ts working together for a healthier future spring … · 2015. 3. 30. · buying a pet epilepsy in...

WORKING TOGETHER FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE SPRING 2015ts

smalltalkPet travelPets can have passports too!

AntibioticsResponsible useof antibiotics

Inside...

Pet ShopsWhat to look for when buying a pet

Epilepsy in dogsA case study - ‘Buster' aCocker Spaniel

A day in the life of aPractice Manager

Small Talk Spring 2015 16/3/15 14:09 Page 2

XLVets Practice Focus

Within the veterinary professionthere are traditional privatelyowned practices and others thatare part of a larger corporategroup. We fall into the first category and as an independentpractice, owned and run by vets,this means that any decisionsthat are made come with asound ethical and clinical backing from the vets on theground who are treating yourpets. Whilst, like any business,there is a need to generate aprofit, the drive for this is to reinvest in the facilities, equipment and staff who arethere to look after your pet. Agood quality veterinary practicewill always be progressive inexploring ways to deliver newand vital services to you as a pet owner.

XLVets is unique in the veterinaryprofession. It is a group of highquality practices that spans thelength and breadth of the country, from Penzance toOrkney, whose aim is to work

collaboratively and cooperativelyto share resources, learning andclinical skills. As a pet owner thisgives reassurance that if yourpet is treated by a practice carrying the XLVets brand, youwill have the personal approachthat you have come to expectfrom your local independentveterinary practice, but thebacking of one of the mostrespected groups of vets in the country - and the only collaborative group of its kind.

Our quality assurance mark forpets, working dogs or any othersmall animal species, is called‘XL - Excellence in VeterinaryCare’; our standard of care inthe service that we deliver issomething by which we wish to be judged and is second tonone in the profession. We areproud to be associated withXLVets and hope that you willfeel proud of your practice too.

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Pet travelPets can have passports too!

An up to date petpassport potentiallyallows your cat, dogor ferret to travel withyou abroad withoutthe need for lengthyquarantine.

XLVets and Your Practice - what does it mean?

Tim Hutchinson BVSc,MRCVS, CertSASLarkmead Veterinary Group


An ever increasing numberof cat and dog ownersare taking the opportunity

to take their pets away on holiday with them. Providingthe very strict rules are followedcarefully, travelling with yourpet has never been simpler.

The pet passport scheme was started in 2001 to make travelling with cats anddogs easier around theEuropean Union. Since thenthe regulations have beenmodified and the list ofcountries included in thescheme has increased. (Alwayscheck that your destination ispart of the scheme!)

For a vet to issue your pet with a passport, they must first have a microchip implanted (a microchip will be compulsoryfor all dogs in England fromApril 2016) and then be vaccinated against Rabies. The passport will be valid fortravel from 21 days after therabies vaccination and remainsvalid as long as the rabies vaccination is up to date.

The scheme requires that all dogs are treated against tapeworms, 24 to 120 hoursbefore scheduled arrival back in the UK. This treatment mustbe given by a vet and recordedin the pet’s passport. Timing is strictly enforced so check the date and time are entered correctly! Treatment for ticks is no longer a specified requirement of the scheme however protection against tick borne diseases should always be considered when travelling abroad.

Your pet’s passport will bechecked when you leave and re-enter the UK so only specifictravel companies and travelroutes are permitted. Somecountries have additional conditions to meet before your pet can enter. Alwayscheck your travel plans fit within the pet passport schemewell in advance. Mistakes willresult in delayed travel or evenquarantine!

A complete list of the countriesincluded in the pet passportscheme; details of the specialconditions that certain countriesrequire in addition to a passport;and a list of approved carriersand travel routes can beobtained from DEFRA.

A detailed guide can be found at www.gov.uk/pet-travel-information-for-pet-owners.

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Pet Passport Scheme

Bear in mindwhen travellingabroad with your pet;The passport scheme isdesigned to prevent your pet bringing Rabies andtapeworms into this country.However there are manyother ‘exotic’ diseases thatyour pet may come into contact with while you areabroad. Your vet can adviseyou on the precautions youshould take to avoid theseserious diseases and ensurethat both you and your pethave a healthy holiday.

ele

oo!

By Graham Connan MA VetMB MRCVS 608 Vet Practice


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Antibiotic Resistance

AntibioticsAn inherent risk associated with the use of antibiotics is the naturalselection of micro-organisms thatare resistant to antibiotics. Theappearance in human pathogens ofmultiple resistance to antibiotics hasfocused attention on both humanand veterinary use of these valuablemedicines. It is important that bothdoctors and vets are responsible inthe way that antibiotics are used.

By Andrew Turkington MA VetMB MRCVS Parklands Veterinary Group

Antibiotics are used in thetreatment and control ofmany types of infections inboth humans and animals.


csThe appearance in human

pathogens of multiple resistance toantibiotics has focused attention onboth human and veterinary use ofthese valuable medicines.

“”The development of resistance

can be minimised providedthat a number of measures are observed to prolong theuseful life of all antibiotics inboth human and veterinarymedicine. Antibiotic use shouldbe limited to situations wherethey are needed and the selection of the right antibioticshould take a number of factors into account.

Antibiotic use should not beseen to be an excuse to practicegood animal management,animal welfare, husbandry,hygiene, nutrition, immunologyand vaccination. Diseases mustbe controlled to reduce theneed for antibiotic use andthey can only be controlled successfully by an holisticapproach.

The British Small AnimalVeterinary Association andRoyal College of VeterinarySurgeons have recommendedan approach to antibiotic prescribing which aims to savethe more effective antibioticsin human medicine as secondline drugs in veterinary speciesto try to reduce resistancedevelopment in animals. Theimpact of this is that vets willoften only prescribe certainantibiotics after performingcertain culture and sensitivitytests and although this mayadd expense to treatment, it will allow much more

targeted antibiotic therapies for shorter courses so reducing the development of resistant bacteria.

Vets may avoid oral/injectableantibiotics where topical treatment with creams andshampoos will suffice. In orderto perform surgical procedures,our practices spend significantsums of money on aseptic control of infection (avoidingthe animals own bacteria contaminating its own woundsthrough the use of skin disinfection, sterile surgicalgloves, gowns, instrumentationand sterile surgical environment)to be able to minimise antibioticuse and many operations will

be performed without the needfor any antibiotics.

Other considerations should be to use antibiotics based onthe likely bacteria causing thespecific disease and early on inthe disease course, obtainingcultures and sensitivities forspecific treatment. Effectivetreatment relies on the correctdiagnosis, the right antibioticto be chosen and to be givenfor long enough to treat theproblem. It is vital that if antibiotics are prescribed theyare administered strictlyaccording to the instructions of the vet.


Practice Management

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A day in the life of a......

Practice Manager

By Susan PearsonPractice ManagerKingsway Veterinary Group


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Kos, the delightful Greekisland, what a place tostart this article I hear

you say! Well here’s why.... whenasked recently whilst on holidayin Kos, by Mickey one of the animation team, what I did backin the UK, I replied PracticeManager of a veterinary surgery. Wow, what animals do you see he replied, but hecouldn’t wait for me to reply ashe was too eager to practice allhis English ‘animal names’, onme and the other guests! Sodespite being thousands ofmiles away from the YorkshireDales, there was just no gettingaway from the job!!

I started working for KingswayVets in 2005 after leaving asmall accountancy firm. Thechange from accounting tovets sounds a world apart, but for me ‘managing’ is“managing” whichever line ofwork you are in. The role I haveis extremely varied and I neverknow quite what is going toland at my door. We currentlyhave 36 staff members and I have responsibility for allaspects of personnel /HR whichin itself is enough to fill eachday besides thinking abouteverything else it takes to run a veterinary practice.

Not knowing what is going tohappen each day could be aworrying thing for some peoplebut to me that is what makeseach day a challenge. Thinking,during the drive in to work, ifone of the practice cars will

pass its MOT, or if the computer system is going tobehave itself today, or if thecar park will need clearing of the rapidly falling snow,makes each of my days varied and interesting.

Getting involved and being‘hands on’ in my role is essential. The way you find out if things are working foreveryone, including staff andcustomers is to be where thingshappen. In our Practice, customer service and their satisfaction is high on theagenda. Always looking indetail at the little things thatcount - such as is the waitingroom clean and tidy? Are the vets running on time? Has the receptionist a smile for everyone who walks

through the door? Do systemsrun smoothly and efficiently sothat staff have time to spendwith people rather thanprocesses?

When things don’t always goquite right (and they don’t) I keep smiling. Having a calm‘we can do it’ attitude is essential in this role. Dealingwith people, animals, suppliers,IT, property and finances canbe stressful but having thatcalm, almost tranquil approach,is how I like to try and tacklesituations.

Animals are what we are about,but make no mistake, asPractice Manager I can’t sitstroking furry animals all day, infact some days can be so busythat I don’t even see a cat ordog, let alone a cow or sheep!


Pet Welfare

What to look for when buying a pet from a pet shop


Pet Welfare

What to look for when buying a pet from a pet shop


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et Pets can be great to have

around the home. They canprovide companionship, funand comfort. However, owninga pet can be a big responsibility.Before you buy, you should consider whether you can affordtheir food and vets fees, havetime to give enough exerciseand whether you can providesuitable accommodation. Youshould also remember to consider what you will do withthe pet when you're away.

Local authorities in England,Wales and Scotland issuelicenses to proprietors of petshops and other pet vendorsunder the provisions of the PetAnimals Act (1951) and morerecently the Model Conditionsfor Pet Vending Licensing(MCPVL, 2013). Before granting the license the localauthority must be satisfied that the animals are kept inappropriate accommodation,provided with suitable food

and protected from diseaseand fire. The local authoritiesmay carry out inspections toensure that vendors are abidingto the license regulations.

Under the Animal Welfare Act(2006) in England and Walesand the Animal Health andWelfare (Scotland) Act 2006,pet owners and vendors have aresponsibility for the welfare ofanimals under their care. Underthese Acts it is an offence tocause unnecessary suffering to an animal.

When you buy a pet, you should always ask the seller 'open ended' questions to ensure that the animal is healthy. It is important to establish the followingbefore purchasing a pet:

� Does it have any healthproblems?

� Can I see the parents?

� How old is the animal?

� What kind of temperament does ithave? It would beadvisable to avoid anaggressive animal.

� Is the animal good withchildren?

� What kind of care andfood does it need?

Also check that:

� The pet shop has a licensefrom the local authority

� The accommodation issuitable and clean

� Appropriate food andwater is provided

If you think conditions in apet shop are poor, then itshould be reported to yourlocal council.

For further information oradvice on purchasing a suitable pet please contactyour veterinary practice.

What to look and ask for from a pet shop

By Emma Gerrard Dip AVN (SA) DipHE CVN BSc Hons CVN RVN K-SQP PHC Cain Veterinary Centre

What counts asa pet shop?A pet shop is any buildingwhere animals are sold as pets, including your ownhome. You should never buypets sold in public places e.g.street or markets, it is illegalto sell pets in this way. Youshould also avoid buying apet from the internet.


Case Report

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Buster was examined and noabnormalities were found. Ablood sample was also checkedbecause some seizures canoccur due underlying diseasesuch as diabetes, liver or kidneyproblems. His owners had madea video of him whilst he washaving the seizure. It showedhim lying on his side salivating,chomping with his jaws andpaddling with his feet. This was

highly suggestive of a fullblown epileptic fit.

Epilepsy affects 1 in every 25dogs. Certain breeds may havea higher risk of seizures. Youngdogs may be more prone to aform of epilepsy which isreferred to as being ‘idiopathic’where there is no identifiableunderlying cause. Older dogsmay be more likely to have abrain tumour and require further investigations such as a MRI scan.

A CASE STUDY

Epilepsy in dogs

Buster, a 3 year old male Cocker Spaniel frightened his owners several monthsago when he had a seizure while he was lying in front of the fire. This was hissecond in 4 months so the owners decided to take him to the vets.

By David Young, BVM&S, MRCVSAlnorthumbria Veterinary Practice

Buster


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Buster was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy. Medicationwas recommended by the vet aswithout it the fits may becomemore severe and harder to treat.Several products are available tocontrol epilepsy but the mostcommonly prescribed is a tabletcalled Phenobarbitone. Busterwas prescribed this, and his owners were warned that hemay be more hungry anddrowsy during the first few daysof treatment until his bodyadapted to the new medication.They were also told not to stopthe treatment suddenly as thismight result in further seizures.

It is not uncommon for a dog tostill have an occasional fit untilthe treatment reaches a correctlevel in the animal’s system. If this happened to Buster theowners were instructed toremain calm, turn off brightlights and reduce backgroundnoise. They must not attempt toopen his mouth as they could

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Epilepsy affects 1 inevery 25 dogs!“ ”get bitten. Seizures usually last

between 1-2 minutes but sometimes several can occurvery close together and in verysevere instances a continuallong seizure may be observed.In both of the latter twoinstances immediate veterinarytreatment is necessary.

Buster’s treatment is likelyto be ongoing but shouldallow him a good quality of life. Regular checks upswill be essential however to monitor his response tothe treatment.


smalltalkLATEST NEWS

From a report by Trudi Gibsonin Veterinary Times March 2nd.

Supporters offelinemicrochippingare confident the practice willone day be made compulsory - ifthey secure the backing of theveterinary profession.

Maggie Roberts, Cats Protectionveterinary director, commentedin the article that there are lotsof advantages for vets in havingcats microchipped. She pointedout that we just have to think ofall the unidentified stray cats thatget hit by cars and are taken intovet surgeries - if vets could find

the owners straight away itwould make the treatment muchsmoother and easier.

However, despite support fromMP’s and welfare groups including the RSPCA, Defra(Department for environment,food and rural affairs) said itwould not consider mandatorymicrochipping of cats. The CatsProtection are confident thatthis will change, saying that itwas not that long ago that theGovernment wasn’t going toconsider the microchipping ofdogs, which will become compulsory by April 2016.

Call to support mandatorycat Microchipping

‘In brief’ news item fromVeterinary Times March2nd 2015.

A charity is running what itdescribes as the only dedicatedretirement home for old cats.Lincolnshire Trust For Cats hasalmost 80 felines - somebecause their owners have diedor because they’ve movedabroad. The trust said thatsome charities have a few elderly cats, but they are notdoing it on the scale that theyare. For cats to go to the Trust, people need to make a provision in their will, or decideafter coming to look round.

Retired Cats

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W M X X B F T S P IH Y N O Y S T B A GL U N K R I L X W ZM E T C U H B P S PW D U C K I T T E NG E S T H K R A B TY I H Z Z Q C C X EB E W C B Q M N J PU W C U O V W W P JO X F Q Q F S S S Q


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