CVS Group's new CEO, Richard Fairman, has announced the company's new maternity policy, and that it has signed the Time to Change Pledge, committing it to change the way it thinks and acts about mental health in the workplace.

The new maternity policy will offer enhancement at 100% of full pay for 10 weeks, and 50% of full pay for a further 10 weeks, without any clawback provision should mothers decide not to return to CVS after their leave.

As part of the Time To Change Pledge, CVS will submit a plan for introducing evidence-based interventions and policy to help its employees work in ways that promote positive mental wellbeing.

CVS's plan includes the appointment of 250 Wellbeing Champions who will be trained in first aid for mental health. The company also plans to roll out further training on managing stress and mental health issues for line managers in 2020.

Richard, pictured right, said: "We are proud to be the first major veterinary employer to sign the Time to Change Pledge. The CVS wellbeing working party have made much progress in the last 12 months delivering our plan which has been formalised through participating in the Time to Change pledge.

"We recognise that the pressures in our industry are significant and unique, and that there’s more work to do. We remain committed as a company and wellbeing working party to changing the way we all think and act about mental health in the workplace for the better."

Norbrook, maker of Thyronorm, has announced the results of a survey of 200 veterinary surgeons in which 92% said that cat owners were finding it easier to treat their pet's hyperthyroidism with a liquid than a tablet.

95% of the vets surveyed by the company reported success treating cats with Thyronorm Oral Solution for Cats, while 89% expected the liquid solution to improve compliance in the management of hyperthyroidism.

93% also said they found Thyronorm gave them an easier way to offer cats a low dose, or an 'in-between' dose, as it can be titrated 'to effect' – meaning the dose of treatment can be varied more easily to suit the individual animal.

Feline hyperthyroid specialist Dr Sarah Caney said she is unsurprised by the survey results: "Treatment is complex for cats needing a low dose, or an ‘in between’ dose, as standard anti-thyroid tablets are only available in a small number of dose sizes and are not designed to be split, halved or quartered. Also, if a cat is on alternating doses, it can be difficult for carers to remember which dose is due today."

Rachel Crowe, Norbrook’s Companion Animal Senior Product Manager, said: "We are delighted that overall 99% of the 200 veterinary surgeons surveyed would recommend Thyronorm in the management of hyperthyroidism, compared to other medical options."

Thyronorm contains 5mg/ml of thiamazole (methimazole). The initial starting dose is 5mg active ingredient per day, split into two doses.

Available in 30ml and 100ml bottles, with an in-use shelf life of six months, Thyronorm is available to order from all UK veterinary wholesalers.

The Royal Veterinary College’s VetCompass programme has published the results of new research which shows that ownership of Chihuahuas is growing despite the breed being particularly prone to expensive dental problems and obesity.

According to the study¹, which looked at Chihuahuas treated in first opinion practice, ownership in the UK has increased over five-fold in the past decade from 1.0% of all puppies born in 2005 to 5.4% in 2016.

However, the study also found the breed was particularly susceptible to a number of health issues, including: dental disease (13.5%), obesity (5.9%) and retained baby teeth (5.7%).

Compared with other dogs, Chihuahuas were also more prone to aggression (4.2%), slipping kneecap (4.0%) and retained testicles (3.9%).

Other findings included:

• Males are more likely than females to show aggression, heart murmur, ear infection, conjunctivitis and upper respiratory tract infection. There were no disorders that were more common in females.
• The average adult Chihuahua bodyweight was 3.4kg.
• The average Chihuahua lifespan was 8.2 years. Females (10.2 years) generally outlived males (6.9 years).
• The most common causes of Chihuahua deaths were heart disease (18.8%), lower respiratory tract disorder 16.3% and traumatic injury (13.8%).

Dan O’Neill, senior lecturer at the RVC and author of the paper, said: "Chihuahuas are an old breed but the recent craze for them can cause some real welfare issues for this tiny dog. There is increasing evidence that unscrupulous breeders and dealers both inside and outside the UK are cashing in on this trend by making a lot of money but with little regard for the welfare of these puppies and breeding bitches."

Camilla Pegram, VetCompass epidemiologist at the RVC and co-author of the paper said: "Dental disease and retained baby teeth should be recognised as important health concerns for Chihuahuas, with preventative care for dental disease a key topic for discussion between vets and owners. In addition, many of the common or predisposed disorders, such as dental disease, retained baby teeth, sliding kneecap and retained testicle(s), often require surgical intervention. The Chihuahua’s small size increases its anaesthetic risk. Obesity has many detrimental effects, including increased anaesthetic risk, and aggression makes them challenging patients and pets, therefore nutrition, lifestyle and behaviour are also key areas for veterinary-owner discussions."

The full paper is open access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-020-2258-1.

Reference:

1. O'Neill, D.G., Packer, R.M.A., Lobb, M., Church, D.B., Brodbelt, D.C. and Pegram, C. (2020) 'Demography and commonly recorded clinical conditions of Chihuahuas under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2016', BMC Veterinary Research. 

Genitrix has launched Libromide, the first licensed formulation of potassium bromide for the treatment of canine epilepsy, following what the company believes to be the largest ever trial of dogs suffering from epilepsy.

Genitrix says the availability, for the first time, of a licensed formulation of potassium bromide should give veterinary surgeons and pet owners the reassurance that the rigorous authorisation process provides.  It ensures, for instance, that the product has been developed especially for dogs and that it is manufactured in accordance with EU regulations. It also ensures that the product has been extensively and independently trialled, proven to be efficacious without adverse reactions, and that the necessary pharmacovigilance is in place to support it.  

The company also says that the availability of a licensed product paves the way for more comprehensive information to be provided to veterinary surgeons on the use of potassium bromide in treating seizures.  The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) imposes restrictions on educational materials supplied by manufacturers of unlicensed products, an approach which has created a 'knowledge gap' among many veterinary surgeons in general practice, according to some canine epilepsy experts.

Libromide tablets are intended for use in epileptic dogs which have already commenced therapy with Phenobarbital. Phenobarbital acts to increase the effects of the GABA inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.  Potassium bromide is synergistic with Phenobarbital and raises the seizure threshold level in epileptic dogs. 

Libromide is classified as POM-V and will be available in 325 mg tablets in packs of 100 and 500 tablets.

Rodolfo Cappello DVM PhD DipECVN MRCVS, RCVS and European Specialist in Neurology and Neurosurgery, Head of Neurology Services at North Downs Specialist Referrals, Surrey, said: "I've been successfully using potassium bromide for the treatment of epilepsy in dogs for over 15 years.  The main problem has been that it's not been licensed as a medicine.  With the launch of Libromide, potassium bromide finally achieves the status of an approved pharmaceutical.  We will now be able to monitor quality, efficacy and side effects which will enable us to offer a more professional approach to the treatment of seizures."

Howard Wilder, founder and managing director of Genitrix, added:  "Canine epilepsy is an all too common disease with estimates suggesting it affects four in every hundred dogs in the UK.  It's also an illness which is not well enough understood with the lack of up to date information available to veterinary surgeons being a contributing factor.

We felt there was an opportunity to bring a licensed product to market and have invested hundreds of thousands of pounds in the process of development and trialling Libromide.  We're delighted to make it available to veterinary professionals and hope its launch will be the first step in improving treatment approaches for this distressing disease."

Vets4Pets has opened it's 450th joint venture practice in Essex with Cheryl Lucas MRCVS and veterinary nurse Nick Briggs.

The Mayor of Loughton, Councillor Philip Abraham, officially opened the Vets4Pets Loughton veterinary surgery inside Pets at Home at the Epping Forest Shopping Park, before enjoying a guided tour of the bright and modern facility.

Cheryl, who stars in the BBC’s children’s TV show The Pet Factor, said: "It’s fantastic to be able to open the doors to Vets4Pets Loughton and reach a landmark number of practices for the group.

"The opening event gave us chance to meet new clients, and welcome them to the practice."

Cheryl qualified in 2009 and is also a joint venture partner at Vets4Pets Chadwell and Newbury Park in Ilford.

Nick, who qualified in 2008, is also joint venture partner at Newbury Park, Romford, Beckton and Dagenham.

Nick said: "I have always been interested in caring for pets and have several dogs and cats at home.

"I love being a veterinary nurse and I’m delighted to have another opportunity from Vets4Pets to open my fifth practice.

"Once again the process to open a practice has been easy and we’ve had brilliant support on all aspects from Vets4Pets.

"I’m now looking forward to welcoming pets and their owners to Vets4Pets Loughton and providing the highest standard of veterinary care to the area’s pets."

The new practice will create five new jobs, with two vets, veterinary nurse, two pet care assistants and a receptionist.

Chief executive of the Pets at Home Vet Group, Andrei Balta, said: "Cheryl and Nick are two great advocates for the veterinary profession and we’re delighted they are part of the group.

"Wherever we have opened, pet owners have responded enthusiastically to our state-of-the-art practices and convenient opening hours.

"The joint venture model we operate across our practices provides the support vets and vet nurses need to run their businesses.

"It allows them to focus on what they really love, looking after the health of animals, while the support team helps with other areas including marketing, HR and business strategy."

Surrey vet Matthew Morgan has been struck off by the RCVS Disciplinary Committee after being convicted and imprisoned for four counts of pet insurance fraud.

Mr Morgan was convicted, upon his own confession, of dishonestly making false representations to make gain for himself/another or to cause loss to other/ expose other to risk on 22 July 2013 at the Central Criminal Court and, on 23 August 2013, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment.

The Disciplinary Committee heard that Mr Morgan, who was not present at the hearing but represented by Mr Laurence Imrie, Solicitor Advocate, had, between 13 November 2009 and 21 December 2012, taken out 18 insurance policies for veterinary cover with four separate insurance providers - Direct Line, Pet Plan, Pet Protect and Sainsbury's - in relation to a number of pets. Of these pets, only one, namely his pet cat, actually existed - the rest were fictitious.

During this period, the respondent made 50 claims on the insurance policies, seeking payment to reimburse him for the cost of veterinary treatment for the fictitious animals and also making false claims for treatment for his own pet cat, including for invented injuries 'sustained' during a non-existent car accident. As a result of the claims, the insurance companies made 54 payments to Mr Morgan to which he was not entitled, totalling £198,295.

At the time he began committing the offences Mr Morgan was working as a veterinary surgeon at a practice in Kent and, in order to support his fraudulent claims, used the practice's official stationery and stamps to fabricate invoices, clinical records and insurance claims. He continued to make fraudulent claims after leaving the practice, having taken the practice's headed paper and stamp with him.

Mr Morgan's actions came to light in December 2012 after submitting a claim to Direct Line for an operation on the spine of his own cat. The insurance company became suspicious and contacted the Kent practice which confirmed he had not treated the cat. An investigation by the insurers and, subsequently, the police began.

On 31 December 2012 Mr Morgan voluntarily attended a police station where he admitted fraudulently claiming £5,534.52 from Pet Plan and £7,610.03 from Direct Line, citing financial pressure caused by divorce, but failed to admit to the rest of his fraudulent activities. He was arrested on 25 January 2013 and, upon searching his home, police found the stamp and headed paper along with documents relating to the insurance claims.

The Disciplinary Committee, in considering the conduct of Mr Morgan, took into account a number of serious aggravating factors. This included the very high degree of financial gain from the fraudulent activities, the fact that there were 50 separate premeditated acts of dishonesty over a three-year period, the betrayal of trust of his former employer and the insurance companies, the potential reputational risk for his former employer, the abuse of his position as a veterinary surgeon and the fact that completion of insurance claims is an act of veterinary certification.

The Committee also considered, in mitigation, a letter from Mr Morgan to the Committee, three testimonials and representation from his legal representative. These cited the fact that Mr Morgan, when he committed the fraudulent activities, was heavily in debt, had serious domestic difficulties and was suffering from depression, although no medical evidence was submitted to the Committee.

However, it was the Committee's decision that the sanction of removing Mr Morgan from the Register had to be taken, in order to protect animal welfare and maintain public confidence in the profession.

Chairing and speaking on behalf of the Disciplinary Committee its Vice-Chairman, Ms Judith Webb, said: "The Committee is of the view that the Respondent's conduct in this case was deplorable ... Such conduct can only undermine public confidence in the profession. The Respondent abused his position as a veterinary surgeon to perpetrate a deliberate long-term fraud on insurers for personal gain.

"The Committee is conscious that its role is not to punish but to protect animal welfare and maintain public confidence in the profession. Due to the serious nature of the matters before it...the Committee has no doubt that the only suitable sanction is to direct the Registrar to remove the Respondent's name from the Register."

The Committee's full findings and decision are available on the RCVS website (www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary).

Neuro orthopaedic veterinary surgeon Noel Fitzpatrick has been having a busy old time: hot on the heels of his world-first procedure to implant a prosthetic hip and femur in an American Bulldog comes the news that he has now fitted a cat with titanium prosthetic paws in another world-first.

Oscar the cat was minding his own business, basking in the late summer sun, when a passing combine harvester chopped off his hind paws.

Unlucky.

However, Oscar's luck turned when his veterinary surgeon, Peter Howarth from St Saviour in Jersey, referred owners Kate and Mike Nolan to Fitzpatrick Referrals to investigate the possibility of giving Oscar a pair of prosthetic paws.

Kate said: "We had to do a lot of soul-searching and our main concern has always been whether this operation would be in Oscar's best interests and would give him a better quality of life". Having decided it would, the Nolans asked Noel to go ahead. And so he came to give the two-year-old cat a pair of new artificial feet in a single, three-hour surgical procedure - something he says has never been done before by any team anywhere in the world.

The revolutionary design of the feet uses custom-made implants to 'peg' the ankle to the foot and mimics the way in which deer antler bone grows through skin. These pegs, or ITAPs (intraosseous transcutaneous amputation prosthetics), were first developed by a team from University College London led by Professor Gordon Blunn,  Head of the Centre for Bio-Medical Engineering at UCL's Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Science. Working in partnership with UCL, Fitzpatrick has pioneered the use of these weight-bearing prosthetic implants.

During the operation, the veterinary surgical team had to insert the ITAPs by drilling into one of the ankle bones in each of the back legs - an extremely delicate feat,  which could have fractured the ankle joint before the procedure had even begun, and even more challenging because it had to be performed twice. These artificial implants which are attached to the bone at an amputation site are coated with hydroxyapatite, which encourages bone cells to grow onto the metal. The skin then grows over the special umbrella at the end of the ITAP to form a resilient seal against bacteria and potentially fatal infections. The ITAP itself protrudes through the bone and skin, allowing the custom-built artifical paws to be attached securely. Click here to see x-rays and other case photos in the VetSurgeon media gallery.

Following successful surgery in November last year, the focus of the veterinary team has turned to the slow process of rehabilitation and helping Oscar to learn to walk again - firstly using external scaffolding anchored to the tibia  to protect the new implants until the ITAPs integrated into the bone and the skin grew onto the ITAP.  Remarkably Oscar was trying to stand within a day of the operation and despite some problems with infection that had to be overcome, in less than four months Oscar could stand and bear weight equally on all four limbs. He has since been fitted with a series of prototype new paws to ensure the best possible long term fit.

What makes this procedure so complicated is that Oscar's feet were severed at the junction of the tarsus and metatarsus. Noel said: "The real revolution with Oscar is because we have put a piece of metal and a flange into which skin grows into an extremely tight bone, with very narrow tolerances in the region of nanometres, rather than millimetres.  We have then successfully managed to get the bone and skin to grow into the implant and we have developed an exoprosthesis that allows this implant to work as a see-saw on the bottom of an animal's limbs to give him effectively normal gait.  Oscar can now run and jump about as cats should do.

Noel Fitzpatrick and the team at Fitzpatrick Referrals are the focus of a new six part documentary series: The Bionic Vet to be broadcast on BBC 1 at 10.45 pm every Wednesday starting on 30 June 2010. The programmes will focus on the multi million pound state-of-the-art vet practice in Surrey as well as the ways in which Noel is pioneering revolutionary new surgical techniques.

The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has ruled that whilst the care given to a diabetic dog by Paul Roger MRCVS fell short, it did not amount to serious professional misconduct. 

Mr Roger faced three charges: that he had failed to provide adequate care, failed to communicate with the owner adequately and failed to keep adequate clinical records for Honey, a Shiih Tzu dog who, it transpired, had hypergycaemia.

At the initial consultation, Mr Roger took a blood sample which showed that there was an elevated blood glucose, an elevated white blood cell count, an elevated ALT and an elevated ALP (which Mr Roger took to be indicative of liver damage secondary to infection).

Mr Roger prescribed a cholagogue (ursodeoxycholic acid), an antibiotic (Synulox) and a diuretic (Frusemide).

In its findings of fact, the Committee found it likely that Mr Roger would have realised that Honey had a potential diabetes mellitus diagnosis with an elevated blood glucose of 28.

However, Mr Roger explained that he had believed the elevated blood glucose was due to the stress Honey had undergone in taking the blood samples.

The Committee therefore accepted that Mr Roger’s actions did not indicate a complete failure by him to notice the elevated blood glucose because he had explained he believed at the time it was due to stress.

Honey’s owner took her back to the veterinary practice that Mr Roger worked at three days later.

A different veterinary surgeon examined Honey and flagged that her blood sugar was high and that her liver was damaged.

She was taken to an alternative veterinary practice for follow-up but died later that day.

Mr Roger admitted failing to ask Honey’s owner if there was a history of diabetes mellitus, failing to take repeat blood glucose tests or carry out urine analysis or carry out additional blood tests, failing to communicate adequately with Honey’s owner about the significance of the hyperglycaemia and the options for investigation/management and failing to keep adequate clinical records in regard to Honey’s blood glucose levels.

The Committee found the admitted facts proved.

The evidence presented to the Committee included the clinical notes taken during Honey’s consultations, emails sent from Honey’s owner to the RCVS outlining the complaint, and evidence from experts in small animal veterinary practice.  

Although the Committee found some matters not proved, it did find proved that Mr Roger had failed to recognise and/or pay adequate regard to Honey’s elevated blood glucose levels, had failed to manage Honey’s hyperglycaemia either by treating it or by documenting an appropriate plan to do so and had failed to communicate adequately with Honey’s owner about the significance of her elevated glucose and the reason for it.

Having reached its decision in relation to the facts, the Committee went on to consider whether the facts it had found proved either individually or cumulatively amounted to serious professional misconduct.

Judith Way, Chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf said: “The Committee found that the charges and particulars it had found proved did not amount to disgraceful conduct in a professional respect either individually or cumulatively.

"In its judgment, the conduct found proved fell short of the standard to be expected of a reasonably competent veterinary surgeon but not far short of the standard which is expected of the reasonably competent veterinary surgeon.”

As a result of the Committee finding that Mr Roger was not guilty of serious professional misconduct on any of the proven charges, either individually or in any combination, the hearing did not proceed further.

London Vet Specialists in Belsize Park has announced that oncologist Richard Elders MVB, CertSAM, DACVIM (SAIM), DECVIM-CA (Onc), Msc (Clin Onc) has joined its team of referral specialists.

A graduate of University College Dublin, Richard started out in first opinion practice after completing an internship at the University of Glasgow.

While studying medicine, Richard researched mast cell tumours in dogs, which led to an MSc in clinical Oncology. He went on to complete a PhD on mast cell tumours at the Royal Veterinary College in 2008.

Richard works with referral oncology patients and clients two days a week at LVS and currently spends the rest of his working week as an oncology consultant for IDEXX Laboratories.

From February, Richard will also be working at Southfield Veterinary Specialists in Laindon, Essex, thereby allowing him to refer oncology patients for radiation therapy at Southfields when necessary.

Richard said: "Having never been comfortable with operating myself, working with a team of this calibre and experience in a welcoming environment within central London was very attractive. It has been a very fulfilling role for me, especially as both our team and the scope of the services we can offer continue to expand.

"Given the high standard of care offered by local vets in the area, the patients referred to LVS are often very challenging. Together with our clients’ high expectations, the service is definitely not run-of-the-mill but all the more rewarding because of that. 

"I’m looking forward to bringing my experience in both research and clinical spheres to LVS." 

Richard’s main professional interests are mast cell tumours, novel diagnostics and immunotherapeutics, but he is experienced in all aspects of veterinary oncology and can also offer advice about internal medicine cases. 

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has announced plans to open a new veterinary school in Preston. 

Based at UCLan’s Preston Campus, the new school will deliver foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate courses in areas such as veterinary medicine, bioveterinary science, veterinary clinical practice, veterinary physiotherapy and rehabilitation, and clinical animal behaviour and training. 

Professor Graham Baldwin, UCLan Vice-Chancellor, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be creating an innovative and dynamic veterinary school. UK veterinary schools are highly prestigious, so we are thrilled to be launching only the second school in the north of England and one of only 11 in the UK. 

“We have taken massive strides in developing all areas of human health provision in recent years, and animal health will now join our ever-expanding portfolio of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, biomedical sciences and optometry.”

Professor Cathy Jackson, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, said: “Our new veterinary school will be focussed on producing much needed industry ready graduates for our region, particularly as recent figures have highlighted a national shortage of vets and a sector heavily reliant on vets educated in the European Union. 

"As with our medical and dental schools, we have demonstrated we want to break down barriers and make education accessible to all. It’s no different with our veterinary school and we want to open the doors and offer a pathway for any student, no matter of their background, into this rewarding profession, while maintaining the very highest of education and professional standards.” 

The Batchelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVMS) course at UCLan is a five-year programme with ‘hands-on’ modules from Year 1, rather than in the later years as delivered in more traditional programmes.  

UCLan says it is collaborating with Myerscough College for some of its programmes to give students access to state-of-the-art, sector-leading facilities, which have recently benefited from a £35m investment. 

In addition, UCLan will become one of the first universities in the world to make use of a digital, virtual dissection platform for teaching animal anatomy using veterinary Anatomage technology.

UCLan is planning to welcome the first intake of UK and international students to veterinary sciences BSc and foundation courses in September 2022 while BVMS students will be welcomed from 2023. 

For more information, visit www.uclan.ac.uk/schools/veterinary-medicine.

Alastair Mair, a European Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia at Willows Veterinary Centre has developed a new app to ensure all vital details of an anaesthetic procedure are recorded efficiently and effectively.

VETNAPP offers a replacement to paper records and allows entry of drugs administered, physiological parameters (for example heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure) and complications occurring during an anaesthetic. The final anaesthetic chart can be converted to a PDF and attached to patient records. 

Alastair said: "My motivation for creating the app was born of my frustration while working in Australia about how many handwritten anaesthetic records were incomplete and poorly filled in. 

"I developed the app in partnership with an IT graduate at the University of Sydney. It is a replacement for paper records, with features such as you cannot move on to the next page until all data fields are complete. It also allows storage of thousands of records, therefore, allows easy retrieval of records, and prevents lost records which is common with paper records. 

"I also would like to eventually have a cloud-based storage of data to allow anaesthesia studies such as drugs used, morbidity/mortality studies, to be carried out on a large scale basis, rather than single centre studies." 

VETNAPP has been designed to meet the needs of both general practitioner veterinary surgeons and veterinary specialists in anaesthesia and analgesia.

At present, VETNAPP is only available for the iPad, priced at £59.99.

To download VETNAPP, go to: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/vetnapp/id980918731?mt=8. 

ECM, a French manufacturer of ultrasound devices, has launched Exago, a new mobile veterinary ultrasound device which the company says is particularly suited for use with horses and pets.

ECM says the main features of the new device are:

• Uses the latest technology used in the medical sector.
• Small, lightweight (3250 grams) design and extended battery life (4.5 hrs) make it an ideal tool for field diagnoses, as well as for use in veterinary practices.
• An 8.4-inch screen to help users make fast, accurate and reliable diagnoses.
• Ultrasound images and video sequences can be saved directly to the device's memory.
• Multiple connectivity points, also for connecting to a larger screen, a printer or a USB stick.
• Direct downloads and updates for both software and hardware, making the device fully scaleable.
• Delivered complete with a wide range of variable frequency probes (convex, micro-convex or linear) for reproductive and gynaecological applications, which can also be used for tendon and muscular-skeletal examinations.

For more information, visit: http://www.agroscan.com/