key: cord-0041856-c1dgp85d
authors: nan
title: BSAVA NEWS
date: 2006-01-26
journal: J Small Anim Pract
DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-5827.2006.00055.x
sha: 9421be56d2fb21905786b5d796df83ec75f74fe1
doc_id: 41856
cord_uid: c1dgp85d

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When the lectures are over for the day there will be plenty of opportunities to wind down at the Congress social events THE Saturday party has become the heart of the Congress social scene, and this year is no exception. Topping the bill is Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, who will provide revellers with a great night out, full of lively, cool, classy and funky music.

Wherever Jools Holland and his talented troupe play, venues are filled to capacity. Playing an average of 100 live shows a year worldwide, the group regularly plays to audiences of 500,000. With the promise of another great performance, the same is likely to be true at Congress.

There are two ticket options available for Saturday night -you can either spend the evening with friends at the disco, or you can opt for the 'access all areas' ticket which also allows entry to the Jools concert.

There's a new twist to the Congress banquet on Friday. As the sun goes down the stars of stage and screen come out -when The Commitments take to the stage, transferring the energy and excitement of the award-winning Alan Parker film into a thrilling live experience. You'll enjoy a fantastic menu and you can be sure The Commitments will inspire you to hit the dance floor to work it all off! This is an evening to dress up and let your hair down; formal and lounge suits for the gentlemen and evening or cocktail wear for the ladies.

You're welcome

The BSAVA would also like to invite all Congress delegates to the Welcome and Award Cere-mony, where we will honour those whom our members have nominated as deserving special recognition for the work that they do. This takes place on the Thursday, where you will be served free drinks beforehand in the foyer of Hall 3 in the ICC at 4Á15pm.

Are you planning on sending your key veterinary staff to Congress on a Practice Badge? This registration allows any one individual from your practice to attend per day (so 1 vet per day, or 1 nurse per day). The Practice Badge registrations are an incredibly cost-effective way to allow as many members of staff as possible the opportunity to benefit from the Congress experience, however these ticket types must be bought before March 31 st . Visit www.bsava.com, call 01452 726700 or email congress@bsava.com for more details.

The target for the 2006 Petsavers British 10K Team is to raise enough money to fund a three-year Petsavers Clinical Training Scholarship CLINICAL Training Scholarships provide qualified vets with a comprehensive, structured training programme in a specialist area of veterinary medicine or surgery.

The scholarship also provides financial support for a research project, which will provide valuable information on the treatment of small animal diseases. Each year Petsavers allocates a proportion of its income to fund at least one of these training programmes.

The 2006 Team aims to build on the success of the last two years and increase its fundraising to such an extent that a new scholarship can be awarded. So, if you think that you can run, jog or walk 6Á2 miles in two hours and raise £200 at the same time, why not become a member of the Petsavers British 10K Team?

With a great race route, passing many of the capital's famous landmarks, and a carnival atmosphere provided by entertainment along the way, the British 10K has become an increasingly popular event.

This year we would like to encourage pet owners to join our usual team of vets, nurses and practice staff. We welcome individuals or teams and all abilities. Unfortunately, pets can't take part but a well-behaved dog would be welcomed as a member of the Petsavers support team! Competition for places in 2006 will be high as numbers are limited. Your place as a Petsavers team member would be guaranteed and we will provide all team members with a fundraising pack to support you, including: The referral trend John Bonner looks at the growth in the number of referral practices in the UK LEAFING through the back pages of the veterinary press gives little evidence of the growth in private referral practice in Britain. While the RCVS Practice Directory lists increasing numbers of clinics outside the university system that are offering referral services, it is rare to see these jobs advertised in the situations vacant column. That is because these centres know that they are unlikely to get a response from the diploma holders and RCVS-accredited specialists that they are looking to employ. ''There is no point in advertising. It is such a small pool that we know who they are. So the secret is to sign someone up months before they have even finished their diploma programme,'' explains Malcolm McKee, an orthopaedics specialist and co-owner of the Willows referral centre in Solihull.

Shortages in the numbers of clinicians with advanced qualifications exist across all disciplines, but are particularly marked in areas like small animal orthopaedics and ophthalmology. John Hutt, principal of the multidisciplinary North Kent Referrals near Chatham, suggests that this is because in these disciplines, the gap between certificate and diploma level training is more marked than in other fields.

Jerry Davies, head of the largest private referral centre in the UK, the Hertfordshire-based Davies Veterinary Specialists, points out that there are economic reasons for shortages in particular areas. It is more difficult for private centres to support the training of anaesthetists, who don't directly earn fee income, and radiologists, who also require very expensive equipment, he says.

The costs to the individual clinician of advanced training may contribute to the difficulties in recruitment. Dr Hutt says it is esti-mated that after taking account of time, lost income and travel costs, gaining a certificate may cost up to £20,000, and a diploma can add up to four times that. Some also fear that the increasing debt burden of newly graduated veterinary surgeons will put a further squeeze on the supply of diplomates.

But others take a more sanguine view. Mr McKee points to the increasing numbers of centres outside the university system offering residencies that will help young veterinarians towards their diploma qualifications. These are aimed at clinicians who have been qualified for a few years and have learned to live with their debts and are working towards reducing them. Once qualified as a diplomate they can look forward to a fairly handsome salary and a more rapid career progression, he says.

Moreover, for those private referral centres big enough to take on a training role, there is strong demand from surgeons educated at overseas veterinary schools. Out of the five interns hoping to progress towards a residency post at Davies Specialists, only one is from the UK.

Whether these clinicians will stay on after qualification and contribute to the supply of diplomatelevel staff in the UK is unknown. But many will probably want to work in those countries with the most developed veterinary referrals sector. ''Those UK-trained overseas specialists and overseas-trained overseas specialists will gravitate to the UK and USA where the economics of small animal practice are most likely to support their professional skills,'' Dr Davies suggests.

However, it may be some time before the supply of UK and foreign diplomates -and those who have taken the additional steps to qualify as RCVS specialistsmatches the growing demand for referral services. Until then, pet owners seeking a referral from their own practice are likely to be seen by a certificate holder.

This situation is viewed with some ambivalence by both specialists and the Royal College. Both are Small animal ophthalmology one of the areas experience a shortage grateful for the role that certificate holders have played in advancing clinical practice, and in educating the pet-owning public about the availability of the referral system and its achievements. But they are also concerned that the clinical ambitions of those with just a preliminary postgraduate qualification may sometimes exceed their abilities. Mr McKee says that referral cases at centres where the clinicians have no advanced qualifications may be acceptable for most routine medical and surgical cases, yet he worries that certificate holders may be tempted to take on cases that are outside their clinical expertise.

As the co-owner of a practice that has invested in the sophisticated equipment required of a cutting-edge veterinary clinic, Mr McKee also has strong personal reasons for worrying about the uncontrolled growth in referral practices. ''The cake is not getting any bigger -in fact it's shrinking with the decline in the numbers of dogs in the UK. If the individual slices get much smaller, then there may come a time when those who have made that investment will not be able to cover their overheads'', he warns.

The RCVS is uncomfortable too, because when the diploma and certificate system developed in the 1970s, it was never envisaged that a certificate would qualify the holder to set up referral services. ''The certificate system was originally intended as a means of helping people in general practice develop their skills for that practice; it was not anticipated that they would market it as a referral qualification'', notes Geoff Skerritt, chairman of the RCVS Specialisation and Further Education Committee.

So the Royal College faces a dilemma in balancing its obligations to encourage career development for general practitioners without pulling the rug from underneath the feet of the small cadre of more specialised clinicians. The proposed modular certificate system will do much to remedy this problem because this form of postgraduate training lends itself to improving general skills rather than developing a specialisation, Mr Skerritt suggests.

At the same time, the RCVS is trying to expand the pool of clinicians able to take on referral work by encouraging practitioners with advanced training to apply for recognition as specialists. Such status is available to RCVS and European diplomates, holders of PhDs in that particular discipline, boardaccredited USA and Australian clinicians and Royal College fellows. One option being considered at the moment is to reinstate RCVS fellowship by examination. This would certainly be attainable by practitioners, Mr Skerritt points out.

To qualify as specialists, practitioners must not only fulfil the educational criteria but must also have devoted at least 50 percent of their professional time to that particular discipline in recent years, and to have contributed to its development through publications and educational activities. Mr Skerritt says there are many practitioners who qualify on all counts, who have turned down the opportunity to become recognised specialists because they feel the financial and bureaucratic demands are too onerous. So the Royal College has taken steps to remedy this by introducing a system of self-accreditation, which simplifies the process maintaining accreditation every five years and significantly reduces the costs.

For the future, there are other proposals designed to increase the supply of new diplomates and to protect the value of their training by limiting the ability of those with lesser qualifications to advertise referral services to the pet-owning public.

Mr Skerritt said his committee would support efforts to relax the European board requirements for diplomate training by, for example, allowing academic centres and private referral practices to share responsibility for training diploma candidates.

It has also recommended to the RCVS working party investigating practice standards that the Royal College should introduce measures to curb the growth in new referral centres. ''We have suggested that in order for a practice to advertise as a referral centre, there should be a diplomate or RCVS approved specialist on the staff. We would not want to undervalue the contribution that certificate holders have made to the advancement of clinical veterinary practice in the UK. But we do have a responsibility to set clear quality standards for the benefit of our clients and their animals'', he says.

The fifth edition of the indispensable BSAVA Small Animal Formulary is now available for members online at www.bsava.com

The online version of the BSAVA Small Animal Formulary is available as a PDF file with the contents, including the drug monographs in the established A-Z presentation of generic names, bookmarked to make information easy to find.

The pages describing the brief considerations of prescribing 'off-label' drugs and of heath and safety issues relating to medicines are also bookmarked along with the index of both generic and trade names to further assist information retrieval.

Microchip Committee Update -Walt Ingwersen on news from the USA AT the beginning of November, US President George Bush signed into law an Agriculture Appropriations bill that had been passed by both the Senate and Congress, calling for the adoption and implementation of open-standard microchip technology for pets within the USA and universal scanners that would be able to read all chips available. The specific wording of the bill was:

The conferees support the microchipping of pets for identification under a system of open microchip technology in which all scanners can read all chips. The conferees direct APHIS to develop the appropriate regulations that allow for universal reading ability and best serve the interests of pet owners. The conferees also direct APHIS to take into consideration the effect such regulation may have on the current practice of microchipping pets in this country, and to report to the Committees on Appropriations within 90 days of the date of enactment of this Act on progress toward that end.

APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) was given 90 days to present Congress with an implementation proposal. While the original bill had designated technology that adhered to the ISO standards (the most widely adopted open-standard technology implemented in most parts of the rest of the world including Canada and Europe), intense lobbying by historical providers of microchips that employ non-ISO 125 kHz technology within the USA was considered the reason for the revised and final version (despite the fact that these same manufacturers/distributors supply ISOstandard technology in markets outside of the USA).

Coinciding with the signing of this bill by the US President, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) released a report from their Executive Committee, based on recommendations by the AVMA Council on Veterinary Services, reaffirming the AVMA's support for microchip technology based on the ISO standards. This was one of 4 key elements cited as recommended requirements to achieve an effective system of electronic identification in animals; the other three components were: c A true universal or global scanner/reader network capable of identifying all microchips implanted in animals in the USA and an appropriate time for implementation (suggested as 2 years) c Minimum standards for supporting databases including 24/7 accessibility and registration included in the cost of the microchip c Creating end-user awareness regarding the implication of these changes, how the end user can ensure that they are prepared for their implementation, and appropriate, species-specific sites of microchip implantation.

Other US-based associations that have position statements supporting the adoption and implementation of the ISO-standard microchip technology include the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), which has published numerous articles in its TRENDs Magazine on this subject, and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

While the specific outcome is unclear at this stage, what is clear is the movement to overhaul the microchip marketplace in the USA which, because of competing technology with proprietary protection, has been labelled as dysfunctional by many in the US veterinary and pet recovery industry.

In related news, US District Court Judge L. Scott Googler ruled that Crystal Import Corporation (US distributor for microchip manufacturer Datamars SA) has sufficient grounds for its claims of antitrust violations against AVID and Digital Angel to proceed. The lawsuit alleges that AVID and Digital Angel have, through the use of their proprietary technology in the USA, attempted to monopolize the US marketplace and impede the adoption of an open and universal system of microchip technology, including universal scanners. TIME's Alice Park writes how a laboratory in South Korea perfected a cloning technique that is likely to transform medical research around the world. Snuppy is the product of years of experimentation resulting in a technique that provides a method that can be applied to virtually any mammal. Snuppy's ''birth'' was under the supervision of Dr Woo Suk Hwang and his 45-person team in their laboratory of veterinary science at Seoul National University in South Korea.

The article reads, ''Hwang also refined his human-cell-cloning process to yield the first stem cells from patients with diseases, bringing medicine a step closer to the possibility of curing illnesses from Alzheimer's to diabetes with a patient's rejection-proof tissues.'' However, in December 2005 an investigation at Seoul National University found that all of the data from Hwang Woo Suk's groundbreaking study had been faked. Now scientists across the globe are wondering if they need to question all of Hwang's pioneering work with stem cells, from the 2004 paper in which he first announced that he and his team had produced stem cells from a cloned human embryo right up to the summer debut of Snuppy.

LOS ANGELES, California -Allerca Inc. has announced its intention to create and make available hypoallergenic British shorthair cats by 2007. Despite the US $3,500 price tag, the company reports orders have been brisk, with over 1,500 people placing an order, complete with a $250 deposit. Based on gene-silencing technology, the patented technique is designed to suppress the production of the Fel d 1 protein, considered to be an important factor in causing feline allergies in people.

Employing a virus vector, the technology is imported into an embryo which is then implanted into a surrogate mother or queen. While the gene-silencing technology has been successfully employed in mice, it has not yet been proven to work in cats. A spokesperson for the company said that the hypoallergenic cat will be one of many available ''lifestyle pets'', where the technology will be used to genetically modify animals to improve upon their own or their owner's health.

However, there are a number of sceptics, including those from the human health care field, stating that even if the technology were to work in cats, it is unlikely to produce a truly hypoallergenic cat, citing that there are many more allergens implicated in cat allergies, not just the Fel d 1 protein, and it is still unknown whether blocking the production of this protein may cause other health problems for the host cat.

The long-awaited third edition of the popular BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Dentistry is due for publication in 2006 BUILDING on the success of the previous editions of the BSAVA Manual of Small Animal Dentistry, the third edition has been completely revised and updated under the guidance of editors Cedric Tutt, David Crossley and Judith Deeprose.

The focus of the new edition has been shifted slightly, so that coverage is now exclusive to dogs and cats (dentistry related to exotic pets is covered in other BSAVA Manuals). The structure of the Manual has been reorganised, but the practical approach, which made the previous editions so valuable to the reader, has been maintained.

The Manual begins with the anatomy and physiology of the oral cavity, followed by chapters dedicated to the various diagnostic techniques employed in veterinary dentistry, anaesthesia, and dental instrumentation and equipment.

There is also a chapter dedicated to operator safety and health considerations.

The second half of the Manual focuses on the conditions encountered in small animal practice and the chapters cover developmental oral conditions, such as malocclusions, and physical dental conditions, such as attrition and tooth fractures. The importance of feline stomatitis and other inflammatory conditions, such as periodontitis, is reflected in separate chapters outlining these problems.

Basic and routine treatments are described in depth, and more advanced therapies are briefly described so that the reader is aware of all possibilities. The manual is illustrated throughout with fullcolour photographs as well as retaining the clear procedural diagrams drawn by David Crossley.

The BSAVA has joined with other key veterinary organisations to campaign against non-therapeutic tail docking of dogs UNDER the recently published Animal Welfare Bill (England and Wales) and the Animal Health and Welfare Bill (Scotland), mutilations, which would include tail docking, are banned. However, tail docking may be permitted by way of an exemption clause in secondary legislation. It is hoped that by educating owners and highlighting this issue to vets, that the practice will be banned. BSAVA modular courses in 2006 include an 8-module medicine series covering neurology, infectious diseases, urinary tract diseases and oncology; a feline modular course in 4 parts; and a new course covering the major areas of therapeutics. The feline modular course covers many aspects of medicine and critical care. The modules on the therapeutics course will include discussion of antimicrobial, cytotoxic, analgesic and cardiovascular treatments.

The modules are designed to give practical and useful information and are taught by speakers who are recognised as leaders in their field. If you are planning to take exams, or just want to keep up to date, BSAVA modular courses are an ideal way to obtain quality CPD. Delegate numbers on the courses are limited to encourage interaction.

The next of the feline modules takes place on February 28 th and tackles the common problem of how to deal with the polydipsic cat. The speaker, Danièlle Gunn-Moore, is a specialist in feline medicine and is senior lecturer in feline medicine at the Dick Vet. The module will give practical tips on the diagnosis and management of conditions causing polydipsia and discuss the latest advances in the understanding of their pathogenesis.

If you are interested in tackling infectious diseases, the next 2 modules on the small animal medicine course are for you -as they cover feline and canine infectious diseases. Previous delegates have said: ''Coverage of FIP/coronavirus was very good indeed'' and ''Very impressed with enthusiasm of speakers''.

The use of pharmaceuticals is an important part of daily practice but often little thought is given to their mechanisms and the potential problems that may occur with their use. The modular course in therapeutics aims to demystify pharmacology and put it into a practical context by using an interactive case-based approach. The speakers are all clinicians and will provide delegates with a rational approach to the use of the major drug groups in small animal practice.

So make a resolution not to procrastinate in 2006 and if you are a member make the most of the significant member savings on CPD by booking now.

The British Veterinary Orthopaedic Association hold their spring meeting at the ICC on the Wednesday before BSAVA Congress each year THE regular pre-BSAVA Congress meeting is always an excellent day of information and discussion, and last year's event made a fitting finale to Martin Owen's tenure as organiser and Chairman of the Education Committee.

In 2005 the papers were, without exception, fascinating and thoughtprovoking. A lively discussion took place on methods of treatment of intracondylar humeral fissures, when detected either by CT scan, oblique radiography, or arthroscopy. The use of arthroscopic curettage and micro picking, with or without use of a trans-condylar screw, and whether this should be a lag or positional screw was discussed, with no single treatment being universally accepted. Metallurgical studies of fractured trans-condylar screws have been carried out with surprising results. Malcolm Ness and Sorrel Langley-Hobbs contributed most to this part of the discussion, and it was thought that there could be a role for BVOA in carrying out further investigations or studies in this field.

The next Spring Meeting, held on the Wednesday before the main BSAVA Congress, is scheduled for 19 th April 2006. Further details will be posted on the BVOA website, www.bsava. com/bvoa. Prior to this meeting, the 2 nd World Veterinary Orthopaedic Congress (WVOC) is taking place in Keystone, Colorado from Feb 25th -March 4th 2006 (further details can also be found on the BVOA website). 

Extractions -without the sweat and tears Speaker Lisa Milella. Evening meeting at Russell Hotel, Maidstone. Kent Region. Details from Jeremy Stattersfield, e-mail burnhamhouse@dial

Day meeting at Yew Lodge Hotel, Kegworth. Midland Region. Details from Tim Murphy, e-mail timothymurphy7758@tiscali.co.uk 15 Complications of fracture repair Speaker Angus Anderson. Evening meeting at Leatherhead Golf Course. Surrey and Sussex Region. Details from Jo Arthur

Evening meeting at Thainstone House Hotel, Inverurie. Scottish Region. Details from Val Pate

Challenging feline medicine cases Speaker Sarah Caney. Evening meeting at Corus Hotel, Romsey. Southern Region. Details from Andy Elliott

Evening meeting at Manchester Airport Marriott. North West Region. Details from Simone der Weduwen, telephone/fax 01254 885248, e-mail beestenhof@ntlworld

Weekend meeting at The Bellhouse, Beaconsfield, organised by BSAVA. Details from Jan Chick, telephone 01452 726715, e-mail courses@bsava.com MARCH 3-5 Orthopaedic skills course -bone plating Speakers Mark Glyde and Shane Guerin. 3-day seminar with wetlabs and practical session at University College, Dublin. Joint meeting with Republic of Ireland Region and UCD. Details from Mark Glyde, telephone 1353 (0) 1 7166058, e-mail mark.glyde@ucd.ie 5-6 Diagnostic dilemmas and therapeutic solutions in internal medicine Speakers David Church and Jill Maddison. 2-day meeting at Oxford Hotel

Evening meeting at VSSCo, Lisburn. Northern Ireland Region. Details from Craig Reilly, telephone 02891271364, e-mail craig.reilly@zen.co.uk 9 Practical dental radiographyhow to image the root of the problem Speaker Norman Johnston. Evening meeting at Windlesham Golf Club

Details from Val Pate, telephone 0141 956 5256, e-mail valpate@ntlworld.com 15 Homeopathy in veterinary medicine Speaker Mark Elliott. Evening meeting at Russell Hotel, Maidstone. Kent Region

What's hot in infectious disease Speaker Susan Shaw. Evening meeting at Wolverhampton Medical Institute. Midland Region. Details from Tim Murphy, e-mail timothymurphy7758@tiscali

Evening meeting at Corus Hotel, Romsey. Southern Region. Details from Andy Elliott, telephone 023 80228570, e-mail aj.elliott@ukonline.co.uk 19 Neurology for GPs Speaker Simon Platt. Day meeting at Cedar Court Hotel

Metropolitan Region. Details from Emma Jones, telephone 01494 567588, e-mail ejones9@jacgb.jnj.com 23 Update Medicine and prescribing law Speaker Geoff Little. Evening meeting at Swallow Hotel, Preston