Veterinary

Mar- 2019 -

12 March

RCVS Council elects first black council member as junior VP

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Council has elected its first black council member in its 175-year history to be junior vice president of the college for 2019-20. Mandisa Greene, who was first elected to council in 2014 and was re-elected last year, is currently chair of the Practice…

12 March

Fitzpatrick completes first dog prostate embolisation procedure

Fitzpatrick Referrals is now offering arterial embolisation as a treatment for canine prostatic neoplasia – the first veterinary centre to do so in Europe. Gerard McLauchlan first carried out the procedure in December 2018 and has since performed it on two more patients. Prior to joining Fitzpatrick Referrals, McLauchlan completed…

11 March

Pet owners ‘flock’ to vets over post-Brexit travel concerns

Continuing uncertainty around Brexit has led to a spike in the number of anxious pet owners visiting their local vet for pet travel guidance in the last three months, figures from the latest British Veterinary Association (BVA) survey reveal. BVA’s Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey showed that 85% of…

8 March

MMI introduces Sarah Brown Mental Health Research Grants

Applications are now open for the RCVS Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) first Sarah Brown Mental Health Research Grant, named for an elected RCVS Council member who tragically passed away in 2017. One £20,000 grant will be awarded each year for five years, starting in 2019 (making a £100,000 total by…

7 March

PFMA addresses raw food concerns

The Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) has responded to the recent paper on a Swedish study that tested 60 products from various European countries for bacterial contamination, including a single UK manufacturer. The association said in its statement: “While it carries no greater risk than handling fresh raw meat intended…

6 March

Raw meat diet ‘risk to dog and owner’, study finds

A study has found that a raw meat diet may pose a risk to dogs and their owners as the offal used in such foods “has not undergone any type of treatment to reduce the microbial content”. Published by Veterinary Record and conducted by researchers from the Swedish University of…

6 March

Breeders ‘failing to put health over beauty’, vets say

A panel of veterinary experts has called for “a championing of health over breeder-led perfect looks” after it accused Crufts breeders of “failing to put health over beauty”. The Dog Breed Standards Panel was chaired by Lars B. Andersen, CEO of Arty Lobster and featured professionals such as TV vet…

5 March

RCVS takes ‘no further action’ on vet convicted of dangerous driving

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) disciplinary committee has decided that “no further action” was required in the case of a Glamorgan-based vet who was imprisoned after being convicted of dangerous driving. Simona-Claudia Panait appeared before the committee on 25 and 26 February 2019 facing one charge. The charge…

5 March

Royal Veterinary College ranked ‘best in the world’

The veterinary degree course at the University of London’s Royal Veterinary College’s (RVC) has topped the 2019 QS World University Rankings for the first time. Ranked third in the preceding three years, the RVC overtook Cornell University (now fifth) and the University of California (now second). Utrecht University was ranked…

4 March

Nutraflora ‘success’ leads to larger box sizes

Nutravet has announced it has made its latest product Nutraflora more cost-effective for long term use by introducing larger pack sizes. Nutraflora was developed by vets for vets to be given as part of their recovery programme for animals undertaking surgery and during convalescence and it is also said to…