AUGUST 2011 Volume 43 Number 6

Tooth fractures: do you

know the latest terminology?
page 27
Will you be attending this
year's BVA congress?
page 23
How did the RCVS spend so
much on two projects?
page 51
Have you considered when
you would like to retire?
page 55
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Mercury 4
Nursing milestone 10
Viewpoint 13
The news pages 14
Latest products 20
Events 22
Dentistry 24
Behaviour 33
Book reviews 38
Poultry parasites 42
Medicines 44
Livestock pages 47
Equine page 51
Charity golf day 53
Business & finance 55
I
N

T
H
I
S

I
S
S
U
E
The 2011
Customer
Experience
Award:
full details
on page 11
New president of the RCVS
DR Jerry Davies was installed as
president of the Royal College for 2011-
12 at RCVS Day in London last month.
He is shown above (right) with the
outgoing president (now senior vice-
president) Peter Jinman and the new
junior vice-president Jacqui Molyneux.
Among the presentations on the day
was the inaugural Golden Jubilee Award
for an exceptional contribution to
veterinary nursing. This went to Jean
Turner, shown with husband Trevor and
daughter Sally.
Mrs Turner qualified as a veterinary
nurse in 1971; Trevor qualified at the
RVC in 1958 and Sally graduated from
Cambridge in 1991.
n More from the day is on page 3
New RCVS code a threat
to career options
THE Royal Colleges draft code of
professional conduct for veterinary
surgeons presents the gravest threat
to vets in industry that there has ever
been, according to a speaker at the
latest meeting of the Association of
Veterinarians in Industry.
The code was sent
out by the RCVS in
March, requesting
comments by late June,
but, said the speaker, I
believe the profession as
a whole hasnt really
woken up to what is
being proposed,
although there are
specific fears for vets in
industry.
The previous guide to professional
conduct was far less definitive, he said,
with terms such as should and where
possible but these have largely
disappeared and been replaced with
must and have to.
Expressing a view endorsed by the
meeting, he said that the whole
document had been written almost
exclusively on the assumption that vets
were either in clinical practice or retired.
But there were many in industry and
also in DEFRA, the AHVLA, the Meat
Hygiene Service and elsewhere who
could find their career options reduced
if the code is
introduced as it stands.
Veterinary surgeons
working in industry
have been told in the
past that in order to
give advice to
prescribing vets or
animal owners, to run
clinical studies or to
sign off expert reports,
etc., they have to be registered as
practising members of the RCVS.
But the new code suggests, he said,
that in future some areas that have been
flexible in the past will now become
large problem areas for the members.
And will vets continue to take jobs
outside practice knowing that if they
perhaps the
College could
split the register
into clinical
practising, non-
clinical practising
and retired ...
continued on page 3
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pages 6-9
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VP AUGUST 2011 STARTING POINT 3
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ever want to go back into practice they
will have to undertake further training?
Another speaker asked: Why do we
need indemnity insurance if we are not
treating animals? He suggested that
perhaps the College could split the
register into clinical practising, non-
clinical practising and retired but
he feared this would not solve all the
problems as those in the non-clinical
category would probably be blocked
from, among other things, advising
owners on treatments.
AVI members said that the PDP
requirement posed particular problems.
UK veterinary graduates are
perhaps the most clinically adept new
graduates in the world and yet it is now
going to be compulsory that they do
another years development after
graduation, one member told Veterinary
Practice.
What is new is that the RCVS
believes that EU law will allow them to
apply this to foreign graduates too. This
is a mine-field.
Here are some examples: I am a
veterinarian who graduated in Paris and
went straight into research for a large
pharmaceutical company. I have run
trials across the EU for the last 10 years
and now have been sent to our UK
office. Do I have to do a PDP in order
to register to practise?
Or, I am a three-year graduate
from Utrecht and have been practising
in Belgium for those three years do I
need to do a PDP? What if it was one
year out? Where do you draw the line
and what will the EU think about this
potential barrier to free movement?
Another member gave the example
of an overseas graduate coming to the
UK to work in the MHS but some time
later is offered a job in a small animal
practice. Would he or she have to go
through the PDP? And if so, could this
become an issue for practices when they
consider who to employ?
Other comments made included:
Do we really need to tell the RCVS if
we are convicted of a minor motoring
offence? and Was there really such a
large problem out there that required
such draconian measures to correct?
The interesting thing, said one
member of the AVI, will be when the
new code is first challenged in court
as it surely will be.
RCVS Day presentations
NEW RCVS CODE from front page
RCVS Day in London last month saw
numerous presentations made.
The photo below shows Dr
Christophe Buhot, the new president
of the FVE and a member of the
board of the Lyon veterinary school
(the worlds first), presenting
commemorative stamps to mark World
Veterinary Year to the then College
president, Peter Jinman.
The photo at the foot of this
column shows Bruce Vivash Jones
(left), who qualified at the RVC in
1951, and Norman Comben, a 1945
RVC graduate, who each received a
new award made by the RCVS
Charitable Trust: the Lifetime
Contribution Award for outstanding
service to the trust over a long period. Above are members of the College
Council (and others) at the AGM; 3rd
from left is Dr Chris Chesney, who
received a fellowship by thesis for his
study of the Colleges disciplinary
processes from 1881 to 2008.
At right are Des and Rosalie
Thompson with the scroll of honorary
fellowship presented to Des, who
qualified in Dublin in 1961 and retired
in 2009, having been president of the
RCVS, BSAVA, SPVS, UEVP and
various other bodies.
VP JULY 2011
ONE wonders what it is in us that
makes the salacious so irresistible?
After all the revelations about News
International, the final edition of
News of the World almost doubled
its normal sales from 2.6 million to
4.5 million copies.
Was that because the nation
mourned the untimely passing of a
legend or did people think it would
somehow have rarity value and
therefore some chance of selling off a
mint copy for a huge profit at a later
stage?
Did everyone forget that the
editorial staff had been complicit
in a bungee jump of moral
standards to hitherto unknown
depths with the phone hacking
revelations concerning murdered
children and casualties from
terrorist atrocities or were people so
jaundiced that they felt that this iconic
newspaper was being made a
scapegoat for the sins of a multitude
of other journalists?
I suppose we will never know but
few of us are convinced that planet
Murdoch will have acted honourably in
any manner.
Many of us suspect that, by the
time this edition of Veterinary Practice
goes to print, The Sun on Sunday will
have appeared to take the place of its
erstwhile sibling as it seems that planet
Murdoch had already registered the
domain name two weeks before the
News of the World fell on its sword or
so the other papers gleefully informed
us.
Profit more important than a
moral compass
Several years ago, Piers Morgan was
interviewed on TV, while still editor of
The Sun, and said with remarkable
candour that his job was not to report
the news but to sell newspapers.
Clearly, profit is acceptably more
important than a moral compass.
Such honest candour was, and
remains to this day, the only thing he
has ever said or done which earned the
respect of our household but it does
make a misnomer of the title
newspaper.
If patriotism is the last refuge of a
scoundrel (Samuel Johnson), heaven
help us when something more
important occurs.
Somehow, the whole debacle leaves
a longer lasting sour taste because it
indicates a bigger slide away from
propriety than most of us had believed
to be the case.
Not that journalists do dirty tricks
by the dead of night or that some
policemen allegedly take a large bung
quite regularly to sell information,
cover up evidence or choose not to
investigate their own, but because we,
collectively, now accept this to be the
norm, shrug our solders and mutter
beneath our breath without a scintilla
of belief that we can, in our
democracy, do anything about it.
Just like the MPs expenses scandal,
we wearily accept that the
establishment plays by a different set
of rules and hunker down to wait for
it all to blow over.
Unlike the Italians, who expect
little or nothing of their politicians, we
still get excitable for a brief moment
before reality kicks back in so it will
blow over, just as it always does.
In the process, however, we will
have accepted another denigration of
what we see as a required minimum
standard of behaviour.
When this happens, time after
time, we become desensitised to the
specific issues and, more worryingly, to
use the psychologists meaning of the
term, we decrease any abnormal levels
of fear in a person of a given situation
either in reality or in our imagination.
In short, we cease to care about it.
One of the cornerstones of
European law is the necessity for a
level playing field, an insistence on all
players having the same opportunities
possibly regardless of any other
external factors or influences.
Many of us remember when the
Government became interested in our
fees and charges, as well as in our
operating margins, and concluded that
some of what we did each day could
be opened up to provide a wider
choice for consumers.
Brussels has more than its fair
share of corruption
Such altruism might be laudable if it
were not emanating from Brussels
which has more than its fair share of
corruption and if it were not an overly
simplistic ideal to put into practice.
For very good reasons, saddlers,
pet stores, groomers, teeth
raspers and purveyors of
mobile ultrasound services
cannot perform surgery on
an animal but can all sell
preventive healthcare
products.
Conversely, while
veterinary practices can
restore the bent and
broken among our
animals to full
working order, most
of us have neither the
skill sets, the training, the
available space nor the
drive and motivation to
be competitive in
selling these
products in
competition with
professional retailers.
One suspects that
Baroness Kingsmill,
when deputy chair of the Competition
Commission, did this profession a
significant disservice in recommending
a widening of choice for consumers of
veterinary products and skills, as part
of the development of equality
legislation in the UK.
In our brave new world of ticking
the boxes instead of applying common
sense, the Competition Commissions
approach to reviewing the publics
ability to source veterinary services
and products will have pleased the
Government of the time and its
European drivers but failed to require
the profession to think through where
this might lead.
Blind adherence to a
political ideal
It similarly failed to
utilise its own
observations and
learnings from other
instances where equality
legislation had
significantly altered other
professions and
institutions to forewarn
and prepare the
profession for the major
changes which would
emanate from its
directive for change.
Thats not corruption
but, in its blind
adherence to a political
ideal without
consideration for its
effect on a staid and
possibly nave profession, one could
construe that as approaching
professional negligence on their part,
something which, as an employment
lawyer, Baroness Kingsmill might well
understand.
The end result is that the
profession hasnt, in the
main, adapted well to such a
widening of choice for
consumers, has tried bravely
to become a retailer of
appropriate products but is
doing so with one hand tied
behind its professional back.
To be a
professional should mean
something. It shouldnt be something
as ephemeral as celebrity that blows
with the wind of fashion and the
whim of the consumer. When
practitioners are, quite rightly, required
to set and maintain a certain standard
in behaviour and in our product
offering, it is nigh on impossible to
combine this with other retailing skills
in an attempt not just to please all the
people all of the time, but also to
generate an appropriate level of profit
to meet the costs of maintaining and
developing such a market offering.
What we see now is a situation
where many practices are struggling
financially but still
attempting to be all
things to all people.
Even if we wanted
to, we cannot duck and
dive as politicians,
journalists or even, as
we are led to believe,
some guardians of law
and order seem to do.
While the Competition
Commission can land
on a certain spot,
pronounce its findings,
require changes to be
enshrined in legislation
and then swoop off to
land somewhere else,
professions like ours do
not have the freedom to
do the same.
When Baroness
Kingsmill ascribes her
political attitudes, then and throughout
her career, to an innate sense of
fairness, as she does in her interview
with Chris Kelsey of the Western Mail
on 8th June this year, some of us feel
that, a decade or so later, her innate
sense of fairness has left small animal
veterinarians with a business model
which no longer works properly and
with an urgent need to regain our own
business compass in a rapidly changing
world.
The responsibility to sort this out
is clearly our own but there are hidden
costs in non-equality.
COMMENT
4
Costs of non-equality
THE MERCURY COLUMN
in which a guest columnist takes
the temperature of the profession
and the world around
The profession
hasnt, in the
main, adapted
well to such a
widening of
choice for
consumers, has
tried bravely to
become a
retailer of
appropriate
products but is
doing so with
one hand tied
behind its
professional
back.
Baroness Kingsmill.


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VP AUGUST 2011
THIS month I am looking into an
issue that is frequently discussed,
debated, argued about and moaned
about by many vets in practice
more specifically by those vets in
practice who work within the
catchment of
a large out-
of-hours
provider.
The main
grumbles of
these vets are
as follows:
n We get people who arent our clients
calling us at night because we are
cheaper and or nearer than their own
vets out-of-hours provider.
n We get people who arent our clients
requesting home visits at night because
the out-of-hours provider refuses to
provide them.
n We then feel obliged to provide the
above services because if we dont the
RCVS may discipline us.
n The RCVS should not in any way
oblige us to see these cases.
The issue was flagged up this time
when a reader of this column e-mailed
me after reading the June issue (where
I reviewed an RCVS disciplinary case
involving some of the points noted
above).
There is usually enough going on in
practice or in the wider veterinary
world to provide material for this
column, but if anyone wants to e-mail
in on garethcross@hotmail.com, do
please get in touch with comments or
issues that you think need investigating.
Controversial topic
I am not making out I am a veterinary
Donal MacIntyre, or even a Jimll fix it,
but I am always interested to look into
the next controversial topic. It also
often takes a third party to put the two
sides together. Lots of people may
complain about a certain problem but
it is not often put straight to the other
side, and if it is there is rarely a way of
opening that up to a wider audience.
The e-mail I received concerning
working in the shadow of a large out-
of-hours service provider gave me an
opportunity to air both sides of the
argument.
I wont reproduce the whole e-mail
here but I will quote parts of it and
follow with the relevant response from
the out-of-hours provider in question,
who in this case is Vets Now.
Vets Now has 50 emergency clinics
and provides out-of-hours cover for
2,000 full-time-equivalent vets. As such
it is the largest provider of emergency
care in the UK and has by far the
largest geographical spread. So, just due
to the size of this operation, many of
the complaints you hear about out-of-
hours providers are about Vets Now.
As a large
company it also employs a PR
company and much of the material I
will quote has come via that company
to me. A PR company is something
most small practices could only dream
of having.
n Our branch of Vets Now ... has
stopped refusing to go out point blank,
but quotes 400 for the house call plus
treatment, and when the client gasps in
horror they are invited to shop around
amongst the other local non-aligned
practices. In other words, if we have to
come out youre paying for a locum for
the night while we attend.
Widespread myth
Vets Now responded: There does appear
to be a widespread myth within the
profession (sadly even within the
RCVS echelons) that Vets Now dont
do house visits which is simply baloney.
More than 100 visits by Vets Now
teams in the last year rather speaks for
itself but old rumours evidently die
hard even in the face of hard evidence
and many happy clients... Our house
visit policy clearly states that we will
not hand out the numbers of other
veterinary practices to clients
requesting a house visit. That doesnt
stop clients choosing to make their
own enquiries.
I checked this as I found it hard to
believe the price quoted. I telephoned a
Vets Now clinic this evening posing as
a client with an old dog that was just
fading away and needed a home visit
to be put to sleep. I was indeed quoted
about 350 for a home visit.
This was, I was told, because they
would have to get a locum vet and
nurse to cover the practice whilst the
duty vet and nurse attended me. I was
also told it would take some time. I
decided my imaginary dog could wait
until the morning.
Its an interesting
angle and you can all
make your own
judgement on it.
Certainly, with
the recent RCVS
disciplinary ruling
discussed in the June
issue of this column
(look up the Albring
case, January 2011, on
the RCVS website), the
RCVS does not believe
that if an emergency
centre vet is required to do a home
visit, then any cover is needed back at
base.
I think the RCVS is wrong in that
and Vets Now is right. But I also find it
hard to stomach charging someone
400 for a home visit. Please e-mail in
with an answer to that conundrum.
Not a lot...
As to the hundred home visits carried
out, well for 2,000 vets thats not a lot.
As a full-time vet on an equally shared
rota, I do maybe just under one out-of-
hours home visit a month, say 10 a
year. So for one FTE vet at 10 a year,
Vets Now should be
doing 20,000 a year, not
a hundred (I have
double-checked the
figures).
Who is doing the
rest? Probably the likes
of my correspondent.
n The PDSA are
interesting, in that they
are still using it [Vets
Now] but employing
their own nurses to vet
and triage the
emergencies before
contacting Vets Now on
the clients behalf; in other words, they
dont trust them either!
Vets Now responded: During the
out-of-hours shift, a PDSA Animal
Care Auxilliary (ACA) is on site to take
telephone calls from PDSA clients and
others enquiring about PDSAs
charitable service. This is to ensure that
callers to PDSA are given the correct
advice on issues such as eligibility and
the services that PDSA can offer.
Lastly, an interesting case
comparison from the correspondents
own experience of covering out-of-
hours emergencies for clients who
should be going to Vets Now.
There was an incident with two
simultaneous GDV cases turning up at
the same time, both 10-year-old
Dobermanns. The private client had
surgery for 2.5k;
the PDSA client was
told surgery of that
sort was not
permitted on a
PDSA clients dog of
that age, it would need to
be euthanased. We saw
him and fixed it for
750. He told the other
fee-paying client who
marched into [his
daytime practice] the
following day to ask why
their surgery cost 1,750 more? Tricky
isnt it?
A different model...
Vets Now responded: Vets Now
treatment fees are representative of the
high quality, trained, fully staffed out-
of-hours service we provide. We work
to a very different model to daytime
practice which is reflected within our
pricing structure... However, to put the
fees in context, last year Vets Now
made a pre-tax profit of approximately
5% of turnover, considerably less than
most daytime practices would expect to
make.
This is a reflection
of the true cost of
delivering high quality
OOH care to those
pets who require
urgent OOH care. If a
daytime practice
chooses to cross
subsidise the cost of
running its night
service from daytime
profits, then of course
it can do so although
most practices I speak
with admit they dont
actually know the true
cost of running their OOH service,
theyve just always done it that way.
Its an interesting response and I
am sure that the pricing structure of
traditional practices operates on a
policy of out-of-ours basically being
done for little income and effectively
provided for free by the vets, as we just
get up and work the day before and
after an on-call shift. As to the pre-tax
profit level, the cynic in me thinks they
must just have a good accountant, but
thats what they told me.
Positive impact
That is a selection of quotes from both
parties. I think that Vets Now has
made a huge, positive impact on the
profession in recent times.
Graduates can now realistically plan
a career with never having to do on-
call. That has to be a good thing for
the many graduates who go on to have
children.
Conversely, a career in emergency
CROSS-WORDS
6
Seeking answers to questions about
OOH care, home visits and charges
GARETH CROSS
investigates some grumbles about
out-of-hours service and invites more
comments and answers from readers
about the issues raised
I am sure that the
pricing structure
of traditional
practices
operates on a
policy of out-of-
ours basically
being done for
little income and
effectively
provided for free
by the vets...
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VP AUGUST 2011
IN my experience the majority of
young graduates are highly
motivated. They all are very well-
informed but it is accepted by the
profession and new graduates that
they all require additional
knowledge beyond their learning at
undergraduate level.
Evidence of this additional
learning should be recorded when a
first-year graduate completes his or her
Professional Development Phase
(PDP). This
is no easy
task.
Graduates
in mixed
practice
within their
first year have
to sign that they have attended a
foaling. I was sent to a pony mare
which was foaling when I had only
been qualified a month in 1966. I am
not sure many new graduates
nowadays would be very happy with
such a call, and rightly so.
So much is expected of the
modern graduate. They have so much
more to cover in their course. How
can they cope?
It is not fair on them and it
certainly is not in the best interest of
the mare and foal. Certainly, EMS is a
very important part of their
curriculum. However, as all the recent
correspondence has indicated, this is a
very hit and miss affair.
What is the answer?
A longer veterinary course might be
one answer. I do not think this is the
right path. Veterinary students are
already burdened with horrendous
debt when they qualify. It is not right
to make them
borrow more and give them less time
in their working lifetimes to earn
enough to pay it back.
Anyhow, would a longer course
give veterinary graduates more hands-
on experience? I doubt it. I think the
veterinary schools are doing a
marvellous job trying to give the
modern veterinary student practical
experience. However, it is a serious
uphill struggle with the massive
increase in class size. There are more
in single rotation groups than we had
at Bristol in 1966, with only 19 of us.
I am particularly
impressed with the
way modern
graduates tackle
colic call-outs. Their
clinical acumen is
extremely high. I
think the veterinary
schools should be
congratulated.
I am sure the
equine referral
centres are grateful
for the early referral
of surgical cases. I also imagine they
are grateful for the excellent histories,
which are phoned through. What gives
me nightmares is the thought of a new
graduate in the middle of the night
tackling a mare foaling, owned by a
client who expects Newmarket
experience and high-speed attendance
but lives in North Norfolk.
Even if we slept in our vans we
could not get out to the majority of
our clients within 30 minutes. Such a
delay, although inevitable, does not get
the call off to a good start.
Modern graduates want to provide
an out-of-hours service for large
animals, both farm and equine, but
they need the right circumstances.
Naturally, they require a good
vehicle and all the equipment required.
I put all in bold to stress to practice
owners that it is not fair, sensible or
even welfare-friendly to expect the
veterinary surgeon on call to go to the
practice in the middle of the night to
collect the relevant equipment.
The modern graduate requires two
other vital things so that he or she can
meet the challenges of out-of-hours
calls. These are back-up and time to
recover.
I can feel all the practice principals
putting this article in the bin at this
stage. I am sure their argument will be
that the financial figures will not add
up. They may well be right. Somehow,
however, they have got to solve this
problem. The labour force of willing
volunteers is rapidly disappearing. We
are all well aware of the difficulties
faced in remote areas. Is North
Norfolk a remote area?
Has Vets Now got the right
idea?
Twenty years ago, not many small
animal practitioners would have
imagined they could shut up shop at
eight oclock in the evening and then
open up again at eight oclock in the
morning. Now such practices are
commonplace and readily welcomed
not only by the practitioners but also
by the pet owners who value having a
fully awake, fully trained clinician ready
to help them in an emergency.
I know they would rather see the
vet they know and love but equally the
majority of clients realise that this is
just not practical. Practising veterinary
surgeons have not only got to get the
right amount of sleep to function
properly but also they expect and
deserve adequate time off.
In fact, my biggest nightmare is
not the mare foaling in the middle of
the night but is the thought of me
causing a major traffic accident the
following day from lack of sleep.
How could a Vets Now scheme
be made to work in large animal
practice?
For a start the out-of-hours
provider would have to be totally
independent from any existing
practice. Even with veterinary
surgeons being totally ethical, the
dangers of poaching clients would be
too great if one practice volunteered
to do all the large animal out of hours.
The first problem would be the
distances involved. Large animal
practitioners would have to be
stationed or rather have their houses
very strategically placed. There would
OUT-OF-HOURS
8
Farm animal and equine out-of-hours
calls: the challenge or the nightmare?
GRAHAM DUNCANSON
takes a look at how non companion
animal practices can deal effectively
with the problems posed in providing
out-of-hours services
Would the RSPCA want to wait until Monday for this
pony to be treated?
Would this client want to wait until
working hours to have her horses
eye sutured?
medicine is now a viable option. Vets
Now has made huge contributions to
CPD (e.g. its emergency care conference
that I have attended and learnt a lot
from) and also its involvement with the
Pet Blood Bank.
There are problems as discussed
above with the groups working
practices and many independent
practices which do not use them feel
put upon by Vets Now clients shopping
around. These vets are then too scared
of the RCVS to refuse to see these
clients.
Frequent criticism
The fees charged by Vets Now and
other out-of-hours providers are
frequently criticised.
For example, in the recent SPVS
Question Time debate by Brian
Pound of CVS who suggested that the
high fees charged by OOH providers
and inexperienced vets employed by
them may be bringing the profession
into disrepute.
In the same debate, Peter Jinman
(then RCVS president) said to the
assembled vets: If your practice does a
home visit, your OOH provider must
be willing to do the same.
Which is a strange comment as by
RCVS diktat all vets must be prepared
to do a home visit, therefore so must all
OOH providers.
I think that the RCVS should be
clear that a vet who does not subscribe
to an out-of-hours provider should have
the right to refuse to see the out-of-
hours providers clients if he or she so
wishes.
I also think that all vets should have
the right to decline to do home visits
out-of-hours if they choose not to,
without having to worry about
defending themselves against a
complaint to the RCVS. Clients should
take responsibility for their own lifestyle
and choice of pet.
It is a side of the profession that has
changed hugely in the last 10 years. And
out-of-hours clinics are not going away,
much to the relief of the thousands of
vets who use them. However, for those
who choose not to use them but work
near them, the ground rules need to be
made clear and fair.
As to the fairness to the client of
the fees charged, thats another
discussion altogether.
CROSS-WORDS from page 6
have to be one every 10 miles or so.
Therefore, what would be the
advantage over the existing situation?
The first advantage would be that
each practitioner would be fully trained
and equipped. The second would be
that there would have to be adequate
back-up built into the arrangement.
The third advantage would be that
there would have to be proper time
off.
The clinicians who are working
nights would have to have the days off.
There would have to be adequate
numbers of veterinary surgeons so
that they would receive adequate
holidays and days off for having
worked weekends.
How would such a scheme mesh
in with the daytime practices?
I cant really see this would be a
problem. Handing over colic cases,
wounds and parturition cases would
just require a phone call or a fax to
the clients practice. Accounts would
be straight-forward with the out-of-
hours practice recording all the clinical
data.
The parent practice would then
have its own scale of fees and would
collect the money. Obviously, every
client would have to be registered with
a parent practice. They should be
anyhow.
How would the out-of-hours
practice be financed?
This is not so easy. I suppose each
parent practice would have to pay in
to the out-of-hours practice on a set
scale of fees depending on the size
of the practice and the number of
hours it required the out-of-hours
practice to work.
It is not going to be cheap.
However, why should it be cheap?
The client is getting a highly trained
professional out of normal working
hours. He must be expected to pay.
The government is quite prepared to
pay GP doctors heavily to work out
of hours.
I know some farm practices do
not charge any more for genuine out-
of-hours calls, because they say that it
is not the farmers fault that a cow is
calving in the middle of the night.
However, I do not think such an
argument stands up in modern times.
If a farmer is behind on his arable
work and asks a contractor in, who
has to work out of hours, he has to
pay extra.
So where is the catch to having a
dedicated large animal out-of-hours
service?
The main problem is the large,
aggressive large animal practices
which are happy to provide a service
mainly to big farms in convenient
locations but are
not prepared to
provide service to
smaller farms or
horse owners.
These clients at
the present rely
on the smaller
mixed practices.
How long are
these practices
going to be
mixed? How long
is the RCVS going
to insist that
practices provide
a 24/7 service?
So what is
going to happen?
There certainly is not a very clear
path ahead. I am sure the European
Working Hours Directive is going to
be implemented at some stage. I am
sure out-of-hours service will become
very variable, depending on the area
of the UK being considered. The
best service will be in the areas of
highest stock density.
The worst service may well not be
in remote areas but in heavily built-
up areas. I imagine a horse owner
within the M25 will get no quicker
service than our clients in North
Norfolk.
In conclusion
If young, keen, dedicated graduates are
not treated properly they will become
totally disillusioned and give up large
animal and equine work. This will be a
very great pity. The profession will lose
its appeal to the public.
It will also lose its appeal to the
young people at school who are
considering a veterinary career. There
is no easy answer.
The problem, however, is certainly
not going to disappear. Hiding our
heads in the sand will not solve
anything. In the meantime, I will keep
getting up in the middle of the night!
VP AUGUST 2011 OUT-OF-HOURS 9
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VP AUGUST 2011
VETERINARY nurses celebrated
the achievements of their
professions first 50 years and looked
forward to the challenges of the next
half century at a symposium in
London in June.
The meeting at the RCVS
headquarters marked the anniversary of
the college approving the first formal
training scheme for what were then
called animal nursing auxiliaries.
Since then the VN profession has
passed a number of
important milestones in its
development. That
culminated this year with
the introduction of the first
draft of a code of
professional conduct and the
establishment in April of a formal
disciplinary system, for which the first
case is now under consideration, said
Liz Branscombe, chairman of VN
Council.
There are currently 8,346 veterinary
nurses registered with the Royal College
and a further 1,542 listed VNs who had
been working in a similar role before the
registration system was introduced.
That growth in numbers has been
accompanied by expansion in both
the quality of training provided for
VNs and the responsibilities that they
have then been able to take on. So
along with the introduction of
diplomas in advanced medical and
surgical nursing, senior VNs have
also taken responsibility for providing
training for their colleagues at further
education colleges and more recently
on degree courses, she noted.
New spheres of activity
Greater responsibilities have also been
take on by VNs in a number of non-
nursing roles, as representatives for
animal health companies, as practice
managers, and now even as owners of
their own veterinary practices.
Meanwhile, there has been
movement away from the VNs
traditional base in small animal practice
to new areas like equine and exotic
species, together with the introduction
of male nurses, although these remain a
rare breed, making up
only around 2% of the
nursing roster.
There are, however,
still some major
challenges to be
overcome notably a
lack of understanding
from clients and the
wider general public
about the role played by
registered VNs in a
modern practice.
We do have an
identity as a profession; what I hope is
that our identity as far as the general
public is concerned can be raised we
still need to do some work on that,
noted Sue Badger, a teaching fellow at
the Bristol veterinary school and a
member of the VN Council.
There is also the perennial issue of
low pay in the VN profession which
was cited by Liz Branscombe as the
main reason for the dissatisfaction felt
by a considerable number of her
colleagues, with a quarter of the
respondents in one survey stating that
they intended to leave veterinary
practice within the next five years.
The concern felt by VNs about their
low wages has not always been treated
sympathetically by their employers. Sue
Badger recalled a senior practitioner in
the 1970s who reportedly said, We can
do without RANAs, we ran our
practices without them before and can
do so again if they price themselves out
of the market.
They must accept that job
satisfaction will be their major reward,
not money.
Thankfully, such antediluvian
attitudes are encountered much more
rarely now that VNs have become
accepted as vital members of the clinical
team. Indeed, Society of Practising
Veterinary Surgeons president Richard
Holborow told the meeting that a key
priority for his presidential term was to
develop closer links with the British
Veterinary Nursing Association to
enable them to collaborate on key issues
affecting the members of both
organisations.
One of the first items on the agenda
at such a meeting was identified by Sue
Badger as the threat posed by the
current financial climate to the career
prospects of future VNs.
She was worried that practices trying
to cut costs during difficult times would
cut down on training programmes for
new nurses, and there
were genuine fears that
some colleges may pull
out of VN training
because such practical-
based courses are
expensive to run.
As a fledgling
profession, VNs have
always been vulnerable to
external influences and
the British Veterinary
Nursing Association
formed in 1965 had to
change its name a year
later after its own sister
profession objected to the
use of the term nurse in
the title. It then became
the BANAA until a change
in legislation on protected
titles allowed it to revert to
the original name in 1984.
Just over a quarter of a
century later, the BVNA
now finds itself wanting
legislative changes that
would ensure that the title
VN will only be used by
those who have completed
a recognised course of
training and agreed to
abide by the
responsibilities of the new
code of conduct.
Hilary Orpet course
director of the nurse BSc
programme at the London
veterinary school, told colleagues that
DEFRA officials have responded
positively to the BVNAs request that
this would be considered during any
deliberations by the government on a
Veterinary Services Act.
They told us to go away and think
and then come back with our ideas for
regulation, she said.
So the BVNA has established a
working party to examine how it wants
the term veterinary nurse to be
defined and what would be the
responsibilities of members under any
future legislation.
Holistic care
A nurses role must be wider than
those defined in schedule 3 (defining
tasks that can be carried out by
registered VNs but not by lay people),
she said, adding that the whole point
about modern veterinary nursing is that
it should provide holistic care, taking
into account the animals emotional
and behavioural requirements as well as
its physical needs.
RCVS president Peter Jinman
welcomed the associations efforts to
define exactly what was meant by
veterinary nursing as this was an
essential precursor to
any legislation designed
to protect the name.
He pointed out that
any restrictions on using
the term would be there
to protect the public and
their animals and not the
professionals themselves.
The origin of the
name veterinary surgeon
was because of the
many charlatans out
there at the time who
were conning the public, and it was
accepted by the public and Parliament
that animals needed to be protected.
Hilary Orpet agreed that there were
unqualified veterinary nurses working
in practice whose lack of proper
training meant that they too might be a
danger to the animals under their care.
However, any future legislation would
also have to provide opportunities for
experienced and competent nursing
assistants to join the register.
Valerie Beatty, registrar of the
Veterinary Council of Ireland,
explained the arrangements that were
made for the Irish equivalent of listed
VNs when the Veterinary Practice Act
2005 came into force to provide
statutory regulation of both veterinary
surgeons and VNs in the Republic.
This gave unqualified veterinary
nurses who had been practising
before 2004 a six-month period from
January 2008 in which they could
apply for provisional registration,
after which the term
VN became a protected
title.
All 155 nurses on
the provisional register
are expected to have
completed an approved
educational programme
if they wish to remain
on the register when
the provisional
category ceases to exist
on 31st December
2012, she said.
NURSING
10
Milestone celebrated
Jean Turner (left) assists the RCVS VN
Council chairman, Liz Branscombe, in
cutting a cake made in celebration of
the 50th anniversary. Mrs Turner
later received the Golden Jubilee
Award presented on RCVS Day.
Sue Badger. Hilary Orpet.
VETERINARY PRACTICE
reports on the symposium held to mark the rst
50 years of the veterinary nursing profession
THE aim of this award is to find the practice in the
United Kingdom which offers the highest levels of
customer service: a winner and two runners-up will be
selected.
The awards are open to all practices operating in the UK
regardless of size or type but the award will go to an
individual practice (whether or not it is part of a group).
Entrants will be required to show how they provide an extremely high
level of customer care and must in addition provide three testimonials
from clients received within the past year (from 1st September 2010).
The judges will be awarding points for the actions you take to make
your clients experiences special from the first telephone call or
contact with your practice, to their time in reception and/or the waiting
area, right through to their departure from your premises, and any
follow-up process.
We also want to know what educational material you provide, how you
keep in contact (whether by newsletter, text messaging or e-mail); we
will have a look at your website and other promotional material; and
before any practice is short-listed it will be subject to a mystery
shopping telephone call and, ultimately, an unannounced visit from a
member (or members) of the judging panel.
Finally, tell us about the environment you have created, the facilities you
provide and the technology you have invested in and talk about your
plans for the future and how you plan to do things even better.
How to enter
To enter, practices should outline in no more than 750 words what they
do that is special and different to ensure that clients receive the very
best of attention at all times. Then submit this with examples of
promotional material, photos from the front-of-house areas and the
three testimonials from clients plus any other documentation
considered relevant, covering such things as the training given to front-
of-house staff, the monitoring of telephone calls, the conversion rate of
calls from potential clients to appointments, etc. to:
The 2011 Customer Experience Awards
Veterinary Practice
30 Diamond Ridge, Camberley,
Surrey GU15 4LD
or e-mail to editor@veterinary-practice.com.
The Onswitch/NVS 2011 Customer Experience Award
in association with Veterinary Practice
Entries close on 4th October 2011.
Judging will be carried out during the
following month and representatives from
each of the three finalists will be invited to
a lunchtime presentation at the London Vet
Show 24th/25th November.
PRIZES
The winner will receive a trophy and a
plaque for the practice, coverage in
Veterinary Practice and as much local and
national publicity as possible and
appropriate plus a day or evening out for
practice staff (to a maximum value of
1,000). The runners-up prizes will include
a plaque, publicity and a day or evening
out to a maximum value of 500. Two
members from each of the three finalists
will receive free registration to the London
Vet Show.
n No practice is too big or too small to
enter these awards: what we are looking
for is across-the-board excellence in
customer service. The overall winner, and
the runners-up, will have achieved and
be achieving a standard that the judges
perceive as outstanding in providing a
customer experience that really is second
to none.
The Facts
If your aim is to exceed the expectations
of your clients and you are proud of
what your practice is achieving in
terms of customer experience, then we
want to hear from you.
Two-year modular CPD courses
Call us: 01793 759159
Swindon Manchester Wyboston Dublin
Commit to your own future
Small Animal Medicine - GPCert(SAM)
Small Animal Surgery - GPCert(SAS)
The most complete training programmes available with
structured learning delivered over a 24-month period.
Enjoy new enthusiasm and confidence
Provide an enhanced service to your clients
and patients
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Meet like-minded colleagues and
develop lifelong friendships
Superb venues and the very
best speakers ensure an
incredible learning experience
Courses accredited by
Gain a valuable and respected postgraduate qualification in
Small Animal Medicine or Small Animal Surgery
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Starting
September
2011
Fancy becoming a bit
more extraordinary?
www.samandsas.com
THE last week has been fascinating
and by the time you read this there
will have been even more to get
stuck into.
As I write, virtually the whole
country is waiting for the spectacle of
the Murdoch family appearing before a
Parliamentary select committee to
answer questions on the phone-tapping
scandal.
The News of the World has closed;
MPs are lining up in the
Commons to denounce the
Murdochs and News
International in general; and
in the USA the FBI has
been asked to investigate
News Corps activities. And it has all
happened so fast.
Just a few weeks ago you could
count on one hand the number of MPs
prepared to publicly condemn the
Murdoch Empire.
One or two were brave enough and
one, Vince Cable, paid the price for
inadvertently letting slip his views on
the man at the top. Now there has been
a sea change in attitudes with all and
sundry wanting to stick the knife in and
give it a twist.
I personally shed no tears for the
loss of the News of the World. It was a
titillating read for a teenager when my
mates and I referred to it as The News
of the Screws or The Screws of the
World. But I have not opened a copy
for 30 years because I have matured a
little and now like to have to think a bit
about what it is Im reading.
I have pretty much the same
opinion of The Sun, and I think The
Times too has deteriorated beyond belief
in the last two decades.
The pack mentality
What I find most interesting though
about the whole sordid affair is the way
it illustrates the pack mentality of
human nature.
Now that the tide has turned on
Rupert Murdoch, everyone wants to be
seen swimming in the opposite direction
(to the one they were all swimming in
just a few weeks ago!).
I heard Mr Cable interviewed on the
radio the other day and take my hat off
to him that he was not more
triumphalist when describing the recent
events as the end of a dictatorship
when everybody suddenly discovers
they were against the dictator.
Coincidentally, and not entirely
unrelated, I also heard on the radio a
repeat of the first of this years Reith
lectures given by the leader of the
Burmese opposition, Aung San Suu Kyi.
Ms Kyi is an inspirational figure. One of
the most moving lines from her lecture
was that dissidents pretend to be
unafraid as they go about their duties
and pretend not to see that their
comrades are also pretending.
Not an easy option
It brought home to me that to dissent is
not an easy option. To dissent from
mainstream opinion can leave one
exposed either to ridicule, approbation
or, in Ms Kyis case, the risk of real
physical harm.
It is for this reason that the
Murdoch Empire has been so free of
criticism for so long. Dissenters (with
few exceptions) were afraid to dissent
for fear of the personal career
consequences (denunciation in the
press) they might have to endure. Most
did not have the courage to stand up
and be counted and perhaps suffer a
career cut short.
In countries or organisations run by
dictators it is generally accepted that
dissent, though dangerous, is the only
way to bring about real change.
What is perhaps less understood is
that dissent is also fundamental to the
preservation of human rights and
probity in mature democracies.
Because without dissent the status
quo can readily become too cosy and
unchallenged. Without dissent, those in
charge can start to believe their own
hype and rhetoric and start to believe
that there is no other way than theirs.
Reluctance on the part of most
people to dissent does not just apply to
dissent against government. It applies to
all walks of life because dissenting is
usually a harder path to follow than if
one simply goes with the flow, with the
mainstream.
Troublemakers shunned
Dissenters are rarely popular in the first
instance and are frequently seen as
troublemakers to be shunned in case
their dissent is contagious.
Well, let me state here and now, that
I like dissenters. They are generally
more interesting and courageous than
others and their dissent at least shows
that they have formed an opinion on
something, an opinion that they are
prepared to stand up for.
I believe it is good that there are
dissenters in the veterinary
profession too. It would be all too
easy to believe everything that
our political masters tell us, be
they in the government, the
RCVS, or any one of a number
of veterinary organisations.
But those at the head of the
mainstream tend to play things
with a straight bat; to rub along
with the status quo and not to
challenge what for many is received
wisdom.
Host of issues
But there are a host of controversial
issues out there that need to be flagged
up by dissenters in order that the
profession does not stagnate in its views
or become too cosy with the accepted
establishment.
We all know what some of those
issues are: animal experimentation;
intensive livestock production; many
abnormal pedigree dogs and cats; over-
treatment of animals (particularly
geriatric ones); fees for treating insured
animals; artificial breeding; to name just
a few.
Yes, we can bury our heads in the
sand and, to borrow but slightly alter
the
words of Ms Kyi, pretend not to see as
we go about our duties and pretend not
to see that our comrades are also
pretending. It is certainly the simplest
and, in the short term, least
troublesome route to follow.
Little comfort
In the long term, though, this approach
means we will eventually be forced by
others with interests in the veterinary or
animal welfare field to confront our
own Rupert Murdoch moment.
It will be little comfort to me at the
end of a dictatorship to suddenly
discover that everyone was against the
dictator.
VP AUGUST 2011 VIEWPOINT 13
Who opposes the dictator?
PERISCOPE
continues the series of reections on issues of
current concern
THE RCVS is seeking feedback on a new draft Code of Professional Conduct
for Veterinary Nurses.
The draft code, which would replace the existing RCVS Guide to Professional
Conduct for Veterinary Nurses, has been produced by a working party set up by
the RCVS advisory committee to review the guides for both veterinary surgeons
and veterinary nurses.
The purpose of the review is to ensure that guidance to the profession, and
the public, is clear; for example, using consistent language to distinguish between
what must be done and what is advised.
The new code is described as a short, principles-based document, using the
Federation of Veterinarians of Europes Code of Conduct as the starting point. It
will be supported by additional advice on specific areas of veterinary practice or
issues; for example, clinical governance.
The consultation follows an earlier one for a new code for veterinary surgeons
that closed at the end of June: the new code for veterinary nurses follows the
format and style of that for veterinary surgeons. Comments made during the
veterinary surgeon consultation will be taken account of alongside comments
made during this new consultation.
The draft proposes that veterinary nurses make a declaration on joining the
VN Register: I promise and solemnly declare that my constant endeavour will be
to ensure the welfare of animals committed to my care and that I will pursue the
work of my profession with integrity and accept my responsibilities to my clients,
the public, the profession and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Comments on the proposed draft are invited from the veterinary nursing
profession, the veterinary profession and the public, particularly on the issue of
whether the codes for veterinary nurses and veterinary surgeons ought to be
combined.
The new code, along with the consultation paper, can be downloaded at
www.rcvs.org.uk/VNcodeconsultation.
Comments should be sent by e-mail to Christopher Murdoch, secretary to the
guides review working party, at c.murdoch@rcvs.org.uk by 21st October 2011.
RCVS seeks feedback on draft
code of professional conduct for
veterinary nurses
VP AUGUST 2011
NOEL Fitzpatrick has launched the
Fitzpatrick Learning Academy, an
online learning facility created to offer
what he calls a new spectrum of
innovative, cutting-edge learning,
training and CPD opportunities.
The first product is Veterinary
Nursing CPD, an interactive
programme built around a series of
eLearning modules, each of which
qualifies for three hours of CPD.
Topics include: anaesthetic
emergencies, radiography, wound
management, physiotherapy, nosicomial
infections and pain management.
Each module is followed by a
vetinar, a one-hour webinar hosted
by Josey Killner, head nurse (of
training) at Fitzpatrick Referrals.
Additional features of the
programme include videos of
operations performed by Noel
Fitzpatrick and live question and
answer sessions with the Fitzpatrick
Learning Academy team.
Access to library
Participants have access to the
Fitzpatrick Learning Library which
includes resources such as video clips
from the modules, templates for
nursing documents, kit lists and links to
further veterinary nursing material.
Annual subscription to Veterinary
Nursing CPD is 600 (plus VAT) with
a 50 reduction for BVNA registered
nurses; those who register before 30th
September will receive an introductory
discount of 100.
Mr Fitzpatrick says the academy
aims to develop and release a number
of learning products in different
formats for both veterinary surgeons
and veterinary nurses.
For details see
www.fitzpatricklearning.com.
NEWS
14
Learning academy launched to offer cutting-edge CPD
FRONTLINE Combo

contains fipronil and (S)-methoprene POMV (UK); POM (Ireland).

Registered Trademark. For further information contact Merial Animal Health Ltd, CM19 5TG, UK. Meria l Ltd 2011. All rights reserved.
*Source: TNS Healthcare, March 2008.
Noel Fitzpatrick with members of the Fitzpatrick Referrals nursing team.
Rossdale and Partners of Newmarket hosted its own charity bike ride at the end
of June to raise money for Animal Care in Egypt (ACE) and Addenbrookes
Hospital Cancer Ward E10. The aim was to raise of 5,000 but more than
16,000 has been gathered. Seventy one cyclists, including practice staff,
friends and family, cycled a collective distance of 4,100 miles, the distance from
Rossdales clinic to the ACE clinic in Luxor, Egypt (and two-thirds of the way
back). Involved were 22 veterinary surgeons and ve VNs. The team cycled
across Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, choosing either a 25 or 100 mile
route, nishing back at the practice where the partners hosted a summer party.
Fundraising is being directed through JustGiving (www.JustGiving.com/
teams/rossdales) or individual donations can be sent directly to the practice,
marked Rossdales Charity Bike Ride.
4,000 mile ride raises over 16,000
NEARLY 500 veterinary surgeons
took part in a live webinar on pain
management in June, courtesy of
Vtoquinol. Video footage was
included in the presentation and there
were interactive polls throughout.
The speaker was Dr Jo Murrell,
senior lecturer in veterinary anaesthesia
at Bristol and holder of the European
Diploma in Veterinary Anaesthesia and
Analgesia.
Jo described the use of NSAIDs,
referring to the balancing act
between benefits and risks. She
outlined guidance to help with
decision making on when NSAIDs can
be used when there is concurrent liver,
kidney or cardiac disease. A gold
standard approach was described
alongside a protocol for monitoring in
high, medium and low risk patients.
Only 40% of participants said they
routinely took baseline blood
biochemistry prior to starting NSAID
treatment.
It is known that there are 17,000
human deaths in the US each year
attributed to NSAID administration
and nearly every endoscopic study of
NSAID usage in animals has shown
some evidence of mucosal damage in
the absence of overt clinical signs. Yet
NSAIDs are one of the few licensed
options available to treat long-term
pain in animals, Dr Murrell said.
To see the webinar and download a
CPD certificate, go to
www.thewebinarvet.com/vetoquinol-
webinars. Dr Murrell has also
answered questions posted by
participants that there was not
sufficient time to answer on the night:
her responses are on
www.thewebinarvet.com/blog.
VP AUGUST 2011 NEWS 15
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So if you want to prescribe something
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Trust the experts.
At a CPD event held as part of Gastric Ulcer Awareness Month in May,
veterinary surgeons and Merial Animal Health raised 1,350 for HEROS (the
Homing Ex-Racehorses Organisation Scheme). This money went towards
organising the charitys annual show, which raised a further 6,000 for this
cause. The CPD event, A practical approach to common equine problems,
took place at the Nottingham Activity Centre. Vets had reserved their places at
a cost of 25 and many delegates chose to donate this to HEROS. Merials Dr
Emma Batson described the event as a real success, providing CPD on varied
and interesting subjects as well as raising money for a very good cause. The
photo shows some of the delegates at the event.
CPD event raises money for HEROS
Big response to the design awards
THE BVHA and Veterinary Practice thank the many practices which
submitted entries in the 2011 Practice Design Awards. The judges have
been set a monumental task in deciding on a shortlist in each of the
categories, after which judges will visit those practices. The results will be
announced during the BVHA congress at the Redworth Hall Hotel,
Darlington, on 14th and 15th October.
Popular webinar on NSAIDs
University post for
oncology expert
DR Susan
North,
clinical
director
and head
of
oncology
at VRCC,
has been
appointed
special
lecturer in
oncology at the Nottingham veterinary
school.
Dr North has also accepted a
position on the examination committee
for the new specialty of radiation
oncology in Europe that is working
with both ECVIM and ECVDI.
VP AUGUST 2011
New cancer centre
being built at AHT
A NEW cancer centre being built at the
Animal Health Trust (AHT) will treat
horses, dogs and cats with surgery,
chemotherapy and radiotherapy; it will
also aim to further knowledge and
understanding of cancer not only in
animals but also in people.
Sue Murphy, the AHTs head of
clinical cancer treatment, said: Having
all three treatment options on one site
means that whatever the diagnosis, we
will be able to offer every patient the
very best options for their specific
case.
The AHT hopes the building will
open in summer 2012. It is launching
an appeal to raise funds to equip the
centre with a linear accelerator, and it
will be one of only six veterinary
facilities in the UK to house such
equipment.
Donations can be made via
www.aht.org.uk, by telephone on 01638
555648, or a 5 donation can be given
by textingVETS24 5 to 70070.
BVU links with UNITE
THE British Veterinary Union (BVU)
has now been established as part of
UNITE, one of the largest trade
unions in the country.
The union says it will be able to
give vets, nurses, practice managers,
support staff and students the
additional muscle to tackle employment
problems in the workplace, such as pay,
contracts, bullying and professional
development.
Dr Shams Mir, chairman of the
BVUs professional advisory committee,
says the biggest challenge would be to
change the mindset of the profession
to address the deep-trenched problems
of working conditions and terms of
employment for vets and nurses, and
safeguarding their professional status.
Further information is available at
www.bvu.org.uk and
www.unitetheunion.org/bvu.
n The BVA president, Harvey Locke,
commented that those working in
veterinary practice had always been able
to join UNITE or any other trade
union. The BVA provides the majority
of services traditionally offered by a
union and we are constantly working to
improve our services to support the
veterinary team, he said.
Practice franchise
scheme launched
VETS4PETS is introducing a franchise
arrangement for existing independent
practice owners.
Jeremy Camm, commercial director,
says the arrangement can be tailored to
meet the specific needs of each
business owner.
Our franchise model will allow
existing independent practice owners to
relinquish the heavy responsibility and
burden of managing the business side
of running their veterinary practice and
benefit from the wealth of commercial
experience and expert support the
group currently provides to the 68
Vets4Pets practices based across the
UK. Our franchise owners will decide
the support they need for their practice
and when they need it, he said.
Practices will be able to benefit
from the groups substantial
purchasing power, the strength of the
Vets4Pets brand, proven national
marketing programmes and TV
advertising campaigns; along with
finance support including management
accounting, VAT and tax returns and
cash flow management; or expert help
to understand and manage day to day
or sometimes difficult and time-
consuming HR issues, Mr Camm says.
Peter Watson, Vets4Pets CEO, says
he is confident that there are many
existing veterinary practice owners who
would welcome and will benefit from
this opportunity.
Further details are available from
Mr Camm on 07781136330 or e-mail
franchise@vets4pets.com.
Postgraduate deans
appointed
TWO new postgraduate deans have
been appointed by the RCVS to advise
and monitor new veterinary surgeons
during their professional development
phase (PDP).
Jill Hubbard, a partner at Cibyn
Veterinary Surgery, Caernarfon, and
organiser of BVA North Wales young
graduate meetings, and Nicky Paull,
senior partner in a large mixed practice
in Cornwall and a former president of
both the BVA and SPVS, were selected
from over 40 applicants.
They join existing deans Professor
Agnes Winter and Julian Wells, and
replace Professor David Noakes and
Stephen Ware, who are retiring from
the role having served since 2007.
Revised range of
insurance policies
PETPLAN has launched a new-look
policy range which, says the firm, will
give pet owners more comprehensive
cover and make it easier for them to
understand the types of cover available.
Simon Masding, Petplans head of
sales and partnerships, said the policies
will not only benefit pets and owners
but the changes will also allow
veterinary staff to explain the policies
with a lot more clarity.
We have simplified the policy
range, adding and increasing each
policys benefits, making a 12-month
policy available for practices to offer
and developing easy to understand
policy names, he said.
The policies now available for cats
and dogs are: Petplan Ultimate a
covered for life plan with up to
12,000 vet fee cover; Petplan Classic
with comprehensive cover for accidents
and chronic illnesses (policy holders can
choose between 4,000 and 7,000
worth of veterinary fee cover); and
Petplan Essential giving 12-month
cover for accidents and illness.
NEWS
16
s Strong and durable
s Easy to clean and sterilize
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For further enquires contact Melvyn Driver:
Tel: 01582 655600 Email: mdcexports@btconnect.com
or visit www.mdcexports.co.uk
Fellowship for outstanding service
Jane Parker was
awarded a Fellowship
of the Veterinary
Benevolent Fund at
its AGM last month,
in recognition of her
outstanding and
sustained service to
the VBF and her
distinguished
contribution to
providing support
for the veterinary
profession. Mrs
Parker has worked
tirelessly to raise
funds for the VBF
and to publicise its
activities by speaking
at the Lancaster
Weekend and other
events. She served on
the Board of VBF from 1994 to 2010 as well as being the VBF local
representative for Cornwall, helping to provide nancial assistance to vets and
their families in the area, for over 25 years. Jane graduated from the RVC in
1978 and since then has run a large and successful practice in Truro with her
husband, Andrew. The photo shows Jane (left) receiving the award from Dr
Lydia Brown, VBF president.
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e-mail: info@alstoe.co.uk www.alstoe.co.uk
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Free online videos on
scanning
BCFs in-house veterinary surgeon,
Kimberly Palgrave, has developed a
series of instructional step-by-step
videos demonstrating how to perform a
basic abdominal ultrasound examination
in small animal patients.
The 3-5 minute videos also cover
how to alter the controls on your
ultrasound machine to get the most of
your equipment.
They have been produced in
collaboration with the Royal (Dick).
To see them, visit the ultrasound
gallery at www.vetsurgeon.org or the
BCF website www.bcftechnology.com.
n The photo shows Kimberly Palgrave
(left) engaged in producing the videos
on abdominal scanning.
Instrument kits and
models available
VIRBAC is repeating its ear model and
instrument kit promotion introduced
last year. The models, which
show the anatomy of a
healthy canal on one side
and the changes
associated with chronic
damage on the other,
are approximately
15cm high and can
be used as a visual
aid to show clients
the consequences
of untreated
chronic ear
disease, says
product manager
Chris Geddes.
The specialist
ear instrument
kits, worth 100,
designed in
consultation with veterinary
dermatologists, consist of a haemostat,
ear forceps, three various cerumen
scoops and a Spreulls ear-flushing
needle.
The models and kits are available
with multiple purchases of the otitis
treatment EasOtic, and the ear cleaner
Epi-Otic. For details call Virbac on
01359 243243.
Car to be won in
raffle to aid trust
THE RCVS Charitable Trust has once
VP AUGUST 2011 NEWS
18
again teamed up with the
Foundation for Social
Improvement (FSI) for the
launch of the Great Big
Small Charity Car Draw
2011.
The draw enables small
charities, such as the trust,
to sell tickets to supporters
with a chance of winning a
new Fiat 500 1.2 Pop.
Tickets cost 2 and the
trust receives 1.90 for
every ticket it sells. They can
be bought online at www.
rcvscharitabletrust.org.uk or
directly from the trust office
on 020 7202 0721 or at
fundraising@
rcvstrust.org.uk.
The deadline for buying tickets is
16th September with the draw taking
place on 25th October (2011).
PEOPLE
n New territory manager for
wholesaler Miss Miranda Coleman
has joined Centaur Services as territory
manager for the south-east of England.
Miranda qualified as a veterinary nurse
in 2002 and worked in a large veterinary
hospital in Devon as administration
nurse before moving to a veterinary
hospital in London as pharmacy
manager.
n Practice support manager for
buying group the St Francis Group
has appointed Lizzie Major as its
practice support manager a new role
created, says the group, to help
members maximise their profitability
through technical support and training.
Lizzie, who qualified as a veterinary
nurse at the Animal Health Trust and
worked at the small animal and equine
hospital there before moving to an
equine practice and subsequently a
mixed practice, and who more recently
worked as an account manager at
Intervet/Schering-Plough and Virbac,
joined on 1st August.
n Brand manager for endocrinology
products Craig Sankey has joined
Dechra Veterinary Products as brand
manager with responsibility for the
development of marketing and
engagement programmes to support the
firms endocrinology products. Mr
Sankey, a business studies graduate, has
15 years marketing experience.
nLarge animal and equine sales
force Vtoquinol UK has introduced
a large animal/equine sales force.
Margaret McGuinness will cover
Scotland, Mark Stanton the north of
England, Chris Hill the south, Iain
Rivers the central region and Juliette
Devlin Northern Ireland. The team will
be managed jointly by Hugh Gibson
and Stuart Wade.
Chipped, registered
and now fully data
protected in seconds
Great news for vets now you can
register the details of any animal that
you microchip in seconds, directly from
your practice management system.
You already know that Pet ID supply
the highest standard ISO FDXB
microchips, but thanks to Vet-XML
from VetEnvoy, you can now send
registration data directly to Petlog.
This not only saves time, but
also reduces registration errors,
administration costs, and now
provides full data protection too.
So, say goodbye to long-winded
online registration or forms going
missing in the post. With Pet ID and
VetEnvoy, you can chip and register
animals securely in seconds.
Call Pet ID on 01273 837 676 to nd
out if your PMS is compatible.
www.pet-works.net
WILD rats have never had a good
press. Disease-ridden pests and
spoilers of human and animal food,
they can create a feeling of revulsion
in a large proportion of the
population. No wonder, perhaps, that
George Orwell used rats as the
ultimate method of torture in his
book 1984.
I have to admit to having
had a certain fascination
with wild rats ever since my
childhood. British wild
mammals are not often seen but rats
were one of the common inhabitants of
the local pig farm where I used to rent a
field to keep my horse.
Whilst many of my contemporaries
spent their time listening to music or
attending what were then called pop
concerts, I was hunting rats with my
ferrets and a stick amongst the swill bins
and rubbish left around the pig houses.
Ah, the misspent days of youth.
Sure it probably wasnt very PC for a
budding vet to be bolting rats with ferrets
and trying to hit them over the head with
a stick but I have to admit to it being
great fun at the time. My parents for their
part were untutored in the risks of Weils
disease and just seemed grateful that I
wasnt hanging around on street corners.
For that, amongst many other things, I
am extremely grateful to them.
Just a few weeks ago I was staying in
quite an upmarket hotel apartment on
the Island of Corfu. It was set in a couple
of acres of semi-tropical gardens with
exotic flowering plants and butterflies
and surrounded by a high hedge of 30
or 40 foot high Cypress trees.
I was sitting on the first floor balcony
one evening with an ice-cold beer in
hand just as dusk was falling. A
movement in the trees level with and just
10 feet from the balcony caught my eye.
I looked closely and could have sworn it
was a rat. But it was 15 feet off the
ground and moving through the outer
branches almost like a squirrel.
I went closer and, sure enough, it was
not just one rat but three of them,
perfectly at home and minding their own
business as they foraged for their supper.
But there was something about them
not quite the same as those rats that I
remembered from my pig farm days (and
that Ive seen many times since). These
rats were decidedly finer-boned, sleeker-
furred, brighter-eyed and definitely more
aristocratic looking. And they were
climbing through the trees like squirrels.
Now my daughter didnt share my
fascination with our furry neighbours
and took quite a bit of persuading that,
judging by their behaviour and the
undoubted cleanliness of our apartment,
they were unlikely to pay us an even
closer visit during the late night hours of
early morning.
I did though wonder if the hotel
owners knew anything about their
existence but concluded that you would
have to be blind not to notice them.
After all, I had only been there two days
and already Id seen three.
In my experience its not easy to ask
the question, Did you know you have
rats in the grounds of your hotel? in a
way that wont sound like a complaint or
cause offence.
Tolerated
Fortunately, though, there was a young
English girl whose mum worked at the
hotel and who my kids became friendly
with and they brought up the subject
with her. She explained that these were
tree rats that never seemed to come
into the houses and were thus tolerated
as a natural part of the areas fauna.
I saw
them
again the
next
night and
slowly,
slowly
the penny
dropped. These werent brown rats
(Rattus norvegicus). No, these were their
cousins, black rats (Rattus rattus), now
very rare in Britain but obviously not so
in Corfu.
Black rats were the carriers of the
black death or bubonic plague
throughout the Middle Ages and were
the rat species to be found in Britain right
up to the 17th century until the brown rat
came along in the trading ships that came
to our shores.
The brown rat quickly became the
dominant species and until my visit to
Corfu Ive never knowingly seen a black
rat. What I found most fascinating was
that these rats in Corfu were living in
close proximity to humans and were
tolerated because they were not
perceived to be a nuisance or threat.
Seeing them certainly gave me a great
deal of pleasure and even my daughter
very quickly gave up worrying about
them!
PS. We also saw an edible dormouse in
the hotel grounds, the second first
wild sighting of a species for me.
VP AUGUST 2011 CONSERVATION 19
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Designed to be used as stand-
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Look out for our product advertising in the
veterinary press. Ask your Janssen Animal
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Black rats among the trees of Corfu
VETERINARY PRACTICEs
conservation correspondent is fascinated
by wild rats
VP AUGUST 2011
Licence extended to
include ticks
CROVECT 1.25% Pour-On solution
for sheep, a broad spectrum
ectoparasite treatment produced by
Novartis Animal Health, is now
indicated for the treatment of ticks with
a persistent efficacy of 10 weeks.
Crovect (cypermethrin) also works
in the treatment and control of
headflies, the treatment of biting lice,
and the prevention and treatment of
blowfly strike in sheep.
Guide to dairy herd
management
VIRBAC Animal Health has developed
a yield wheel which, it says, will show
vets the additional income that farmers
can achieve through taking a tailored
and more flexible approach to the
management of their dairy herd
through the dry period.
It shows how production and
income can be maximised on a sliding
scale from a standard 60-day drying off
period down to 36 days; it also shows
the benefits which can be gained in
terms of reduced discarded milk days
in the case of cows with an unclear
calving date.
Diet for liver
conditions
ROYAL Canin has introduced Hepatic
Feline, a diet designed to provide
nutritional support to the cat post-
surgery and throughout a wide range of
clinical conditions.
These include cholangitis,
cholestasis, portosystemic shunts,
hepatic encephalopathy, liver failure and
hepatic copper accumulation.
The diet is said to be highly
palatable and includes highly digestible
vegetable proteins which reduce the
workload of the recovering liver; low
copper levels to help reduce the risk to
the liver of damage caused by copper
and bile interaction; an antioxidant
complex to neutralise free radicals; and
balanced mineral levels to help
counteract electrolyte imbalances
caused by liver disease. The product is
available in both wet and dry versions.
New flavour for
tablets
BOEHRINGER Ingelheim Vetmedica
has launched a meaty favour of its
Metacam Chewable Tablets.
Available in pop-through blister
strips of seven, the 1mg and 2.5mg
tablets are packed in boxes of 84 and
priced the same per tablet as the
current range.
Claire Fowler, the firms companion
animal marketing manager, said that the
existing tablets were readily accepted by
most dogs, but to appeal to as many
dogs as possible, the company had
launched an even more appetising
beefed up meaty flavour.
New spot-on solutions
DECHRA Veterinary Products has
launched Fiprocat and Fiprodog spot-
on solutions for the treatment and
prevention of flea infestations in cats
and dogs.
Containing fipronil, these are the
latest additions to the firms Veterinary
Essentials range of veterinary-licensed
post-patent products. The products can
be used as part of a treatment strategy
for the control of flea allergy dermatitis
(FAD).
They are supplied in packs of three
or six pipettes. The convenient self-
standing pipette makes the process of
applying the spot-on now even easier,
says Dechra.
Client support material and practice
promotional support are available.
Vitamin K1
preparation
EUROVET Animal Health is
introducing a veterinary licensed
vitamin K1 (phytomenadione)
injectable preparation.
Ruth Vernon, the firms technical
services manager, says it is also
planning to bring veterinary-licensed
vitamin K1 tablets to the UK market
later in the year.
n Anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning
is the second most common query
received by the Veterinary Poisons
Information Service, according to
Alexander Campbell, head of service at
VPIS. We receive well over 1,000
telephone enquiries per annum from
UK veterinary professionals seeking
advice on how to manage potential and
accidental exposures to anticoagulant
rodenticides in a variety of animals
mainly pet dogs.
Whilst most cases require basic
assessment, first-aid and precautionary
laboratory tests, an inevitable few
develop serious intoxication and need
long-term treatment. Vitamin K1 is a
mainstay of therapy in these instances,
and the availability of licensed
veterinary-specific products in the UK
is a major advance.
Bamboo sticks for ear
cleaning
JAK Marketing has launched the
BambooStick, a king-size cotton bud
designed for effective cleaning and ear care
in dogs.
The company says that the size and
shape make it almost impossible to pass the
ear canal turn
and touch
the ear drum,
even in
bigger dogs.
The
cotton head
surface is
made of
medical
grade cotton
wool, which
is said to be 12 times more absorbent than
human cotton buds, to allow quick and
complete cleaning of secretions in the pinna
convolution.
The stick is made from bamboo, which
is not slippery when using oily liquid; it is
fully biodegradable and can be incinerated
without any pollution.
Dr Fabrice Lauby of Clinique
Veterinaire says that even in cases of heavy
secretions, after irrigating the ear with
cleaning liquid, two or three BambooSticks
are enough to perform a complete cleaning
of a dogs ear.
Prices start at 2.25 for a pack of 50
BambooSticks, with offers for bulk buys.
A free sample pack is available to
practices on request.
Hand cleaner from New
Zealand
ZEOSOFT Hand Cleaner is described
as a new high-performance natural
hand cleaner that cleans ingrained
grime and dirt and absorbs odours,
leaving hands feeling fresh and
supple.
The product has been developed in
New Zealand and contains a blend of
active materials formed from fine
volcanic ash by geothermal hot
springs.
The product is being imported by
LBS Horticulture which says it is very
useful on farms when cleaning up after
assisting difficult births, prolapses and
other farm procedures, and is also
useful after small animal operations.
It is available as a gel in a 300g
tube or a 4kg refill for wall-mounted
dispensing. It is also available in a
paste format, as a 100g hand soap or
in a 300g tube, 600g tub and a 4kg
refill.
Free samples of the soap bar can
be obtained by calling 01282 873333.
For more information see Zeosoft on
the website www.kiwiosity.co.uk or e-
mail steve@kiwiosity.co.uk.
Pet worming
campaign continues
NOVARTIS Animal Health is
continuing its campaign to promote
the importance of pet worming at
least four times a year
Under its Worm Patrol umbrella,
the company has developed seasonal
information packs to assist practices to
promote regular worming throughout
the year.
These include waiting room and
client materials, practice PR support
materials and a pet owner website,
www.wormpatrol.co.uk.
Further details about the Summer
Worming Pack or the Worm Patrol
Campaign are available from the
companys territory managers.
PRODUCTS
20
New name chosen
for international
animal health
company
MERCKS animal health division,
formerly known as
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal
Health, has begun using the name
Merck Animal Health in the USA
and Canada and MSD Animal
Health elsewhere, including the UK.
The name change reflects
Mercks commitment to animal
health and its complementary role
to the overall business, said Raul
Kohan, president of Merck Animal
Health.
We are unwavering in our
commitment to veterinarians,
producers, pet owners and society
as a whole, he said.
We aim to generate additional
value and sustained growth by
continuing to provide integrated
solutions with innovative animal
health products and services to
meet the evolving needs of our
customers.
The division generated world-
wide sales of $US2.9 billion in
2010.
Convenia

for the treatment of
canine skin infections
1,2*
1. Stegemann et al. (2007) Clinical efficacy and safety of cefovecin in the treatment of canine pyoderma and wound infections. J Small Anim Pract. 48(7): 378-86
2. Six et al. Efficacy and safety of cefovecin in treating bacterial folliculitis, abscesses, or infected wounds in dogs. JAVMA (In Press)
* Convenia is indicated for infections requiring prolonged treatment. As with all infections susceptibility testing is good veterinary clinical practice. See data sheet for further information
** Dogs with pyoderma can be given up to a total of 4 injections if deemed necessary
AH152/11
shighly efcacious in skin and
and soft tissue infections
1,2
sWELLTOLERATED
sLONGACTINGnUPTO
days in a single dose
For further information, please contact Pfizer Animal Health, Walton Oaks, Dorking Road, Walton on the Hill, Tadworth, Surrey, KT20 7NS.
Pfizer Animal Health, 9 Riverwalk, National Digital Park, Citywest Business Campus, Dublin 24
Convenia contains cefovecin. Legal Category POM-V UK POM Ireland. Use medicines responsibly (www.noah.co.uk/responsible).
www.undertheskin.com
A single injection to ght infection
**
!SIMPLECHOICETOGUARANTEE
ACOMPLIANTCOURSE
VP AUGUST 2011
Several symposia at
Octobers SEVC
in Barcelona
DURING this years Southern
European Veterinary Conference
(SEVC), which takes place in Barcelona
from Thursday 29th September to
Sunday 2nd October, there will be
symposia on flea control and
leishmaniasis.
These are being organised by major
sponsors of the SEVC: Elanco
Companion Animal Health and Virbac
Animal Health. Affinity Pet Care, Hills
Pet Nutrition, Merial and Nestl Purina
have also signed up as main sponsors.
Virbac is hosting a symposium
called Advanced prevention against
leishmaniasis on 30th September;
Elanco is hosting its symposium on flea
control on 1st October.
Organised jointly by the Spanish
veterinary association (AVEPA) and the
North American Veterinary Conference
(NAVC), the SEVC is said to offer the
largest scientific programme outside the
USA, as well as workshops and wet
labs.
The trade exhibition will feature
more than 100 companies. All the
lectures are given in English and
Spanish with simultaneous translation.
For further information or to
register, see www.sevc.info.
Feline
symposium
The International
Society of Feline
Medicine (ISFM) is
holding a pre-SEVC
Feline Symposium on Thursday 29th
September at the Barcelona Conference
Centre.
Sponsored by Nestl Purina, the
topics covered will include emerging
problems in feline orthopaedics, pitfalls
in feline emergency care, management
of chronic diarrhoea, management of
acute upper respiratory tract infections,
feline ophthalmology cases, developing
a cat friendly clinic, and how to unblock
the blocked cat.
Speakers include Andy Sparkes,
representing ISFM; Amanda Boag from
Vets Now; Lara Boland, FAB Resident
at Bristol University; and Albert Lloret
and Teresa Pena from Barcelona
University.
The emphasis will be on providing
practical advice for practitioners, says
the society.
The ISFM has also collaborated
with SEVC on the feline day in the
main congress programme on Friday
30th September which covers renal and
cardiovascular disease, pyothorax,
broncho-alveolar lavage and evidence-
based medicine.
More information is on
www.isfm.net.
n From next year,
veterinary surgeons in
Europe will be able to
sit the Australian and
New Zealand College
of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS)
membership examination in medicine of
cats.
The ISFM has adopted the
qualification as its officially recognised
postgraduate exam.
For details see www.isfm.net
/qualifications; to register, go to www.
acvsc.org.au. The cost will be about
1,650; the exams will be held in Birm-
ingham and other centres in Europe.
Wildlife conference
THE second Irish Wildlife
Rehabilitation Conference, run by the
Irish Wildlife Rehabilitation Trust, will
be held in Drogheda on 24th and 25th
September. The Sunday is aimed at vets
and veterinary nurses. For details see
www.irishwildlifematters.ie/conference.
EVENTS
22
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BSAVA seeks nominations for awards
THE BSAVA is calling for nominations for the annual awards presented
during its congress in Birmingham next April. The deadline for nominations
for 2012 awards is 11th November. For details see www.bsava.com or e-mail
secretary@bsava.com.
The awards are: the Melton Award, open only to veterinary surgeons in
general practice, for meritorious contributions to small animal practice; the J.
A. Wight Memorial Award, to recognise outstanding contributions to the
welfare of companion animals; the Woodrow Award, for outstanding
contributions in the field of small animal veterinary medicine; the Blaine
Award, for outstanding contributions to the advancement of small animal
veterinary medicine or surgery; the Amoroso Award, for outstanding
contributions to small animal studies by a non-clinical member of university
staff; the Simon Award, for outstanding contributions in the field of
veterinary surgery; and the Bourgelat Award, for outstanding contributions to
the international field of small animal practice.
As well as the nominated awards, there is also the opportunity for
individuals to apply for the BSAVA Frank Beattie Travel Scholarship. Worth
4,000, it is to help a BSAVA member to undertake a trip abroad to study a
particular aspect of veterinary practice.
VP AUGUST 2011 EVENTS 23
ATTENDANCE at this years BVA
congress is set to reach double the
figure achieved for the past couple of
years, predicts the associations
president Harvey Locke.
That confidence is based on the
response to date from members to a
programme which offers an enticing
combination of political debate and
high quality CPD.
Politics is always at the core of any
BVA congress but the
feedback we get from
members is that clinical
CPD is an important
attraction and so
through collaboration
with the BSAVA we are
able to offer two days of
presentations from big
name speakers for small
animal practitioners.
We think it is a very exciting
programme and that is reflected in the
numbers who have registered so far,
with the result that we are optimistic
that there will be twice as many there
this year than last, he says.
Vets in a changing world is the theme
that he has chosen for the meeting to be
held at the Royal College of Physicians
in London from 22nd to 24th
September. But as well as considering
the professions response to the forces
that are shaping our common future, it
will also be celebrating the vital role
played by veterinary surgeons in driving
those changes.
One of the key moments in this
World Veterinary Year 2011 marking
the professions 250th anniversary was
the formal announcement in June that
rinderpest has been eradicated.
British veterinary surgeons played a
key role in that global campaign against
one of the most devastating of all
livestock diseases. Sadly, Walter
Plowright, who developed the first
effective vaccine against the disease, will
not be present, having died in February
last year at the age of 86.
But one of those who took up the
mantle will be there to deliver the
Wooldridge Memorial Lecture. He is
veterinary virologist Peter Roeder, who
was appointed secretary
of the United Nations
Food and Agricultural
Organisations Global
Rinderpest Eradication
Programme in 2000 and
was closely involved in
the project long after his
official retirement in
2007.
Making a global impact
is the title of his lecture which will
outline the contribution made by
veterinary scientists to the rinderpest
project and will go on to explain how
they are working to control the other
major plagues that affect food
producing animals.
Ever-present threat
Maintaining food security in a world
where the human population is set to
reach nine billion by 2050 will be one of
the key themes of the meeting. The
BVAs overseas group is organising a full
days session that will be looking at how
vets can help in achieving the necessary
increase in the supply of animal protein.
Even with the current global
population, the threat of starvation is
ever-present across large parts of the
world and the afternoon session will
examine the role of vets in
humanitarian relief
work during famines
and other natural
disasters.
The contentious
issues sessions on
Friday and Saturday
form the backbone of
the meeting and will
address some of the
most pressing issues
facing the profession
today. The opening
speaker will be Jim
Paice, minister of state
for agriculture and
food, who will describe
what his government
wants from the
veterinary profession
under its Big Society
agenda.
Later, farm
practitioners can learn
what their clients expect
from them as
agricultural economist
Richard Bennett reports
on the Veterinary
Development Council investigation into
veterinary services, which he chaired.
Other debates will look at the extent
to which veterinary procedures may be
delegated to lay staff under the
proposed Veterinary Services Act; the
continuing calls for controls on the
breeding of dogs with inherited
disorders; the looming crisis in the
funding of veterinary education; and the
challenges to UK disease control posed
by devolving powers to the national
administrations.
Then, of course, there is the
BSAVAs contribution in providing its
parent body with the
same high standard of
lectures enjoyed by
delegates to its own
congress in Birmingham.
There will be three
separate streams looking
at common yet
challenging clinical
problems in feline
medicine, gastrointestinal
medicine and surgery, and
cardiorespiratory
medicine.
The programme has
been put together by Ian
Ramsey, professor of
small animal medicine at
the Glasgow veterinary
school. He says the three
sessions share a common
purpose in helping
general practitioners
develop a more efficient
approach to handling the
sort of disorders that will
turn up regularly in their
waiting rooms.
He knows, of
course, that it is often difficult to
absorb and apply all the information
received during formal CPD
presentations.
So, as an unusual feature of the
programme, there will be a quiz
session at the end of each day which is
intended to be a bit of fun but which
also has a serious purpose.
What we are hoping to do is to
set the information in the context of a
clinical case so that people will be
ready to use what they have learned as
soon as they go back to their practice,
he says.
THE 2011 congress of the British
Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA)
takes place in Liverpool from Thursday
to Saturday, 8th to 10th September.
With top class science including an
exceptional speaker line-up, an extensive
trade exhibition and legendary social
events, this is one event not to be
missed, says the association.
Proceedings begin with the
presidents reception, hosted by Deidre
Carson, on Wednesday 7th September
in Liverpools Arena and Convention
Centre (ACC).
It is the associations 50th year and
BEVA intends to celebrate in a
traditional British style.
This event runs from
6.30pm to 8pm.
There will be happy
hours in the exhibition
on both Thursday and
Friday, starting at 5.30pm,
and the social events
conclude with the annual
dinner (sponsored by MSD Animal
Health) on Friday evening in Liverpools
St Georges Hall.
Five streams
The scientific programme, spread over
three days with five streams running
concurrently, will reflect some of the
challenges that the London Olympics
will bring and cover major themes such
as: treating the competition horse,
emerging diseases, the foot, and the
back.
The programme will
also cover specific topics
such as reproduction and
neonatology, clinical
pathology, dermatology,
internal medicine and
standing surgery.
There will be a nursing
stream, sponsored by the
BVNA, on Friday and sessions on
practice management in Saturday
afternoon, sponsored by the VDS.
A highlight will be the 2011 plenary
lecture, entitled Evolution of the horse, and
its skeletal adaptation from browser to grazer
and, finally, to elite athlete, which will be
given by the former dean of the
Cambridge veterinary school, Professor
Leo Jeffcott, official veterinary surgeon
at the last five Olympics. He will speak
at 11.15 on Thursday, immediately after
the presidents opening address.
Association aims to double congress turnout
Walter Plowright and
(below) Peter Roeder.
BEVA marks 50 years with return to Liverpool
Charity CPD event for vets and nurses
CAVE Veterinary Specialists is to run a CPD event for vets and nurses on
Saturday 10th September in its new centre near Wellington, Somerset.
There will be lectures on chemotherapy, radiotherapy, joint replacement, soft
tissue surgery, CT and ultrasound imaging, and clinical pathology, with separate
nursing and veterinary streams.
More than 200 delegates are expected and all proceeds will be donated to the
NOWZAD Dogs charity, a Plymouth-based charity that rescues stray, abandoned
and injured animals in Afghanistan and helps to train Afghan vets.
The days runs from 9am until 5pm and costs 36 (with lunch). For further
information, contact Charlie Harris on 01823 653510, charris@cave-vet-
specialists.co.uk, or see www.cave-vet-specialists.co.uk.
VP AUGUST 2011
PAPERS ON ORAL
CONDITIONS IN
SMALL ANIMALS
Retrospective study of 113 cases
of feline orofacial pain syndrome
Clare Rusbridge and others, Stone
Lion Veterinary Centre, Wimbledon
Feline orofacial pain syndrome (FOPS)
is a painful disorder that occurs mainly
in Burmese cats, causing behavioural
signs of oral discomfort and tongue
mutilation. The predominance within
one breed suggests an inherited
disorder, possibly involving central
and/or ganglion processing of sensory
trigeminal information.
The authors describe the clinical
features of 113 cases, 100 of which
were Burmese. The discomfort is
usually unilateral, episodic and appears
to be triggered by mouth movements.
However, the signs are often recurrent
and can become unremitting, leading to
euthanasia in 12% of cases in this
series.
Sensitisation of trigeminal nerve
endings as a consequence of oral
disease or tooth eruption appears to be
an important aetiological factor. In
many cases, traditional analgesics
appear to be ineffective, although
treatment using anti-convulsants with
analgesic effects did help in managing
the condition.
Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 12
(6): 498-508.
Treatment of dental abscesses in
rabbits with a wound packing
technique
Michael Taylor and others,
University of Guelph, Ontario
Dental abscesses are a common finding
in rabbits. These will often produce
thick, caseous pus that is difficult to
drain and contains anaerobic bacteria
which are challenging to culture and
identify.
The authors describe a treatment
method involving minimal surgical
debridement followed by packing the
abscess cavity with antimicrobial-
impregnated gauze. Used in a series of
13 cases, they found that this was an
effective and practical option for the
long-term resolution of abscesses when
combined with systemic treatment with
appropriate antimicrobials.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical
Association 237 (12): 1,444-1,449.
Development of a bone plate for
repairing mandibular fractures in
dogs
Elisangela Freitas and others, Sao
Paulo State University, Brazil
Mandibular fractures are a common
consequence of trauma in dogs and
various surgical techniques have been
described in attempting to restore
function.
The authors describe the
development of a titanium plate used
to fix fractures of the mandibular body
and validate the project using finite
elements and biomechanical assays.
They state that their double-arch
geometry plate fixed with blocked
monocortical screws had sufficient
resistance to stabilise oblique fractures
without compromising mandibular
dental or neurovascular structures.
Journal of Veterinary Dentistry 27 (4): 212-
221.
Objective interpretation of
dental disease in rabbits, guinea
pigs and chinchillas
Estella Boehmer* and David
Crossley, Ludwig-Maximilians
University, Munich*
Dental disease is common in rabbits
and pet rodent species. Published
studies explain the importance of
thorough radiographic examination and
offer advice on treatment, but they have
not described methods for ascertaining
the degree of any pathological changes.
The authors have drawn up anatomical
reference lines adapted to the particular
anatomy of the three species. These
measurements could be useful for
practitioners in accurately monitoring
progress of dental changes and thus
predicting the probable long-term
prognosis.
European Journal of Companion Animal
Practice 21 (1): 47-56.
[Reprinted from Tieraerztliche Praxis
Kleintiere 37: 250-260]
Biological behaviour of oral and
perioral mast cell tumours in
dogs
Lorin Hillman and others,
University of Illinois, Urbana
Mast cell tumours are the most
common malignant skin cancer in dogs
and their biological behaviour may be
determined in part by their anatomical
position. The authors investigate the
clinical outcome in cases affecting the
oral mucosa and perioral region. The
median survival time was 52 months;
26 of the 44 dogs had regional lymph
node metastasis on admission, which
was negatively associated with survival
time. Expression of the chemokine
receptor type 7 in the primary tumour
was not shown to be an indicator of
metastasis or survival time.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical
Association 237 (8): 936-942.
Oral examination results in
rescued ferrets
Viacheslav Eroshin and others,
University of Pennsylvania
The domestic ferret (Mustela furo) is
commonly used as an animal model for
research on human oral conditions. The
authors looked at the frequency of oral
pathologies in rescued ferrets, which
have not been previously examined in
the literature. Common findings
included malocclusion of mandibular
second incisors (in 95% of the 63
animals examined), extrusion of canine
teeth (94%) and abrasion and attrition
of teeth (76%). There was no evidence
of tooth resorption, dental caries,
stomatitis or oral tumours in this group.
Journal of Veterinary Dentistry 28 (1): 8-
15.
Dealing with persistent calculus
build up on teeth in canine
patients
Daniel Carmichael, Veterinary
Medical Center, West Islip, New
York
Practitioners often find that there is a
build up of calculus on the teeth of
canine patients within six months of
carrying out a full cleaning procedure.
However, in an Ask the expert feature,
the author explains that the process of
plaque bacteria colonising a tooth may
begin within 24 hours of treatment. He
emphasises the importance of daily
brushing in promoting good oral
hygiene, as brushing weekly or even
once every three days will not be
enough to prevent colonisation. He
recommends use of a soft bristled
manual or battery operated toothbrush.
Veterinary Medicine 106 (2): 66-68.
Short-term treatment with
corticosteroids in cats with
gingivostomatitis
Daniel Carmichael, Veterinary
Medical Center, West Islip, New
York
Feline gingivostomatitis involves
extensive and painful inflammation of
the mouth and associated structures.
The exact cause is unclear but as clinical
signs may resolve after removing all
teeth, it may be caused by a reaction to
some aspect of the teeth, possibly an
antigen in the plaque bacteria. In
another Ask the expert feature, the
author assesses the therapeutic role of
corticosteroids. He advises against long-
term therapy at high doses but suggests
that short-term treatment with
methylprednisolone may help in
managing the condition.
Veterinary Medicine 106 (5): 232-233.
Links between bacterial and viral
infections and gingivostomatitis
in cats
Kristy Dowers and others, Colorado
State University
Feline gingivostomatitis is a painful
condition causing halitosis, dysphagia,
anorexia and weight loss. The condition
has been linked to a range of different
bacterial and viral infections. The
authors compare the results of PCR
analysis and other laboratory tests in 70
cats with feline gingivostomatitis and 61
healthy controls. There were no
differences in the frequency of positive
results in tests for Bartonella species or
feline herpesvirus 1. However, there
was a significantly higher rate of
infection with feline calicivirus in the
group with oral lesions.
Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 12
(4): 314-321.
Lingual and renal lymphoma in a
cat
Nicola Bound and others, Royal
Veterinary College, London
An 11-year-old female neutered
domestic shorthair was presented with
a history of polydipsia, lingual swelling
and ulceration. On clinical examination,
the cats tongue was found to be grossly
enlarged and with associated regional
lymphadenopathy. Computed
tomography showed conspicuous
lesions within the tongue and biopsy
results confirmed that this was due to
lymphoma. The cat was euthanased
after developing respiratory distress.
Necropsy findings also showed
evidence of lymphoma lesions in the
left kidney.
Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 13
(4): 272-275.
Systemic responses to treatment
of periodontal disease in dogs
Jennifer Rawlinson and others,
University of Pennsylvania
Periodontal disease is characterised by
inflammation and infection of the
gingiva, periodontal ligament and
alveolar bone. The authors investigated
whether this very common condition
is correlated with systemic health
indices in 38 otherwise healthy dogs.
There were significant correlations
between loss of attachment of the
tooth roots and platelet numbers and
creatinine concentration. In individual
dogs there were significant reductions
in C-reactive protein concentrations
and an increase in blood urea nitrogen
levels following treatment.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical
Association 238 (5): 601-609.
Tongue entrapment by chew
toys in two dogs
Alejandro Rubio and others,
University of Ghent, Belgium
Compression of a chewable toy during
play may create a vacuum effect that
can potentially cause entrapment of
the tongue or other tissues. The
authors describe two such cases in
young dogs, a female dachshund and a
male French bulldog, resulting in
severe tissue swelling, oedema and
vascular obstruction. In the former,
the toy was removed under general
anaesthesia and the dog made an
uneventful recovery. However, in the
second case the toy was forcibly
removed by the owner and the
resultant necrosis required partial
amputation of the tongue.
Journal of Small Animal Practice 51 (10):
558-560.
DENTISTRY
24




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80% of dogs and 70% of cats, by the age of 3, suffer from oral problems.
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Cat and Dog dental kits
Contains toothpaste, toothbrush
and nger brush.
An ideal starter kit.
Rinsing (daily)
Drinking water additive
fresh breath and
ongoing support
Vet Aquadent
Drinking water additive for
cats and dogs.
Xylitol-based inhibits
bacterial replication.
Eliminates bad breath.
Helps control plaque buildup.
Use daily in fresh drinking
water to maintain a
healthy mouth.
Dental chews for Dogs
maintain clean teeth
and healthy gums
VeggieDent
Natural and highly palatable.
Z shape enhances
cleaning action of
teeth and gums.
Aids control of
plaque and tartar
buildup.
Maintains healthy
gums.
Physical and enzymatic
removal of debris
and plaque
Toothbrushing (daily)
Starting... Finger brush
Helps a pet become
accustomed to having
their teeth brushed.
Move on to a proper
toothbrush as soon as possible.
Continuing...
Cat and Dog toothbrushes
Ensures effective cleaning in all
areas of the mouth.
Available individually or as part
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Email enquiries@virbac.co.uk www.virbac.co.uk
Hexarinse
For owners who cannot
brush their pets teeth.
Chlorhexidine-based.
Enzymatic toothpaste
(Poultry and Fish avour)
Contains CET dual enzyme system.
Designed to inhibit
plaque-forming bacteria.
Available individually or
as part of a dental kit.
Parodongyl toothpaste
Chlorhexidine-based
toothpaste.
Aids plaque and
bacterial control.
Use in dental surgery
Hexarinse
Chlorhexidine-based rinse.
For use before, during and
after dental surgery.
Controls levels of bacteria in
the mouth.
Figures 2A and 2B.
THE American Veterinary Dental
College (AVDC) has recently revised
its classification of dental fractures.
The aim of this article is to try and
help veterinary surgeons standardise
their use of the new terminology
and to discuss some clinical features.
The typical passive biting force of
dogs is of the order of 300-800 psi
(2,000-5,500 Kpa) and the abrupt
snapping biting force can be 100 times
this value so dogs teeth are designed
to be highly
resilient.
An outer
coating of
enamel (the
hardest
substance in
the body)
covers a lining of dentine, which in turn
protects the sensitive pulpal tissues. The
tooth itself is then suspended in a
complex shock absorber, the
periodontal ligament, which helps
diffuse much of the biting forces. It is a
testament to this normal strength and
design that tooth fractures are not more
common.
Enamel infraction
Figures 1A and 1B show infraction:
these are typically old teeth in dogs that
have been active chewers. The enamel
has a series of fine lines or cracks
running across its surface. There does
not seem to be any increased sensitivity
in the teeth and whilst there is a
theoretical weakening of the tooth, this
does not appear to have any clinical
relevance.
The good news is that these teeth
usually require no treatment; however,
as an indicator that the teeth may have
been subject to repeated and strong
forces, it makes sense to closely examine
the rest of the mouth for any other
more severe fractures.
Enamel fracture
Enamel fracture is where the fracture
has actually removed a small fragment
of the enamel, exposing a deeper layer
of enamel or the
underlying dentine. These little fractures
are commonly seen along the cusps of
the teeth (Figures 2A and 2B).
These fractures will frequently go
undiagnosed and will often cause little
or no problems. Occasionally there may
be heightened sensitivity, especially in
younger dogs where the pulp chamber
is wider and closer to the exposed
fracture site. A small patch repair of
light-cured composite can be applied at
the time of another procedure.
Uncomplicated crown fracture
A deeper fracture line exposes the
tooths dentine but does not impinge
on the pulp chamber itself. It is
important to remember that dentines
structure is a series of small tubes (like a
stack of straws) that run towards the
pulp chamber.
These are formed by the
odontoblasts which lay
down the dentine and
continue to do so during
the life of the tooth. If
the odontoblast dies, then
a direct channel is opened
up to the pulp chamber
itself. This intimate
relationship between the
dentine and the pulp
chamber (which contains
the tooths blood vessels,
nerves, lymphatics, etc.)
explains why
uncomplicated tooth
fractures (Figures 3A and
3B) are frequently
associated with some
sensitivity of the teeth.
Dogs may be reluctant to
drink very cold water, or
may preferentially use one
side of their mouths.
Although, as can be
seen from the radiograph
(Figure 3C), the pulp
chamber itself is not compromised by
the fracture, these fractures can
occasionally lead to tooth death.
Radiographic assessment and follow-up
is desirable.
Wherever possible I like to place a
protective cap over these fractures.
After the tooth is prepared it is carefully
acid etched. It is important to remember
that the exposed dentine can provide a
pathway for irritants to
affect the pulp therefore
etching is never as
prolonged as it would be
for uncompromised
enamel.
A light-cured adhesive
is then applied and a
white filling of light-
cured composite is placed
over the exposed fracture
site. After curing, the
filling is carefully shaped
and polished to try and
limit plaque accumulation
post-operatively.
Clients frequently report
an improvement in the dogs behaviour
post-operatively.
Figures 4A and 4B show an
uncomplicated fracture
and its repair.
Complicated crown
fracture
With a complicated
fracture, the fracture line
extends into the pulp
chamber (Figure 5).
Whilst not recognised
in the AVDC
classification, clinically
these fractures can be
divided
into
fresh
and old.
Fresh
fractures may present with acute pain
and bleeding from the exposed pulp, or
for a few days they will still show a pink
or reddish pulp. For these very acute
fractures, it can be possible to preserve
the vitality of the tooth
by performing a vital
partial pulpotomy.
Here the tooth is
prepared in a sterile
fashion, a small portion
of the pulp is removed
hopefully retaining
healthy vital pulp. A
bandage of calcium
hydroxide (I initially use
a powder preparation,
then a solid version) is
followed by a white
filling material.
The sooner a
fractured tooth is
presented, the better the chances of a
successful vital partial pulpotomy
(Figures 6A to 6F); if left more than
24-48 hours, success rates decrease.
Additionally, the older the tooth, the
narrower the pulp chamber and the
poorer the blood supply this can also
decrease the chances of success.
If this procedure is performed, it is
vital that the owner buys into the fact
that follow-up radiographic assessment
will be required for a minimum of three
years as late failures have been
known. If the fracture is older, the
tooth more mature, or if a more certain
result is required, then a full root canal
TOOTH FRACTURES
Robert D. (Bob) Partridge, BVM&S,
MRCVS, has been involved in
veterinary dentistry for well over 20
years and runs a busy referral practice
at Oak Beck Hospital in Harrogate. He
lectures on the subject for Improve
International and others with an
emphasis on the practical approach
for clinicians. He founded Pet Smile
Month, is a past president of the
BVHA and an elected member of the
Royal College Council.
BOB PARTRIDGE
looks at the revised American system
of dental fracture classication and
the treatment available for the various
types of fracture
Figures 3A, 3B and 3C.
Figures 4A and 4B
(above) an
uncomplicated
fracture and its repair;
and (right) Figure 5.
If a vital partial
pulpotomy is
performed, it is
vital that the
owner buys
into the fact
that follow-up
radiographic
assessment will
be required for
a minimum of
three years...
Figures 1A and 1B.
VP AUGUST 2011 DENTISTRY 27
DENTISTRY VP AUGUST 2011
treatment (or extraction) should be
performed.
Older fractures tend to present with
a darkly coloured or black pit at the
entrance to the exposed pulp cavity.
These teeth require either
extraction or full root
canal treatment; if left,
tooth root granulomae or
root abscesses will
develop.
Certainly they are
associated with on-going
pain and malaise
however, this may only be
recognised by the owner
(or veterinary surgeon)
after treatment has resolved the
problem.
Abrasion
Abrasion is not a fracture of the
tooth,
merely an
abnormal
excessive
wearing
process (as
opposed to
attrition,
which is
the normal
wear from
masti-
cation).
With
excessive wear, the crown of the tooth
is reduced in height, bringing the pulp
chamber closer to the active surface of
the tooth.
The odontoblasts lining the pulp
chamber respond to this by laying down
reparative (Figure 7A) or tertiary
dentine to allow the pulp chamber to
retreat away from the active surface.
This tertiary dentine is often more
disorganised and tends to take up
staining from the oral cavity, resulting in
a brown pigmentation.
This can be difficult to differentiate
from an exposed pulp chamber (Figure
7B) unless a dental
explorer is run over its
surface. The probe will
drop into the pit of an
exposed pulp chamber,
whereas it will glide over
the surface of reparative
dentine.
One of the worst
causes of dental
abrasion is tennis balls
(Figure 8). These trap
dirt and grit in their
fabric and effectively act
as sandpaper on the
teeth. Sometimes the
wear patterns are quite
characteristic. Kong toys
and similar pose fewer
problems.
Uncomplicated
crown root fracture
Figures 9A to 9C show
uncomplicated crown
root fractures and 9D
with a crown in place.
Because of the
gingival attachment, the
fractured tooth fragment
may remain in place,
which can hinder
diagnosis. However,
because the enamel
bulge of the tooth is
lost, food materials tend
to pack into the periodontal space,
inevitably leading to periodontal disease.
Whilst crowns in a situation where
they will be closely adjacent to the
gingival margin are not ideal, they do
allow protection of the sensitive
periodontal areas. Therefore, with
compliant clients providing good oral
hygiene, they can be considered.
Complicated crown root fracture
Figure 10 shows a complicated crown
root fracture. If the fracture line extends
just below the gingival margin, then the
tooth can sometimes be salvaged by
using a procedure to crown lengthen
28
Figures 6A-F. Vital
partial pulpotomy.
Figure 7A. Reparative
dentine; and (right)
Figure 7B. Exposed
pulp canal old
fracture.
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Figure 8. Tennis ball abrasion.
Figures 9A-9C.
Uncomplicated crown
root fracture. Figure 9D
(below). Crown in
place.
Comment
THE RCVS is about to embark
upon a review of the Day One
Competencies of veterinary
graduates. It is interesting to
compare the current stringent
requirements for graduates to
spend many days studying meat
hygiene and the lack of similar
requirements for graduates to be
familiar with dentistry.
Whilst I have no wish for our
public health role to be diluted, the
emphasis of the training does not
reflect the relatively small number
of veterinary surgeons that spend a
significant proportion of their time
in abattoirs.
By comparison, most veterinary
surgeons in practice deal with
companion animals and 80% of
their mature patients require dental
treatment. I hope that some formal
recognition of the importance of
veterinary dentistry to most vets
working lives will be achieved in the
review.
VP AUGUST 2011 DENTISTRY 29
the tooth (effectively moving the
gingival attachments down onto the
root of the tooth) and then
performing a root canal treatment.
However, many cases are similar to
those in Figures 11A and B which are
impossible to treat and require
extraction.
Root fractures
The clinical signs of a root fracture
(Figure 12) will vary with the level of
the fracture. If the fracture is within
the first third (the most apical portion)
of the root, then the tooth is likely to
be quite stable.
The tooth may also survive and the
Dental congresses ahead
THE 20th European Congress of Veterinary Dentistry is to be held in Halkidiki,
Greece, from 1st to 3rd September. This is a scientific and study event organised
by the European Veterinary Dental Society (EVDS) with the assistance of the
European Veterinary Dental College (EVDC) and
a local organising committee.
There will be a study day at Thessalonika
University on the Thursday followed by a welcome
reception in the evening. Two full days of scientific
and clinical presentations follow on Friday and
Saturday, with two and sometimes three streams
running concurrently, beginning with the essential
skills of radiography and surgical extractions.
Speakers from the UK are David Crossley and Peter Southerden; other
speakers are from the USA, The Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Greece, France,
Japan, Czech Republic, Germany, Portugal, Slovenia and Canada.
A gala dinner will be held on the Friday evening.
Details are on the website www.ecvd.info.
World congress
The 11th World Veterinary Dental Congress will be held
in South Africa in association with the 30th World
Veterinary Association Congress at the Cape Town
International Convention Centre from 10th to 14th
October.
Organised by Dr Cedric Tutt and Dr Gerhard
Steenkamp on the WVA organising committee, there will
be papers each day in streams covering small animals,
equine (with Professor Paddy Dixon from the Edinburgh
veterinary school among the speakers) and wildlife,
including presentations for nurses. The coverage is wide-ranging, from tusk
extraction in African elephants to parrot jaw repair. For details see the website
www. worldvetcongress2011.com.
Figure 10.
Figures 11A and 11B.
tooth root may heal if the
trauma has not been too
severe and there is minimal
displacement. However, if
the blood supply is
compromised then the tooth
may die and colour changes
can be seen on the tooth
crown.
If the fracture is within
the coronal third (the
portion nearest to the
crown), then the crown itself may be
unstable and be identified for
extraction.
Without a pre-operative radiograph,
the veterinary surgeon
may be faced with an
unpleasant surprise
when only extracting a
portion of the tooth
root and faced with a
more complicated
extraction than
expected.
Conclusion
Using the internationally
agreed terminology will assist both in
accurate record-keeping and also in
providing the practitioner with
assistance in decision making.
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Figure 12.
VP AUGUST 2011
Bias
Like most individuals, veterinarians
have different perceptions of, and
motivations for, decision making. No
matter how logical clinicians think they
are, they are still likely to have some
degree of bias that could affect the
quality of their decisions.
A study involving vets assessing
metritis found that not only did their
scores lack
consistency
within and
between
observers
(variation) but
also that vets
made their
decisions at three different levels of
focus (cow, farm, population).
4
Treatment choices can also be
affected by bias. One study found that
doctors may prefer one treatment over
another objectively similar one, select a
sub-optimal treatment, or maintain an
unsuccessful treatment beyond the
point when they should choose an
alternative course.
5
The same study suggested that
there is some evidence that the
adoption of an evidence-based
medicine approach or the
incorporation of formal analytical
tools to make decisions can improve
the quality of doctors reasoning.
Risk analysis
Of course, one of the most
frightening things about making
decisions, is that there is generally
some degree of associated risk. This
may be because there has been some
uncertainty during the decision-making
process (not all of the facts were
known or available), because a number
of credible alternative solutions
existed, or the process was influenced
by subjective views, bias or ambiguity.
Risk analysis includes risk
assessment, risk perception and risk
management.
6
Risk assessment addresses the
probability that a likely sequence of
events will occur. Some people rely on
the opinion of an expert to come to
that conclusion, others look at the
consensus of opinion by a panel of
experts.
In insurance, probability curves can
be mapped, looking at the likelihood
of events occurring and the likely
losses that could be anticipated as a
result. Linking probability and
outcomes can be useful in a more
practical sense too, by helping
clinicians frame their dialogue with
clients.
In some situations there may be a
low to medium probability that an
event could occur (e.g. risk of side
effects of a
medicine), but if it did the
consequences would be significant
(organ failure or death). In this
scenario, it may be that clients would
opt for the lowest probability of side
effects, even if this meant paying more
for a medicine, or choosing one that
was more difficult to administer.
Perceived risk
Risk perception also comes into play
here. Studies have found that when
people had little knowledge about a
hazard and also dreaded the
consequences of that hazard, it was
perceived as being most risky
7
and
some hazards gain a stigma that is
not borne out by the scientific
evidence.
It is very easy for the scientific
community to belittle these
perceptions because they are not based
on fact. Certainly, in situations where
compliance matters, the publics
perception of the risks associated with
certain treatments has to be carefully
considered.
What pet owners read on the
internet is likely to have an impact.
Google terms like NSAID risks in
dogs and it immediately becomes
obvious that the information pet
owners use to make their decisions
may alter their perceptions of the
value of some treatments.
On the plus side, a US report
found that clients rate the internet
fourth in trustworthiness, with vets by
far the most trusted source of pet
health information.
8
Another study found that when
clients visited a healthcare facility
website, they required less time to
process information and make medical
decisions.
9
Perhaps, then, there is
scope to not only provide information
on practice websites but also to give
the level of information that will help
clients to make better decisions, in
everything from when to seek help, to
preferred treatment options.
Risk management involves tackling
both the actual risk and the perception
of risk. Crisis prevention could involve
developing contingency plans, which
can be built into, or sit alongside,
practical protocols.
There may be possibilities to use
existing resources differently or use
new resources, such as new treatments
or equipment, to mitigate risk.
If the decision-making process in
use has been robust, logical and
allowed all the alternatives to be
properly evaluated, then that in itself
will ensure that clinicians are sensitive
to the presence of risk and that the
final decision is made with reference to
that risk.
There are opportunities to increase
confidence in the decisions we make.
References and further reading
4. Lastein, D. B., Vaarst, M. and
Enevoldsen, C. (2009) Veterinary
decision making in relation to
metritis a qualitative approach to
understand the background for
variation and bias in veterinary
medical records. Acta Vet Scand 51(1):
36.
5. Bornstein, B. H. and Emler, A. C.
(2001) Rationality in medical decision
making: a review of the literature on
doctors decision-making biases.
Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice
7 (2): 97-107.
6. Risk Analysis, Kunreuther H
(accepted for publication in the
Social Science Encyclopedia).
7. Slovic, P. (1987) The Perception of
Risk. Science 236 (4,799): 280-285.
8. Kogan et al (2010) The Internet
and Pet Health Information:
perceptions and behaviours of pet
owners and veterinarians. The Internet
Journal of Veterinary Medicine 8 (1).
9. Fergusson, T. (2000) Online
patient-helpers and physicians
working together: a new partnership
for high quality health care. BMJ 321:
1,129-1.132.
10. Mullan, S. and Main, D. (2001)
Principles of ethical decision-making
in veterinary practice. In Practice 23:
394-401.
11. Markkula Centre for Applied
Ethics, A Framework for Thinking
Ethically.
www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decisi
on/framework.html.
PRACTICE
30
CLINICAL DECISION MAKING 2
SUSAN McKAY
continues the series on the process of
making clinical decisions in practice,
with a look at bias and analysis of
risk, both real and perceived
Susan McKay, BVM&S, MRCVS, MBA,
qualied at Edinburgh in 1988 and
now, as well as writing extensively, runs
Companion Consultancy, which
provides veterinary business services
to the animal health industry.
Protest over VAT on
pet treatments in
South Korea
A NEW tax on medical expenses for
pets in South Korea, that came into
effect last month, has been facing
growing resistance from pet owners,
animal rights groups and veterinarians.
Thousands of people, including
veterinary surgeons, have been
protesting about the governments
move to levy a 10% value added tax
on medical expenditure for pets in
Gwacheon, Gyeongg.
Those opposed to the tax have
been calling for an exemption, as is the
case for medical expenses for livestock
and humans.
The biggest problem is that the
government regards raising pets as a
luxury, said Cho Hee-kyung, head of
the Korean Society for Animal
Freedom.
The new tax was part of an
amendment to the value-added tax law,
which was modified last December. In
addition to medical expenses for pets,
the amendment eliminates value added
tax exemptions for cosmetic surgery
and driving schools.
The Ministry of Strategy and
Finance says the new tax will generate
an additional 13 billion won ($US12.1
million) in tax revenue, but denied that
the aim of the new policy was to
generate money.
In principle, value added tax is
supposed to be levied on all products
and services to prevent distortion in
taxation, a ministry official said. In
other countries where value added tax
is levied, the tax is imposed on
veterinarian services as well.
Student revolt in India
over discrimination
ABOUT 100 students of NTR
College of Veterinary Sciences at
Gannavaram in Andhra Pradesh,
India, scaled the college terrace and
dome of their college recently,
demanding immediate withdrawal of a
Government order that they claim
discriminates against students from
some areas getting jobs after they
graduate.
The students alleged that too many
with lesser merit had been accepted
and wanted the rules changed so
meritorious students were given a
chance to get jobs. The demonstration
went on for more than a month.
Some graduates who got 80% marks
in their final exams were ignored while
those with 50% and 60% were
selected for jobs in one region.
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*
VP AUGUST 2011 BEHAVIOUR 33
IM on the train. These words
now seem designed to drive
many of us mad. Along that is
with the bleeps, burps and jingles
that so often indicate someone
has failed to turn off their
infernal electronic
communication device, no
matter what the occasion.
And for many companion canines,
the mobile phone also seems to have
become a curse with an equal ability to
undermine communal activities and
spoil every outing that supposedly takes
place for the benefit of the pet.
How so?
Well, walks
should always
be more than
just a change
of scene,
especially for
those dogs
that spend many hours alone or home
with busy, distracted people, who are to
all intents and purposes absent in the
emotional, intellectual and satisfying-
companion roles that humans should
play when there are no canine or other
animal playmates available.
Variation, training, games and
sniffing easily make walks
interesting
Taking the dog out is simply not, on
its own, enough. It really is our
responsibility to make any trips away
from home as stimulating and satisfying
as possible for the pets that are
dependent upon us for dictating how,
where and when they carry out the
whole range of their daily activities.
Of course, the value such
opportunities afford for checking up on
the outside world, investigating and
collating new and changing
environmental cues, be they physical or
social, in the most meaningful way
possible from the canine perspective
should not be underestimated.
So short walks, if that is all that can
be managed, which provide little more
than the chance to sniff the olfactory
information left by previously passing
canines, can be very helpful in relieving
boredom and adding interest to an
otherwise rather dull day.
Yet owners and walkers, who are
oblivious to what the dog or dogs they
are in charge of are actually doing, can
frequently be seen yanking a desperately
sniffing pooch away from the base of
the lamppost, car tyre or garden fence
he or she is intensely scrutinising.
These people may be in an almighty
rush, although often the same culprits
are spotted doing the some thing on a
number of occasions, which appears to
indicate they simply dont allot their
pets needs enough time and should in
his or her welfare interests rethink their
priorities.
And sadly, for many animal
guardians the reality is that
understanding of the significance of
such canine activity and its importance
for an intelligent, social species in
counteracting the tedium that
characterises the lives of so many of
our pet dogs, particularly those that live
an urban existence,
is completely lacking.
Human preoccupations often
undermine the value of outings
Such incidents, therefore, highlight a real
problem. For too many owners, taking
their dogs for walks, no matter how
brief, brisk or mind-numbingly similar
they are day in and day out, is all that
matters.
While even for those who are
diligent in ensuring walks take place
frequently and in a range of locations,
their own responsibility to actively
participate often goes unrecognised.
Thus, thanks to the wonders of the
electronic age, outings become little
more than an opportunity for people to
carry on working, return social calls,
arrange shopping or book
appointments.
From the canine point of view,
being tugged round the block, or even
taken to a park and then just walked in
the same old direction for the same
length of time as on every other
occasion while the supposed companion
chats away on the mobile, is not only a
let down but a significant factor in a
range of problem behaviours.
Frustration is a constant issue with
many dogs, especially those from
traditionally working breeds, particularly
if bred directly from parents who are
still very much in the field, while their
offspring have been transplanted to the
town.
Collies and terriers have an
especially rough time so it really is no
wonder they figure highly in the case-
load of many behaviour counsellors.
Even lap dogs,
however, have
minds some of
them very acute
and also in need of
a fair degree of
stimulation to
ensure they dont
start channelling
their mental
energies into
unacceptable
behaviours that set
them on a collision
course with their
owners.
And whatever
the type of canine
or time pressure
under which owners are labouring, there
really is no excuse for not making walks,
albeit brief ones, interesting, productive
and fun.
Lack of awareness also
contributes to other problems
In addition, another important issue
should not be overlooked. For many
owners, lack of awareness of whom and
what their charges are meeting while
out, and particularly the manner in
which these individuals or things are
encountered, and dealt with by the dog,
figures quite highly in many fear and
anxiety related cases.
It is an illusion under which
numerous otherwise responsible people
labour that they know where their dog
is, what is happening to him or her and,
most importantly, that they, the good
citizen and owner, are in control of
their canine charge.
Yet when questioned closely, they
invariably let slip that they dont really
pay much attention to the pet whether
on the lead or running free I know
hell meet me when I get round the
corner on the way home being a
typical statement. This demonstrates a
terrifying complacency that can, and not
uncommonly does,
lead to a range of
difficulties,
including
uncharacteristic
aggression by very
nice dogs.
When the
authorities step in,
as sometimes they
do, the awful reality
that a dog that is
out of the
owners/walkers
sight is not under
control in a public place suddenly dawns
and occasionally, sad to say, it is way too
late.
Concentrating on our dogs can
pay dividends
We are none of us infallible, and
indisputably mobile phones can and do
on occasion save lives, whether human
or canine. However, there seems little
doubt that if we could simply persuade
the majority of owner/walkers when
out on walks to direct the focus of their
attention away from their own
preoccupations, which increasingly
involve electronic gadgets of some sort,
and towards their pets, we could easily
make them much more worthwhile and
satisfying companions.
In addition, by helping them to
understand just how unpredictable,
potentially scary and frequently
problematic the social and physical
worlds our pets inhabit are, and
encouraging them to actually perceive
the emotional impact of what is
happening upon the animal in question,
we could go some significant way
towards preventing or ameliorating
many of the behavioural difficulties
with which we are currently faced.
Owner inattention can cause
unnecessary problems...
FRANCESCA RICCOMINI
explains how owners could help
prevent or ameliorate many of the
behavioural difculties with which we
are currently faced by simply paying
attention
Even short or restricted walks can be made more
interesting with training sessions or satisfying activities such
as paddling.
When talking on their mobiles, owners are not always
aware of what their dog is doing and meeting.
VP AUGUST 2011
FIRST, an apology: the article
scheduled for this month regarding
the way forward for VN clinical
coach training has been delayed as
we are still awaiting a response from
the RCVS regarding the
questionnaire results recently
supplied to it. We will bring this to
you as soon as possible.
Does it always seem that you have
too much to
do and no
time to do it?
In this article
we look at
ways of re-
framing our
relationship
with time to
provide positive opportunities for the
future.
Within my coaching work I am
frequently presented with the often
plaintive exclamation that I really want
to do X but I just do not have the
time.
My response is robust, that this may
just be an excuse based on some
understandable but nonetheless false
assumptions and that the client can do
something about it if they want to.
Some huffing and puffing and
righteous indignation usually ensue but
with those who genuinely want to
change we can generally identify and
provide an extra eight hours a week.
How much more could you achieve if
you had an extra day a week to spend
on work, your family or yourself?
Internal barriers
The barriers are usually internal and the
solutions can be counter-intuitive which
is why even a visit to a bookshop and
purchasing any number of self-help
books may not help. Even though my
coaching clients are usually bright,
successful people, it is surprising how
many of them just accept the scarcity of
time as inevitable and expend little or
no effort to try to improve the situation.
The first key step is to give up the
(often strong) attachment to the excuse
and accept responsibility for the
solution so that when presented with an
opportunity there is the opportunity to
actively choose to do or not do
something.
The perceived scarcity of time in
Western society has become a socially
acceptable reality and I encourage
clients to change the wording from
cant do it to choose not to do it
with a more critical analysis of why not.
This raises both awareness and
responsibility, the first steps towards
commitment and change.
Effective time management starts
with changing your way of being. Tools,
and I shall present some in the second
article of this series, are only tools and
are of no use if you cannot implement
them. This is the second myth: no
amount of tools, gadgets and software
can provide the cheap, instant, easily
implementable and expedient solutions
that we are encouraged by modern
society to seek. These encourage you to
consciously answer the question, What
do I need to DO to get the results I
want?
Lasting solutions take some time
and effort to develop, they are often
simple but not easy. However, the time
gained in the longer term can be
substantial. They involve developing
new and enhanced levels of expertise so
that the solutions are embodied within
yourself and they answer the question,
How do I need to BE to DO the
things I need to do to get the results I
want?
Developing the expertise to embody
the solutions immediately saves you
time because you then do not need to
think about, monitor and manage the
solutions.
Simple but not easy
For the remainder of this article, I shall
focus on some of these simple but not
easy solutions. You will probably find
yourself instinctively resisting them to a
greater or less degree but I would
encourage you to sit with the
discomfort and give critical thought to
the time implications they could have
for you.
You may well need help and support
to develop the ideas into workable
solutions but this need not be difficult
to arrange.
In the second article of this series, I
shall share some of the specific tools
that have worked for my clients and
myself they may or may not work for
you.
Sphere of influence
Generally we live within two spheres:
our sphere of influence (the things we
can influence to a greater or lesser
extent) and our sphere of concern (the
things that we are concerned about but
cannot influence) (Figure 1).
For the vast majority of us, the
sphere of concern is significantly larger
than our sphere of influence. For
example, consider the angry client who
is rude and totally unreasonable.
We may intellectually accept that
there is nothing we could have done
differently but emotionally we often
spend loads of time ruminating over the
event to think of how it might have
gone differently. Time completely
wasted.
Whilst it takes time, a great deal of
time can be freed up by training yourself
to:
1. increase your sphere of influence;
2. reduce your sphere of concern; and
3. maintain a smaller but nonetheless
challenging area for learning between
the two.
Live in the present
Most of us spend most of our time
living in the past (fretting about what
has happened) or living in the future
(fretting about what might happen). We
have no influence over the former and
limited influence over the latter.
As is frequently said, The past is
history, the future is mystery, we can
only act in the present. Much time can
be gained if we just:
1. focus on the past just enough to learn
from our mistakes;
2. focus on the future just enough to
develop an effective plan whilst
accepting that reality will develop to be
something different again;
3. become aware and live fully in the
present and enjoy the
ride!
Get a plan
As Dwight D.
Eisenhower said, I
have always found
that whilst plans are
useless, planning is
indispensible, and
this is true of life
plans. Do you have
one?; Is it current?;
Have you ever had
one?
If you do not
know where you are or where you want
to go in your life, you are going to
spend significant amounts of time
fretting about alternatives that are not
even remotely relevant. It may take
months to develop and you may need
help working on it; it will almost
certainly change with time but that is
fine because it means you are taking and
being in more control of your life.
Reduce attachment
This is probably the most profound
time saver and the one that is most
difficult to accept. The writer, Stephen
Batchelor, describes activity as a form of
existential flight that keeps us from
considering the important stuff in life.
It is certainly true that busyness is often
blindly equated with efficiency, which is
rarely the case. We could all work
smarter rather than harder if we took
the time to try.
Summary
In summary, just:
1. do less;
2. expect less of others and self;
3. get a plan;
4. live fully in the present;
5. work productively within your sphere
of influence whilst also pushing yourself
towards new learning;
6. reject tasks that dont serve multiple
purposes;
7. invest in developing yourself.
For most people, the instinctive
reaction to the above is Yes, but... as
your inner self thinks of all sorts of
reasons why these things cant be true
or implemented. Thats OK. In the West
we tend towards a scarcity mentality
which is not going to be overcome in an
article of this size.
n For those with an open mind who are
interested, and under the auspices of
BEVME, I invite you to participate in a
free (online) group discussion which
will take the discussion to the next
level. E-mail me at
ChristopherWhipp@aol.com to register
an interest.
CPD
34
NO TIME TO SPARE...
CHRIS WHIPP
says the problem of too much to do
and no time to do it can be dealt with
by re-framing our relationship with
time to provide positive
opportunities for the future
Chris Whipp, BVetMed, MSc(VetGP),
MRCVS, graduated from the RVC in
1979 and in his 32 years as a
veterinary surgeon has spent 10 years
as an educational researcher and
seven as a professional and executive
coach. He currently splits his time
between rst opinion clinical practice,
providing work-based learning
programmes through Middlesex
University, professional coaching and
the BEVME A Dialogue initiative.
He can be contacted at
christopherwhipp@aol.com.
Figure 1.
VP AUGUST 2011 RECENT GRADUATES 35
I WRITE this in the sunshine, with
an iced glass of a lager and my
affiliation with Liverpool close to
my heart, looking forward to the
return of Torchwood. It is billed as
Miracle Day focusing on when the
laws of life and death change.
In the UK, the decision of life and
death remains an exclusive domain of
vets. When I
say this I
obviously
exclude those
who choose
to break the
law and social
expectations,
the food industry slaughtermen and
God. Each day is a balance of life, with
those creating it, those fighting to
maintain it, those beginning it and
those ending it.
Within the timeline we all progress
along, there are those who seek to
live and those who fail to grasp just
how valuable our most precious asset
is.
Life is a commodity we often take
for granted and one whose success is
always contextualised within the
circumstances surrounding us.
It was the great Bill Shankly who
said, Some people believe football is a
matter of life and death; I am very
disappointed with that attitude. I can
assure you it is much, much more
important than that.
At that time, football was for him
the only thing that mattered in life and,
as much as many of my friends who
support Liverpool would disagree, a
time would have
come where only the sanctity of life
would have mattered and football
would, rightly, have taken a back seat in
his life.
Unlike much of our profession,
many of my closest friends are not in
fact involved in the profession in any
way. I have attended five weddings
already this year and at each of those
my profession has been mentioned,
usually as a filler between bottles of
champagne! The usual things always
end up mentioned: It must be a great
job; You must really love animals;
I could never put an animal to sleep.
When these conversations are had,
it seems we always underestimate just
how good a job we do, how much time
we devote to performing at our best
and just how hard our job can be.
When people ask me what the best
part of my job is, I always surprise
them when I talk about euthanasia. I
firmly believe that the option of
euthanasia is the part of the job I am
most proud of and privileged to be
able to perform.
Euthanasia is the exclusive domain
of us as vets, but also a huge
responsibility. It is a special power to
possess, and is ours to use
appropriately. It is our obligation to
ensure we use this in order to prevent
suffering, whilst also ensuring we
continue to remind ourselves that life is
the most precious commodity we have.
We have no divine right as vets to
choose between life and death, but
instead are charged with making a
judgement call as to whether the
quality of life is so far compromised
that continuing life is no longer
desirable. It is this task which is both
challenging but also a privilege.
It is also important we dont get
used to euthanasia and remember
that life is the most precious gift
known to the world as we know it.
No other profession in the world
can proclaim to be involved to the
extent we are in life, from the start
when we perform the caesarean, the
lifetime where we provide prophylactic
healthcare, husbandry advice and
medical therapy, and at the end where
we may perform euthanasia.
It is a drain on our emotions, and
one only fellow vets can truly
comprehend and process. Some of my
friends have horribly stressful days
but I dont think anything can
realistically compare to the euthanasia
of your favourite clients long-standing
case that you have treated all its life.
Euthanasia is a concept that is
exclusive to us as vets and one we must
respect and use appropriately. It is also
something we must endeavour to not
become hardened to and remind
ourselves that life is the greatest gift on
earth.
We should also try to remember
that those without such privileges
cannot, and should not, be expected to
understand the emotional drain those
days where we feel we perform as
many euthanasias as we do
vaccinations.
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The miracle of life ... and our role
RICHARD SANDERSON
believes that the option of euthanasia
is the part of the job he is most proud
of and privileged to be able to
perform
VP AUGUST 2011
BODY language is mostly
unconscious and highly important
to how we function. For example,
did you know that using body
language correctly can help you with
surgery? And your ability to pack the
boot of your car with even more
stuff ?
Body language is the subtle (or not
so subtle), often unconscious moving of
our body parts in response to our
thoughts, emotions and experiences. It
encompasses the gestures we make as
we speak, the
angle we lean
our bodies at,
the way we
cross our legs
and a whole
host of other
large and
small movements.
I have heard about this before...
Popular literature often refers to
Mehrabains research from 1967 that
stated that in communication words
account for 7% of the message, the
tone for 38% and body language for
55%.
Unfortunately, that is just misquoted
research and only true for very specific
situations where you are liking or not
liking something based on one word
communication (see panel).
There is, however, significant
research that demonstrates the
importance of body language in
communication.
We can roughly divide body
language into three different areas:
1. facial expressions;
2. gestures; and
3. whole body posture.
Facial expressions
When people speak with each other,
they will spontaneously synchronise
their facial expressions. This is often
called emotional contagion and refers to
different classes of consciously seen and
unseen stimuli.
When pictures of bodily or facial
expressions were presented either to the
intact or blind visual field of two
patients with
unilateral destruction of the visual
cortex and ensuing blindness, they
responded faster to unseen stimulus,
indicating that emotional contagion
occurs also when the triggering stimulus
cannot be consciously perceived
1
. This
supports the theory that the majority of
synchronising facial expressions happen
on an unconscious level.
Gestures
Gestures are the hand movements we
make while we think or we speak. There
is even a name for the gestures we use
when we are in a silent, non-
communicative, problem-solving
situation e.g. when we are looking at
the dog and planning the surgical
approach we want to take or packing
that aforementioned car which is co-
thought gestures.
Interesting research has
demonstrated how people who gesture
while they think or speak have a higher
solution rate for solving spatial
problems
2
.
Results indicated that when people
have difficulty in solving spatial
visualisation problems, they
spontaneously produce gestures to help
them, and gestures not only improve the
performance but also become
internalised, so with time the number of
gestures reduces while leaving the ability
to solve the problems intact.
So next time you need to think
about how best to rotate an organ, fit a
piece of furniture through the door or
fit everything into your wardrobe, try
standing back and wave your arms
around in a purposeful fashion you
might be surprised at the results.
On a more
serious note,
gestures also assist
and support the
words we speak.
Research with
autistic adolescents
3
demonstrated that
when people tell a
story where their gestures are off in
respect to timing, the story comes
across as less clear and engaging.
Gestures also assist us in interpreting
facial expressions and correctly identify
emotions.
Whole body posture
Similarly to the research done on facial
expressions, work with patients with
cortical blindness demonstrated that
even body posture can be picked up
unseen that the
perception of body
posture registers in
distinctly different parts
of the brain depending
on the underlying
emotion the body is
signalling
4
.
What does this
mean?
Research has clearly
demonstrated an
unconscious, non-vision
related effect of both
facial expressions and
whole body posture and supporting
effects from gestures. What this means
is that body language has a powerful
effect on us whether we are conscious
of it or not.
Even when we are not paying
attention or when we are caught up in
something else, the body language of
the people around us will have the
potential to affect us and provide us
with information.
Have you ever noticed that
something was off about one of your
colleagues or your partner? Or had
someone else ask you if you were OK
on a day where you were deep in your
thoughts?
The likelihood is
that you and they have
picked up on the
unconscious clues that
we both send out and
perceive. We can call it
intuition or we can
recognise it as a brain-
activation on a different
level.
Once we
understand the power
body language has, we
can start to consider
how we can use body
language consciously to help us in our
everyday interactions, with partners,
team members and clients.
n Next month, we will look more
closely at using body language
consciously until then, it might be
interesting to start noticing what you are
already picking up....
1. Tamietto, M. et al. (2009) Unseen
facial and bodily expressions trigger fast
emotional reactions. Proc Natl Acad Sci
USA 106 (42):17,661-6
2. Chu, M. and Kita, S. (2011) The
nature of gestures beneficial role in
spatial problem solving. J Exp Psychol
Gen 140 (1):102-116.
3. deMarchena, A. and Eigsti, I. M.
(2010) Conversational gestures in autism
spectrum disorders: asynchrony but not
decreased frequency. Autism Res 3 (6):
311-322.
4. De Gelder, B. and Hadjikhani, N.
(2006) Non-conscious recognition of
emotional body language. Neuroreport 17
(6): 583-586.
COMMUNICATIONS
36
The effect of
body language...
Gestures can help you both with
explaining things more clearly but
also with thinking things through.
ANNE-MARIE
SVENDSEN-AYLOTT
discusses the importance of our body
movements in communicating with
others and how it can help us in our
work and other activities
Anne-Marie Svendsen Aylott trained
as a veterinarian and ran her own
veterinary practice in Copenhagen,
Denmark, for seven years. She then
spent nine years with Hills Pet
Nutrition working with sales, brand
marketing, professional relations and
training. She has trained in both
personal performance coaching and
corporate and executive coaching in
addition to being a certied NLP
Master Practitioner, and works as a
business performance coach with a
range of companies from small sole
traders to global corporations. She
runs Purple Cat Performance Coaching
and can be contacted at
annemarie@purplecatcoaching.com
(website
www.purplecatcoaching.com).
Once we
understand the
power body
language has, we
can start to
consider how we
can use body
language
consciously to
help us in our
everyday
interactions...
Mehrabains studies
Mehrabain combined two different
studies to reach his conclusions.
The studies used single, spoken
words delivered by a tape recorder.
In one study the word was
delivered using different tones while
in the other the word was played
while people looked at a black-and-
white photograph of a person with
a specific expression.
By combining the results of the
two studies, Mehrabain concluded
that when liking or not liking the
word, the decision was based on
7% verbal liking, 38% vocal (tone)
liking and 55% facial liking.
Petlog The service that
delivers your needs
National Microchip Month success
- sponsored by Petlog
National Microchipping Month saw
Petlog campaign for pet owners to
check and amend their contact
details, making a call to action to its
customers offering them the chance
to update contact details for free
online during June. The campaign
was launched by a video staring the
celebrity voices of Joanna Page and
James Thornton and was seen by
around 10,000 people in the first
week. In the course of the month over
40,000 pet owners checked their
details online.
Microchips explained
There are fifteen microchip suppliers
in the UK and there is often confusion
over which microchip suppliers are
linked to which database. Of the
fifteen, ten microchip suppliers chose
to partner with Petlog due to its
experience in the industry and high
levels of service it provides, these are:
Bayer (Tracer), Pet ID, Pet Detect,
Peddy-mark, Datamars, Eezytrac,
CoreRFID, Identics, Happy Pet and
Identitrack.
Petlog is the UKs largest microchip
and reunification database
Petlog supports the details of over
4.9 million pets and their owners
and its Lost and Found Service is
available 24 hours, 365 days a year
to Vets, Authorised Agents and pet
owners.
Petlog is dedicated to reuniting pets
and owners, which is why the Petlog
staff are trained to identify which
database holds the contact details of
the relevant owner and will direct the
caller to the right place.
The veterinary profession care about
providing the best service and
ensuring that animals are safe, and
there is huge support for
microchipping amongst vets.
Checking that the microchip you
recommend to your client is
supported by a robust and respected
microchip registration and
reunification database is an
important factor when purchasing
your practice microchips.
For more information visit www.petlog.org.uk/vets or call 0844 4633 999
Petlog, through a number
of initiatives including
National Microchipping
Month, has been working
to improve the service
offered to both vets and
pet owners.
Petlog aims to reunite pets
and owners as quickly and
easily as possible, saving
Vets time and resources.
Working together - we can reunite more lost pets
Celia Walsom, Petlog Manager
Keeping your clients up to date
Next step is to keep this awareness
going - How can you help?
Ensure all contact information
is captured at the point of
registration eg; Mobile and Email
to keep pet owners updated about
the service allowing us to send
reminders to keep details up to
date.
Essential: Ensure the pet owner
knows their pets microchip
number and the database they
are registered on.
All pet owners should receive
confirmation paperwork of the
registration within 14 days.
Pet owners should check all
information, if correct keep safe, if
incorrect inform the database
immediately.
If the pet owner needs to update
or amend their details their
paperwork will advise how to do
this.
Saving You Time - Visit Petlog
http://authorised.petlog.org.uk/
and create an online account for
fast effective registration and
reunification.
Petlog is also live via several PMS,
making microchip registration even
easier - check with your PMS
vendor.
The National Microchipping Offer in
June went down really well, we
experienced a steady daily stream
of appointments being made to
take advantage of the half price
offer. It was really satisfying to know
that should these newly
microchipped pets be lost that there
will be a higher chance of a
successful reunification with their
worried/concerned owners.
Erik Darcy-Donnelly, Henley Vet Practice
VP AUGUST 2011
Excellent account of
MRI as a powerful
tool
EQUINE MRI
Edited by Rachel C. Murray
592pp.; 99.99;
Wiley-Blackwell
This book is likely to be the main
textbook on MRI for a very long time.
Rachel Murray has gathered the work
of a world-wide selection of equine
orthopaedic specialists and used their
experience and images to make a very
sound foundation for anyone who
wants to use MRI.
The book is divided into four
sections: principles of MRI in horses;
normal MRI anatomy; pathology; and
clinical management and outcome.
MRI is an amazing branch of
science. To quote Tim Greets
foreword: No aspect of medical
imaging requires the understanding of
such complex physics as that required
for magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI).
MRI has been in development for
over 100 years, with the first scanner
being used in human medicine in 1977.
It took until the 1990s to reach the
veterinary diagnostic scene, first with
small animals, which were kept
immobile with anaesthesia or heavy
sedation.
The high-field magnets which had
been used on humans were suitable for
anaesthetised horses, but when low-
field magnets that could be used on the
distal limbs of standing horses came
on the scene, MRI was recognised as
having widespread applications in
equine diagnostic imaging.
The future is likely to see the
development of increasingly powerful
magnets and more complex computer
technology. As more parts of the
horses body can be captured in an
MRI scan, research is needed so that
image interpretation achieves
maximum clinical significance.
As MRI develops, it adds new
knowledge which has changed our
ideas on anatomy, pathology and
physiology. At the same time, there is a
need for more and better
understanding of the techniques of
image gathering and interpretation.
The first section of the book,
Principles of MRI in horses, starts
with Nick Bolas explanation of the
physics, which is clear and well-
illustrated. This is followed by chapters
on Practicalities and image
acquisition with high-field and low-
field MRI. These are thorough and
describe good practice in a way that
would be useful to anyone developing a
new MRI unit. Image interpretation
and artefacts teases out the
complexity of MRI.
MRI images give huge amounts of
information, but it needs skill and
understanding of the clinical
presentation, the horse itself
anatomically, and the machine and the
exact techniques used to get the images
to be able to interpret them.
This challenge is addressed in the
next section, Normal MRI Anatomy,
which has separate chapters on the
different regions: the foot and pastern
for both adult and foal, the fetlock,
metacarpal/metatarsal region, the
carpus, the tarsus, the stifle and the
head. The techniques (and problems)
of producing images are described in
detail, richly illustrated by series of the
images themselves.
The next section on Pathology
works through the regions in the same
way. MRI lesions do not always
correspond exactly as expected with
pain as demonstrated by the horses
lameness; the information gained
through imaging indicates that it may
be necessary to refine our
understanding of the exact mechanism
of pain. This is a good example of
how new discoveries lead to the need
to ask new questions.
The final section follows a similar
pattern to work through, Clinical
management and outcome. This is the
most exciting area for the clinician; it
gives very good descriptions of the
clinical problems and sets MRI in
context of all the other diagnostic
disciplines. Again it is authoritative,
well-illustrated and thoroughly helpful.
This book gives an excellent
account of MRI as a powerful tool in
the understanding of equine anatomy,
physiology and pathology. Clinicians
and researchers both now and in the
future will be grateful to Rachel Murray
and all the contributors for bringing
together their experience and
producing it in such a coherent way.
Marion McCullagh
Useful contribution to
debate about animals
in research
THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF
ANIMAL EXPERIMENTS
By Andrew Knight
254pp.; 55.00; Palgrave Macmillan
This is a timely and valuable
contribution to the debate surrounding
the use of animals in research. It
covers a wide range of topics, from the
desensitising effects of harmful animal
use on students to the questionable
value of animal models in human
clinical research.
What makes this book stand apart
BOOKS
38
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from other similar works is its focus on
evidence-based science. Although there
exists a huge body of laboratory
animal data, it is only recently that
these data have been subjected to
critical evaluation, in the form of
systematic reviews.
The results of these systematic
reviews have come as somewhat of a
surprise to the scientific community.
The bottom line is that in the vast
majority of cases, animal data are not
predictive of human outcome. This
book makes this important information
easily accessible to both regulators and
researchers. No doubt it has important
implications for human risk assessment
with respect to regulatory toxicology.
The wide range of topics covered
in the book will also provide animal
ethics committees with valuable new
insights into cost-benefit assessments.
Until now, the validity of the
animal model was rarely, if ever,
questioned. Ethics committees have
traditionally weighed animal suffering
against perceived human benefit
without due consideration of the
predictive value of animal research.
The results of the systematic reviews
presented in the book will allow these
committees to view research proposals
in a new light.
This book should be required
reading for undergraduate students
intending to use animals as part of
their course work. It should also serve
as required reading for members of
animal ethics committees whose remit
is to review animal research proposals.
Andre Menache
Proud history of
successful association
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: 100
YEARS OF THE HUMANE
SLAUGHTER ASSOCIATION
Compiled and edited by Tony
Hughes
114pp.; 5.00; Humane Slaughter
Association
Published to mark the centenary of the
Humane Slaughter Association, this
slim but well-produced and well-
illustrated book has been compiled
from the associations annual reports,
newsletters and other publications.
Following a preface by Dr James
Kirkwood, honorary director, theres an
account of a meeting in January 1911
of those concerned with the welfare
of animals killed for food and the
destruction of unwanted cats and
dogs; it goes on to cover the mass of
projects and other work undertaken,
including the many significant
achievements, and finishes with reports
of the HSAs activities in 2010.
Appendices at the back list the
main people involved from the first
patroness, Princess Victoria of
Schleswig Holstein in 1913 and the
many awards presented during the past
century.
Its a fascinating read. Copies are
obtainable from the association at The
Old School, Brewhouse Hill,
Wheathampstead, Herts. AL4 8AN (e-
mail info@hsa.org.uk).
VP
A good starter for
new pet owners
DESPERATE HOUSEPETS:
THE SINGLE PERSONS
GUIDE TO HEALTHY PETS
By Annaliese Morgan
93pp.; 12.99; Idepenpress
Publishers
Annaliese Morgan, DipAVN
(Surgical), RVN, MBVNA, has been
working in the profession for 18
years and is becoming quite a writer
of practical books, this being her
fifth.
This one is concise and written in
a chatty style with plenty of useful
illustrations to give potential or new
pet owners a good grounding. The
back cover says its the ultimate
user-friendly DIY in pet care
which is only just a little over the top.
Its certainly a book that small
animal practices could recommend to
newcomers.
VP
VP AUGUST 2011 BOOKS 39
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For further information please contact Pzer Animal Health, Walton Oaks, Tadworth, Surrey KT20 7NS.
Palladia contains toceranib phosphate. POM-V

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For further information about Palladia please call 0845 300 8034
Leading advances in science
THE results of a recent survey of 1,048 dog owners, carried out by petbuzz on
behalf of Vtoquinol, were released last month.
The survey focused on attitudes to pain and owners thoughts on choice of
long-term medication. The first set of results relates to choice of long-term
medications.
Owners were asked to rate how important various factors were to them when
it came to giving medicine long-term to their dog. They were also asked to
consider what they felt was most important to their vet when it came to choosing
a medicine.
Eighty-five per cent said effectiveness was highly important to them; a total
of 77% rated a limited range of side effects as highly important (47%) or
important (30%) in determining their preference for a particular medication.
Vets were perceived to be slightly less concerned about side effects than the
owners (only 34% of dog owners thought this was highly important to their vet).
Only 24% of owners rated easy to give/dog likes taste as highly important
and more (28%) rated it of medium importance.
Under a third (30%) said established brand was of medium importance and
24% considered it of least importance.
The cost of medication was found to be one of the least important factors,
with only 14% saying it was highly important to them.
Survey reveals views on
long-term medication for pets
Finance firm folk in charity skydive
FIVE people from Performance Finance will be taking part in a skydive at
Sibson Airfield, near Peterborough, on 20th August to raise money for three
charities: Worldwide Veterinary Service (which supports animal welfare
charities around the world), Vision Care for Homeless and Bridge2Aid (a
dental charity operating in the developing world). The firm says sponsorship at
any level will be well received: cheques can be made out to the individual
charities or to Performance Finance Ltd (which will distribute the money
evenly) and sent to the company at 5 Kings Court, Kettering Parkway,
Kettering NN15 6WJ; or go to www.justgiving.com/performance-finance.
What about taking on the Coniston
Challenge with Guide Dogs?
GUIDE Dogs reports that it has a
limited number of team places left for
the Coniston Team Adventure
Challenge taking place on Saturday
10th September.
Teams of four to six people hike,
bike and kayak around the Lake
District including Coniston Old Man,
Grizedale Forest and Coniston Water.
After a day of activity there is an
evening of local food, live
entertainment and a disco.
The charity is urging potential participants to call its events team on 0845
600 6787 or e-mail events@guidedogs.org.uk.
n Next year to mark the 10th anniversary of the challenge there will be two events.
BOOK NOW
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Big on quality. Small on price
Save hundreds of pounds. Book your place right now
for just 149+VAT. Visit www.londonvetshow.co.uk
or call 01926 485151 quoting promotional code VP2
The London Vet Show is the event with certified pedigree. Great quality
content including speakers like Arthur House, Anke Hendricks
and David Church for an incredibly sleek offer price. Tickets are just
149+VAT for two full days if you book before 15th September. And just
look at what you get for your money

More than 70 hours of unmissable business lectures and clinical

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New for 2011 Interactive Consultation and Customer Care

Sessions, The LVS Holiday Giveaway plus the The Vets Now Party
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Supported By
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VP AUGUST 2011 CORPORATE 41
THE CVS Group continues to grow,
a fact reinforced by the recent
announcement that it has made a
number of further acquisitions in
the current year.
In January it acquired a single site
practice, Campbells of Swansea, close
to its existing business, the Tawe
Veterinary Group, which has three
branches in the city.
This was followed in April with the
acquisition of the five-site Attimore
Veterinary Group, with its main centre
in a veterinary hospital in Welwyn
Garden City. The branches
in Wheathampstead, Potters
Bar, Hatfield and Woolmer
Green all feed into this
centre, which was one of
the first purpose-built
hospitals in the country, although it has
been regularly updated over the years.
In May CVS purchased the
Clarendon House Group with three
centres, one in Writtle, Essex, one in
Heybridge, Maldon, and the main
facility located in a converted farm
building with good parking just outside
Chelmsford.
Simon Innes, the CEO, says that
these purchases are all strategically
important to CVS. They either provide
better geographical coverage to
supplement existing CVS practices or
they enable the company to expand into
new locations based on practices with a
well-established reputation for quality
service. Attimore was set up in the
1960s and Clarendon House in 1918!
Communal services
In the case of the Essex group, this had
previously operated an equine facility
from the main site in Chelmsford. CVS
has structured its acquisition in such a
way that the equine partner has been
able to continue this business under his
sole ownership, still located on the same
site but sharing some communal
services.
CVS was set up in 1999 by Brian
Pound, formerly with
Solvay-Duphar, and
others and from the
outset they have been
able to maintain a
constant stream of what
they describe as quality
acquisitions, mainly as a
result of practice owners
contacting the company
directly.
Not all those
applying have been
acquired, says Mr Pound,
as the company has
some critical key priorities.
The first is that the business must
be well-established and have a proven
track record; more importantly we want
owners who wish to stay on post
acquisition to remain a part of the team
and thereby minimise the changes in
service standards to clients.
This has resulted in many different
cultures existing throughout the group,
but this is encouraged so that within
communities the clients still have a
choice. They can select the big hospital
practice with extensive equipment and
skills or go to the small, very personal
service of the smaller family type
practice.
Yes, there are many uniform
aspects of CVSs policy and procedures,
but this still allows the practices to
maintain their unique culture, Mr
Pound says.
The future
Mr Innes states that CVS is still
receiving enquiries at about the same
rate as usual, and that amongst these are
many excellent practices fully
compatible with the CVS goals and
ambitions.
There is an emerging tendency for
owners to work through agents or their
accountants to manage the sale, he
continues. CVS does buy some via this
route but we need to be sure that the
vendor has selected CVS not just for the
value of its offer, but more importantly
for its culture. It remains the companys
priority to find practices that meet its
strategic goals. Indeed, in some cases
the company refuses to bid on a
practice where the vendors sole aim is
the highest price, irrespective of the
impact on the future operation of the
practice.
Long term goals
Asked about his long-
term ambitions for the
business, such as how
many practices he
expected to acquire
before CVS stopped
buying and what
percentage of the
profession was likely to
end up in corporate
ownership, he said:
Whilst practices
approach us, we will
continue to acquire. Because CVS
generates its own cash to buy practices
and as that cash generation expands
each year, our ability to acquire also
grows.
We have no theoretical limit but are
aware that other groups are being
formed where one local practice
acquires its neighbour, and so on. We
see this as a healthy development within
the profession.
We are also keen to encourage
younger partners to consider buying out
their older partners and thereby
perpetuate the partnership principle. We
will step back from an acquisition where
this route has not been properly
explored.
Natural limit
Mr Innes believes that at some stage
CVS will reach its natural limit. Im
reluctant to put a figure on that but I
expect corporate ownership to remain a
minor segment of the profession for
many years to come.
Despite a variety of businesses now
operating within the veterinary market,
he does not expect them to dominate
the profession in the foreseeable future.
The determining factor, he said, is
the quality of service
provided to the clients
and their pets. The public
is very discerning about
what it expects.
In his experience, if
any practice, including
those owned by CVS,
does not meet those
expectations, it will lose
clients. The dominant
expectation of the public
is that vets are part of a
caring profession. No
one will succeed unless
they maintain an environment where
this is their prime focus.
Asked about the future of the
profession, Mr Innes said that more and
more people would use the internet to
buy their drugs and other products and
CVS had seen an increasing request for
prescriptions.
He expects that this will increase still
further and for this reason CVS has set
up its own internet pharmacy, which
includes a veterinary surgeon on its staff
to provide advice and help. It is
designed to capture a portion of the
lost sales at practice level. I do not
want to see these sales going to foreign
pharmacies or those run by people with
no connection to the veterinary
profession, he says.
The second big change is the
increasing use of loyalty schemes where
practices reward regular clients by
discounting certain services. This will
affect profitability but, most importantly,
help to secure long-term client loyalty.
The third change is the increase in
the number of referral centres, with
most areas now serviced by referral
centres offering most disciplines.
CVS has a number spread around
the country and the mid-term aim is to
become self-sufficient by
covering all key disciplines
in each region. With over
200 practices in the group,
this is already a large
captive source of referral
business, he says.
My view is that the
profession will continue
to expand the services
and skills that it
provides, which must
bode well for the future
health of the animals
under our care.
The Attimore Veterinary Groups hospital in Welwyn Garden City and (below)
the front of the Clarendon House Group main centre in Chelmsford.
Brian Pound. Simon Innes.
Group aims to give
clients a choice...
VETERINARY PRACTICE
talks to two directors of CVS about the
corporates progress to date and its plans for
the future
VP AUGUST 2011
ROUTINE poultry worming is
important to producers of
commercial flocks and keepers of
back-yard poultry.
With the number of free-range
flocks increasing, parasitic worms have
potentially become more of a threat in
commercial flocks in recent years.
Enthusiasts and hobbyists are often
well-educated about the need to worm
but conversely, some small-scale
keepers may not know how often
to worm or are using natural
remedies that do not have
proven efficacy, potentially storing
up future problems as the
immediate environment where the birds
are kept becomes more and more
contaminated.
Route of infection
Birds may become infected directly,
ingesting worm eggs or larvae direct
from the ground. Worm eggs can be
very resistant, often surviving for
months in soil. Both worm eggs and
larvae may be introduced on footwear,
clothing, feedbags, other animals, or
equipment. Wild birds can also
introduce contamination and infected
wild or domestic birds can excrete
thousands of parasitic worm eggs every
day.
Worm eggs need warmth and
moisture to embryonate, so they can be
more problematic in spring and summer
months but deep litter systems can
provide equally as favourable conditions
all year round. Indirect infections can
occur as a result of the bird ingesting an
intermediate host such as an
earthworm infected by the parasites
larvae, or simply carrying their eggs.
Signs of worms
The signs can be difficult to identify due
to the chronic nature of infection and
some birds show no obvious signs of
illness at all. Non-specific signs include
ill thrift, reduced appetite, weight loss,
pale combs due to anaemia and
intermittent diarrhoea.
Egg production may drop, with
smaller eggs, pale yolks and fragile
shells. More specific signs may be seen
with some worm species, such as
snicking with Gapeworm, but birds can
carry multiple worm species
simultaneously.
Ascaridia galli (large roundworm, pre-
patent period 35-42 days in young birds
or 50-56 days in older birds)
Roundworms are common and are
the largest worms affecting poultry. In
appearance they are thick and white and
up to 12cm in length. These intestinal
worms can cause intestinal impaction
and fatalities in severe cases.
Capillaria obsignata (hair worm, pre-
patent period 20-26 days)
Hairworms are small, thread-like and
barely visible to the naked eye. Even
small burdens can be pathogenic and
can be fatal quite quickly. Clinical signs
are diarrhoea, depression and wasting.
Heterakis gallinarum (caecal worm, pre-
patent period 24-30 days)
Heterakis worms are white, 1.5cm
long with a pointed tail. Worm eggs may
be ingested directly, or infected
earthworms may transport eggs or host
partially developed larvae. Heterakis
worm eggs may remain viable for
months in the environment.
There are few pathogenic lesions as
a result of Heterakis infection, other
than caecal thickening and petechiae,
and infection is generally asymptomatic,
although large numbers of birds can be
affected.
The caecal worm can carry a
protozoan organism, Histomonas
meleagridis, also known as blackhead,
which can cause turkey flocks to
experience mortality rates of up to 90%.
Although all poultry can be affected
by blackhead, turkeys, pheasants,
partridges and peacocks are particularly
susceptible and regular worming
becomes much more important when
the species are kept in close vicinity with
chickens.
Trichostrongylus tenuris
These worms live in the gut and can
cause severe enteritis and weight loss,
particularly in game birds.
Amidostomum anseris (gizzard worm,
pre-patent period 14-22 days)
The gizzard worm is slim and
reddish in colour. The parasite mainly
affects ducks and geese and infection
results in depression, anaemia, weight
loss and stunted growth.
Syngamus trachea (gapeworm, pre-patent
period 18-20 days)
Gapeworm is a particular problem
in pheasant and turkey poults, but other
birds can be affected, especially when
young. Larvae are ingested, and travel
via the liver and lungs to the windpipe.
The bright red y-shaped adult
worms (the male and female adults are
almost always found attached) are found
here, and are between 1-2cm long.
Worm eggs are coughed up, swallowed
and passed out in the faeces. Migration
through the lungs and attachment to the
tracheal mucosa cause most of the
clinical signs.
Signs of infection include dyspnoea,
head shaking, extension of the neck,
coughing and snicking. Anaemia,
weakness and emaciation may be
noticed and some birds die of
asphyxiation.
Infective larvae can live for months
or years in intermediate hosts such as
slugs, snails or earthworms. Passage
through an earthworm may increase
infectivity to the end host as large
numbers of larvae can be found in one
earthworm. Wild birds, especially rooks
and blackbirds, are a common source of
infection.
Tapeworm species
There are a number of tapeworm
species that can affect poultry.
Tapeworm do not generally present a
hazard to health, unless there are
significant numbers present. Young
birds may show slower growth.
The various species include Davainea
proglottina (microscopic adults) and
Raillietina cesticullus (adults 4-15cm long).
Beetles and snails can act as
intermediate hosts. Tapeworms are
difficult to treat and control may be
more easily achieved in intensive
systems by controlling the intermediate
hosts.
Strategic worming
The presence of worm eggs in the
environment on an ongoing basis can
mean that irregular treatment for worms
can be ineffective in reducing the
infection pressure, and strategic
approaches are likely to be much more
useful for long-term control.
As with many parasitic diseases,
increasing infection pressure can
PARASITES
42
Gapeworms.
Large roundworm.
Common poultry worms
SUSAN McKAY
reviews the major parasitic worms that
affect both commercial and back-yard
ocks
For further information contact: Janssen Animal Health,
50-100 Holmers Farm Way, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP12 4EG, UK.
Tel 01494 567555 Fax 01494 567556 EMail ahealth@its.jnj.com

about
Worming
Free-range and deep
litter birds are most at risk
from common poultry
worms which can cause:
Illness
Reduced egg quality

Chicken
Dont be
Easy to use -7 day
in feed treatment
Kills all stages of
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Zero egg withdrawal
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Proven poultry wormer now in a 60g pack
for the domestic poultry keeper.
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containing flubendazole 5% w/w Vm 00242/4056
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VP AUGUST 2011 PARASITES 43
increase the number of birds affected
and also the severity of clinical signs,
due to the higher worm burdens being
carried.
In situations with high infection
pressure, due to greater stocking density
and higher levels of environmental
contamination, treatment intervals
should be reduced to within the pre-
patent period for the worm in question
at around 3-4 week intervals. This
prevents eggs from being shed and
recontaminating the environment,
gradually reducing the infection
pressure.
Once the infection pressure is
reduced, as measured by a reduction in
faecal egg counts, treatment
intervals can be extended. In
medium pressure situations,
treatment every 6-8 weeks is
advocated, and in low
infection pressures, every 8-10
weeks. Control can generally
be achieved by treating every
10-12 weeks, or quarterly.
When taking a history
from backyard poultry
keepers, it is worth asking
what preparation has been
used for routine worming. A
recent study found that a
leading natural wormer had
no demonstrable effect on
worm burdens.
1
Advantages of worming
There are obvious health benefits to
regular worming but worming may also
improve productivity too. A commercial
free-range facility with 32,000 hens
looked at two different dosing regimes,
worming every 10 weeks or every five
weeks. The trial ran for six months and
resulted in an impressive improvement
with an increase of approximately 10
additional eggs per hen over the
standard production levels in this unit in
the more frequently wormed group.
These observations highlight the
need to be aware of faecal worm egg
counts within flocks and suggest that a
4-5 week worming regime can
significantly improve egg production
where there is a history of parasitic
worms and high infection pressure.
Treatments
Flubendazole (Flubenvet) is the only
licensed treatment for worms in
poultry and game birds available as
a Flubenvet 1% Medicated
Premixture in a 60g pack to treat 20
chickens for backyard users, or
Flubenvet 2.5% Medicated
Premixture (as a 2.4kg bag or 240g
tub) for larger flocks, or the 5%
Premix can be incorporated in
foodstuff by a registered feed
manufacturer.
The wormer is supplied in feed
for seven days; larger birds consume
more feed so ingest a higher dose.
Clients should be advised to use the
correct dosage in feed and to ensure
adequate mixing.
When used at the recommended
dose rate in chickens, flubendazole
has a zero day egg withdrawal period.
A water soluble oral emulsion,
Solubenol, is available for commercial
use. Flubenvet is not licensed for the
treatment of tapeworms.
Preventive action
Although it is not possible to
completely eradicate worms under
normal husbandry systems, there are
steps that can be taken to help reduce
worm burdens:
n Keep muddy areas dry (use gravel
round pop holes) to expose worm
eggs to dessication.
n Always use feeders, dont feed from
the ground.
n Follow good hygiene practices.
n Rotate pastures.
n Keep grass short to expose worm
eggs to sunlight.
n Worm new birds and keep in
isolation for 24-48 hours before
providing access to pasture and the
rest of the flock.
1. Squires, S. et al (2010) Comparative
efficacy of flubendazole and a
commercially available herbal wormer
against natural infection of Ascaridia
galli, Heterakis gallinarum and intestinal
Capillaria spp in chickens. Janssen
Animal Health: awaiting publication.
Worm sites.
Experts in endocrinology
and immunoassay
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VP AUGUST 2011
NON-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) are the single most
commonly prescribed drugs in small
animal medicine, yet a significant
percentage of the side-effects and
adverse events recorded annually by
the Veterinary Medicines Directorate
(VMD) can be directly attributed to
their use.
This article will discuss the
properties of NSAIDs, as they have
evolved for the veterinary market,
specifically robenacoxib a new entrant
into the market in 2009 (King et al,
2009; Giraudel et al,2009; Jung et al,
2009; Schmid et al, 2010).
The NSAID development story:
COX1:COX2 ratios
The discovery in 1991 that there are two
isoforms of
COX, now
designated
COX-1 and
COX-2 (Xie et
al, 1991), was
heralded as a
major
pharmacological advance, with positive
therapeutic benefit in relation to
NSAID safety.
COX-1 was recognised as a
constitutive enzyme, present at basal
levels in most body cell types. Its roles
include platelet aggregation in blood
clotting, gastroprotection and, at least
partially, renoprotection.
The potential side-effects of COX-1
inhibition therefore include failure to
control haemorrhage, perforation,
ulceration and bleeding of the gastro-
intestinal tract, and acute renotoxicity.
COX-2, on the other hand, was
initially classified solely as an inducible
isoform, synthesised in response to
tissue damage, both at the site of
damage and in the central nervous
system. The development of selective
COX-2 inhibitors was therefore a logical
step, on the grounds that they would
retain (though not necessarily improve
on) the therapeutic effects of non-
selective inhibitors, and decrease the
classic side-effects of the non-selective
NSAIDs (Figure 1).
A potency ratio of 30:1 or greater
will normally ensure that COX-1
inhibition is slight/moderate and of
short duration with clinically
recommended doses. It is now
recognised, however, that COX-2 is also
a constitutive enzyme in the kidney, eye,
CNS and vascular wall. Consequently,
there is a concern that renotoxicity (for
example) of all NSAIDs, including the
coxibs, may be due in part to COX-2
inhibition.
Moreover, it has also been shown
experimentally that COX-2 generates
not only pro-
inflammatory mediators, e.g.
prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), in the early
stages of acute inflammation but also
anti-inflammatory prostaglandins in the
later stage of tissue repair.
The introduction of preferential or
selective COX-2 inhibitors into canine
medicine has largely achieved the
objectives of retained efficacy and some
aspects of reduced toxicity. However,
the question now is: are there other
properties, in addition to the COX-2
selectivity of coxibs, which may
improve the safety profile?
Pharmacokinetics of NSAIDs
When NSAIDs are administered orally
or parenterally, the circulatory system
delivers the drug to the biophase, that is
the site of action, and a successful
clinical response is achieved if effective
concentrations are attained for most of
the inter-dose interval.
The concern, however, is that many
NSAIDs, both non-selective and COX-
2 selective, are delivered to all organs
and tissues, not just those targeted for
therapy, and this can lead to continuous
exposure of non-inflamed organs and
tissues.
Tissue selectivity: NSAID
accumulation at peripheral sites
of tissue damage
The propensity of some NSAIDs to
accumulate preferentially at sites of
tissue damage has been demonstrated
by some NSAIDs, non-selective in their
COX inhibitory actions, and for one of
the newer coxibs, robenacoxib, licensed
for use in canine and feline medicine.
NSAIDs accumulating in inflamed
tissue have in common the properties
outlined by Lees et al (2004) and Brune
and Furst (2007) Table 1; these are
compatible with retention of efficacy
and the potential for an improved safety
profile of tissue targeting NSAIDs.
1. A high degree (>98%) of binding
to plasma protein:
A high degree of binding to plasma
protein generally limits the extravascular
distribution of some but not all
NSAIDs to most tissues; volumes of
distribution are small. However, when
tissues are damaged, the permeability of
capillaries is markedly increased and
plasma containing protein (with
attached NSAID) leaks into the
interstitial space to cause the
characteristic pitting oedema of acute
inflammation.
2. Short half life:
A relatively rapid decrease in plasma
concentration (as indicated by terminal
half-life or mean residence time in the
body) reduces the duration of exposure
of the bodys well-perfused organs
(heart, liver and kidney) to high
concentrations of the drug within the
inter-dose interval.
3. A carboxylic or enolic acid
grouping in the molecule:
NSAIDs carrying either an enolic or
carboxylic acid group are mildly acidic,
as are the exudates at the sites of
inflammation (Guthrie et al,1994; Brune
and Furst, 2007). Other coxibs in
veterinary use are not weak acids.
4. Significantly higher total
concentrations in exudate than in
transudate and slow rate of
elimination from inflammatory
exudate:
MEDICINES
44
Combining COX-2 selectivity and tissue
selectivity: a new generation of NSAIDs?
Peter Lees, CBE, BPharm, PhD, DSc,
CBiol, FIBiol, FILT, Dr hc (Gent),
HonAssocRCVS, HonFellowECVPT,
joined the RVC in 1962 where he
taught for 40 years and became
professor of veterinary pharmacology.
His main research interests lie in the
acute inammation,
pharmacodynamics (PDs) and
pharmacokinetics (PKs) of anti-
inamatory drugs, particularly NSAIDs.
His research has been geared towards
improving clinical veterinary medicine,
striving to optimise dosage in order to
minimise toxic effects, maximise
effectiveness and reduce build-up of
resistance.
Professor PETER LEES
discusses the properties of NSAIDs as
they have evolved for the veterinary
market and looks specically at a
recent entrant into the market
Table 1. The properties of robenacoxib associated with accumulation
and action at sites of inflammation
GENERAL PHARMACOKINETIC APPLICATION TO ROBENACOXIB
PROPERTY
n Weak acid containing carboxylic or Carboxylic acid, pKa = 4.7
enolic group
n High degree of binding to plasma Binding >99% in dog and cat
protein
n Rapid absorption after oral or Tmax = 1 hour, dog and cat , SC dosing
parenteral dosing Tmax = 0.5 hour, dog and cat oral dosing
n Short blood half life T = 1.1, 1.2 hours (cat, dogs), SC dosing
T = 1.7 hours, 1.2 hours (cat, dog) oral
dosing
n Slow elimination from inflammatory MRT = 23 to 26 hours after IV, SC and
exudate in feline tissue cage model oral dosing !significant inhibition of PGE2
for 24-36 hours
n Slower blood clearance in clinical Higher and more persistent robenacoxib
population of dogs with osteoarthritis concentrations in synovial fluid of dogs
with (OA) compared to normal/healthy OA compared to normal dogs
dogs and slower elimination from
synovial fluid in dogs with OA
Tmax = the time after administration of a drug when the maximum plasma concentration is
reached, MRT = mean residence time (a measurement of the time a drug persists in the body)
*Data from Giraudel et al (2009); Jung et al (2009); King et al (2009); King et al (2010); Pelligand et
al (2011); Schmid et al (2010); Silber et al (2010).
Figure 1.
Its amazing
what Onsior can do
Onsior combines fast peak blood concentration for rapid relief with a very short
half-life, so it clears the bloodstream quickly, spending less time in the organs where
NSAIDs can cause side-efects. In fact Onsior persists three times longer, and at
higher concentration, at infammation sites than in the blood.
With a wide range of formulations for cats and dogs, Onsior is not just your average
NSAID: it delivers efective and selective pain relief. Now that truly is amazing!
Onsior POM-V in the UK, POM in ROI contains robenacoxib. For further information contact Novartis Animal Health Practice Support Line on 0845 757
3912 in the UK or 051-377 201 in ROI or write to Novartis Animal Health UK Ltd, Frimley Business Park, Frimley, Camberley, Surrey GU16 7SR, UK. Onsior
is a registered trademark of Novartis AG, Basel, Switzerland. 2011 Novartis.
MEDICINES VP AUGUST 2011
Through the above mechanisms, Lees et
al (2004) and Brune and Furst (2007)
predicted the achievement of persistent
concentrations in inflammatory exudate
for weak acid NSAIDs with short
plasma half-lives and this was confirmed
by experimental data.
Tissue selectivity of robenacoxib
As shown in Table 1, robenacoxib
possesses all of the above properties
required for tissue selectivity
(accumulation at a site of
inflammation); this quality has been
proven in recent feline studies by
Pelligand et al (2011) (Figure 2).
The slow clearance from exudate
explains its long duration of action in
inhibiting the synthesis of PGE2, a key
mediator of pain in osteoarthritis (OA)
(King et al, 2009; Pelligand et al, 2011).
A further study by Silber et al (2010)
compared the penetration of
robenacoxib into inflamed versus non-
inflamed stifle joints in Beagles. The
residence time of robenacoxib was
similar in both blood and normal
joints, but greater in the inflamed stifle.
At 10 hours, concentrations in
synovial fluid were approximately
three-fold higher in the inflamed stifle
than in the blood and normal joint.
The study also concluded that the rate
of entry of robenacoxib into canine
synovial fluid was 1.8 times faster in
clinical subjects with osteoarthritic
joints compared to healthy joints.
A final consideration in relation to
tissue selectivity is the time course of
binding and de-binding of robenacoxib
to COX isoforms. Robenacoxib de-
binding is virtually instantaneous from
COX-1, whereas it forms a slowly
reversible complex with COX-2; the
half-life for dissociation from COX-2 is
of the order of 25 minutes (King et al,
2009).
Implications of tissue selectivity
with robenacoxib
Rapid clearance from blood
considerably reduces the duration of
exposure of the pharmacokinetic
central compartment, which includes
the well-perfused organs (kidney, liver,
heart and blood vessels) to high
robenacoxib concentrations. At the
same time, robenacoxib is cleared
much more slowly from sites of
inflammation and synovial fluid in
dogs with OA.
These observations, together with
high selectivity for COX-2, account for
the safety profile of robenacoxib in
the dog and cat. Robenacoxib
exemplifies the next generation of
NSAIDs for use in companion animal
medicine.
References
Brune, K. and Furst, D.
E. (2007) Combining
enzyme specificity and
tissue selectivity of
cyclooxygenase
inhibitors: towards
better tolerability?
Rheumatology 46: 911-
919.
Giraudel, J. M.,
Toutain, P-L., King, J.
N. and Lees, P. (2009)
Differential
inhibition of cyclo-
oxygenase isoenzymes
in the cat by the NSAID robenacoxib. Journal of
Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics 32: 31-40.
Guthrie, A. J., Short, C. R., Swan, G. E.,
Mulders, M. S. G., Killeen, V. M. and Nurton, J.
P. (1994) Proceedings of the 6th International
Congress of the European Association for
Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology,
Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, UK:
pp163-165.
Jung, M., Lees, P., Seewald, W. and King, J. N.
(2009) Analytical determination and
pharmacokinetics of robenacoxib in the dog.
Journal of veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics
32: 41-48.
King, J. N., Dawson, J., Esser, R. E., Fujimoto,
R., Kimble, E. F., Maniara, W., Marshall, P. J.,
OByrne, L., Quadros, E., Toutain, P. L. and
Lees, P. (2009) Preclinical pharmacology of
robenacoxib: a novel selective inhibitor of
cyclooxygenase-2. Journal of Veterinary
Pharmacology and Therapeutics 32: 1-17.
King, J. N., Rudaz, C., Borer, L., Jung, M.,
Seewald, W. and Lees, P. (2010) In vitro and ex
vivo inhibition of canine cyclooxygenase
isoforms by robenacoxib: A comparative study.
Research in Veterinary Science 88: 497-506.
Lees, P., Landoni, M. F., Giraudel, J. and Toutain,
P. L. (2004) Pharmacodynamics and
pharmacokinetics of non-steroidal anti-
inflammatory drugs in species of veterinary
interest. Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and
Therapeutics 27: 479-490.
Pelligand, L., King, J. N., Toutain, P. L., Elliott, J.
and Lees, P. (2011) PK-PD modelling of
robenacoxib in a feline tissue cage model of
inflammation. Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology
and Therapeutics: in press.
Schmid, V. B., Seewald, W., Lees, P. and King, J.
N. (2010) In vitro and ex vivo inhibition of COX
isoforms by robenacoxib in the cat: a
comparative study. Journal of Veterinary
Pharmacology and Therapeutics 33: 444-452.
Silber, H. E., Burgener, C., Letellier, M., Peyrou,
M., Jung, M., King, J. N., Gruet, P. and Giraudel,
J. M. (2010) Population pharmacokinetic analysis
of blood and joint synovial fluid concentrations
of robenacoxib from healthy dogs and dogs
with osteoarthritis. Pharmaceutical Research 27:
2,633-2,645.
Xie, W. L., Chipman, J. G., Robertson, D. S.,
Erikson, R. L. and Simmons, D. L. (1991)
Expression of a mitogen-responsive gene
encoding prostaglandin synthase is regulated by
mRNA splicing. Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
88: 2,692-2 696.
NED Chapman, oldest honorary
member of Young Farmers, bares his
tombstone teeth and waves shovel-
hands in the direction of the byre.
His jaws grind on a fibrous blob too
wet and green to be gum.
While youre here my love, he
grins, you can tell me whats wrong
with this
one.
Ned has
already
tacked
countless
disbuddings
onto the
mornings routine (Youve got time,
havent you my love? Theyre only
three months apiece.) Of course the
calves are older than that but then
maybe Susie the vet is too: Ned
thinks that Susie looks too young to
hold a driving licence, let alone a Vet
Cert, and bloody women shouldnt be
in farm practice anyway. Stick to the
puppies and goldfish, or better still,
the cooker and bedroom.
He hides a wry smile as Susie
fiddles with her watch. This should
set her back, he thinks. Vets have it
too easy, what with lunch-breaks and
whole days off. Ned lopes to the
barn, screwing an index finger into
his fleshy ear; and withdraws a
surprising quantity of muck.
What seems to be the problem?
Susie pants, trotting at his side.
Shes a bit dull. Ned leans on
the stall and tips his chin at the cow.
Dull cows
abound on the farm. They are a
breed in their own right, and look
frighteningly like the bright ones,
which are less prolific. Ned smirks at
Susies peaky face. Unlike pet owners,
he isnt going to oblige and reel off a
long list of symptoms. Its far too
much fun watching a new grad
squirm for diagnoses.
Ned has already guessed that
Susie trained at an inner city vet
school, where the closest she came to
a cow was the plastic simulator in the
wet lab. Four square legs and an
inflatable pink mass suspended from
the belly marks the sum of her
bovine lore, thinks Ned. He
grins down on her, using a
thumb as broad as an egg-cup to
tug his forelock like an archaic
yokel. Over to you, townie.
Id start at the north end if
I were you. He nods at the
cows head.
The perils of the south end
already stencil Susies overalls in
claw-shaped poo-paint. A warm,
milky odour of fresh dung
cloaks the air. Susie plies her
stethoscope to the rumen,
pinging her fingers and trying to look
savvy. Ned hangs at the cows head,
trembling on the cusp of laughter. By
the time hes finished with her, shell
be wishing she had a job at
Vets4Pets.
At last Susie announces: Youre
right, shes definitely dull. She clips
her stethoscope around her neck to
boost credibility. But I cant put my
finger on it.
This is too much. Ned slaps his
thighs and breaks into loud moos of
laughter, wheezing and bringing up
gobs of half-chewed couch grass. His
belly jerks with a satisfaction he
hasnt felt since the last new grad fell
into the slurry pit. Thats right just
take a look at the undercarriage!
At last, Susie spots the bulls
testicles and the bulls testicles eye up
Susie. They are an impressive article,
if not the rubbery milk-factory shed
envisaged. Ned cries helplessly in the
corner, and Susie unclips the
redundant stethoscope and stiffens
her spine in muted outrage.
Sorry, Ned gasps. Old trick for
new grads. Rite of passage, my love.
Now, plenty of time left, while youre
here...
n This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance
to persons living or dead is coincidental. The
opinions expressed are those of the
characters and should not be confused with
those of the author.
46
Figure 2.
The dairy farmer
CLIENTS
VICKI BROWN
continues her series on client
behaviour, under the heading:
Psychotic clients: the mad, the bad
and the dangerous to know
Shes feeling a bit dull.
VP AUGUST 2011 LIVESTOCK 47
PAPERS ON
INFECTIOUS
DISEASES IN CATTLE
Administration of bovine virus
diarrhoea virus vaccines on UK
farms
Dawn Meadows, Chaseview
Veterinary Clinic, Ross on Wye
Vaccination against bovine virus
diarrhoea has been practised for at least
four decades in the UK without any
noticeable reduction in the overall
prevalence of the disease. The author
carried out a survey of 71 farms in four
English counties to investigate whether
farmers were using or storing BVD
vaccines in such a way that could
compromise the efficacy of the treatment.
She found that a third of respondents
never referred to the product data sheet
and 21% vaccinated using the wrong dose
or route of administration. There was
little appreciation of the importance of
maintaining a cold chain to keep the
vaccine cool and 34% of farmers kept an
opened vaccine bottle for at least a month.
Furthermore, there was a lack of
awareness of how illness may render the
animals response to treatment less
effective. However, there is an
opportunity for practitioners to explain
issues such as the importance of
biosecurity and testing for persistently
infected individuals.
Cattle Practice 18 (3): 202-209.
Behavioural and physiological
responses to mastitis infection in
dairy cattle
Jennifer Zimov and others, Ohio
State University
Abnormal behaviour may be expressed
more often during periods of stress or
pain. The authors analysed the behavioural
response in dairy cattle to mastitis pain,
induced by experimental infusion of
lipopolysaccharide, which produces
physiological responses similar to those in
Gram-negative bacterial infections.
Compared with controls, those cows with
mastitic pain spent less time lying, eating
and chewing cud in the 12 hours following
infusion. So behavioural responses may
provide ancillary measures for monitoring
clinical responses to disease and recovery.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 72
(5): 620-627.
Parachlamydia as a cause of
abortion problems in beef cattle
Josephine Gidlow* and Rita
Deuchande, Scottish Agricultural
College, St Boswells*
A newly identified organism,
Parachlamydia acanthamoeba, has been
identified as a cause of abortion in cattle
in Switzerland in which suppurative and
necrotising placentitis was the main
pathological feature. The authors report
the preliminary findings from an
investigation into abortion incidents in a
suckler herd in southern Scotland. The
organism was identified through
polymerase chain reaction analyses, while
all other common abortigenic agents
were ruled out. Further investigations are
warranted into the effects of this
organism in cattle and its zoonotic
potential.
Cattle Practice 19 (1): 14-15.
Recovery of Corynebacterium
species from bovine milk samples
Ricardo Bexiga and others,
Technical University of Lisbon,
Portugal
Corynebacterium bovis is one of the more
common bacterial isolates in milk
samples but the individual quarter
somatic cell counts in those tests is
usually low. The authors compare the
results of bacterial culture from milk
samples collected by standard methods
or through the use of a cannula passing
through the teat canal. A total of 29
conventional samples were
Corynebacterium-positive compared with
six collected via the cannula. These
findings provide further evidence that
this bacterium may colonise the teat
canal without causing true
intramammary infections.
Journal of Dairy Research 78 (1): 9-14.
Efficacy of preventive measures
against bovine respiratory
disease
Jared Taylor and others, Oklahoma
State University
Bovine respiratory disease is the most
costly condition of beef cattle and
despite extensive research there is little
understanding of effective preventive
measures. The authors review evidence
on the results of strategies such as
nutritional manipulation, vaccination and
antimicrobial use. The latter is one
option shown to have clear benefits but
concerns over costs and the potential
overuse of antimicrobials may preclude
its wider uptake. Investigating the
reasons for the variability in the findings
of BRD research may help provide
better mitigation strategies.
Canadian Veterinary Journal 51 (12): 1,351-
1,359.
Resistance profiles of coagulase-
negative staphylococci in bovine
milk samples
Otlis Sampimon and others, GDC
Animal Health Service, Deventer,
the Netherlands
Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS)
species are the group of bacteria most
commonly isolated in mastitis surveys
worldwide. Studies have attempted to
identify particular strains down to species
level but the diagnostic value of species
characterisation has not been
determined. The authors analyse the
resistance profiles of 170 isolates from
Dutch dairy herds. They found that CNS
species from bovine milk differ
significantly in phenotypic and genotypic
resistance profiles, which has
implications for treatment and
management decisions.
Veterinary Microbiology 150 (1-2): 173-179.
Comparison of methods for
identification of Tritrichomonas
foetus carrier bulls
Jeff Ondrak and others, University
of Nebraska
Tritrichomonas foetus is a protozoan parasite
which is transmitted as a venereal
infection and causes early embryonic
death and abortion. Carrier bulls are
usually identified through culturing
preputial scrapings, but false positives
may occur when non-pathogenic
trichomonads are present. The authors
compare the results of the standard test
with those from T. foetus-specific gel and
real time PCR assays. They conclude that
a combination of culture and gel PCR
assays on samples from three sequential
scrapings would be the best method for
identifying carrier bulls.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical
Association 237 (9): 1,068-1,073.
Colostral transmission of
bluetongue virus RNA in
Californian dairy calves
C. E. Mayo and others, University of
California, Davis
Bluetongue virus infection in ruminants
is normally regarded as a non-infectious
condition which is exclusively
transmitted by the Culicoides insect vector.
However, evidence of vertical
transmission emerged in the 2007
European outbreak and the authors
confirm that it also occurred with the
virus strain present in the western USA.
They monitored newborn dairy calves at
different sites over a one-year period.
Viral RNA was found in blood samples
taken from calves in the winter months
when the vector was inactive and
followed the ingestion of contaminated
colostrum.
Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 57 (4):
277-281.
Temporal changes in the
prevalence of Giardia and
Cryptosporidia in dairy calves
Tatjana Coklin and others, Health
Canada, Ottawa
Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidia sp. are
protozoan parasites which cause
diarrhoea in humans and show a high
prevalence in dairy cattle. The authors
monitored the shedding of both species
in faeces from a herd in Ontario over a
three-month period. G. duodenalis
increased during the course of the study,
reaching a peak of 93.1% in calves aged
43 to 54 days before decreasing. At
75.9%, Cryptosporidia sp. was most
common in calves aged 11 to 22 days but
then declined. Therefore, temporal
changes should be taken into account
when assessing the potential for zoonotic
transmission.
Canadian Veterinary Journal 51 (8): 841-
846.
Onset and duration of transient
infections in calves exposed to
bovine diarrhoea virus
Jason Nickell and others, Kansas
State University
Persistently infected cattle are the
reservoir of infection for bovine virus
diarrhoea virus. There is little published
data on the nature of transient infections
in herdmates. The authors took serum
and nasal swab samples from calves in
contact with a persistently infected
animal. Only one of 27 calves showed
clinical disease but 78% showed a four-
fold rise in BVDV titres and 74% of
nasal swabs were positive for viral nucleic
acid on PCR analysis. The mean duration
of onset for virus shedding was 10 days
and it lasted for an average of three days.
International Journal of Applied Research in
Veterinary Medicine 9 (1): 29-39.
Comparison of three tests for
contagious bovine
pleuropneumonia
Geofrey Muuka and others, Central
Veterinary Research Institute,
Lusaka, Zambia
CBPP is a bacterial disease caused by
Mycoplasma mycoides sub. mycoides,
producing fibrinous interstitial
pneumonia and pleurisy. The authors
took samples from 797 cattle in a CBPP
affected area and tested them using three
lab methods, the complement fixation
test (53% positive), competitive ELISA
(59%) and LppQ ELISA test (44%), and
compared the results with post mortem
findings (68%). The competitive ELISA
was the most effective of the three at
detecting chronic infection and the
complement fixation test was most
accurate during the onset stage.
Tropical Animal Health and Production 43
(5): 1,057-1,062.
Subclinical mastitis and associated
risk factors on Australian dairy
farms
Kelly Plozza, Charles Sturt
University, Wagga Wagga, New
South Wales
Subclinical mastitis is of considerable
economic importance because of the
effects on milk yield and quality and the
potential penalties for bulk milk with
high somatic cell counts. The authors
assessed the prevalence of subclinical
disease on 189 dairy farms and looked
for associated risk factors. Farmers with
low disease prevalence were more likely
to wear gloves when milking, used
individual paper towels for udder
preparation, fed cows directly after
milking and more frequently treated
cows with high individual somatic cell
counts than high prevalence herds.
Australian Veterinary Journal 89 (1-2): 41-
46.
VP AUGUST 2011
IT appears that bonuses for those
responsible for the operation of the
Single Payment Scheme are to be
blocked by the Government.
Few people in the countryside have
any direct contact with agents or
officers but the letterbox offers
considerable weight of information and
notification.
For example: We recently carried
out a remote sensing inspection of your
farm to confirm the details on your SPS
2011 application. This is an important
check that
uses satellite
imagery to
confirm the
boundary, area
and land use
of parcels you
included on
your application. I am writing to tell you
what we found, and to ask you for more
information to help us process your
claim accurately. It is important that you
send us the information we need quickly
as we will use it when we calculate your
SPS 2011 payment.
And: I enclose the following
documents. I appreciate these contain a
great deal of information, but hope they
will help you understand the position:
Annex A, Annex B, Annex C, Statement
of remote sensing findings, List of
ineligible features.
For each of the parcels, the
Maximum Area Eligible for SPS has
been calculated by deducting the total
area of all the permanent ineligible
features from the Total Field Size.
Eleven decimal places
The letter continues: For the purposes
of this calculation, we first calculated
each individual permanent ineligible
feature area to 11 decimal places, added
the individual areas up and then
rounded the total to 2 decimal places.
However, for convenience, we have
rounded the individual figures to 4
decimal places in this list rather than
show them to the full 11 decimal
places.
A highly colourful satellite
photograph with red fields and blue
buildings shows a field under dispute
with an added yellow border and an
ineligible feature, calculated at 0.0134
hectares. This works out at something
of the order of 1.75 of possible
payment dispute.
Of course the correct payment
should be applied and if you add up all
the 1.75s on all the farms for all the
years, it will come to a considerable
sum, but how many years of reclaim
will it take to recover the cost of the
remote sensing and supporting
mailings?
At EU level, change, as always, is in
the air with an intention to make 30%
of the future payments dependent on
green activities including permanent
pasture, crop rotation, fallow or carbon
mitigation. If this means more forms,
more literature and more remote
sensing, then please make it somewhat
more cost effective.
The Farming Regulation Task Force
report has recommended that the
people who farm the land should be the
beneficiary of the Single Payment
Scheme, which
may not be the landowner. It is perhaps
worth considering which of the clients
of a veterinary practice own and farm
the land and the effect that this
proposed change would have on
livestock management.
Originally, it was said that the old
Single Farm Payment should not form
part of the income of the farm but it is
clear that many stockowners are
dependent on the payments for survival.
Veterinary surgeons may also have
views on the proposals for identification
and movement control. The report
identifies that the present arrangements,
including the six-day movement
restriction, are intended to minimise
disease spread.
The current rules are criticised as
complex and obstructive to livestock
production, with relatively high levels of
non-compliance. A new system is
proposed that balances the relative risk
of disease spread and the need of
businesses for a simpler system that
takes account of the seasonal nature of
livestock production.
Key elements
The key elements of this new approach
should comprise: rapid adoption of
electronic reporting of animal
movements; introduction of a single,
distance limited County Parish Holding
designation (replacing Sole Occupancy
Authorities and Cattle Tracing Scheme
Links) that will allow farm to farm
movement of animals without record
keeping; and free movement of animals
between individual farms without
triggering a six-day standstill.
Approved separation facilities within
a CPH to hold bought-in animals
without a standstill on the rest of the
holding should also be allowed, thereby
allowing producers to make maximum
use of limited market opportunities.
Meat hygiene controls are given
within the report as an example of
burdensome official inspection. It is
proposed that consistently competent
meat processors should be able to
source meat inspection services from
accredited private sector providers
within a system managed by the
competent authority.
The longer term goal of a risk-
based system requires change to EU
rules; the Government should take the
lead in piloting innovative inspection
processes and making recommendations
to the European Commission.
In the short term, changes that do
not require changes to EU rules should
be introduced, including the greater use
of cold inspection in small processors
with appropriate facilities.
The Government should make
maximum use of derogations in EU law
controlling TSEs and support
proportionate, risk-based changes,
including the TSE roadmap, to these
rules and implement changes without
delay once they are agreed.
Detailed recommendations
There are some detailed
recommendations of interest including:
n immediate adoption of a single
database, commercially and privately
operated, to record sheep movements to
ultimately replace entirely and make
redundant the Animal Movement
Licensing System (AMLS);
n early adoption of automatic pig
movement recording;
n an end to paper-based reporting of
cattle movements;
n consideration in the longer term to
developing a single private sector
database for all species;
n electronic data entry and recording
should be immediate;
n where alternative reporting systems
are provided, movements must be
reported within 72 hours;
n maximum use of the Central Point
Recording Centre (CPRC).
A total of 215 recommendations are
within the report and copies are
available to download from the
defra.gov.uk website. The Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs Committee has
decided to take evidence but there was a
brief window of opportunity to
respond between publication of the
report on 17th May and submissions
closing on 10th June.
The Committee will consider in
particular: whether it is desirable for
DEFRA to change its culture of
regulation in the manner suggested by
the report; how this cultural shift could
be implemented, particularly focusing
on strengthened partnership with the
farming and food processing industries
and more proactive engagement with
EU institutions; how a system of
earned recognition for regulation and
inspection recommended by the Task
Force would work in practice.
It is thought that some veterinary
practices may have joined the Rural and
Farming Network being set up by
DEFRA. Some 20 or so of these
groups are envisaged to be a source of
contact and to give advice directly to the
Government on farming, food and rural
issues to help inform policies that affect
rural people and the food and farming
industry.
The groups will provide a direct line
of communication, keeping DEFRAs
ministers in touch with issues, concerns
and good practice to be found in rural
and farming communities around the
country. It is indicated that support
would be available for gatherings and
discussions.
One of the great advantages of
veterinary work would appear to be that
visits and contacts are made to a
considerable breadth of clients and at
every conference strong opinions are
expressed about politics and control.
At a local level, Networks might
appeal to those who have little interest
in travelling to London for committee
work.
LIVESTOCK
48
Farmer bought medicines imported illegally
A FARMER has been ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and
pay legal costs of 2,500 after admitting involvement in a 6 million scam to
bring illegal veterinary products into the UK. Croydon Crown Court was told
it was the largest known attack on the UK veterinary system and the seizure
of goods in France represented the largest seizure of illegal veterinary
products in Europe amounting to 130 cubic metres.
Cattle farmer Andrew Hawley, the head of Leicestershire Livestock, was
one of 4,000 farmers who bought illegal medications. He pleaded guilty to six
counts and appeared in court with 11 other defendants. The court was told
that Mr Hawley had bought the drugs from the ring-leaders of the scam for
three to four years, paying 27,000, for medicines used on his herd, which
numbered between 400 and 600, with an annual cattle turnover of 2,500 to
3,000.
The prosecution was launched after a DEFRA investigation revealed the
illegal trade in veterinary medicines, including anti-inflammatories, anabolic
steroids, tranquillisers, antibiotics, sedatives, painkillers and other
miscellaneous products.
RICHARD GARD
takes a look at what DEFRA is doing
with remote sensing, the work of the
Farming Regulation Task Force, and
why there is a high level of non-
compliance
COMPLEX RULES OBSTRUCT PRODUCTION
COWS were not the only subject at
the Lameness in ruminants
conference and symposium held
earlier this year in Rotorua, New
Zealand.
Professor Laura Green from the
University of Warwick presented one
of the plenary lectures. She gave an
excellent overview of the current
situation of footrot in sheep based on
the last 12 years of research carried
out at both Bristol and Warwick
universities.
Her
research has
focused on
preventing
lameness in
sheep.
Footrot
presenting as
interdigital dermatitis (ID) or under
running is the commonest cause of
lameness in sheep in the UK, present
in 97% of flocks and causing
approximately 80% of lameness. Sheep
left lame with footrot lose weight and
are less productive.
Lameness is a good indicator of
foot disease in sheep, being specific
but not very sensitive. Some sound
sheep have footrot; however, when
sheep are lame they have foot lesions,
and lameness is more severe as the
lesions are more severe. In addition,
sheep with ID that progresses to
under running are more lame one
week before the under running
develops.
Reasonably accurate
Farmers can recognise even mildly
lame sheep and are reasonably accurate
at estimating the prevalence of
lameness. Those who treat individual
lame sheep promptly and appropriately
have a median prevalence of lameness
of less than 5%, compared with 15%
in farmers who are not treating
individual sheep.
Dichelobacter nodosus is the causal
agent of footrot. It is present on the
feet of all sheep all the time. Recent
work indicates that rather than footrot
occurring after Fusobacterium
necrophorum has caused ID, it is an
increase in numbers of D. nodosus itself
that causes ID and footrot.
F. necrophorum did not increase until
footrot was present. It is the
interaction between the foot,
environment and D. nodosus that is
pivotal for susceptibility to footrot and
persistence of D.
nodosus. What triggers disease: a change
in the foot integrity or a change in the
habitat or gene expression of the
bacterium or all of these?
Most effective
The most effective treatment for
footrot is a long-acting antibiotic
(oxytet at 10mg/kg). This treatment
also contributes to resolution of poor
foot conformation and reduces the
likelihood of a repeated case of
footrot in sheep with chronic lesions.
Trimming away the hoof horn to
expose underlying lesions of footrot
reduced recovery.
Prof. Green highlighted that the
traditional recommendations for
management of lameness (foot
bathing, routine foot trimming and
only injecting sheep with severe
footrot lesions) were either not
effective or not done sufficiently to
minimise lameness. Quarantine and
isolation of lame sheep were effective
recommendations.
On the topic of a suitable vaccine,
she noted that sheep do not develop
good immunity to footrot. A vaccine
has to work at the local level. An
understanding of how D. nodosus
causes disease is vital to produce a
targeted vaccine that prevents this
process.
Prof. Green believes that by
comparing the protein expression of
strains of D. nodosus that do not cause
disease with those that do, it should
be possible to identify the mechanism
of disease.
In her lab she has studied a gene
in D. nodosus that appears to be
associated with virulence. This gene is
highly variable and flocks/regions
with pathogenic strains of D. nodosus
appear to have a
different genetic code
for this protein from
non-pathogenic
strains.
A flavour...
In these short articles
I have done my best
to give you a flavour
of the conference
but with four
plenaries, six
workshops, two
symposia, 12 oral
presentations and 74
posters it was a
daunting challenge. I
have omitted much.
For those of you
with an interest in
ruminant lameness, I
would urge you to
visit the IVIS
website. The
conference was also
packed with findings
from New Zealands
grazing systems as
well as many others,
including sole ulcers
in camels!
At the gala dinner
on the last night,
Richard Laven, who
chaired the
organising
committee, signed off
a very successful conference and handed the torch over to Becky Whay
representing Bristol University who will host the next conference in 2013.
Research into commonest
cause of sheep lameness
Professor Laura Green receiving a token of thanks from
Richard Laven for her plenary lecture. Below: Becky
Whay with members of the committee, Richard Laven
and Jakob Malmo.
Jon Reader, BVSc, DCHP, MRCVS,
graduated from Bristol in 1997 and has
been in dairy practice in Somerset ever
since. He gained the Certicate in
Cattle Health and production in 2001.
He is currently one of the founding
directors of Synergy Farm Health, a 25-
vet farm only practice in Somerset, East
Devon and Dorset. He is particularly
interested in large herds and the
analysis of herd health records and the
prevention of lameness and mastitis on
farm, including introducing new
software to the industry to help
farmers manage lameness.
JON READER
presents the last of his three reports
from the international conference on
lameness in ruminants held earlier this
year in New Zealand
Diplomas presented on
Royal College Day
JON Reader was among a number of veterinary
surgeons presented with diplomas on Royal
College Day last month. He is shown with the
scroll presented to him by the then College
president, Peter Jinman, following the annual
general meeting in London. Mr Readers diploma
is in cattle health and production.
Other diplomas went to: James Yeates
(animal welfare science, ethics and law), Adam
Gow (small animal medicine), Robert Pettitt
(small animal surgery orthopaedics), Richard
Saunders (zoological medicine mammalian).
Two further diplomas were awarded in
absentia; these went to Anne-Marie Tarala
(animal welfare science, ethics and law) and
Simon Roch (small animal surgery
orthopaedics).
Fellowships by thesis were awarded to Dr
Chris Chesney and Dr Thomas Holland; and in
absentia to James Carmalt and Graham
Duncanson.
VP AUGUST 2011 LIVESTOCK 49
VP AUGUST 2011 EQUINE
50
MEETINGS of the Association of
Racecourse Veterinary Surgeons
(ARVS) rarely fail to be both
interesting and practical.
The associations yearly Casualty
Management Seminar, held at different
racecourses around the UK each
November or December, is obligatory
CPD for racecourse veterinarians and
the organisations other meetings are
generally notable for their interesting
speakers and important topics.
This years Summer Scientific
Meeting and AGM were held at Chester
Racecourse.
With the
sport of
racing, like
other
equestrian
disciplines,
coming ever-
increasingly
under critical surveillance by both
public and media, the meeting included
timely discussions on a number of
subjects of considerable welfare
significance and space only permits me
to summarise a small part of the
interesting and wide-ranging discussions
that took place.
Four papers
Professor Wayne McIlwraith of
Colorado State University has for long
been one of the worlds leading
authorities on
orthopaedic disorders of
horses and he performed
a real tour de force in giving
four papers on areas
ranging from dealing with
the media to intra-
articular therapy.
In discussing the
latter, he highlighted its
importance by pointing
out that it has been stated
that 60% of lameness
problems in sport horses
are related to osteoarthritis.
The aim of therapy in traumatic
joint problems is to return the joint to
normal rapidly, if possible, and to
prevent or reduce the severity of
osteoarthritis.
Corticosteroids are frequently used
for intra-articular therapy and whilst it
has been stated that they can have
detrimental effects on joint health,
Professor McIlwraith asserted that
these have been overplayed.
He pointed out that there are
variations in effect between different
agents so that
although, for example,
methylprednisolone acetate has been
demonstrated to cause articular
degeneration, there is evidence that
triamcinolone acetonide is
chondroprotective.
There has been much discussion in
recent years concerning corticosteroid-
induced laminitis with triamcinolone
being perceived as the agent in this
group of drugs most likely to cause it.
Many clinicians, however, are now
comfortable with the use of a total
dose of up to 40mg of
triamcinolone intra-
articularly and in a series
of 2,000 cases in which
corticosteroid doses of
up to 45mg were used by
this route, there were
reported to be only three
cases of laminitis (Bathe,
2007).
Other agents that can
be beneficial for intra-
articular use in the horse
include hyaluronan and
polysulphated glycosaminoglycan, both
of which may be considered to be
disease-modifying osteoarthritic drugs,
whilst more recently introduced agents
for the treatment of joints include anti-
cytokine therapy via either autologous
conditioned serum or gene therapy, as
well as the use of stem cells.
In a fascinating presentation, Dr
Tim Parkin of the University of
Glasgow summarised some recent work
into the effects of race training as he
considered at what age such training
should commence, how much should a
horse train per week and what are the
best surfaces on which to work.
Contrary to a frequently advanced
view that the training of racehorses at
two years of age is detrimental, there is
now evidence to suggest
that horses that train
and race at that age are
less likely to suffer
racecourse fatalities and
some other injuries than
animals that start their
racing careers later.
Increased risk
In fact, regardless of
what age horses begin
to race, the first year in
training represents a
period of increased risk
of sustaining a
catastrophic limb
failure, suggesting that
horses should be eased
in to fast work relatively
slowly.
Professor
McIlwraith also discussed
the effects of early training on horses.
Whilst bone and muscle retain their
ability to respond to exercise in adult
life, some tendons at least appear not to
show such adaptability in the mature
horse.
It has been suggested that an
appropriate level of exercise in young
animals may confer advantages in terms
of improved tendon development and
early race training has been
demonstrated to be associated with an
increase in mean cross sectional area of
the superficial digital tendon compared
with untrained horses.
Professor McIlwraith described a
multi-centre collaborative study based
in New Zealand in which the effects of
exercise in thoroughbred horses during
the first 18 months of life were
investigated (Rogers et al., 2008).
One group of young horses was
kept at pasture with no additional
exercise, whilst another also lived at
pasture but was subjected to an exercise
protocol of gradually increasing
intensity, amounting to around a 30%
increase in workload for the latter
group.
This extra exercise had no damaging
effects and there was evidence of some
benefit in terms of development of the
musculoskeletal system.
Degree of conflict
The volume of work that is optimal
for young racehorses is still to some
extent uncertain and it appears there is
some degree of conflict between the
demands of cardiovascular training
and the amount of work that
increases the risk of injury.
Excessive amounts of fast work
predispose to injury, but horses that
have performed no high-speed
exercise are also more likely to sustain
fatal racecourse
injuries.
A number of
studies have shown
that between four and
seven furlongs of fast
work per week is
probably the best
volume and it is
noteworthy that
relatively few high load
cycles may be
necessary to induce a
significant adaptatory
response.
Mike Shepherd of
the Beaufort Cottage
Stables practice in
Newmarket has a wide
experience of dealing
with racehorses and
sport horses and he
presented some
interesting cases that illustrated the
value of various imaging modalities
for the diagnosis and monitoring of
racing injuries and their role in the
prevention of re-injury, highlighting
the need for good imaging technique
and a sound knowledge of the
appearance of normal tissues.
n Veterinarians interested in
membership of the ARVS can contact
the secretary via e-mail at
secretary@arvs.org.uk.
References
Bathe, A.P. (2007) The corticosteroid
laminitis story: 3 The clinicians
viewpoint. Equine Veterinary Journal 39:
12-13.
Rogers, C. W., Firth, E. C., McIlwraith,
C. W., Bameveld, A., Goodship, A. E.,
Kawcak, C. E., Smith, R. K. and van
Weeren, P.R. (2008) Evaluation of a
new strategy to modulate skeletal
development in thoroughbred
performance horses by imposing
track-based exercise during growth.
Equine Veterinary Journal 40: 111-118.
Facing up to the challenges of training
Dr COLIN ROBERTS
reports on the summer scientic
meeting of the Association of
Racecourse Veterinary Surgeons
which looked at numerous topics of
welfare signicance
an appropriate
level of exercise in
young animals
may confer
advantages in
terms of
improved tendon
development and
early race training
has been
demonstrated to
be associated
with an increase
in mean cross
sectional area of
the superficial
digital tendon
Prof. Wayne McIlwraith
Professional business support
for veterinary practices
From starting or acquiring your frst practice,
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every step of the way.
THE RCVS Annual Reviewdescribes 2011
as Another year carefully handled. The
worry for many, given the uncontrolled
over-spends on a number of major
projects within the RCVS, is that the
careful handling refers to manipulation
of the PR face of the RCVS, rather than
the actual management of the college.
On 10th June at 12.09pm, the
communication department for the RCVS
sent out a draft press release to RCVS
Council. This described some of the events
relating to overspend on the IT project. At
2.40pm a correction was issued stating
that the original budget was 178,000.
By 4.30pm the whole of council had
been informed that this correction was
in itself incorrect: the actual original
budget figure should have been
150,000 which was then increased to
170,000 (the figure of 178,000 was always
a typo and had been corrected at a council
meeting in 2008).
Despite this error being acknowledged by
the president and council not agreeing with
the issuing of the press release, the figure of
178,000 had been rushed out to the press
and formed the basis of the lead story in
Veterinary Times.
On 19th June, the author, in an e-mail
copied to council members, asked why the
erroneous figure had not been corrected
especially when RCVSs own advice to vets
who make a mistake is to own up and
apologise. No reply came from the officers
and no correction has been issued to the
press.
Advice from RCVSs own professional
conduct department was obtained upon a
hypothetical situation where a veterinary
surgeon acting in good faith gave
misinformation to the press and how he or
she should act once the error became known
to him or her.
The department quite rightly stated that
the veterinary surgeon should know how to
act in an ethical manner and if he or she
chose to fail to correct the misinformation,
then RCVS would probably regard the matter
very unfavourably. So it appears there is one
rule for veterinary surgeons being judged by
the RCVS and another one for RCVS staff
and officers.
The handling of two recent major
projects has led many to question whether the
RCVS hierarchy has become complacent, or
has even developed a disregard of good
financial management.
The lower ground floor
It was decided that additional meeting rooms
were needed and that the lower ground floor
(LGF), or basement to you and me, could be
redeveloped to provide these.
The original figure for the LGF work
presented for the 2009 budget was 190,000.
This was then revised to 366,000 in May
2010 to include the increased building costs,
audio-visual (AV) equipment and furnishings.
The Planning and Resources Committee
(PRC) had asked for prices to be obtained on
a simpler and much cheaper system using a
large screen and Skype instead of full-blown
AV equipment but I cant find any follow-
up on that request.
The budget was then revised to 401,000
in October 2010 to allow for IT connection
to the rest of the RCVS network. A further
5,000 was added to allow for refreshment
making facilities (some kettle!) and signage.
Yet another 18,000 was added for an
induction loop system (a legal requirement).
In February 2011 a further 60,000 was
added to the budget as difficulties were
encountered with the ceiling.
The final cost came in at 484,000 yet
another 60,000 in addition to the costs
shown above because of extra work to
provide power to the kitchen (again some
kettle!), 50 extra power sockets, and an
uninterruptible power supply for the IT kit
and soundproofing, etc.
It is important to note that shifting the
budget figures as you go along does not mean
you are keeping close to your budget, any
more than shifting the goalposts makes me a
star striker. So claims of only 14%
overspend need to be viewed in light of the
original budget and the figures adjusted
accordingly.
RCVS Council has been assured that the
rooms are in constant use, but analysis of
RCVSs own booking sheets showed a
maximum of 15% occupancy. It appeared
that the creation of these new rooms saved
the RCVS less than 3,000 in external room
hire over six months (when disciplinary
meetings were held). As far as I am aware,
only two external bodies have hired the
rooms (an income source cited to help offset
the costs of the building works) but they
have not actually been invoiced.
The changes to the budget were
approved, according to the PRC papers
available to the public, but dig deeper and you
find that this was disputed at council and
finally it became the extra costs were noted
by PRC rather than agreed.
Digging deeper is complicated by the fact
that the recent council minutes themselves are
currently not available on the website (just the
preparatory papers). The older council
minutes are available on the expensive new
website just not the recent ones dealing with
these financial fiascos.
The Registrar commented that officers
(including herself) were empowered to deal
with urgent business and approve
expenditure from the contingency fund,
arising between Council and Committee
meetings, reporting to the Council or the
relevant Committee and seeking ratification,
as necessary but the total RCVS
contingency fund is only 40,000 not the
considerably greater sums used here.
The IT database
The old RCVS database certainly required
updating to accommodate changes in the
records being kept and also to allow web-
enabling. However, the management of the
project is undoubtedly open to question.
The budget papers presented to council
(November 2008) state under capital
budget: The original provision of 150,000
in the capital budget for the database has been
increased to 170,000 in line with costings
obtained by Corporate Services dept.
In June 2008, the council was told that
the project would be completed in
October/November 2009. In February 2009
the evaluation was undertaken. In October
2009 the system was installed and council
was told that it would be live on 17th
February 2010. By March 2010 the live date
was moved to May 2010. In May 2010 it was
reported to PRC that the iMIS database
project is still going to plan [my emphasis]!
The PRC papers of 14th October 2010
show that there had been problems but
everything would be hunky-dory for the
2011/12 fee cycle. It was also noted that
officers were closely monitoring progress.
Finally, in March 2011, RCVS council
was told the project had gone live on 16th
December and was on target to enable on-
line payments of retention fees (due 1st
April). However, in the council papers for
June 2011 it was stated that there was an
overspend of 225,000 and probably a
further 20,000 required to complete the
project.
Interestingly, the RCVS claims to have
used PRINCE2 methodology for specifying
the IT project. As I understand it, this
method means that the precise specification
of the project is clearly set out prior to work
starting. Time, scope and costs are all agreed
in advance. There is also precise
documentation throughout the project, so
any deviation (i.e. RCVS changing its mind
on what is needed) will be clearly identifiable.
It certainly seems odd that the RCVS is
paying some 245,000 extra for late delivery
of the system if it was correctly specified.
The treasurer has attempted to deflect
the concerns about the overspend on the IT
system by illustrating how complex a project
it is, having to print labels and the like. He has
also stated that the RCVS normally budgets
60,000 per annum for updating the database
so this saving can be offset. What he didnt
mention is that the annual licence for the
BASIC version (is that the one installed?) of
the new software is 39-40,000 per annum
(before any updating work is charged).
Most veterinary practices now have
practice management systems installed. These
cover a massive range of complexity, a variety
of reminders being sent out, clinical records
stored, links to PACs systems for image
retrieval, SMS texting, web-linkage, multiple
ownership, cumulative accounts or third party
payments, e-commerce, even printing labels.
Given the easily available wealth of
expertise on database management, it is a
wonder that RCVS could not have been
better informed. One might now assume that
everything in the garden is rosy, having paid
all this extra money, but apparently this is not
the case.
One would also assume that thought had
been given to ensuring that the RCVS
database functions were integrated across its
roles. However, this is also not the case the
professional conduct departments database
doesnt link to the new one and a whole new
database project will be entered into at some
time when the dust has settled from this
fiasco.
The VAT issue
To the great consternation of RCVS council,
the real cost of these projects has not been
made clear to the profession that is paying for
them.
All the figures quoted have been ex-VAT.
Most veterinary businesses are VAT
registered and simply reclaim the VAT so it
doesnt actually seem like a real cost, but the
RCVS is different: 81% of the VAT it is
charged has to be paid and cannot be
reclaimed.
As VAT rates have changed it is slightly
complex to produce an accurate final figure
but reasonable estimates would be to assume
a 17.5% rate for the building project and
(given the timing) a 20% VAT rate for the
database. Therefore, the real cost (money we
actually have to spend) of the LGF meeting
rooms will be of the order of 552,000 and
the cost of the IT database is approximately
482,000.
Reviews
At RCVS Day on 1st July, the outgoing
president announced a review on these two
major projects. That the work was required
was not in question, he said devotees of
Yes, Prime Minister will recognise that defining
the outcome of a review before it starts is an
essential part of carefully handling any
situation.
The president continued: But that
expenditure over the extended timescale of
both projects rose above initial budgets is
both to be regretted and subject to analysis as
to cause.
One would hope that Professor Bill
McKelveys review team will extend its
enquiry beyond the proposed purely financial
terms of reference. I hope it will look at the
senior management structures of the RCVS
and the current decision making processes
and develop recommendations for any
changes required to ensure that the structures
are fit for purpose for at least the next
decade which was the meat of the motion
I put forward at the last council meeting.
One thing is for certain: without
significant change it is only a matter of time
until the next crisis hits the RCVS.
Openness, transparency and accountability?
BOB PARTRIDGE
an elected member of the Royal
College Council (since 2006) reviews
the recent over-spending
VP AUGUST 2011 CORRESPONDENCE 51
VP AUGUST 2011
JUST in case it may avert
disappointment, let me begin this
piece by saying that it is a Potter-
free zone. I did go to see the first
film in the Harry Potter series and
found it so immediately forgettable
that I have not been persuaded to
return for the others.
Instead, this month lets consider a
far more
worthwhile
pastime than
following the
exploits of J.
K. Rowlings
irritating hero.
Chess has
not generally been well-represented in
movies; most frequently the presence
of a chessboard is used to suggest
intelligence or culture on the part of a
particular character. Less often, chess
has some minor relevance to the story;
for example, the crass game played
between Steve McQueen and Faye
Dunaway in the original Thomas Crown
Affair, which has not aged well.
Sometimes, though, there is more
to the appearance of chess in a film
than meets the eye. The first time that
we see Humphrey Bogart in the
magnificent Casablanca he is sitting at a
board. This was because Bogart
adored the game and he used to enjoy
playing for money both to boost his
earnings as a struggling young actor
and later after he achieved stardom.
There are a few movies in which
chess features as an integral part of
the plot, the most famous being
probably Ingmar Bergmans 1957
Swedish classic,
The Seventh Seal. Derived from
Bergmans own play, Wood Painting, it
features a game between a mediaeval
knight and Death. The Seventh Seal has
been hailed as an allegorical
masterpiece of European cinema and
its chess scenes have been parodied
many times.
A less successful example of chess
at the movies was Knight Moves, Carl
Schenkels 1992 horror-thriller that
horrified the critics, although not in
the way that Schenkel would have
wished. Knight Moves starred
Christopher Lambert
(Highlander and its
sequels, Greystoke: the
Legend of Tarzan, Lord of
the Apes), always one to
be a bit different, as a
Grandmaster who
becomes the chief
suspect in the search for
a serial killer. I dont
remember it being as
bad as it was painted,
but perhaps I need to
see it again.
All of this
discussion of the Royal
Game leads me finally to Liz Garbus
recently-released documentary about
the eleventh World Chess Champion,
Bobby Fischer, remembered mainly
these days for his eccentric and, at
times, offensive behaviour, rather than
as one of the greatest players ever.
Bobby Fischer against the World seeks
to explain Fischers development from
child prodigy (he won the US
Championship for the first time at 15)
to world champion to disturbed
recluse. It succeeds to some extent, but
it leaves too much unstated to be a
really high-class product.
Erratic behaviour
We learn of Fischers difficult
childhood and of his early obsession
with chess, but we are not told, for
example, about the erratic behaviour
that contributed to his not contesting a
match for the world championship
until he was 29.
Bobby Fischer... is remarkable for the
amount of archive material that it
includes of Fischer playing chess and
playing to the camera,
but when it comes to
the centrepiece of the
film, the 1972 contest
when he defeated
Boris Spassky in
Reykjavik to take the
world title, it
ultimately sells the
event short.
The tremendous
world interest in what
was viewed as a
microcosm of the
Cold War, the doubts
about Fischers
participation and the controversial
early phase of the match are dealt with
well but the final two-thirds of the
contest are sadly neglected.
Although prior to their encounter
in Iceland, Fischer had never defeated
Spassky and had lost to him three
times, he went into the match the clear
favourite, at least partly due to his
superb form in the qualifying matches
where he swept world-class opposition
aside. Spassky, however, was a
remarkable player and we can only
gauge the significance of Fischers
victory by acknowledging the strength
of his opponent. Neither of these
important aspects of the match is
explored.
Reign neglected
Finally, Fischers reign as world
champion is neglected. Upon winning
the title, he claimed that he would play
frequently, but he did not appear in
another game until his meaningless
rematch with Spassky 20 years later
when both players were shadows of
their former selves.
Would Fischer have
retained his title had
he played against
Anatoly Karpov in
1975? We can never
know but there was a
real possibility that
Karpov would have
won; this movie
crucially fails to
address this issue or,
more importantly, the
reasons for Fischers
failure to defend the
title.
So is Bobby Fischer...
worth a look? Despite
its deficiencies it is. It
provides a fascinating
insight into the life of
a great but tragic
sportsman although,
like Fischer himself, it
delivers so much but
falls short of what it
should have achieved.
THEATRE
52
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From world champion to disturbed recluse
Dr COLIN ROBERTS
says that a new lm providing an
insight into the life of a great
chess player with many character
aws is worth a look despite its
deciencies
VP AUGUST 2011 FUND-RAISING 53
THE Hearing Dogs Charity, of
which I am a trustee, has been
affected by the financial downturn
like many other charities, and indeed
veterinary practices, so I was very
keen to encourage lots of vets and
other golfers to take part in this
years golf day at Bigbury Bay Golf
Club in south Devon.
But I need not have worried as
some 60 golfers duly entered and we
had a wonderful days golf on this
spectacular cliff-top course. In addition,
thanks to both the players
and very generous
sponsors, we again raised
over 4,000 towards the
training of a Hearing Dog.
We had teams of four,
three-quarter handicap, with the best
two scores to count at each hole, and
managed to tempt some 15 teams to
enter. Unfortunately, for the first time in
the four years we were not blessed with
a cloudless sky and indeed we had some
light rain as the first team teed off at
11am.
Generous sponsors
The day was again generously
sponsored by some wonderful local,
national and veterinary companies, and
Bigbury Golf Club reduced its green
fees for us. Luckily the rain soon
stopped and we began to get an
impression of the wonderful views
from all aspects of this course.
The front nine holes look down into
the tree-lined river Avon and out over
Dartmoor, but the back nine have even
better views as we see the estuary, the
picturesque waterside village of
Bantham and out to Burgh Island with
its pub and art deco hotel.
It was good to see three local
owners there with their Hearing Dogs
and the dogs proved quite an attraction.
These ladies, plus my wife Boony,
proved very successful in extracting
money out of the players and
supporters for the raffle which
contained a wealth of desirable prizes.
These had all been donated and
included a Kindle book reader from
Animalcare, six months free dog or cat
food from Hills Pet Nutrition, a years
supply of delicious local Langage Farm
ice cream, a 100 Pro shop voucher
donated by a local garage owner, bonus
gift vouchers from Braemar Finance, a
huge Kittos ham, other butchers meat
vouchers, and rounds of golf from local
clubs.
As last year a separate raffle was
held for a beautiful thumbstick made by
Derek Deans, a Bigbury member, which
raised 60. This was very
appropriately won by
John Boundy, a local vet
and member of the
Western Counties Golf
Society, who had brought
a team down from Bude.
The golf prizes were
also generously
sponsored. The first prize
of a pair of golf shoes
for each of the four
members of the winning
team was provided by
Petplan, which also
entered a team consisting
of Simon Masding, Phil
McKinnon, Mike Henley
and Martin Wells.
The second prize was
four hybrid clubs
sponsored by Dunlops,
and the third prize
was golf equipment
vouchers from Rig
Recruitment and
Locum Agency of
Exeter. The nearest
the pin and
straightest drive
prizes were donated by Miles
Commercial of London and Paul
Jeffries of Merial.
Amazing dogs
I was very pleased to receive such
generous sponsorship from veterinary
companies and entries from veterinary
practices this year again as well as local
golfers. In our practices we all see these
hearing dogs from time to time, and
provide our time free for them. They
are amazing dogs who totally change the
lives of the deaf people who are lucky
enough to have one and the demand
outstrips the supply.
But who won the day? It was the
Plymouth HSBC team
which had invited Iain
Lorraine, practice
manager of the Penbode
Veterinary Group in
Holsworthy, to join them.
Despite being retired
from practice, I was
invited to play in the team
from the Veterinary
Hospital in Plymouth, as
was my friend and retired
colleague Bob Young
from Chagford, but we
didnt win anything!
Keith Dickinson
(Veterinary Insurance
Agency/Dickinsons
Insurance) was unable to
play himself this year but
generously sponsored a
team of vets and nurses
including vets Tim Wingfield and Steve
Grills with VN Ray Male from the
Filham Veterinary Group in Ivybridge.
Also this year vet Graham Campbell
from Beech House Vets in
Southampton brought a team along, and
made the most of it by staying in an inn
at Bigbury the night before, which may
account for the fact that they were not
among the winners!
Both veterinary and local companies
sponsored some of the 18 holes on the
course and sponsored team entries.
Veterinary holes were sponsored by
Bayer Animal Health, and the Veterinary
Hospital Group of Plymouth.
Auction
Following on from the success of an
auction last year, I decided to repeat it!
This was made possible by the
generosity of several local restaurants in
donating meals, plus a meal for eight
people at home, and again a BMW Z4
Sports car for a weekend from Ocean
BMW.
Chris Forrest, a retired auctioneer,
again offered to run the auction which
raised a total of 1,050.
Organising a charity golf day like
this is a practical and enjoyable way of
raising money for a favourite charity
whether that be Hearing Dogs for Deaf
People, Guide Dogs, BVA AWF, CSTF,
Dogs Trust, Cats Protection, RSPB, etc.
If anyone is interested in a template
to help you run such a day, I would be
pleased to provide some information. It
really makes a difference to the charities.
Great daysgolf to raise
funds for great charity
Nigel Blenkarne, director of golf and the pro at Bigbury,
with John Bower and Iain Lorraine, practice manager at
the Penbode Veterinary Practice, who was in the winning
team.
John Boundy, who won
the hand-crafted
thumbstick.
JOHN BOWER
reports on the latest charity golf day to raise
funds for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
VP AUGUST 2011
PEUGEOT should seriously
consider bottling whatever it has
been giving its management and
design teams, as whatever it is
seems to be working wonders.
If there were one car manufacturer
on a hot streak of late, then it would
surely be the often forgotten French
manufacturer with a lion as its logo.
Spurred
on by the
successes of
the excellent
4008 and
exhilarating
RCZ, it has
decided to
launch yet another new model to the
market in the form of the 508 and 508
SW (Estate).
The new Peugeot 508 SW you see
pictured on this very page replaces the
outgoing 407 model and represents the
brands most recent foray into
reaffirming itself in one of its
traditional strongholds: the highly
competitive executive fleet market.
The 508 is available with a choice of
six different engines. There are four
diesel units which include a 110bhp 1.6-
litre engine, two 2.0 litre engines that
come with either 131 or 161bhp, as well
as the range-topping GT model, with its
201bhp 2.2 unit, which comes only with
an automatic paddle shift gearbox.
For those who prefer petrol, then
there are two choices: a 1.6 with 118bhp
or a turbocharged version with 154bhp.
For this review, I test drove the top-
of-the-range GT model and was
particularly impressed with the levels of
power and performance available.
Despite having a slightly portly kerb
weight of 1,780kg, the turbo-charged
diesel GT provided more than enough
power to propel the capacious estate
along Britains roads at a fair old pace: 0-
62 mph is achieved in a little over eight
seconds and the maximum speed is a
mighty 144mph.
In terms of driving dynamics, the
508 was a highly enjoyable drive, thanks
to suspension that keeps body
movement well controlled and steering
thats ultra responsive. The GT version
tested was particularly sharp and precise,
thanks to a more sophisticated front
suspension system,
and made for a highly enjoyable driving
experience.
At some times you completely
forgot the fact that you were driving an
estate car. The ride was also surprisingly
accommodating and did an admirable
job of smoothing out some of the
awfully pockmarked roads in my local
area.
The cabin was quiet (my only gripe
being a little too much wind noise on
the motorways) and would be a perfect
place for the business user to unwind
after a hard day at the office. It is also
worth noting the truly fantastic stereo
system which is easily one of the
clearest I have experienced on any car
in any price range.
High quality interior
Whilst we are on the subject of pricing,
the 508 SWs list prices are roughly on a
par with a comparable Mondeo estate.
Peugeot does manage to undercut the
equivalent VW Passat estate, however,
and thanks to some exceptionally
efficient diesel engines, fuel and
company car tax bills will be among the
lowest in class.
Perhaps the ace up the sleeve of the
508 is the quality of its
interior. Not only is this
class leading but it is
also more than a match
for the luxury
triumvirate from
Germany Audi, BMW
and Mercedes. The
blend of smart
materials, solid controls
and attention to detail
makes it a wonderful
place to be and a real
consideration for
anyone who will be completing long
commutes to and from work.
Again, if I were to have just one
criticism, then it would be against the
slightly scratchy plastics adorning the
centre console. Apart from this minor
flaw, the interior is very hard to fault.
Buyers are able to select from five
different trim levels when purchasing
their 508. These come in the form of:
Access, SR, Active, Allure and GT.
Whilst entry-level Access models have
all the basics, including air-con, four
electric windows and a USB input, you
will need to step up to SR to gain alloy
wheels, cruise control and Bluetooth.
Somewhat surprisingly, satellite
navigation is also included at this level
too.
Panoramic roof
The Active and Allure models dont
have sat-nav, but add a range of luxury
and convenience extras (such as
automatic lights and wipers), while GT
models come fully loaded with every
conceivable extra one could think of.
Most notable would be the huge
panoramic roof, heated and massaging
front seats and the excellent four zone
climate control that enables four
independent heating settings to be
configured within the interior cabin
space.
No matter which trim level you end
up opting for, most people should be
able to get comfortable in the 508.
Theres a decent range of adjustment
for the seat and steering wheel, highly
supportive seats and excellent all-round
visibility.
Added to this theres plenty of space
for four tall adults and their luggage.
Headroom is generous throughout as
too is the amount of leg room for all
occupants.
The boot is wide
and will carry 560
litres, which is big,
but not quite as large
as a Mondeo or
Passat. The boot lid
is mechanically
operated by a push
button system which
will definitely earn
you some attention in
your local car park.
Unfortunately, it is accompanied by a
most irritating bleeping noise which,
despite my intense efforts, is impossible
to turn off in my opinion definitely
worth avoiding as a 460 optional extra.
In terms of safety standards, the
508 has yet to be given an official rating
by the experts at Euro NCAP, but I
would be surprised if it didnt match the
five-star overall rating of Peugeots latest
models. All versions come with front,
side and curtain airbags as well as
stability control, all as standard.
Running costs are also very
competitive. The 200bhp GT model I
tested returns a highly respectable
48mpg on a combined cycle and has
CO
2
emissions of just 154g/km,
meaning it will cost 165 to tax for 12
months.
In summary, I was really pleased to
see that the 508 SW lived up to the high
expectations I had placed on it. After
being blown away by the 4008 and RCZ
models, I was quietly confident that the
508 would be another excellent addition
to Peugeots ever expanding model
range and I was not disappointed.
With the range starting at just
19,175, you really would be hard-
pressed to find a better, more rewarding
driving experience for the money and
the Peugeot more than holds its own
amongst some really stern competition.
The Lion is most definitely roaring now!
ON THE ROAD
54
Excellent addition
to French firms
expanding range
AT A GLANCE
Car tested: Peugeot 508 SW GT
Price as tested: 29,975
Fuel consumption: 47.8mpg
CO
2
emissions: 154g/km
0-60mph: 8.4 seconds
Top speed: 144 mph
Rating: +++++/5
ROBBIE TIFFIN
has been putting the Peugeot 508 SW
GT through its paces and found it
lived up to the high expectations he
had placed on it
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THE MANAGEMENT PAGES
n Abolition of the default retirement age
n Reforms proposed for parental leave
and flexible working
n Getting your computer to work better
n Giving money to your grandchildren
n Mastering the art of herding cats
MOST employers will by now be aware that, as of
this year, it is illegal to retire employees simply
because they have reached a certain age.
Notification of retirement based on the default
retirement
age (DRA)
of 65 may not
now be issued
(since 5th
April 2011).
This applies
to large and
small employers alike, and to employees and partners
alike.
With the pension age for both state and private
sector pensions likely to rise in response to the
increasing costs of providing pensions, the abolition of
the DRA is probably necessary and desirable.
If we are all to be expected to wait before being
entitled to draw our pensions, it follows that
unreasonable barriers to us being able to earn a living
should be dispensed with.
Further, since most of are, apparently, living
longer, it may well be that those in their 50s and 60s
now are, on the whole, fitter and healthier than those
who were at the same age in years gone by.
For some employers, the abolition of the DRA
may not present any practical problems the
Government claims that two-thirds of businesses
already operate without a fixed retirement age. Some
of these firms say that
the situation works
perfectly well on the basis
that, generally speaking,
their employees know for
themselves when they are
no longer able to carry
on and when is the right
time for them to leave.
But even if an
employer has a workforce which can be relied upon to
recognise for itself when the time is right for them to
leave, it is now essential for the employer to exercise
great care in planning for the parting of the ways.
Failure to do it properly risks landing the employer
with the cost and unpleasantness of dealing with an
employment tribunal for unfair
dismissal.
So what can employers do to
mitigate the impact of this
potentially difficult change? Here
are some tips to help employers
deal with the changed environment.
Can you claim exemption
from the new rules?
First of all, it must be stressed that
it is still legal to retire an employee
lawfully at a set age if it counts as
an Employer Justified Retirement Age (EJRA) a set
age which can be objectively justified as a
proportionate response to a legitimate aim.
Cases where this exception will be allowed are
likely to involve posts which require very high levels of
physical and/or mental fitness, e.g. airline pilots and
firefighters. Even where the EJRA is likely to be
allowed though, employers should still make sure they
follow a fair procedure, involving adequate notice and
considering any request by an affected employee to
work on.
How can you still dismiss an older worker?
It may be that employee performance in a particular
job will decline as he or she gets older, though the
decline will not necessarily coincide with a set age. The
law recognises that an employer should still be able to
dismiss an employee if he or she is, or becomes,
unable to do the job he or she is
contracted to do.
This is, therefore, a ground
on which an employer can
continue to base a decision to
retire an older employee.
However, the employer must still
act fairly in doing this and must
be able to base the dismissal on
actual evidence of performance.
Accordingly, employers
should ensure that their
employment practices, including
Retirement: great care needed
in planning for parting of ways
John Davies is head of technical at ACCA (the
Association of Chartered Certied Accountants).
JOHN DAVIES
gives a practical guide to the legislation
which came into effect earlier this year
abolishing the default retirement age
[Photograph by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images]
VP AUGUST 2011 BUSINESS & FINANCE
56
training and incentive
arrangements, are properly
thought through and performance
reviewed and discussed with
employees at regular intervals.
Fair treatment will invariably
involve the employer explaining to
the worker the reasons for his or
her concern and setting out the
expected improvements and
timescale for this to happen.
Failure to meet the targets will be
followed by a first and then a final written warning,
and if improvement is still not realised, disciplinary
action and/or dismissal may be considered.
What employers should be careful to avoid is
responding to poor performance by older workers
more critically than in the case of younger workers
(and vice versa).
If lower than expected performance by a person in
his or her 60s is met with dismissal, but similar
performance levels on the part of younger workers is
not, then the dismissed worker could well bring a
claim for unfair dismissal.
ACAS also makes the point that poor performance
on the part of older workers should not be overlooked
by the employer on the assumption that they will be
leaving soon and do not need to address their
shortcomings this could become a factor in any
subsequent tribunal claim.
How can you plan your future workplace
needs?
Without a DRA, employers need to be prepared in
advance for the potentially difficult discussion that
they may have to have with
individual workers in due course.
One way of preparing is to
institute regular discussions with
staff at which their
performance, training needs and
future plans are discussed
together.
In doing this, care must be
taken to avoid giving the
impression that individual
workers are being encouraged to
leave. You should avoid asking pointed questions
to older workers since this could be construed as
being discriminatory in itself.
ACAS suggests asking open questions about
employees plans in the short, medium and long
term. As a result of this sort of process, employers
may acquire a better idea of which staff members are
hoping to retire at different times, thus helping the
planning for future staffing and succession needs.
Indications not binding
Speaking about retirement plans at the same time
as performance and training needs will also help
the employer to make any necessary changes to the
support available to the worker concerned.
But it is important to bear in mind that
indications given by staff members about the date
at which they plan to retire will not be binding and
can only be indicative.
The removal of the DRA will inevitably mean
that some practices and other businesses will be
operating in a climate of some uncertainty for a
period. Smaller firms may find this new situation
more difficult to cope with than larger firms which
will have in-house HR and legal advisers.
Until we have more clarity as to what the law
recognises as best practice in this area, employers
are encouraged to follow the basic steps set out
above.
They should also consult the guidance
produced by ACAS: Working without the default
retirement age. This is available from
www.acas.org.uk/publications.
A problem in the medical
profession in the USA
Blasier, R. B. (1999) The Problem of the Aging
Surgeon: When Surgeon Age Becomes a Surgical
Risk Factor. Medicine Clinical Orthopaedics and
Related Research 467 (2): 402-411.
The question of when a surgeon should retire has
been the subject of debate for decades. Both
anecdotal evidence and objective testing of
surgeons suggest age causes deterioration in
physical and cognitive performance.
Medical education, residency and fellowship
training, and technology evolve at a rapid pace,
and the older a surgeon is, the more likely it is he
or she is remote from his or her initial education
in his or her specialty.
Research also shows surgeons are reluctant to
plan for retirement. Although there is no federally
mandated retirement age for surgeons in the
United States, surgeons must realise their skills
will decline, a properly planned retirement can be
satisfying, and the retired surgeon has much to
offer the medical and teaching community.
Reforms for parental leave and flexible
working proposed
THE Government is consulting (until 8th August) on plans to introduce a new
system of flexible parental leave from 2015 as part of its plans to create a
modern workplace for the modern economy. Current regulations are thought to
be too rigid, reflecting outdated notions of parenting and family responsibilities
and restrict employers.
The Modern Workplaces consultation seeks to build a new consensus
around greater flexibility, which also includes plans to extend the right to request
flexible working to all employees.
The consultation includes the following proposals for flexible parental leave
(18 weeks maternity leave and pay in one continuous block around birth; four
weeks of parental leave and pay exclusive to each parent to be taken in the first
year; 30 weeks of additional parental leave available to either parent of which
17 weeks would be paid and can be broken in blocks between parents); flexible
working (extending the right to request for all workers who have been with their
employer for 26 weeks); and equal pay (Employment Tribunals that have found
an employer to have discriminated on gender in relation to pay will order the
employer to conduct a pay audit and publish the results).
n www.bis.gov.uk/modernworkplaces
Next steps in review of employment law
THE Government has announced new areas that it will consider reforming as
part of its review of employment red tape including collective redundancy
consultation periods, the Transfer Undertakings Protection of Employment
Regulations (TUPE) and compensation for discrimination awarded by
employment tribunals.
Employers have expressed concern about the high levels of compensation
sometimes awarded by Employment Tribunals in cases of discrimination and the
lack of certainty they have about the level of award they may be required to pay.
Compensation levels for cases of discrimination are unlimited and employers
worry that high awards may encourage people to take weak, speculative or
vexatious cases in the hope of a large payout.
Employers are concerned that the current requirement under the collective
redundancy rules that consultation runs for a minimum period of 90 days is
hindering their ability to restructure efficiently and retain a flexible workforce.
n www.bis.gov.uk
CONSIDERING that its only 25
years or so since computers really
started to ingratiate themselves into
our lives, its frightening how
reliant weve become on them.
Whether its for e-mail, online
banking, web ordering, a database or
plain old word processing, when the
computer fails, we are lost. So what
simple steps can you take to keep your
computer PC or Mac in good
order?
Windows PCs, more so than Apple
Macs, need regular
maintenance. As programs get
loaded, files are used or the
system crashes, faults and
inefficiencies develop. To
work well, the computer
needs to be given a regular
monthly spring clean. You can do
this yourself with the in-built
applications of disk defragmenter,
disk cleanup and error checking.
Reorganising the hard drive
Disk defragmenter reorganises the files
on the hard drive so that like files are
stored together; this saves time loading
data from the hard drive as the
computer is not having to hunt in
different places for fragments of a file.
Disk cleanup looks for old files
temporary files and old back-up files,
etc. that can be deleted and which
will free up space: a full hard drive
works inefficiently.
Error checking scans a hard drive
for problems with the computers
system files and also looks for bad
(failed) sectors on the hard drive,
which are then marked so that nothing
is written to them.
Disk defragmenter and disk
cleanup are found in Windows 7 by
clicking on the Windows start button
and navigating to all programs, then
accessories followed by system
tools. Error checking is found by
right clicking in file explorer on the
hard drive, selecting properties and
then tools.
On a Mac, the process is much
simpler as Mac OS X runs these
routine housekeeping tasks for you in
the background. However, if you do
want to run the processes yourself, the
best way is through a free piece of
software called Onyx that you can
download from www.titanium.free.fr/.
Increasing the speed
The faster a gadget is toted as being
able to run, the more we want to make
it go even faster and computers are
most definitely ripe for this. Both
Windows and Mac can be tweaked.
You can make Windows 7 go much
faster by disabling things such as
search indexing, the aero theme,
user account control, aero peek
and snap, the Windows 7 sidebar,
any unwanted visual effects, any
unwanted services, any unwanted
features and much more. Without
going into reams of detail, you can see
exactly what to do if you visit this
website:
www.computingunleashed.com/speed-
up-windows-7-ultimate-guide-to.html.
Its not as hard as it sounds. Of
course, if you turn everything off,
youll have a duller user experience,
but the computer will be much faster.
Theres less to alter on a Mac but,
nevertheless, you can give your Apple
a boost. Make sure that you are
running the latest version of the Mac
OS X operating system; if youre still
on leopard, install, albeit 18 months
late, snow leopard and consider
going to lion now that it has been
released.
Also ensure that you have all the
interim software updates: Apple is
forever tinkering and adding new
enhancements and bug fixes (yes, even
Apple computers need fixes). Consider
also removing any unnecessary start-
up items by turning off log-in items
navigate to the apple menu, then
system preferences, then accounts,
then Login items.
You can also disable dashboard
widgets look at the bottom left of
your dock and click on the black
round disk icon, click on the x on
the bottom far left of the screen and
then the x on each of the widgets;
each widget takes up system resource.
Finally, repair the ownerships and
permissions of files on the hard drive.
Do this by booting up from the OS X
install disk and use the disk utility to
repair ownerships and permissions.
To do this youll need to restart
your Mac and immediately press the
command-option-shift-delete keys.
In disk utility, highlight the disk you
want and the repair options will
appear.
VP AUGUST 2011 BUSINESS & FINANCE 57
Getting your computer to work better...
ADAM BERNSTEIN
offers some basic instruction on
steps to take to get your computer
to function more efciently
VP AUGUST 2011
MANY people have the entirely
altruistic notion of gifting money to
their grandchildren, but they may
not be aware of the potential tax
implications that they face in spite
of such generosity.
Whether youre pitching in during a
tough financial time, paying a portion
of the cost of their education, or just
saying happy birthday, there are
several ways
to help your
grandchildren
financially
whilst also
doing it
wisely.
Before
you give any financial gifts to your
grandchildren, however, it is important
to fully understand the tax legislation
such gifts may fall under.
If you do wish to gift money to
your grandchildren to encourage them
to save or to give them a nest-egg when
they leave home, then you may, under
certain circumstances, have to pay tax
on the interest.
At this point, I should make it clear
that if you are a parent or a step-parent
making the financial gift then theres no
limit on how much you can give or
invest for your children.
But the interest might be taxed as
your income if:
n you are the childs parent or step-
parent and your child is unmarried, not
a civil partner and under age 18;
n the interest is more than 100 in a
year.
It is also worth bearing in mind that
each parent will have a separate gift
allowance to utilise each will have a
separate 100 limit. So if both parents
contribute equally, their child could earn
up to 200 worth of interest each year
without either of the parents having to
pay tax on it.
One should also note that theres a
separate 100 limit for each step-parent
too.
Financial gifts made by
grandparents and carers
The 100 limit mentioned above only
applies to parents and step-parents. As
a result, grandparents can give as much
as they like to their grandchildren or
other peoples children and the
interest wont be taxed as their income.
However, the children may be eligible
to pay inheritance tax on the amount
they receive and may also have to pay
tax on interest from the income of
their savings.
With regards to the tax on childrens
income, it is highly likely that your
grandchildren will have a full personal
tax-free allowance each year (7,475 for
the 2011-12 tax year) to offset against
tax. This means they can have income
(including interest and dividends) of up
to this amount in
the current tax year without paying any
tax. Therefore, only very substantial
income-producing gifts are likely to
pose any real tax consequences for your
grandchildren with the vast majority of
gifts implying no additional tax liability
on the recipient child.
If you give money to your
grandchildren (or to children you care
for), inheritance tax exemptions may
mean that tax does not have to be paid
on it. Although, if you die within seven
years of giving the money there might
be some to pay, depending on the type
and value of the gift made.
Collective investment schemes
for grandchildren
For those grandparents who wish to
give money or assets to their
grandchildren, its important to consider
why the investment is being made and
what type of investment would be most
appropriate.
Short-term investment needs would
be best catered for using a bank or
building society account or a National
Savings and Investments product in
order to preserve the capital value of
the monies gifted.
Conversely, if the investment needs
to be for the long term, a collective
investment may be more suitable, as it
will allow the investor to spread the
investment risk for even a fairly small
sum. Many collective investment
schemes also have access to a multitude
of investment funds, enabling access to
a number of different investment
themes and sectors.
Unfortunately, the collective
investment scheme cannot be set up in
the childs name, so the individual
(grandparent) making the gift must
apply for it and hold it in his or her
own name, but for the ultimate benefit
of the child.
Depending on how this is achieved
will affect the tax consequences for
both the child and the adult donor. If
the investment is for the benefit of one
or more individuals, an investment
account can be set up under a
designated account in one of two ways.
The basis of taxation will be
determined by whichever method is
selected. The two options are
irrevocable and revocable.
1. Irrevocable basis
The irrevocable basis is chosen where
the individual wishes to gift the
investment to a child. Where the gift is
to more than one child, each child will
receive an equal share of the
investment.
By setting up the investment
account under an irrevocable
designated account, the investor creates
an absolute trust in favour of the child
(beneficiary). This means the individual
who sets up the account cannot access
the funds for his or her own benefit or
indeed change who will receive the
funds. Furthermore, when the child
reaches the age of 18, he or she
becomes legally entitled to his or her
share of the funds.
n Tax consequences
1. Inheritance tax the investor is
making a potentially exempt transfer
(gift). The gift may already be exempt if
it falls within the annual exemption, or
if it qualifies as normal expenditure out
of income. If it is not exempt, it will
fall out of the estate completely after
seven years and taper relief may reduce
the amount liable to inheritance tax on
the death of the investor within seven
years.
2. Capital gains tax the beneficiary
will be liable to any capital gain realised
and will be able to use his or her full
available annual exemption. This applies
even if the account has been set up by
the childs parent.
3. Income tax if the account has been
created by anyone other than a parent
of the child beneficiary, any income tax
liability will fall on the child and again
he or she will be able to use all of his
or her available personal allowance.
However, as already mentioned above,
if the account was created by a parent
for a minor unmarried child and the
amount of gross income generated
exceeds 100 per tax year, the parent
will be assessed on the total income,
not just the amount that exceeds 100.
If the income in any tax year is less
than 100 it will be assessed on the
child.
2. Revocable basis
If the account is set up under a
revocable basis, no trust is created.
Consequently, no gift has been made
and all income tax and capital gains tax
liabilities remain with the investor. The
investment remains inside the persons
estate for inheritance tax purposes. This
means that grandparents can access the
funds at any time and redirect as they
see fit, including to themselves.
Summary
Given the recent rises in university fees
and significant barriers to getting on the
UK property ladder, the concept of
gifting money to ones grandchildren
has become increasingly popular.
However, given the complicated tax
treatment surrounding this issue and
the multitude of investment options
available to investors, the concept can
appear somewhat daunting.
It goes without saying, therefore,
that it is vital appropriate advice is
taken to ensure things are completed
and documented properly. Failure to do
so may result in tax penalties or charges
which may undermine the benefit of
making the gift in the first place.
BUSINESS & FINANCE
58
Giving money to your grandchildren
DYLAN JENKINS
discusses the ramications of making
monetary gifts to children and
grandchildren and how it can be done
most tax effectively for both parties
Dylan Jenkins, DipPFS, is at Mercia
House, High Street, Winchcombe,
Glos. GL54 5LJ; telephone 01242
604066, e-mail d.jenkins@rtfp.co.uk;
website www.rtfp.co.uk.
Could you be the worker of the year?
THE search is on to find the 2011 UK Worker of the Year (UKWOTY).
Dickies, which organises the competition, says it has attracted the attention
of people from an even wider range of professions than before, as evidenced by
comments on Facebook, Twitter and the UKWOTY blog.
Among questions asked in the spirit of bettering existing work practices,
says Dickies is: What most annoys you about your co-workers?
Food issues are so far top of the list of potential ways in which people
offend their co-workers. The fridge monsters who eat other peoples food are
viewed as pests in the workplace, as are people who eat smelly food in the office.
Other food topics include: people who leave dirty mugs or plates in the
kitchen or around the office, and co-workers who dont make the tea or coffee
but always happily accept someone else making it for them. Issues relating to
toilet etiquette are also common.
n UK Worker of the Year aims to search for workers who exemplify what
doing a good job is all about. The winner will have a choice of car or van as
part of his or her prize for winning the title and there will be holidays for the
runners-up as well as various products from the Dickies range of workwear and
from Makita Tools.
Entry is free to any UK worker aged 17 or over and closes on 31st August.
Full details are on the website www.ukworkeroftheyear.com.
MANY of the leadership and
management challenges facing
veterinary practices, finding the
time to future-proof the business,
recruiting people of the right
calibre and keeping staff motivated,
are similar to those of any small or
medium sized business.
However, the biggest challenge that
veterinary principals seem to have is
typical of those involved in the medical
profession, be it human or animal: the
need to manage a group of highly
intellectual,
strong-willed
individuals.
Some might
liken it to
herding cats!
It was
with this
specific challenge in mind that Pfizer
Vet Support+ initiated an industry first,
a series of Partner Management
Workshops which bring experiences
from human healthcare to the
veterinary sector.
Facilitated by Medicology, a
company that specialises in leadership
and management training for the NHS
and other human healthcare providers,
the workshops demonstrate to
attendees:
n how to best maintain and grow a
practice amidst the challenges of a
changing veterinary industry;
n how to organise themselves to
manage the business, grow it and
realise its future value.
A fresh angle
The decision to use a facilitator from
outside the industry may seem
surprising. However, after early
conversations with Andrew Vincent,
Medicologys MD, it became apparent
to our VetSupport+ team that the
companys input would be invaluable in
helping us to deliver a fresh angle to
the management challenges currently
being faced by practices.
Andrews early observations
resonated strongly, for as he
commented: Medicine is a great outlet
for the intellectual brain and there are
consequently massive similarities
between doctors and vets. Both groups
share certain attributes in that their
members tend to be highly intellectual,
thriving on mental stimulation and with
a strong service unto others mindset.
Because of these very similar qualities,
the challenges that have been faced in
the leadership and management of the
NHS are very similar to those facing
the veterinary industry.
Following the first of the
workshops earlier this year, Andrews
feedback about the industrys business
management felt challenging, but he
was at pains to point out that a practice
principal has to wear many different
hats, not all of which sit comfortably.
It was
interesting to see that just as in the
human medical profession, veterinary
surgeons tend to be analytical by
nature with a very high attention to
detail.
Perfectionist characteristic
This perfectionist characteristic, while
essential for clinical work, can manifest
itself within the business setting as
micro-management, leading to vets
spending too much time in, rather than
on, the business.
They may also have a tendency
simply to tell employees what to do
rather than trusting them, nurturing
them and allowing them to lead,
resulting in the vet getting increasingly
bogged down with the day-to-day tasks
rather than stepping back and
developing their team and the business.
With the added element of
competition from the corporates,
which have resources dedicated to HR
and management training, it is even
more important that veterinary
principals acquire the necessary skills to
bring out the best in their teams.
Similar issues
The issues faced by both the human
medical profession and the veterinary
profession are remarkably similar, with
lack of time being seen as the biggest
barrier to growth as well as the struggle
to get agreement from other vets.
Just as in the human medical
profession, most practices dont have a
strategy beyond the premise that
people turn up and bring us animals.
Marketing and business
development are fundamental to
practices and yet most adopt relatively
simple, traditional and increasingly
ineffective methods.
With the current economic climate
and the steady decline in the number of
people going into practice
demonstrated by the Performance
Index (formerly the Fort Dodge
Index), it is more important than ever
that practices run continuous
marketing initiatives to increase that
declining footfall.
Lagging behind
Medicology was surprised at how little
knowledge and engagement with social
media there is among the veterinary
practices attending the workshops
which tend to still rely on traditional
routes for getting a presence in the
community. In this area especially, it
seems vets are lagging behind their
peers in human healthcare.
The Partner
Management
Workshops, which kick
off for a second round
in September, start by
looking at the context
of business today,
focusing on the NHS,
its evolution and the
challenges it faces.
They then have a
roundtable discussion
where participants air
their concerns for the
business before going
on to look at
transformational
leadership models.
The intention of
the workshops is for
each attendee to come
away with a robust
business model that
clearly identifies the critical success
factors for their business, such as
reputation management or financial
effectiveness. For each of these facets,
attendees are encouraged to identify
and assign a practice team champion,
whose responsibility it then becomes to
ensure that facet is driven forward.
Positive feedback
Feedback from attendees from the
first two workshops was very positive
with the Islands Exercise being
highlighted as the most useful part of
the training. Andrew comments:
Workshop participants found this
unique exercise
particularly useful in
helping to make
sense of the
behaviour they saw
in senior colleagues
and throughout the
team.
The Islands
Exercise requires
people to separate
into different
psychological
groups; each of these groups is then
given an exercise that demonstrates
very prominently how the inner
human affects the outward
behaviour, decision-making,
preferences and ideal working
environment.
Andrew continues: By looking
effectively at different psychological
cultures, practice leaders can create
environments for individuals that lead
to higher performance, more
commitment and a greater sense of
ownership over practice results.
Common challenge
Getting the practice team to do the
right things was a
challenge that
everyone had in
common, almost more
so than knowing what
the right things to do
actually were. The
simple but powerful
cultures exercise was
almost universally
lauded as facilitating a
step change in leaders
ability to influence the
people they lead.
Each of the
workshops is being
attended by one of
Pfizers VetSupport+
business consultants to
help partners put into
practice what they take
from their time with
the Medicology team.
Pfizer business consultant, Simon
Fowler, who attended the first two
workshops in April comments: As
with any training day it is all too easy
to come along on the day, get fired
up, leave with good intentions, but
then get caught up in the day-to-day
running of the practice and forget all
about it.
By attending the workshop
ourselves and helping practices to
develop their seven champion
attributes, we are then able to work
with them to help them implement
the learnings and turn the training
into tangible results.
Mastering the art of herding cats
NED FLAXMAN
discusses some of the leadership and
management challenges facing the
profession and reports on workshops
designed to challenge and spur on
the participants
Ned Flaxman is director business
innovation at Pzer Animal Health who
spearheads the Vet Support+
initiative. He has a wealth of
experience in the animal health sector
and the challenges faced by those
operating in this arena.
They may also
have a tendency
simply to tell
employees what
to do rather than
trusting them,
nurturing them
and allowing
them to lead,
resulting in the
vet getting
increasingly
bogged down
with the day-to-
day tasks rather
than stepping
back...
Andrew Vincent addressing a recent seminar.
VP AUGUST 2011 BUSINESS & FINANCE 59
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