Diarrhoea: overview

Following a subscriber request for an overview on diarrhoea, this new topic has been written by Daniel Batchelor BVSc PhD DSAM DipECVIM-CA (Internal Medicine) MRCVS, University of Liverpool:

Diarrhoea: overview

New Breeds

The Beauceron, an imported dog breed, was the fastest growing dog
breed in the UK last year, when compared to the same period in
the previous year. A new breed component on the Beauceron has
been added to Canis along with information on the Cirneco
Dell’Etna breed.

Beauceron

Cirneco Dell’Etna

Veterinary news from Vetsforum and Vetstart

Free app for finding veterinary jobs

Noble Futures release free iPhone app for Animal Health Sector. The app makes finding or posting jobs significantly easier, allowing you to post as much or as little information as you like. You can also subscribe for specific listings and share them with friends who might be interested.

Take a look at the new app here.

Veterinary Milestones

Do you remember the first animal you saved? What was the hardest case you’ve worked on? Guest blogger Alison recounts her first life and death situation, and how she’s grown as a vet since she started vet school.

Read the full story here.

Are animal abuse punishments too lenient?

A man with several ill kittens elected to strangle them instead of taking them to the vet. Despite painfully killing the kittens and its mother, the man only received a fine and a two-year animal ownership ban.

Is this too lenient? Join the conversation on Vetsforum.

Bursoscopy

Jessica Kidd-Millar BA DVM CertES(Orth) DipECVS MRCVS from The
Valley Equine Hospital has updated the current navicular bursa
bursoscopy information on Equis:

Navicular bursa: bursoscopy

Related items:

Bursoscopy: overview
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Navicular bursa: injection
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Laryngoplasty

Laryngoplasty is used for the treatment of recurrent laryngeal
neuropathy, usually in association with ventriculectomy. This
technique has recently been updated on Equis by Dr Jonathan
Cheetham VetMB PhD DipACVS from the Cornell University Hospital
for Animals:

Larynx: laryngoplasty

Related items:

Larynx: hemiplegia

Larynx: ventriculocordectomy

Potomac horse fever

Formerly known as Equine monocytic ehrlichiosis, Potomac horse
fever is particularly prevalent in Eastern USA in the summer and
autumn. This topic has been updated by Dr Graham Munroe BVSc PhD
DESM CertEO DipECVS FRCVS from Flanders Veterinary Services:

Potomac horse fever

Related items:

Potomac horse fever vaccine

Veterinary news from Vetsforum and Vetstart

Minister hints at compulsory microchipping of dogs

Lord Taylor of Holbeach has suggested compulsory microchipping of dogs could be part of a strategy to reduce dog attacks and improve animal safety. The last government voted in favour of compulsory microchipping shortly before the election in 2010.

The government wants to crack down on irresponsible dog owners and the measure is broadly promoted by the veterinary community with an official statement to follow.

Lloyds TSB and Halifax withdraw 50 000 pet insurance policies

The BVA recommends owners speak to their vets to discuss future cover for pets that are no longer insured. Unfortunately many price comparison sites don’t take important factors into account when showing available insurance policies – veterinary guidance is often necessary.

Claims by insurance companies that rising veterinary fees are to blame have been refuted by the BVA.

The Dangers of Vet School

Guest post by Vetstream student blogger Alison:

Vet school is a dangerous place, it really is. From day one we get taught the safe way to do things and it should all probably be incorporated into a separate module called ‘How not to get killed by your patients’.

It could be the obvious like getting bitten by a grumpy, or a swift kick from a ill mannered pony… Or you could be me and catch an innocuous disease and end up hospitalised.

Read the full article here

I was working in general practice in Hampshire before taking up this post, having also done a spell in the Falklands (which I loved) and then being asked to train para-veterinarians here. One of my difficulties is CPD, and after I had sampled a few of your freebies I approached the Director of Agriculture here and pointed out my commitment to mandatory CPD. He was very reasonable and met me half way on the subscription – St Helena is essentially a false economy heavily reliant on Uk grant-in-aid (as it is so nicely called!) chanelled through DFID.

Incidentally I have to oldest known living patient in the world – my namesake Jonathan, an Aldabra (or possibly Seychelles – controversial and down to DNA busting old species classifications ) Giant tortoise. He was fully mature when imported in 1882 – which made him at least 50 – and is now therefore reckoned to be at least 180 years old (life expectancy 150). I’ve been involved in quite a bit of research around the topic, and hand feed him weekly at the moment to compensate for his loss of eyesight, blunt beak, and lack of ability to smell. This has made his grazing rather random, so that his grazing effort is disproportionately large compared to the others to achieve his intake (4 others). It’s been an interesting learning curve and I now know far too much about Giant Tortoises that I’ll never be able to use anywhere else in the world – in all probability! I’m also involved in a host of other disciplines, dangerously too much a jack of all trades. This makes CPD all the more important, as ‘deskilling’ is a classic complication os island work. In truth I am ‘skilling’ considerably in other areas – they’re just not very transferable.

Anyway – keep up the good work – it’s a fantastic facility. Glad you don’t have too many presenters with streamed video footage as our Internet can’t take it and it freezes.

Best wishes

Joe (aka Jonathan)

Joe Hollins MA VetMB MRCVS

Senior Veterinary Officer

Island of St Helena

http://thewebinarvet.com/practicemanagement2012
Follow the link above to become a member of The Webinar Vet (TheWebinarVet) Veterinary Practice Management Webinar Series 2012 and you’ll also get access to our archived webinars!

Ophthalmology

Two new topics have been added to the ophthalmology section of
Felis. Both topics have been written by David Gould BSc(Hons)
BVM&S PhD DVOphthal DipECVO MRCVS, Davies Veterinary Specialists:

Eye: gonioscopy
Eye: ocular manifestations of systemic disease

The fitting cat – an emergency?

Reviewed by Clare Rusbridge BVMS PhD DipECVN MRCVS, Stone Lion
Veterinary Centre, UK and Laurent Garosi DVM DipECVN MRCVS RCVS
and European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology, Davies
Veterinary Specialists:

The fitting cat – an emergency?

Related items:

Epileptic seizures and epilepsy
Treatment of epilepsy

Mycobacterium spp

The Microbiology section of Felis now sees the addition of:

Mycobacterium spp

Related items:

Mycobacterium avium
Mycobacterium bovis
Mycobacterium lepraemurium
Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Veterinary news from Vetsforum

Lloyds TSB and Halifax withdraw 50 000 pet insurance policies

The BVA recommends owners speak to their vets to discuss future cover for pets that are no longer insured. Unfortunately many price comparison sites don’t take important factors into account when showing available insurance policies – veterinary guidance is often necessary.If you know an owner that’s been affected direct them to the ABI Pet Insurance Consumer Guide.

DEFRA Deputy Chief Vet Alick Simmons to answer questions regarding SchmallenbergSchmallenberg has migrated from Europe to the eastern England and there are now 11 affected farms in the UK. DEFRA have a page listing what is known about Schmallenberg but the emerging disease is still very much a mystery.

The live web chat will be held at Farmers Guardian at 1pm (GMT) 10 Feb 2012. You can also submit questions in advance to Alistair Driver.

Visit Vetsforum for more stories.

The lecture also covered psittacosis. Neil recommended testing all new parrots for psittacosis but unfortunately no test is 100% accurate. Psittacosis is zoonotic and can potentially kill people so it is important to recommend that people visit a doctor if they are feeling sick and have a sick parrot.

The full lecture is available to gold members of The Webinar Vet

Lyme disease is spread by infected ticks and causes flu-like conditions progressing, if untreated, to neurological problems and arthritis. The disease is transmissable to humans.

Lyme is growing in the UK, with 481 infected ticks in 100 000 dogs, a startling figure of 2.3% compared to previous estimates of as low as 1.79%.

Increased surveillance, awareness and tick-treatment is needed. Owners must be made aware of the dangers of Lyme disease, both to themselves and their pets.

Visit the Health Protection Agency to see full results of the study.

Native British breed at risk of extinction

The English Setter has joined 24 other breeds at risk of extinction in the UK, numbering only 234 Kennel Club registrations last year, a 33% decline from 2010.

Celebrity culture and a desire for more exotic and ‘famous’ breeds are driving breeds such as The English Setter out of fashion and, ultimately, to extinction.

The Kennel Club has spoken out against owners who shun native breeds in favour of exotic ones, claiming few owners know or understand exotic breeds well enough to provide the right lifestyle for them. The Kennel Club blames the decline on ‘fickle tastes and celebrity culture’ – aspects of our society that are not easily combatted in mainstream culture.

For more information on The English Setter and Kennel Club services visit The Kennel Club website.

Have you got brains and brawn? Do you have what it takes to try the Vet Charity Challenge 2012?

Veterinary practices and companies have an opportunity to take part in a day-long charity event to raise money for Hounds for Heroes, SPANA and the Pet Blood Bank.

The Vet Charity Challenge will consist of both physical and problem-solving tasks, including cycling, kayaking, walking and running. Anyone of any fitness level can enter in a team of four.

It’s for a good cause, it’ll be fun and it’ll bring your team closer together: sign up for the Vet Charity Challenge today.

10% of practices across the UK joined Canine Prostate Awareness Month (CPAM) in November

Feedback on CPAM showed many owners were unaware of the dangers of canine prostate cancer and its prevalance. The campaign, one of Virbac’s most successful, educated owners and led to an increased number of prostate checks.

The campaign ran alongside Movember last November, in which thousands of men grew moustaches to raise awareness of prostate and testicular cancer.

Our first morning at VPMA has been a busy one! Lots of interest in our upcoming Veterinary Practice Management Webinar 2012 series!

If you are at VPMA make sure you come over and say hello!

Wendy and Kathryn