DipACVIM (Oncology) (pictured right), consists of 12 modules covering key clinical subjects in veterinary oncology delivered over 14 months.
Each module consists of nine lessons, two case studies, course notes and weekly summary videos.
Lessons are supported by notes and videos, quizzes and a forum tutored by leading specialists.
Owen said: “Half of all canine cancers are treatable if caught early enough and new treatments are continuously being researched.
"The programme will guide delegates through the latest knowledge in state-of-the-art, compassionate cancer care for animals, helping them to provide safe and comprehensive diagnostics and treatments.”
For more information, visit: https://www.improveinternational.com/uk/course/oncology-online-learning/
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica has re-launched its Vetmedin website: www.vetmedin.co.uk.
Boehringer says the new site has been designed as a resource for veterinary professionals to help educate clients with dogs suffering from congestive heart failure. It includes an animation about heart disease, together with hints, tips and videos covering exercise, diet, treatment and how to monitor the condition.
To support the relaunch of www.vetmedin.co.uk, Boehringer is offering veterinary professionals a £25 money-off voucher towards the NEW edition BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Cardiorespiratory Medicine. To qualify for the voucher you need to recommend www.vetmedin.co.uk to two separate dog owners being prescribed Vetmedin for congestive heart failure in their pets and then record any feedback at their next appointment. Faxback forms on which to record this feedback are being sent out to all vets around Valentine's Day but extra copies are available from Boehringer direct.
The company says a Vetmedin eCPD professional resource will also be launching on the new site later in the year, featuring an online radiograph viewer, technical dossiers and information on published studies such as QUEST.
For further information, please contact your Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica territory manager or call 01344 746959.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has produced bookmarks for accredited practices to give clients, which explain the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme (PSS).
Lizzie Lockett, Head of the RCVS Communications Department said: "A key part of the PSS is helping practices explain their accreditation to clients - and the bookmarks are a simple and eye-catching promotional tool for this. We hope they will have the advantage over conventional leaflets of being kept, and used, by clients, meaning the accredited-practice message is more likely to be taken on board. Although many people are using e-books these days, the traditional book - and bookmark - still has a place."
All accredited practices may order a free sample of 100 bookmarks, and a further 400 free bookmarks are available to practices recently renewing or receiving accreditation. More bookmarks may also be ordered from the RCVS, as well as the new accredited-practice logos. To find out more, or download an order form, practices can visit www.rcvs.org.uk/PSSpromo.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Charitable Trust has awarded five new bursaries in its latest grants round.
Two student bursaries were for UK veterinary undergraduates to attend the British Science Festival in Aberdeen from 4-9 September 2012. The bursary winners were Liv Nathan (pictured on right), a third-year veterinary student at the Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies, and Alahel Mahdmina, a second-year veterinary student at the Royal Veterinary College.
Liv said: "I am very enthusiastic about providing real-life context to science and giving people a space to consider issues arising around science."
The students were required to use their observations and experiences to help the Trust develop future outreach activities to inform and inspire public audiences about veterinary clinical practice and research. Their bursary packages covered all their attendance expenses over the four-day event. One of their achievements was to film an interview with Dr Maggie Aderin-Pockock MBE, a space scientist (pictured on left). Both students will be reporting back in full to the RCVS Charitable Trust with their ideas at the end of October.
Two further bursaries were given to attend a joint symposium on antimicrobial resistance (AMR): 'Antimicrobial Resistance in Human and Veterinary Medicine - One Health, One Problem' to be held at the Royal College of Physicians, London, on Tuesday 2 October 2012.
One winner was Cahir King, a practitioner from Downe Veterinary Clinic in County Down, Northern Ireland. He said: "It will be a privilege to attend a symposium at which so many experts in their field will be speaking. Any vet who has worked on farms will be more than familiar with bugs that are resistant to antibiotic treatment."
The other winner was James Swann, a Junior Clinical Training Scholar (Small Animal) at the Royal Veterinary College. James said: "I am particularly interested in the application of clinical audit in practice to assess problems like AMR, and design effective strategies to deal with them. I believe it should be possible to provide simple audit kits for practices to download and implement, removing much of the inertia that prevents such ideas from being initiated."
The bursary winners will be offered free delegate passes, including lunch, worth £90, and travel expenses.
The final bursary is to attend the Veterinary Biomedical and Pharma Sciences (VBMPS) Congress on 15-16 October, in Birmingham.
The winning entry was from Alexander Stoll, a final-year student at the Royal Veterinary College, who acted as the Royal Veterinary College and UK student ambassador to the European Commission for the 'One Health' message. The Trust was impressed with Alexander's enthusiasm and active engagement in subjects related to One Health. He is a member of the Royal Society for Public Health and a member of the Society of Biology.
Alexander said: "I hope to be inspired to enter a cross-disciplinary career path and also to communicate the potential of a One Health approach, inspired by this congress."
Alexander won a package that includes entry to the conference and admission to all scientific sessions, worth £175, as well as transport costs and overnight food and accommodation.
Ceva Animal Health has launched ReprodAction, a new series of webinars to help address the problems commonly faced in bovine reproduction management.
James Husband, RCVS Specialist in Cattle Health and Reproduction, kicked off the series at the beginning of November with a live webinar for XLVet members: Assessing Fertility Records.
His presentation, which is now accessible to all large animal vets at http//onsync.digitalsamba.comn/go/ceva/ReprodAction, explores the common pitfalls and provides practical pointers for good fertility management. He discusses the limiting factors of oestrus detection, use of the calving interval as an assessor of individual fertility performance, implications of the varied definitions of conception rates, use of milk recording organisation data and the usefulness of the 21 day in calf rate.
Each webinar in the series is presented by a leading expert and has a facility for live chat and question and answer sessions.
For further information and details of when the next ReprodAction webinar will be taking place, contact Ceva Animal Health on 01494 781510 or email cevauk@ceva.com.
Dechra Veterinary Products has launched Rycarfa carprofen tablets for dogs and injection for cats and dogs into its Veterinary Essentials range.
Dechra's Veterinary Essentials range comprises a series of post patent products designed to offer practices the reassurance of proven, quality solutions to meet their everyday clinical needs.
In its flavoured tablet form, Rycarfa is presented in easy-to-dispense blister packs which, according to Dechra, offer the most cost-effective standard size range on the market* - 20 mg x 100 tabs; 50 mg x 100 tabs, 50 mg x 500 tabs, 100mg x 100 tabs. The tablets are licensed in dogs for the reduction of inflammation and pain caused by musculoskeletal disorders and degenerative joint disease, and as a follow up to parenteral analgesia in the management of post operative pain.
In injection form, Rycarfa is provided as a 50mg/ml solution in a 20 ml glass vial. In dogs it is indicated for the control of post-operative pain and inflammation following orthopaedic and soft tissue (including intraocular) surgery. In cats, it is indicated for the control of post-operative pain following surgery.
Roger Brown at Dechra said: "Carprofen is a well-established, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory. Through our Veterinary Essentials range, we are offering Rycarfa in a wide range of sizes to provide the maximum flexibility with cost effectiveness."
For further information on Rycarfa, please contact Dechra on 01939 211200.
*Gfk sales data 1 July 2011
Avid has released a new version of it's microchip registration system, which offers a significantly enhanced statistical analysis of the microchipping done at your practice.
The new MicroChip Plus section of the site is specifically for implanters, and contains the following:
Avid says the registration system, which has built-in postcode software, can now re-use more registration details, so that registering a complete litter will take less time. This is especially important when microchips are being registered for or by breeders.
Denise Chaloner, Manager at Avid said: “Avid MicroChip Plus gives our customers more control of how they manage pet microchipping within their organisation. Listening to feedback has inspired Avid to develop a more tailor-made and efficient system for the end user, also enabling the generation of reports, statistics and targets”.
Customers with supporting practice management systems may register microchips directly from their software using VetXML and VetEnvoy.
For more information contact Avid on freephone 0800 652 7 977 or email sales@avidplc.com
Vetoquinol - makers of the NSAID Cimalgex - has announced the launch of its updated website www.CiMyDog.co.uk.
The company says the website has been developed to provide reliable online information about pain in dogs to cater for the increasing needs of pet owners and vets.
The website has two sections. The first is a pet owner focussed, educational tool which takes the visitor on a journey through the process of pain; from spotting the signs of pain all the way through to ways of relieving pain, culminating in the recommendation that the visitor seeks advice from their veterinary practice.
The second section requires registration as it contains more in depth information on the pain process and potential treatment options available, this section is for veterinary professionals only. Also on this section of the website there are many scientific abstracts related to pain and treatment with links to enable the veterinary visitor can view this peer reviewed material.
Robert Simpson, Cimalgex Product Manager said: "The internet is a very powerful tool in terms of increasing education, especially in areas such as canine pain. Unfortunately there can also be a lot of misinformation online and so we felt it was important for Vetoquinol to try and redress the balance by producing www.CiMyDog.co.uk. This can be used as a reliable and up-to-date resource by pet owners and veterinary professionals alike. -
www.CiMyDog.co.uk is a very interactive site which aims to demystify the pain treatment process, ensure pet owners look out for behavioural signs of pain and looks to improve overall canine health with assistance from their veterinary practice. We hope that this will be a valuable resource to which vets can refer their pet owners."
The government has confirmed that tests carried out on a poultry farm in Dunfirmline have indicated the presence of a notifiable strain of avian influenza.
At this stage, officials say that the clinical picture indicates that this is a low pathogenic strain which poses little risk to human health.
All birds at the premises - 40,000 according to the Daily Mail - will be humanely culled, and a 1km Temporary Control Zone has been put in place to prevent the movement of birds, carcasses and eggs.
BVA President Sean Wensley said: "This suspected outbreak is further evidence of the vital surveillance role played by frontline vets in protecting animal and, by extension, human health. We commend the veterinary surgeon involved in detecting the outbreak in Fife, which has enabled a swift and effective response by the Scottish Government and all other organisations involved.
"We urge poultry keepers and vets working in the area to remain vigilant and to report any concerns to their local Animal Plant & Health Agency (APHA) office. We would like to emphasise that there is no food safety risk to the public."
Photo: RonaldDuncan at en.wikipedia
NDSR’s director of neurology Rodolfo Capello said: "This technology is one of the most advanced in medicine and helps to surgically remove tumours while also reducing the tissue damage to vital structures.
"The accuracy and control of the system offers us greater versatility and precision, and minimises invasive manoeuvres during both soft and hard tissue dissections.
"Surgeons can therefore be extremely confident of accurate tumour excision with reduced blood vessel and tissue damage which will all help increase and improve the outcome of our surgeries.
"We’ll be using the ultrasonic surgical aspirator for the removal of tumours in the brain, liver and to cut through bone where necessary. It will be a great asset."
For more information, visit: www.ndsr.co.uk
Snowflake previously had a squamous cell carcinoma mass on the right lower eyelid, which was completely removed in 2018.
However, her owner noticed an abnormal growth in the left eye, and brought her back to the RVC.
On presentation, Snowflake was bright and in good body condition, weighing 71kg.
Both eyes were open and appeared comfortable and visual.
Ocular reflexes and responses were also present as expected and there was no evidence of recurrence of the squamous cell carcinoma on the lower right eyelid.
Snowflake was, however, diagnosed with mild cataracts in her right eye deemed unlikely to interfere with her vision.
In addition, the mass of her left third eyelid was nonpigmented and displayed a poorly defined mass-like lesion, with an irregular surface on the leading edge, appearing consistent with a squamous cell carcinoma.
The team, led by Dr Maria-Christine Fischer, Lecturer in Ophthalmology, Dr Sara Lawrence-Mills, Senior Clinical Training Fellow in Anaesthesia, and Dr Carolina Palacios Jimenez, Lecturer in Anaesthesia, decided to undertake surgery.
They removed the third eyelid under sedation and applied local anaesthetic blocks and topical tetracaine eye drops.
Cryotherapy was then applied to the wound edge as an adjunctive therapy.
The RVC says that to date, there are few publications detailing anaesthesia in reindeer and so this protocol was a novel approach to maintaining a safe level of sedation in a well-domesticated animal.
The College added that the use of these nerve blocks to facilitate ophthalmic surgery has not been reported before and is in the process of being published.
Snowflake’s third eyelid was submitted for histopathology, which confirmed the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma, which the team at the RVC was able to remove completely.
During the process, Snowflake’s daughter was with her so they both remained calm, and she has now made a full recovery and has enjoyed being reunited with her herd.
Maria-Christine said: “Snowflake had a cancerous mass on her third eye lid.
"Surgical removal of the third eyelid in a reindeer has not been reported before.
"We were pleased that we could perform the surgery with Snowflake under a standing sedation and with using local anaesthetics.
"As an ophthalmologist, I am committed to preserving vision so it’s rewarding that we were able to completely excise the tumour and did not have to remove the eyeball. It’s a very good outcome.
"I’m also pleased that Snowflake recovered quickly from the procedure, and we were able to share the protocol of the sedation and the local nerve blocks with other vets via a scientific publication.
"Sharing our knowledge will hopefully be beneficial for future ophthalmic surgeries in reindeer.”
* aka Mr Nick Dean.
The Royal Veterinary College is calling for dogs diagnosed with osteoarthritis to take part in a revolutionary study in which their movement will be monitored by a state-of-the-art recorder.
The recorder (pictured right), which is attached to the dog's collar, uses miniaturised sensors based on those found in smart phones. It can distinguish between different activities independent of the dog's location, allowing constant recording of movement in the dog's home environment, to complement the traditional clinical assessments carried out as part of the trial.
The study is being carried out to assess the efficacy of the joint mobility supplement Yumove in reducing the clinical signs of osteoarthritis. This will be the first time that the real effect of a joint supplement has been measured.
Dr. John Howie, co-founder of Lintbells, the company that makes Yumove, said: "This is the first time the real effect of a joint supplement has been measured and it will be a very fast trial. Yumove is a supplement that has been specifically formulated to include glucosamine, chondroitin and Omega 3 from green-lipped mussel, which all work together to increase joint mobility and provide an anti-inflammatory effect."
The research is being led by Dr Matthew Pead the RVC's Academic Director of Professional Assessment and Development. He said: "The results of this study will have important clinical implications for the understanding and treatment of canine OA, with the ultimate aim of advancing the treatment of this difficult and degenerative disease for the benefit of many thousands of dogs."
Any veterinary surgeon with a patient in their practice that might benefit from this study is invited to refer them. Further details are available the Clinical Investigation Centre at the Royal Veterinary College - email cic@rvc.ac.uk or phone 01707 666605.
The dispensation was originally introduced during the spring 2020 lockdown to safeguard animal health and welfare, the health and safety of the veterinary team, and public health, by allowing prescriptions to be made by veterinary surgeons without their having first physically examined the animal, subject to conditions and safeguards.
The RCVS says the Committee considered the ongoing challenges posed by Covid-19 and recognised that staff absences due to isolation requirements were still causing issues.
However, given the relaxation of the requirement to work from home in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland and relaxation of restrictions generally across the UK, the Committee felt it was time to end the dispensation.
Chair of the Standards Committee, Dr Melissa Donald MRCVS, said: “The safety and wellbeing of veterinary professionals, as well as the health and welfare of the animals they care for, have remained uppermost in our minds when considering this temporary position on remote prescribing.
“We are pleased to have been able to support the professions through a very difficult time by introducing this dispensation, however, it was only ever a temporary measure and, given the relaxation of restrictions across the UK, we feel the time has come to revert to our usual guidance.
“We will continue to keep the position under review in light of any changes, including governments’ advice and regulations, as we have throughout the pandemic.”
The talk, by Stephanie Sorrell, Director of The Mindful Vet, will provide insights and tips on how to support staff, promote wellbeing and reduce the stigma associated with mental health in the workplace.
Hillary Noyes, Hill’s Veterinary Affairs Manager, UK & Republic of Ireland said: “Following an unprecedented two years the veterinary profession is still hugely affected by the pandemic with long working hours and limited staff leading to burnout and increased stress for many. “We hope this webinar will raise awareness of this prevalent issue, highlight the importance of burnout awareness and produce valuable insights into recognising the early signs, so that practices are equipped to tackle the crisis.”
To register for the webinar, visit: https://veterinarywebinars.com/register/hills/prevent-and-manage-burnout/
The kit contains a guide to effective ear cleaning, an illustrated step-by-step instruction guide on how to administer the Canaural, and a diary and consultation pack so owners can engage with the diagnosis and treatment of their pet’s ear infection.
The Healthy Ears Combi Kit comes in a resealable wipe-clean bag and is available free of charge from veterinary wholesalers.
Dechra Brand Manager Claire Morgan said: "The new kit will give owners more confidence in the important role that they play in their pet’s ear health and encourage them to engage in the treatment plan, thereby supporting veterinary professionals in the cycle of care.
"As well as serving as practical storage for the products, it acts as a reminder to dispense CleanAural as well as Canaural, as the self-cleaning mechanism of the animal’s ears is often compromised by infection.
She added: "CleanAural does not compromise the antimicrobial activity of Canaural1 so they are perfect partners for maintaining healthy ears."
Free Healthy Ears Combi Kit can be ordered via your veterinary wholesaler.
Reference
Underlying the plan are three 'Brexit Principles', devised by the College and formally adopted by RCVS Council, which will guide the College’s relationship with the Government during the forthcoming Brexit negotiations.
The College says each Principle is supported by a number of specific policies that the College will lobby for in the coming months, all designed to positively engage with the post-referendum reality and with government policy.
The Principles are:
RCVS Chief Executive Nick Stace said: "It is crucially important for the College and the profession as a whole to think boldly about the post-Brexit future; we cannot expect government to give us all of the answers, instead we must work to find solutions ourselves so as to shape the future of the profession from within."
The College has also asked the Institute for Employment Studies (IES) to undertake research into the attitudes and intentions of all EU-graduated veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses currently working in the UK. They will all have receive a personalised email from IES with a link to this online survey, and their answers will help inform the College’s approach to Brexit. This research will help the College to understand better the impact that Brexit may already be having, how it can support EU veterinary professionals working in the UK, and build an evidence base regarding the potential impact that Brexit may have on the veterinary workforce.
For more information on the College’s Brexit activities, visit: www.rcvs.org.uk/brexit
Hospital director David Walker said: “Ewan Ferguson has been providing our dermatology service for many years and with Hilary joining him, we will now be able to provide a full-time service to support our referring vets, their clients and pets.
He added: “We are really delighted that Hilary is joining the dermatology team at Anderson Moores. Her passion for dermatology is infectious and with a particular interest in chronic ear disease, I’m sure she’s going to be very busy!”
Hilary has been a past Board member and organiser of the scientific meetings for the British Veterinary Dermatology Study Group, a member of the In Practice editorial board for 20 years and a past chief examiner for the RCVS Small Animal Medicine Certificate. She continues to act as a mentor for the BSAVA PGCertSAM course and as an assessor for the RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Dermatology.
Hilary has worked in first opinion and referral clinics around the south west, including running her own dermatology referral service within several veterinary practices. From 2018 to 2021, she had been working as lead clinician in dermatology at Langford Vets (University of Bristol).
Hilary said: “I’m very excited to be joining the fantastic team at Anderson Moores and really looking forward to helping make a difference with the new dermatology service we’ll be offering.
For more information, visit www.andersonmoores.com.
The Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS) has published advice to help practitioners set realistic and reasonable script fees for POM-V medicines.
The document, which is now available to all practitioners via the SPVS web site (www.spvs.org.uk) or can be emailed or posted upon request, has been produced following extensive consultation with SPVS members, principally via the Society's active and influential discussion list, and in conjunction with the BVA Medicines Group, which backs the advice.
The document constitutes a valuable framework for practitioners in calculating a prescription fee that is fair and workable for clients wanting a written prescription as well as for those who do not want a prescription issuing. Furthermore, it also provides a framework that is fair to practitioners themselves.
The Society firmly believes that the act of preparing and providing a prescription is a professional service and as such, that it should attract a professional fee.
Richard Hillman, SPVS President, explained: "We welcome whole-heartedly the re-introduction of prescription fees, which will mark the end of a bureaucratic and fundamentally unfair sitituation for many thousands of small businesses that have had their trade and profitability restricted for three long years.
"The time element involved in writing subscriptions will need to be taken into account, and this will no doubt form a sensible basis on which to base a fee. Script fees should be calculated rationally to reflect true business costs, like any other service that a business provides to its customers."
He added: "We would, above all else, urge practitioners to exercise restraint in setting script fees, as it is by no means certain that they will still be in place even two years from now. We will also not condone any form of 'punishment' of clients taking away prescriptions by punitive fees. We are already cooperating with the RCVS as they work with the OFT in the monitoring period to ensure that there is fair competition in the veterinary medicines market."
To obtain your copy of the document Advice on Prescription Fees, go to www.spvs.org.uk where it can be downloaded or call SPVS Secretariat on 01926 410454 or email office@spvs.org.uk.
Dechra Veterinary Products has launched a new Instruments and Consumables catalogue for veterinary professionals. The new catalogue is available to view online or download via Dechra's website at www.dechra.com
The new catalogue features the range of instruments and consumables available from Dechra, including a new wound dressing Silflex. This dressing is an atraumatic soft silicone contact layer, which minimises trauma at dressing change and protects delicate skin. Other products include Activon Medical Grade Manuka Honey dressings, Portex Jacksons cat catheters, Surgivet Slippery Sam cat catheters, ET tubes and 3M Vetrap bandaging tape.
The Dechra catalogue also includes help and advice for veterinary professionals, including step-by-step instructions for using some products and case studies for the range of wound dressings.
The study, Urinary incontinence in bitches under primary veterinary care in England: prevalence and risk factors, which will be published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice, also found that other factors such as weight, neuter status and age also play key roles.
The authors hope that the study findings will provide an evidence base that allows veterinary surgeons to enhance their clinical recommendations for higher risk bitches.
The study was based on a population of 100,397 bitches attending 119 veterinary clinics across England. The main findings included:
The study also gave evidence on the welfare impact from urinary incontinence. Almost half of cases (45.6%) received medical therapy for the condition. In addition, of the bitches that died during the study period, urinary incontinence was recorded as either contributory or the main reason for death in 16.7 % of these deaths.
RVC veterinary epidemiologist and VetCompass researcher Dr Dan O’Neill said: "This urinary incontinence study has uncovered dramatic breed predispositions that have previously been hidden to vets and owners.
"Overall, about 3% of bitches were affected but this rose to over 30% in the Irish Setter and over 20% in the Dobermann with many other breeds also predisposed.
"Vets can now use these results to alert owners to typical clinical signs in order to ensure earlier treatment and better outcomes. The study also suggests increased risk in heavier and neutered bitches.
"Following on from this study, a VetCompass Masters project supported by BSAVA PetSavers is working to unravel these associations in order to identify potential preventive strategies, especially in those highly predisposed breeds."
The paper is available in Early View on Wiley Online Library ahead of publication in the JSAP at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsap.12731/full
Photo: ©Diane Peace Collection / The Kennel Club
The company points to data from the Animal Poison Control Center in the US which showed that in 2022, recreational drugs, including marijuana-based drugs, hallucinogenic mushrooms and cocaine made the list of top ten reasons for animals needing its help, knocking gardening products into 11th place.
In addition, the APCC reports a nearly 300% increase in calls about potential marijuana ingestion over the past five years
With this in mind, TVM has developed guidelines to support vets with these cases, both in terms of treatment options and tips on how to discuss the issue with clients and glean the information needed to help with the diagnosis and treat the animal.
TVM has also launched its new ‘Seasonal Suspects’ board kits to help vets educate pet owners on the common Christmas hazards commonly found around the house at this time of year.
The eye-catching waiting room display, which shows veterinary staff as seasonal superheroes, covers the dangers posed by items such as alcohol, batteries, plants and nuts, and advises pet owners on the necessary action needed should their pet digest any toxic substance.
TVM will also be sharing ‘Seasonal Suspects’ posts on its Facebook page for veterinary staff to share with their followers over Christmas.
For more information, email help@tvm-uk.com, call 0800 0385868 or contact your local Territory Manager.