Somerset vet Stewart Halperin MRCVS has launched CarefreeCredit, a service designed to help pet owners pay for unforeseen veterinary bills, and take the burden of unpaid bills away from veterinary surgeons.
The new service is very simple. First, participating practices need to apply to CarefreeCredit and register with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). CarefreeCredit will hold your hand through the FCA registration process, which is currently taking about three weeks.
Thereafter, you can then offer CarefreeCredit to any client who is faced with an unexpected bill which they can't pay immediately. They'll need to make an online application which can be done at any time of day, 365 days a year - crucial for out-of-hours emergencies. The application takes 4 minutes and decisions are instant.
Loans repaid over 12 months are interest-free for the pet owner. Loans repaid over 24 months attract interest at 7.9% APR.
Once the loan is approved, confirmation is sent to the veterinary practice, which can then drawdown the funds into the practice bank account via the CarefreeCredit online dashboard. The practice gets paid within 5 days of requesting a drawdown.
The cost to the practice of all this is 7% of the bill. Offered strategically to the right clients, that seems like a small price to pay. According to CarefreeCredit, practice revenue increases by 22% and debtors decrease by 58% in practices where finance facilities are offered. But that is, of course, only half the story. This also offers a professional and businesslike 'way out' when vets are at the receiving end of emotional blackmail (or worse) from clients who find they don't have the money to pay for their much-loved pet to get the medical care it needs.
Stewart, himself the owner of a six-practice business, said: "The only way a credit facility like this works is that if it is so simple to use that front office staff see it as a help rather than a hindrance - a tool to make their lives easier rather than just another piece of admin to do. In order to get to this point, we have been through discussions with a number of consumer credit institutions as well as major retail banks. The system we can now provide is the market leader by a long way. The great thing is, vets love it as they can do gold standard work, get paid properly for it and receive the funds straight away. Owners love it as they can spread the cost at no or very low cost to themselves - and of course, the pets get treated immediately!"
For more information, visit: www.carefreecredit.co.uk
The RCVS has announced that it is to trial a new alternative dispute resolution scheme for users of veterinary services who have complaints which aren't serious enough to call into question a veterinary surgeon or nurse's fitness to practice.
The College says that although it is obliged to investigate all complaints, currently it can only deal with the most serious of complaints raised against a veterinary surgeon's or registered veterinary nurse's fitness to practise. This means that many of the 800 or so complaints received every year by the College's Professional Conduct Department are closed with no further action.
Nick Stace, RCVS Chief Executive Officer and Secretary, said: "It was clear from our consultations last year for the First Rate Regulator initiative that many animal owners who had made complaints were dissatisfied and frustrated with the fact that we were unable to take their, often very legitimate, concerns any further.
"It is for this reason that we decided to launch a trial in order to determine how we could develop an alternative scheme that, through conciliation, would try and resolve these disputes in a way that would be acceptable to both parties.
"Although this trial is small-scale we hope that it will provide the framework for a permanent ADR scheme which I believe would both increase consumer confidence in the profession and help maintain and preserve its reputation.
"We hope that the profession will actively support the trial, and any future scheme, as a way of resolving those intractable disputes which we know can hang over veterinary surgeons and practices and that they recognise that, ultimately, what is good for the consumer can be good for the profession."
The trial will be administered by the Ombudsman Services, an independent and not-for-profit complaint resolution service, and limited to no more than 150 concerns raised about veterinary surgeons in regards to the treatment of a small animal. In most cases concerns referred to the trial will have no arguable case for serious professional misconduct. The trial is free to the users and voluntary, and consent will be sought from both parties before the concern is referred to the Ombudsman Services. The costs of the trial will not exceed £120,000.
Recommendations will be determined through conciliation between both parties and the Ombudsman Services will only be able to suggest, rather than impose, a solution that each party is entitled to accept, or not. Solutions could include, for example, financial accommodation up to the small claims court limit of £10,000 (although the average recommendation is around £100), the issuing of an apology or other practical action to remedy the situation.
The Ombudsman Services will be assisted in its investigations by veterinary advisers who will provide guidance on clinical and other veterinary matters.
The results of the trial, which will end in May 2015, will be presented at the June 2015 meeting of RCVS Council where steps will be considered for the development of a permanent scheme.
More details about the trial can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/adr
Pets'n'Vets, a Glasgow-based partnership, has revealed plans to open what it describes as the city's first veterinary 'super practice'.
Located at a 7500 sq ft customised facility in the Auldhouse Retail Park in Pollokshaws, The Roundhouse Veterinary Hospital will provide comprehensive pet care seven days a week, caring for animals around the clock and providing late night consultations when required. Pets'n'Vets says it believes it will deliver a step change to the standard of veterinary care available in the city.
Pets'n'Vets partner Oliver Jackson said: "Having provided excellent veterinary care to the Southside's pets for over 40 years we feel that this will create a cutting-edge facility in which to do so for the next 40 years.
"Our plans for this ambitious new facility have been modelled on the American concept of a vet 'super-practice', designed to deliver the whole suite of pet care services, from nail clipping to vaccinations to some of the most complex surgical veterinary procedures - and will provide these services locally, at sensible cost and to the highest clinical standards with one of the best qualified, first opinion veterinary surgeons in the West of Scotland and one of the best medical experts too.
"This is a really exciting initiative that will bring a real first to Glasgow. It will enable us to care for animals 24 hours a day as there will be nursing staff living on-site so that animals can receive continuous treatment through the night. The location of the facility means that pet owners and, more importantly, sick animals, will not have to travel too far and, given the size and scope of the facility, we expect to be able to reduce significantly the waiting list before veterinary procedures can be scheduled.
"The whole idea behind The Roundhouse Veterinary Hospital is that we will be in a position to provide continuous lifelong veterinary care regardless of the problems that life brings - our vets and nurses often first meet our friends and their pets as a puppies, kittens and kits and we get to know pet and owner exceptionally well over the years - in the event that that pet requires a complex surgical procedure or in-patient medical care, we want to be able to offer that too, rather than the pet and owner being referred to an unfamiliar veterinary hospital.
"A particularly exciting aspect of the development is that some of the services will be led by our qualified veterinary nurses in conjunction with the surgeons. To facilitate this, the practice will in addition to the vet consulting rooms, house two specialist nurse consulting rooms."
The Roundhouse Veterinary Hospital will feature a cat examination room which, unusually, will not feature a consult table. Instead, this new facility will feature steps and an artificial tree that will enable the nurse or vet to better assess its movements.
Partner Oliver Jackson said: "This is an ultra-modern arrangement which is aimed at allowing us to examine cats in a more natural way - we hope that this will assist us to diagnose many more cases of feline arthritis, a disease that a recent study accepted was often missed by the traditional, consulting table means of examining cats."
Similarly, the dog room will not feature a consult table but will have facilities for physiotherapy or play - and there will be a special garden enclosure for exercising any dogs requiring to stay at the facility for any length of time.
The 'super practice' will feature separate cat and dog waiting and consultation rooms as well as separate in-patient wards to reduce stress. In the clinical wing, the facility boasts two sterile theatres, specified to the highest clinical standards, with a separate scrub area, a designated dental theatre, large patient preparation area as well as state-of the art diagnostic suites.
Pets'n'Vets says the hospital design has been carefully considered to encourage the best possible clinical care. For example vets' stations overlook the intensive care unit and the preparation area remains open plan, taking advantage of natural light provided by a large overhead atrium, whilst specialist air extraction systems ensures sterility by separating the area into clinical zones.
In addition to the dog and cat accommodation the hospital will also have an isolation ward which will be separate for any animals with potentially contagious diseases and a ward dedicated to less usual pets with facilities for everything from rabbits and guinea pigs to albino hedgehogs as well as vivaria for looking after reptiles.
The Roundhouse Veterinary Hospital will also feature a private area for pet owners needing to spend a little more time, perhaps on those sad occasions when a pet has to be put to sleep, as well as a dedicated and more relaxed room where owners will be able to discuss the health of their pet with the vet.
Oliver said: "We want The Roundhouse to be a place for learning and meeting, so there will be a coffee station for owners and a homely, relaxed and welcoming feeling. We're also planning to host school trips and the facility will feature a little veterinary practice where kids can play, with stethoscopes and little white coats for them to wear.
"As a practice, Pets'n'Vets has always been very involved in training and this new facility will enable us to do that on an unprecedented scale. Our ambition is that The Roundhouse will become a drop-in centre for people to come with their animals to learn and to play as well as to receive medical treatment."
The Roundhouse Veterinary Hospital will create six additional full-time jobs when it opens this summer. Pets'n'Vets says that many of the treatments currently delivered by its nearby surgery on Pollokshaws Road will transfer to the new facility, enabling it to create Glasgow's first dedicated vaccine clinic at the old surgery.
Forum Animal Health, makers of Apometic, an emetic for dogs, has launched a campaign to raise awareness among vets about the dangers of human foods to dogs, particularly over the festive period.
According to the PDSA, almost half a million dog owners are still giving them chocolate treats intended for human consumption1 despite the fact that 85%2 of consumers know chocolate is poisonous to dogs,.
Chocolate is, of course, not the only human food that is dangerous to dogs. Other treats such as mince pies and Christmas cake (containing raisins or sultanas), as well as food containing onions and leeks, plus sweeteners and human medication, are all potentially lethal if not treated as soon as possible.
The company is also stressing the importance of dog owners presenting their pets at the vets as soon as possible after eating something potentially harmful. Tim Gooders, UK Companion Animal Product Manager at Forum Animal Health said: "During the festive season clients often don't recognise what is poisonous and don't know what to do if there is a problem. Their instinctive response is to wait and see, however, animals need to be treated quickly before they have metabolised what they have eaten." He added that Apometic is most effective if the animal is presented early, pre poisoning.
In order to help raise awareness and alert owners about the importance of acting promptly, the company has created a range of posters which can also be downloaded and printed out from its website.
References
Forum Animal Health data on file
PDSA PAW report 2013 press release April 2014
Virbac has announced that it is to support the work of Glasgow student vets buy supplying their homeless project with vaccines and parasiticides.
'Trusty Paws' was set up last year by fourth year veterinary student Ruby Shorrock and a group of her fellow students to provide basic veterinary care to dogs belonging to homeless people in Glasgow.
Working with organisations which help the homeless, the students provide monthly clinics during which they give free vaccinations and flea/worm treatments to animals owned by the homeless. They also microchip them and give out bedding, food and clothing for the dogs and their owners.
Virbac is providing its Canigen DHPPi and Lepto vaccines to Trusty Paws, as well as its recently launched Milpro wormer and its Effipro spot-on flea treatment.
Royal Canin is also supplying marketing assistance to help Trusty Paws spread its good pet-care message and encourage those in need to visit the clinic. They will also provide clinical diets to those pets in need of specialised nutrition.
Ruby Shorrock: " Glasgow is in desperate need of this service as there is very little in place to help homeless people with animals - not even a dog-friendly hostel. We provide preventative care for their dogs in a friendly environment where they can also have a warm drink, a sandwich and a chat. We rely on fundraising and donations to keep the clinics running and also fundraise to help any dogs with major health problems so that they can made more comfortable for their hard life on the city's streets.
"For many homeless people, their dogs are a treasured companion. Protecting them from disease and parasites is the most important thing we can do to help them continue to benefit from this companionship.
Simon Boulton MRCVS, Head of Marketing (Companion Animal Business Unit) at Virbac, said: "In setting up Trusty Paws, Ruby and her colleagues are providing a vital service to animals in dire need of basic veterinary care. They are also extending the hand of friendship and support to homeless people in Glasgow, who already face a difficult life and value the unconditional love they get from their pet so highly. We were inspired by the fantastic work they are doing and are delighted to support them by donating our vaccines and parasite control products to them."
Dechra Veterinary Products has announced that it is to relaunch Fuciderm Gel, the topical skin product used to treat surface pyoderma in dogs, as Isaderm.
Isaderm contains fusidic acid, which Dechra says is highly effective against the bacteria Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, and the steroid betamethasone, which is both an anti-inflammatory and anti-pruritic.
Available as a white translucent gel in 15 g and 30 g tubes, Isaderm is a topical treatment which can be applied directly and stays on the affected area - the base of Isaderm is a carbomer gel which maintains contact on skin and wet lesions.
Dechra Dermatology Brand Manager Roger Brown said: "Fuciderm is one of our most popular products. As part of an international Dechra rebranding programme the name will now be Isaderm® but veterinary professionals can be assured that the only thing about the product that has changed is the name.
"This treatment was the subject of a multi-centre UK trial* comparing treatment of surface pyoderma with the gel or systemic therapy, and the gel product was shown to be as effective as systemic therapy."
For further information, visit www.dechra.co.uk
The RCVS is to launch a consultation in the New Year on proposals to allow all RCVS-registered veterinary surgeons to use the courtesy title 'Dr'/'Doctor', and is seeking the views of all members of the veterinary and veterinary nursing professions, and the general public.
The proposals were raised by RCVS President Stuart Reid at RCVS Day in July 2014, with the aims of aligning the UK with international practice, providing greater clarity for the profession and offering reassurance to clients and the animal-owning public that all veterinary surgeons registered with the RCVS, regardless of where they qualified, have veterinary degrees of an appropriate standard.
In his speech in July, Stuart highlighted that most international veterinary surgeons use the title and that, in Australia and New Zealand, this is frequently tied to registration and professional standing, rather than necessarily academic attainment. He went on to outline that, of the three main clinical degrees in the UK, ie medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine, only veterinary surgeons do not use the courtesy title 'Doctor'.
Stuart added: "given the fact that all continental EU graduates carry the title 'Doctor', there is now a greater chance of confusion for the lay public than previously.
"This is now an opportunity to provide, for those UK veterinary surgeons who wish it, the legitimate use of a title that offers a level of parity with fellow medical professionals."
The key objective of the consultation is to gauge whether the public and the profession are in favour of the proposal, not in favour of it, or don't mind either way. If agreed, the use of the title would be optional, although the College would regulate its use through the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct.
Background information and draft guidance on using the title is available to read on the RCVS website at www.rcvs.org.uk/doctortitle, from where respondents can follow a link to answer the consultation questions.
The consultation will open officially on Tuesday, 6 January for six weeks (deadline for responses is 5pm on Monday, 16 February) although it is already available to view via the RCVS website, to allow more time for responses over the Christmas and New Year break.
Do you think vets should be called 'Dr'? Discuss here.
European Specialist in Veterinary Dentistry Lisa Milella has revealed in an interview with the Sunday People that she has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, a condition which few people survive for more than 2-5 years.
It's hard to imagine anything much worse than being told in advance when your appointment with the Grim Reaper is booked, and for many the temptation might be just to give up there and then. Not Lisa. She embarked on the most extraordinary mission to fulfill ten of her life's ambitions.
The day after her diagnosis last August, she closed her veterinary practice in Byfleet. In December, she went sledging with huskies in Norway. In January, she flew to Borneo to carry out dental surgery on an orangutan. Three days later, she visited International Animal Rescue in Java and trained vets there to carry out dental work on slow lorises. She then celebrated her 40th birthday surrounded by friends and family in February. In May, she headed out to Peru to visit the Inca trail and the Amazon rainforest. From there, it was on to the Galapagos Islands. Then last week she went to India, where she trained another team to perform dental surgery on bears, and fulfil the 8th and 9th ambitions on her list, which were to operate on a leopard and a tiger.
Lisa closed her interview in the Sunday People saying: "I'm never going to get better and today is as strong as I'm ever going to be. You've got to make the most of now and not worry about tomorrow. Go out there and do it. You're never going to have that time again."
Oh. One other thing. Lisa's 10th wish was to get 100 strangers to donate £100 to International Animal Rescue. I hope you'll join me: https://www.justgiving.com/Lisa-Milella-100/
New research from the Animal Health Trust (AHT), published in the Equine Veterinary Journal, shows that equine obesity is an increasing but under-recognised welfare issue in the UK.
Data collected from 785 horses and ponies (31% of which were classified as obese), over a two-year period between 2009 and 2011, has been used to explore various elements that contribute to the risk of obesity in British horses and ponies.
The research, funded by World Horse Welfare, identified several factors which may increase the risk of being obese. Pony breeds, particularly UK native breeds and heavier horses such as draught and cobs types were all significantly more likely to be obese compared to Thoroughbred horses. Charlotte Robin, Research Assistant at the AHT and lead author of the paper, said: "Native breeds may be genetically better adapted to survive in harsh conditions, having a so-called thrifty genotype, increasing their risk of obesity when maintained in an environment where food is of better quality and more readily available."
Horses that were described by their owners as readily being able to gain weight or being "good doers" were more than three times more likely to be obese, compared to those that normally maintained weight.
The research also highlighted various links to human obesity. Charlotte said: "In humans, obesity is associated with poor health status and chronic health conditions including diabetes, hypertension, respiratory disease and arthritis. Similar associations between obesity and adverse health events have been described in equines."
Similarly in humans, exercise significantly improves insulin sensitivity, and it is thought the same "dose-response" effect is mirrored in horses. For example, the AHT's research highlighted that the risk of obesity is greater in pleasure or non-ridden horses, with pleasure horses being more than twice as likely to be obese and non-ridden horses being nearly three times more likely to be obese. Competition animals will receive increased exercise at a higher intensity and be fitter than non-competition animals, further reducing the risk of obesity. Charlotte added: "Competition horses are likely to be managed in different ways compared to non-competition or non-ridden animals and this may also contribute to the reduced risk of obesity within this sub-population."
World Horse Welfare's Deputy Head of UK Support, Sam Chubbock said: "Excess weight is one of the greatest challenges facing horse owners in the UK today, which is why we supported this vital research. Being overweight can be just as much, if not more, of a health concern as being underweight. In our experience it can take three times longer to get an overweight horse back to optimum condition than it can a thin horse. Moreover, a previously obese horse's weight will need to be managed for the rest of its life, even after the weight has come off, and they are likely to suffer long-term effects. Managing a horse prone to weight gain can be incredibly difficult and this is why our Right Weight project provides practical guidance for owners on how to assess and manage their own horse's weight."
The AHT says its obesity research has helped to highlight obesity as a significant equine welfare issue and provided valuable information for owners. People frequently misclassify their own weight or body shape, and this phenomenon also applies to perceptions about our pets' weight. Dog and horse owners have been demonstrated to underestimate their animals' weight, suggesting the prevalence of obesity in this study is likely to be an underestimation.
Charlotte said: "It is possible that in certain breeds, being overweight or obese has been normalised to a certain extent. Owners may find it easier to identify an overweight Thoroughbred, compared to an overweight cob or native pony.
"Helping owners identify when their horse is overweight or obese is an essential aspect of reducing the welfare impact of equine obesity."
Reference
The RCVS is hosting a free webinar at which it will explain changes to the guidance on 24-hour emergency care at 8.30pm on Monday 28 July.
Veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and other practice staff are all welcome to attend.
The webinar - 24/7 Emergency Care - A New Emphasis - will be led by RCVS Registrar and Head of Legal Services Gordon Hockey and Clare Tapsfield-Wright, former RCVS Council member and Chair of the RCVS Standards Committee. They will be explaining changes to supporting guidance of the Code of Professional Conduct and their impact on the responsibilities of practices and practice staff, as well as the public.
The changes to the guidance resulted from an extensive evidence-gathering process with both the profession and animal owners in respect of their expectations on the provision of 24-hour emergency veterinary cover.
The new supporting guidance, which was developed by RCVS Standards Committee after a thorough review of the evidence and approved in principle by RCVS Council in June, now places a greater emphasis on owners' legal responsibilities for the welfare of their animals as well as an obligation on veterinary surgeons to provide more information to clients about their out-of-hours service.
Furthermore, the new guidance will assist and empower vets to decline to attend an animal away from the practice when unnecessary or unsafe. The new guidance will be published online shortly.
To register for the free webinar, hosted by the Webinar Vet, please visit www.thewebinarvet.com/rcvs. A recording of the webinar will be made available to listen to again.
Virbac has launched Pronefra, a palatable phosphate-binder to aid with the management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats and dogs.
The company says that managing blood phosphate levels is regarded as one of the most important aspects of managing CKD, with various studies showing the benefits of restricting phosphate in the diet1,2. The company also points to a study which shows that Pronefra, which contains two intestinal phosphate binders: calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate, can significantly decrease serum phosphate levels3.
In addition, Pronefra also contains:
Virbac is at pains to stress that palatability has been a focus of Pronefra's development as it is an essential attribute for a product aimed at often inappetant animals.
Pronefra is presented in a liquid formulation for ease of use and should be mixed with food or given orally (it can be syringed) at meal times.
Virbac is providing a practice pack of support materials to practices, including a pet health recording book for clients to aid in compliance and other educational tools for vets, nurses and clients.
Simon Boulton MRCVS, Marketing Manager for Companion Animals, said: "CKD causes a vicious circle of deterioration but good management can increase both the quality of life and life expectancy of affected animals.
"We are delighted to launch Pronefra in the UK, following a 'sell-out' launch in mainland Europe, as a new option to aid in the management of CKD."
Scientists at the University of Liverpool have, for the first time, revealed that digital dermatitis (DD) has been present on hoof knifes used on cattle and sheep following research1 jointly funded by DairyCo and EBLEX.
The research conducted at the University investigated if DD Treponeme can be present on equipment used to trim cattle and sheep hooves. The research team, led by Dr Nicholas Evans and Professor Stuart Carter of the University of Liverpool and in collaboration with Roger Blowey MRCVS, tested trimming equipment used on cattle and sheep with digital dermatitis and after it was disinfected.
After trimming, DD was present on 97% of cattle blades and 100% of sheep blades. This was reduced to 29% and 46% respectively after disinfection.
Dr Evans said: "It has long been considered that digital dermatitis was spread in slurry which we have some evidence for and are continuing to investigate but now, for the first time, we have discovered the digital dermatitis bugs in the farm environment.
"However, the high detection rate of digital dermatitis bacteria on trimming blades soon after trimming cattle and sheep hooves from digital dermatitis cases suggests this may be a significant and worrying route for the transmission of this infectious condition."
Leigh Sullivan, who conducted the field work as part of her study, said: "Interestingly, in the world of human dentistry, a completely different species of the bacteria is found to cause gum disease. Furthermore, studies have shown it will adhere to metal on orthodontic braces which is consistent with our detection of the digital dermatitis Treponeme on metallic trimming knives."
Dr Jenny Gibbons, DairyCo research & development manager, added: "This DairyCo and EBLEX-funded study could help farmers, vets and hoof trimmers to understand more about the transmission of digital dermatitis between cows and farms. A logical precaution to limit the spread is to disinfect hoof trimming equipment between animals and between farms."
To find out more about this and other R&D projects, DairyCo is hosting a research day on 17 July at Trenault Farm, Launceston, Cornwall.
To book a place, visit: dairyco.org.uk/researchday2014
BPEX is looking for a few more veterinary surgeons to test its Real Welfare smartphone app, which is used to collect data regarding welfare outcomes in pigs.
BPEX says it will pay vets for their time carrying out the testing but it needs regular submissions of data to give both Android and iOS a good workout.
Project Manager Katja Stoddart said: "It has been a long and sometimes difficult journey but the app is now performing well on both platforms and we are receiving positive feedback from those using it.
"That does not mean there are no problems but those that do crop up are now minor and can easily be dealt with.
"We still need a handful more vets willing to do the testing but we must stress we need regular data submission to make it worthwhile."
Ultimately the app will replace the bureau service which has only been extended until the end of this year so vets will need to change over before the bureau closes.
Katja said the portal will continue so vets can do the assessments in paper form then transfer via a computer but it will be much quicker and easier in the long run to input in real time using the app.
She added: "This will also mean the data is available immediately for the vet to discuss with the producer."
The first MRCVS to be killed in the First World War has been honoured with a portrait at the College's offices in Belgravia House - 100 years after his death.
The portrait of Lieutenant Vincent Fox, who was from Dundalk, Co Louth, and was an alumnus of the then Royal Veterinary College in Dublin, was presented by his great grand-nephew, James Tierney, and received by RCVS Registrar Gordon Hockey.
Lieutenant Fox, a member of the former Army Veterinary Corps (AVC), was killed in action by a shell on August 26 1914 during the Battle of Le Cateau in northern France in which British and French forces fought to impede a German advance. He is now buried in the nearby Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery at Caudry.
Paul Watkins, a veterinary surgeon and military historian, conducted the research into Lieutenant Fox, his career and his deeds in the First World War, with the help of his family. He said: "The family story was that he had been found dead in a church with no mark or scars on him and, in fact, this turned out to be completely true.
"The church where he died was in the village of Audencourt in northern France where a dressing station had been set up for the wounded.
"The key issue was that, in the absence of the Royal Army Medical Corps, Lieutenant Fox was ordered to take charge of the medical treatment of the men using his skills as a veterinary surgeon. I'm sure he did his very best under such extreme circumstances but he would have been very ill-equipped."
Talking more generally about the role of the AVC during the First World War, Dr Watkins said: "The AVC made very significant contributions to the war effort because there were so many horses and mules deployed. They would have been responsible for a range of tasks from husbandry - and educating other soldiers on husbandry - to the treatment of injured animals."
In total, some 67 veterinary surgeons are believed to have been killed in the First World War - of whom 34 died from disease, 24 died as a result of wounds and nine were killed in action.
On presenting the portrait, which was drawn by artist Dave Gleeson based on a photograph of Lieutenant Fox, Mr Tierney, from Dublin, said: "I am very pleased that the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has accepted this portrait as future generations of vets will be able to see it here and learn about my great grand-uncle's story.
"He has become my hero because he died while trying to save human lives and, for me, that's a huge source of pride.
"While his story is very interesting, however, it's not just about him. There are 66 other names on the RCVS First World War memorial and they all have a story to tell as well."
Gordon Hockey, RCVS Registrar, added: "We are very pleased to receive this portrait of Lieutenant Fox in recognition of the sacrifice he made during the First World War. The fact that he died while tending to his wounded fellow soldiers demonstrates the caring nature of the profession and the wider contribution to society made by veterinary surgeons.
"In this centenary year I would also like to commend the contribution made by members of the profession as a whole during the war."
Throughout the centenary the RCVS Knowledge Library blog - written by Clare Boulton, Head of Library and Information Services - will be updated with stories about the conduct of veterinary surgeons in the First World War. Visit rcvsknowledgelibraryblog.org to see the updates.
Kellie Price, a Kent-based Registered Veterinary Nurse has been suspended from the Register for nine months by the RCVS RVN Disciplinary Committee after she admitted dishonestly creating four prescriptions, one of which was then fraudulently presented to a pharmacy.
The Committee heard that in January 2013, Miss Price, who did not attend the hearing and had no representation, had dishonestly created a prescription for two inhalers while working at a veterinary practice in Kent.
This prescription had been written and signed in the name of a locum veterinary surgeon, Cristiana Tudini MRCVS, without her knowledge or consent. The false prescription was subsequently presented to a pharmacy for dispensing.
In addition, in March 2013, Miss Price dishonestly created a further three prescriptions - one of which was written in the name of her colleague Cormac Higgins MRCVS, and two written in the name of Cristiana Tudini MRCVS without either's knowledge or consent. All four false prescriptions had been made out for Miss Price's Jack Russell terrier.
Upon discovering the false prescriptions, Mr Higgins asked Miss Price for an explanation and subsequently suspended her from her position pending further investigation. However, after being interviewed by Mr Higgins, she resigned before any in-house disciplinary hearing could take place. The allegations were then reported to both the RCVS and the police, the latter giving Miss Price a formal caution in respect of the false prescription made in January 2013.
In considering Miss Price's sanction, the RVN Disciplinary Committee took into account a number of aggravating and mitigating factors. In mitigation, it accepted Miss Price's explanation that, in the early hours of 6 January, she had suffered an asthma attack and that she had created the false prescription at work in a panic after realising her inhaler was empty and fearing a further asthma attack. The Committee also took into account a witness statement from Cormac Higgins MRCVS which described her as a "great nurse" and "good with patients and clients".
However, the Committee also considered aggravating factors including Miss Price's dishonesty and the fact that she then made further false prescriptions in March, although these were not then presented to a pharmacy.
Professor Noreen Burrows, who chaired the RVN Disciplinary Committee and spoke on its behalf, said: "The Committee is... satisfied that the admitted dishonesty amounts to disgraceful conduct in a professional respect [and] is satisfied that the respondent's conduct fell far short of the conduct to be expected of a registered veterinary nurse."
On deciding the sanction she added: "Taking into account all of the circumstances, the Committee has concluded that the suspension of the Respondent's name from the Register for a period of nine months is the proportionate sanction in this case."
The Committee's full findings and decision are available on the RCVS website (www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary).
Registered VN Lindsay Newell has been found guilty of six counts of cruelty to animals at Stafford Magistrates' Court, following an investigation by the RSPCA.
The charges related to a ewe, two lambs, a Welsh pony, a goat and a pig at the Burton Wildlife and Animal Rescue Centre, a sanctuary founded in 2008 by the 27-year-old nurse in memory of her murdered grandparents.
The pig had made headlines in the Daily Mail in 2012 when Newell rescued it from a Derby council house.
Newell was given a 2-year conditional discharge, ordered to pay £2000 in costs, and disqualified from keeping sheep, equines, goats or pigs for five years.
Passing sentence, district judge David Taylor said: "These were not deliberate or intentional acts. They were a consequence of you trying to take on too many animals of a wide range."
Newell was cleared of 25 other charges of failing to feed the animals in her care properly.
RSPCA inspector Jayne Bashford who led the investigation said: "We are satisfied that the court has found the defendant guilty of six charges of unnecessary suffering. The scene the RSPCA discovered when they visited with Police, Derbyshire Trading Standards and an independent vet were quite shocking.
"This was an extremely disturbing case where there was clear neglect and mistreatment of animals by a registered veterinary nurse.
"I am sure she set up this centre with the best intentions but things got totally out of control."
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A bogus vet who pleaded guilty to a number animal cruelty and fraud offences is being sought by Humberside Police after he failed to appear at court for sentencing.
Jayson Paul Wells (pictured right), 30, of Driffield in the East Riding of Yorkshire, is wanted by detectives in Grimsby after he failed to appear at Grimsby Crown Court.
The RCVS assisted Humberside Police with its original investigation and is publicising its appeal to help locate Mr Wells. Police believe that he may be trading as a herdsman in Nottingham or Cornwall and are keen to establish whether he is currently in either location.
Mr Wells was arrested on 2 October 2013 and charged with the following offences:
Mr Wells pleaded guilty to all offences.
Anyone who is aware of his whereabouts is asked to call Humberside Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The RSPCA has published the results of a survey which found that teachers in the UK are strongly in support of teaching animal welfare in the classroom, with 93% of respondents stating they would teach animal welfare in the classroom if they had the time.
95% also said that they believe that teaching children about animal welfare would help make them more compassionate and socially aware.
According to the survey of almost 800 teachers across England and Wales, 83% felt animal welfare should be part of the national curriculum. However, some had concerns about how it would be integrated into existing frameworks, and whether it would mean more demands on already overworked teachers.
RSPCA formal education manager Claire Morris said: "We felt it is easy to sit on the sidelines and state that animal welfare should be part of the curriculum, but it is far more practical and helpful to show that it can be done."
To address these concerns, the RSPCA says it created over 90 free lesson plans for teachers, which are linked to the English and Welsh Curricula. Many of the RSPCA's lesson plans overlap in subject areas including Science, Citizenship, Literacy and Numeracy, as well as provide springboards for assemblies and student councils.
Claire added: "We urge the government to consider integrating animal welfare into our children's education as a matter of urgency - as skills such as empathy, compassion and social consciousness have value as a child goes through the education system as well as when they enter adulthood and the world of work."
The RSPCA says this is particularly important because only 70% of respondents knew what the five animal welfare needs - which are central to the Animal Welfare Act - are.
As well as looking at the ethical side of animal welfare, 92% of teachers also expressed a strong preference for lessons specifically on animals' role in food and clothing production. It was felt that with young people better connected than ever before, they have an increasing awareness of social issues and expect higher ethical standards from companies.
The BSAVA has released the final figures showing that 6,331 veterinary surgeons, nurses, practice managers and students attended the event, up from 6,178 in 2013.
Outgoing BSAVA President Professor Michael Day was delighted that so many attended. He said: "What continues to set BSAVA Congress apart is simply 'quality'. The quality of the faultless organisation, the quality of the scientific content, and the quality of our exhibition and incomparable social programme."
A few other numbers from Congress this year included:
Sunday saw the inauguration of the new BSAVA President Katie McConnell. She said: "Like so many previous presidents, I look back on my early volunteering days with deep affection but it would have been a great surprise to my earlier self to be told that one day I would be the BSAVA President.
"During my presidential year I would like to meet as many BSAVA members as I can, hopefully in their own regions. I plan to travel to regional BSAVA continuing education meetings, not to stand up and lecture but to listen to individual members and find out what the BSAVA means to them. The BSAVA is run by members for members and the only way to shape its work is to become engaged with it."
VetSurgeon.org member, Martin Atkinson MRCVS has had his first book, A Test of Patients, published on Amazon Kindle (£6.59).
Described as the experiences and musings of a veterinary surgeon, the book is a collection of anecdotes collected over the period since Martin qualified from Liverpool in 1975 up until his more recent self-appointed sainthood (or not, as the case may be), as the owner of St Martin's Veterinary Clinic.
Martin said: "This book is a collection of short stories recording some of the more entertaining aspects of my veterinary career plus one or two fantasies and musings. It is meant to be amusing but also carries some serious messages. It is illustrated in a suitable quirky way by my daughter Alice.
"This book has been a labour of love rather than a commercial enterprise and has not been professionally proof read or edited so there are one or two typos and formatting bloomers including one in the very first sentence! I hope this dos not detract from the reader's enjoyment".
Limited signed copies of the book are also available direct from the author (£8.99 inc p&p) by emailing your details to: martin@gconnect.com.
Martin is donating earnings from the book to animal charities, including Cats Protection, BSAVA Petsavers, The Dogs Trust and the PDSA.
Vetsonic has launched Otimectin vet, an ivermectin-based topical preparation for the treatment of Otodectes cynotis infections in cats.
The new product offers a once-weekly dosing alternative to traditional ear mite treatments, which commonly require twice daily administration over 7 to 21 days.
Presented as a gel in a 10g tube complete with application spout, Otimectin vet is a 1 mg/g ivermectin preparation. It does not contain an antibiotic or steroids.
The RCVS Operational Board has announced that it will ask Council to review its decision to remove postgraduate postnominals from the Register, following the largely negative response from the profession to the idea, including a petition from Derbyshire surgeon, Victoria Lilley.
The original decision was made by Council in June 2012 as part of a package of measures aimed at developing clarity around postgraduate skills and knowledge.
The College says that the removal of postgraduate postnominals from the Register was intended to help dispel confusion amongst the public and some members of the profession about the level of various qualifications, by introducing the Advanced Practitioner status alongside the existing Specialist list.
Chairman of the Operational Board, CEO Nick Stace, said: "Over the last few days we have listened to the disquiet amongst the profession - which has included direct contact with staff and Operational Board members, a petition and discussion on fora and social media - and feel that we should address some misunderstandings but also give Council the opportunity to review the decision at its 5 June meeting.
"Many good points have been made by members of the profession and I am pleased that the Operational Board has agreed to reflect on them and consider whether there is a better way to achieve the clarity we were seeking for the public and the profession.
"The introduction of Advanced Practitioner status is a positive move for both the profession and the public, and underlines the College's commitment to lifelong learning.
"It is important to have the profession's support for the direction we are taking in advancing standards across the sector."
The College has also provided some Q&A's concerning the original decision made by Council in 2012, as follows.
Northumberland vet Rory Thomson from the St Clair veterinary practice in Blyth reports that he's been able to release an injured seal back into the North Sea, thanks in part to donations of fresh fish from Tesco and Asda which kept her well-fed during her recovery.
Rory is a volunteer Marine Mammal medic for the British Diver and Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) charity and was called to help the seal, named Primrose Possum, when she was found lying on Blyth beach on 3 April. A volunteer medic called to check her noted that there was something wrong with her right eye and arranged for her to be taken to a vet in North Shields for initial treatment. She was then transported to St Clair in Blyth on 8 April.
Rory said: "When I examined her, I could see that her right eye was enlarged and cloudy. I began a course of treatment and arranged for a veterinary ophthalmologist to exam it. Sadly he determined that it was blind but seals can manage perfectly well with one eye and, once I'd treated the infection, it was no longer causing her pain. We released her back into the sea on 15 April at St Mary's Lighthouse where BDMLR volunteer medics can watch over her for the first few weeks."
He added: "Seals can be aggressive when on land so we had to be careful but Primrose was generally very well behaved and enjoyed free run of our isolation facility. During her stay she devoured more than 2.5 kg of fresh fish every day - with whole fresh herring and mackerel her favourite. We are grateful to Asda and Tesco for providing much of this for us free of charge. Now that she's recovered, we hope she'll live a long and happy life, most of it under the sea!"
More information on the work of British Diver and Marine Life Rescue is available at www.bdmlr.org.uk.
Grahame Gardner has launched 'Smitten', a new range of scrubwear for women with a 20% introductory discount.
The company says the new range incorporates the influence of streetwear, resulting in a relaxed scrubwear collection which young and style conscious staff will love.
The fabrics used in the new range have been designed for the working environment. The first fabric to be launched to the UK market is 'Miracle' a stretchable and comfortable fabric which Grahame Gardner says feels great to the touch, but wears well and complements the fashionable garment styles.
James Greenlees, Managing Director at Grahame Gardner said: "There is no question that Scrubwear has come a long way over the past decade and at Grahame Gardner we have played a major part in this evolution, firstly with the hugely popular Urbane Scrubs and now Smitten. Smitten represents the next incarnation of scrubwear, and allows more individuality than ever before within healthcare uniforms. We cannot wait to get this out into the workplace as we know it will certainly make a real impact with our customers."
More information can be found at www.grahamegardner.co.uk, under scrubs and patientwear within the GG Collection.
Vétoquinol, manufacturer of Epiphen (phenobarbital), for the control of epilepsy in dogs, has announced the launch of a new starter pack for clients that are embarking on treatment.
The starter packs contain a variety of support materials designed to help owners better understand the condition and its treatment. They sit alongside other support given by the company, which includes an 'Ask the Expert' helpline through which Epiphen veterinary customers can speak to a neurology specialist at The Animal Health Trust in Newmarket, where Vetoquinol sponsors a neurology clinician.
Abbie King, Product Manager for Epiphen, said: ''Our 'Ask the Expert' helpline is a successful service that has been running for several years. 30% of the calls to Vetoquinol's technical team relate to this challenging condition meaning there are few queries our technical team have not tackled before. If extra help is necessary we have an excellent working relationship with The Animal Health Trust and regularly refer cases to them for further advice. We are very proud of this service and are delighted to be able to continue to provide this helpline for our Epiphen clients.''
To use the 'Ask the Expert' service, or order the support materials, ring 0800 1698197. Alternatively visit: www.vetoquinol.co.uk or www.epiphenonline.co.uk.