EUROPEAN legislation is not top of many people's preferred reading lists, and the text can be somewhat daunting, which could be one of the reasons why UK politicians seem to be happier arguing about whether or not to commit to a future referendum on EU membership than focusing on matters at hand. Nevertheless, a package of proposed measures adopted by the European Commission last week is important and should not be ignored. The measures are intended to modernise, simplify and strengthen enforcement of health and safety standards throughout the food chain and, as such, will have a significant impact on animal health and food safety activity for years to come. Once adopted, they will affect what happens in the UK irrespective of the outcome of all the political wrangling currently going on in Westminster, so MPs and others with an interest in this area might usefully devote...]]>
THE European Commission (EC) has put forward its proposal for a new European Animal Health Law, which, it intends, will eventually regulate animal health throughout the European Union.
The proposal was published on May 6 as part of a package of measures ‘to modernise, simplify and strengthen the agri-food chain in Europe’. In a press release, the EC explained that, currently, almost 70 pieces of EU legislation cover the food chain. Under its proposed package of measures, which currently cover official controls, animal health, plant health and plant reproductive material, this will be reduced to five (a fifth proposal dealing with EU expenditure on feed and food for 2014 to 2020 will be put forward later). It said that bureaucracy surrounding processes and procedures for farmers, breeders and food business operators would also be reduced, to make it easier for them to carry out their work.
‘Businesses...]]>
THE Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is asking vets to complete an online survey about their prescribing practices under the ‘cascade’. It explains that the European Commission is considering amending legal provisions relating to the cascade as part of its current review of the Veterinary Medicinal Products (VMP) Directive (Directive 2001/82/EC), and that, with more information about how the cascade is used on a daily basis by vets, the VMD will be better placed to represent the UK's interests and influence the Commission's review.
The questionnaire, which will be available until July 12, can be found under the ‘What's New’ section of the VMD's website, www.vmd.defra.gov.uk. The VMD says that it should take 15 to 20 minutes to complete. The questions relate to vets' prescribing practices and general knowledge of the cascade, and all responses will be anonymous. The VMD hopes that the information obtained will...]]>
THE RCVS has described its first webinar-based ‘question time’ as a success. It says that approximately 80 veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and practice managers – nearly twice the number usually seen at its regional question time meetings – logged on for the event, which was hosted by the Webinar Vet on April 24.
All the delegates found the event useful, the College reports, with feedback after the event including comments such as ‘Definitely worthwhile and more attendees than if 100 miles away’ and ‘Thank you very much for this opportunity to communicate, more please!’.
Questions discussed by the RCVS panel, which comprised its officer team plus the vice-chairman of the Veterinary Nurses Council, included veterinary nurse training, the supply of veterinary students, prescribing under the cascade, dangerous dogs, what constitutes continuing professional development and transparency from the College.
‘Not only was this a cost-effective way of reaching...]]>
THE Government introduced its Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill in the House of Commons on May 9. The Bill includes provisions that will amend the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, extending the offence of allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control to cover private property as well as public spaces.
According to the Government, the Bill, which had been outlined in the Queen's Speech to Parliament the day before, aims to condense 19 existing measures on antisocial behaviour into six ‘more effective ‘powers. The provisions in the Bill will, in most part, cover England and Wales only, although a number will cover Great Britain and some will extend to the whole of the United Kingdom.
The Bill is in 13 parts, with provisions in part 7 covering amendments to the Dangerous Dogs Act. In addition to the provisions extending the Act to private property, other...]]>
A PILOT project run by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) has been short-listed for the annual Charity Awards, the results of which will be announced in June.
The project, on the island of Bohol in the Philippines, was launched in 2007, and aimed to eliminate rabies from the island within four years. It sought to empower and educate the community, focusing on children under the age of 15 (the group at highest risk of dying from rabies), to give them the skills they needed to manage the risk of rabies themselves. It also aimed to improve diagnosis of the disease and the availability of vaccines. A further aim was to create a model that could also be used elsewhere.
The GARC reports that, by 2009, the number of canine and human deaths from rabies had been reduced to zero. It is providing continuing education for...]]>
A STUDY to assess the prevalence of gastric ulcers in British sport horses was launched on May 9 at Maizey Manor Farm in Wiltshire, the yard of event rider, Catherine Burrell. Speaking at the launch, equine practitioner Richard Hepburn, who is heading the ‘InnerVision’ study, said: ‘Gastric ulceration in sports horses is poorly understood, especially compared with racehorses. But what we do know is that it's a very important factor in the performance and wellbeing of many horses in training and competition.’
To help gather data, he has enlisted the help of 21 equine practitioners nationally who will all use the same protocols when carrying out endoscopic examinations of sport horses, so that every examination is conducted in the same way. Over the coming month, participating practitioners will examine between 10 and 20 horses. They will examine all areas of the stomach, pylorus and duodenum of the...]]>
ALMOST 800 horse owners completed a survey commissioned by the National Fallen Stock Company (NFSCo) asking about their plans for dealing with the death or euthanasia of their horse and for disposing of its body.
The survey, which ran throughout February and March, also included questions to assess whether owners understood their legal obligations regarding their horses, the food chain and passports. It was split into two parts – the first part was answered by owners who had had previous experience of the death or euthanasia of a horse; the second part was answered by all owners regardless of their experiences.
The NFSCo reports that, overall, 73 per cent of those responding to the survey had previously had to dispose of a horse that had died or been euthanased. Of these, 64 per cent had opted for their animal to be euthanased by injection administered by a...]]>
Applications are being invited for the 2013/14 Moredun Foundation Scholarship. The scheme offers individuals the chance to pursue a short-term project to broaden their education and experience in areas relating to livestock health and welfare and the agricultural industry. Up to three scholarships of £1000 each will be made in 2013/14. Full details and application forms are available from www.moredun.org.uk/scholarship. The closing date for applications is July 31, 2013.
A free half-day seminar considering the Government's latest proposals for changing the law governing dogs is being offered by Trevor Cooper, a solicitor specialising in the law on dogs. The seminars will take place on June 17 and 24 in London, June 18 in Bristol, June 19 in Manchester, June 26 in Harrogate and June 27 in Stoneleigh, Warwickshire. They are...]]>
In the story ‘Bigger than ever’ (VR, April 27, 2013, vol 172, p 441; doi: 10.1136/vr.f2616) it was incorrectly stated that Gethyn Roberts, who received a BSAVA ‘Recognition of service award, was a key account manager with Elanco. In fact, Mr Roberts works for Virbac. The error is regretted.
]]>THE RCVS Disciplinary Committee has directed that the name of a veterinary surgeon who it found guilty of 32 charges relating to TB testing and certification should be removed from the RCVS Register.
At the end of a 10-day disciplinary hearing on May 3, the committee found that Sorin Dinu Chelemen had not properly followed the standard operating procedures (SOPs) relating to TB testing, that he had been dishonest in certifying the tests and that he had breached his duties as an Official Veterinarian (OV).
The RCVS reports that Mr Chelemen disputed all the charges he faced, which related to his work as an OV on four farms while he had been employed as a locum at the Endell Veterinary Group in Salisbury. Mr Chelemen, who represented himself at the disciplinary hearing, gave the Disciplinary Committee detailed accounts of what he said had happened during the TB...]]>
THE Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has announced a new collaboration with Buckingham Equine Vets (BEV) to allow veterinary students, veterinary nurses and qualified vets to develop their clinical skills at a modern equine practice.
The announcement, on May 9, coincided with the opening of a new purpose-built equine clinic on BEV's site at Wicken near Milton Keynes. The equine-only practice serves clients across Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire. It says its clients will benefit from the collaboration with the RVC through access to diagnostic and treatment services and support from the college's equine staff.
Stuart Reid, the RVC principal, commented: ‘The combined experience and expertise of the RVC and BEV will undoubtedly result in better learning opportunities for our students and an even higher quality of care for patients.’
Josh Slater, head of the equine medicine and surgery group at the RVC, added: ‘We are proud...]]>
THE impact of changing diets and the addition of novel feed additives on greenhouse gas emissions by beef cattle is under investigation in a new research project being conducted by EBLEX and Scotland's Rural College.
During the three-year study, animals will be finished on either concentrate-based or forage-based diets, each with two different feed additives, such as vegetable oils. The role of the microbial population in the rumen will be studied to examine how rumen function changes according to diet, additive and breed. The results will be related to greenhouse gas emissions and feed efficiency, as well as the long-term effects of feed additives.
Mary Vickers, senior livestock scientist with EBLEX, explained how the emissions would be measured: ‘The animals will be moved into specialist chambers for short periods of time where their emissions can be captured. In addition, when they are accessing rations from group pens,...]]>
Scanning animals for microchips
Compulsory microchipping of dogs
Communicating BVA's policy on bovine TB
Lay TB testing
Pros and cons of corporate practice
A RESULT of the increasing significance and improvement of veterinary care for reptiles, kept both by professional zoological gardens and private breeders, is that veterinary surgeons who specialise in reptile reproduction have to meet more and more demanding requirements. These are comparable with the demands placed on human physicians or veterinarians caring for dogs and cats. This is illustrated by the development of diagnostic techniques that use various modifications of classical rigid endoscopic methods. These methods have made it possible for veterinarians to develop reliable and safe techniques of biopsy of organs such as the liver and kidneys (Hernandez-Divers and others 2005). The samples taken in this way and processed by histological techniques can be used to assess the extent and form of damage of vital organs and make a correct diagnosis and objective prognosis.
To be most useful, clinical diagnostics must be reliable and fast. At...]]>
A 2 per cent bodyweight acute soybean meal (SBM) intoxication was recently described in steers (Raboisson and others 2012). It induced a decrease in ruminal pH followed by an increase in ruminal ammonia, and blood metabolic alkalosis with hyperuraemia, severe hyperammonaemia and hyperglycaemia. This report describes the epidemiology, clinical signs (CS) and biochemical modifications observed during accidental SBM intoxication.
Thirty-nine Holstein cows were housed in loose yarding with a straw lying area. Mean annual and daily production was around 7000 and 25 litres of milk per cow, respectively. The diet consisted of corn silage, SBM and commercial concentrates. One tonne of SBM was accidently poured on the straw area (25 kg per cow on average) between 14:00 and 18:00 on day 0 (D0). During the evening, the farmer administered 300–400 g of NaHCO3 powder orally, once, to cows 1–5.
Cows 1–3 died during the night D0–D1 (
R. J. Mellanby, R. Odgen, D. N. Clements, A. T. French, A. G. Gow, R. Powell and others
THERE is an increasing concern that reproductive isolation related to breed specifications in dogs, while maintaining genetic differences among breeds, is likely to result in genetic disease characteristics of specific breeds. This study examined the genetic diversity among popular dog breed groups in the UK.
DNA samples were extracted from samples taken from 13 different dog breed groups, with at least 15 animals in each group, and analysed. The owner and/or vet assigned the breed type for 12 groups, while the final group, Cavalier King Charles spaniels, were pedigree animals at a dog show.
The study found that several breeds maintained a high degree of genetic diversity; the Jack Russell terrier group, which is not a Kennel Club-registered breed...]]>
RATHER unbelievably, it has been over 10 years since the first edition of this extremely popular ‘one-stop shop’ textbook on surgery and medicine in the horse was first published. This new edition, as well as incorporating an extensive revision of the original text, incorporates new chapters on wound management, critical care, anaesthesia and diagnostic imaging. Rather poignantly, the book includes what will be the final contributions of some sorely missed clinicians, including Barry Edwards, Martin Weaver and Grant Frazer, who all died subsequent to submitting their final texts. Their contributions to the book are a fitting tribute to their outstanding contributions to equine veterinary medicine and surgery in general.
The editorial team comprises five well-respected clinicians drawn from both practice and academia, but there are 35 individual contributors to the book, all internationally renowned experts in their field. The book is well illustrated throughout...]]>
IF you like lists and lots of them, you will find this new edition of the ‘Handbook of Veterinary Anaesthesia’ a useful text. It is a comprehensive reference guide to virtually everything ‘anaesthesia’, with short chapters that allow the reader to locate the required information. The authors have covered a large amount of the peri-operative period in the handbook's 30 chapters, providing an overview of all aspects of anaesthesia and analgesia of many species.
In parts, the list-styled layout proves hard to follow and makes extracting information problematic. In the introduction there is a plethora of definitions, some of which may be considered unnecessary, despite being more than comprehensive.
Throughout all of the chapters, useful facts and ‘cautions’ boxes are highlighted to allow the reader to digest important information more readily. These are an excellent way of scanning through the text and provide an...]]>
THE understanding of the working and functioning of the cells, organs and systems of the body and their interacting activity is the fundamental basis for the understanding of any biological process. The fifth edition of ‘Cunningham's Textbook of Veterinary Physiology’ sets out to formulate information to aid this understanding, specifically with students of veterinary science in mind.
Building on previous versions, the new edition of this book proposes to be an accompaniment to first-year students of veterinary-related subjects, but will also prove to be a useful aid to students of other, related, scientific disciplines where an overview or aspects of veterinary physiology is required.
The textbook is organised into distinct sections, with chapters focusing on the body systems and processes of key importance, and on the interactions between them, which embody the overall discipline of animal physiology. Given the diverse nature of this discipline,...]]>
THIS book is by leading and practising UK- and USA-based veterinary oncologists, with contributions from board specialists in medical oncology, radiation oncology, pathologists and diagnostic imagers. The authors of the majority of the chapters are well-known experts in their respective fields. The book is nicely split into sections and then into chapters. It is easy to find what you are looking for, be it some background science and explanation regarding cancer therapies, or information on a more specific tumour type.
The book begins with a discussion of the basic science and principles of oncology, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This is explained nicely but simply, and is well illustrated throughout.
The first section focuses on the basic science of oncology and may therefore be less useful to clinicians and more interesting to those seeking a greater understanding of tumour biology. The level is basic...]]>
John Gripper writes: As a veterinary student in 1955, I was fortunate to see practice at Barrett and Nicol in Guildford and, on qualifying, worked in the practice for two years. John was a skilled veterinary surgeon who set himself high ethical standards in his professional work. He worked hard and put in long hours building up his practice, but he was always available with advice when needed. He was an innovator and willing to try new ideas. I was lucky to have such a good tutor at the start of my veterinary career and a friend for life.
]]>President: Mr P. G. Harlech Jones
Past-President: Mr C. Padgett
President-Elect: Mr R. Hargreaves
7 Mansfield Street,
London W1G 9NQ
Telephone 020 7636 6541
Fax 020 7908 6349
e-mail: bvahq@bva.co.uk
The BVA officer team's activities in the week ending May 12 included:
The officers attended a meeting of the BVA Ethics and Welfare Group. Topics discussed included policy development, post cut stunning at slaughter, wild animal culls, exotic pet welfare, and an update from the Horseracing Working Group.
The President participated in an online question and answer session on the responsible use of medicines, organised by Farmers Weekly.
n A joint officers meeting with the British Cattle Veterinary Association. Topics discussed included Defra's review of minor procedures, future supply of cattle vets and career prospects, bovine TB, CPD and the responsible...]]>
IN tribute to John Nicol (VR, May 4, 2013, vol 172, p 478), Margaret Nicol and Brian Arbuckle write: John Nicol died on April 21 at the age of 87. He was born in Fenwick, Ayrshire, into a farming family – his mother having milked cows just a few hours before his birth. The family moved to a Hertfordshire farm before the war, hiring a train to transport the animals. Following schooling in St Albans, John attended the Royal Veterinary College, which had been evacuated to Reading, and qualified in 1948.
His first job was in Cornwall and, as his future wife, Margaret, was still in Reading, he took the overnight sleeper to spend a day with her before returning on the next overnight sleeper. In the meantime he wrote to her every day – no mobile phones in those days – before taking a post in...]]>
A MEETING of the Disciplinary Committee of the RCVS, as constituted under the Veterinary surgeons Act 1966, will be held at the RCVS, Belgravia House, 62-64 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AF, on:
Monday, May 20, at 10.00 and, if necessary, on May 21 to 24, at 10.00, to hear an inquiry into Mr Ian Beveridge, MRCVS.
Members are reminded that hearings are in public and, subject to limitations of space, any person may attend.
]]>TWO new field-based veterinary advisers have recently been appointed by Ceva. Jo Gourlay, who will be providing technical support for customers in Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland, qualified from Edinbugh, before working in mixed and small animal practice. Anna Zakharova, who will be providing technical support for customers across Wales, the West Midlands and south-west England, holds a pharmacology degree from Aberdeen university and a veterinary degree from Cambridge. She has worked for Defra and in mixed, equine and small animal practices and has lectured on animal health and welfare.
]]>IN tribute to Ralph Gilmore Nurse (VR, April 13, 2013, vol 172, p 402), Jonathan Nurse writes: Ralph Gilmore Nurse was born in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, on November 2, 1939. While staying at his uncle's farm he experienced numerous visits by the local veterinary surgeon – Arthur Harris – and was so impressed that he set his heart on becoming a veterinary surgeon. He was educated at Llanelli Grammar School and later at Bristol university from where he graduated in 1963. The last years of the veterinary course were a struggle for Ralph, but it was at this time that he met Hetty, his wife of 51 years. Her support helped him through those difficult times.
He first joined a practice in Neath, south Wales. The practice was a typical agricultural practice of the time and Ralph quickly developed his calving and client communication skills. In the autumn...]]>
Bateman On April 14, 2013, Doreen Bateman (née Fawbert), MRCVS, of 1 Glenartney Court, Callander, Perthshire. Mrs Bateman qualified from London in 1944.
Crowther On June 20, 2011, Robert Wade Crowther, BSc, MRCVS, MBE, of 13 Asklepios Street, Strovolos, Cyprus. Mr Crowther qualified from London in 1938.
Mindel On May 2, 2013, Julius Benedict Mindel, BSc, MRCVS, of Kfar Tavor, Lower Galilee, Israel. Mr Mindel qualified from Edinburgh in 1953.
]]>I WAS interested to read the letter by Barlow and others (VR, May 11, 2013, vol 172, p 508), describing the presence of nematodes in the intestinal tract and free within the abdominal cavity of a brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus). Barlow and others requested information about other cases of helminth infections in British bats and, therefore, the following may be of interest.
Over the past 28 years, I have carried out postmortem examinations on nearly 700 bats, most of which had been found dead or dying in south-west England. On many occasions I have observed nematodes in brown long-eared bats similar to those described by Barlow and others. Between 1985 and 2001, the nematodes were routinely submitted to the Natural History Museum in London and in every case they were identified as Seuratum species, probably Seuratum mucronatum.
In 1994, I provided alimentary tracts from 32 bats...]]>
FIELD veterinarians refer approximately 2200 dead animals per year for postmortem examination to the University of Liège's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. In March 2013, a seven-year-old Belgian blue cow was referred with a history of depression, anorexia, weight loss and purulent metritis that did not respond to standard antibiotic therapies. Postmortem examination revealed severe emaciation (cachexia), chronic peritonitis and purulent metritis, with multiple abscesses scattered throughout the uterine wall.
No specific bacterial species was isolated from uterine exudates, the flora of which was dominated by Arcanobacterium pyogenes. Further, uterine tissue and exudate samples were homogenised in TRIzol reagent and total RNA was extracted. Detection of the bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) genome by real-time RT-PCR was attempted according to La Rocca and Sandvik (
MEANINGFUL breed-specific data on the health of purebred dogs are often lacking. Therefore, as joint health coordinators for the UK English springer spaniel breed clubs, we have compiled a breed health survey, which can be found on the new English springer spaniel health reporting website at www.englishspringerhealth.org.uk
The survey aims to give us a better picture of the health and temperament of English springer spaniels across the breed in the UK. It will run for three months, from May 1 to July 31, 2013. It will aim, for the first time, to help put any breed problems into context by asking owners to submit reports on their healthy dogs as well as those with diagnosed health conditions, and to report on any dog they have owned that has died since January 2008.
After the three-month survey period has ended, the results will be analysed and...]]>
I AM a second-year history PhD student researching veterinary education and practice from women's perspectives. I am supervised by Abigail Woods from Imperial College London, Clare Boulton of the RCVS Charitable Trust and Pat Thane from King's College London.
There has been much debate about the ‘feminisation’ of the veterinary profession and the implications that it may have for the profession. As an historian, I am trying to understand how women's opportunities and experiences in the profession, both good and bad, have changed throughout the 20th century. I am conducting a survey to capture the real-life experience of practitioners, which I hope both women and men in the profession will be willing to complete.
The survey can be downloaded from http://pioneersandprofessionals.wordpress.com/survey. Alternatively, a hard copy of the survey, together with a prepaid return envelope, can be provided by e-mailing me at the address below or...]]>