BVA to determine member satisfaction and the relevance of benefits

In a move to assess the value of its membership, the BVA will be conducting spot checks using external research agency Research by Design to ask members for detailed feedback on the services they receive.

Practicising members and veterinary students in their final year can all be approached, and will then be asked to fill out a short online survey.

If you’re a BVA member ensure your contact details are up to date.

Catch up on any lecture you miss

BEVA has released webcasts for anyone who missed lectures at BEVA Congress 2011. BEVA 2011 was extremely busy and there was plenty to see; even vets can’t be in two places at once.

If you missed a lecture, or if you’re interested in attenting BEVA 2012 but aren’t sure you will be able to make every lecture you want to see, take a look at BEVA Congress Lectures Online.

The Kennel Club will no longer accept registration of puppies with two merle parents

The merle mutation is triggered by a dominant gene which causes dapple colouration and is associated with a number of health risks including sight and hearing loss.

Some breeds have already received a formal ban on merle mating, and the Kennel Club will be enforcing this ban to include any dog in which merle colouration does not appear naturally, in particular Chihuahas and Bull Terriers.

The restriction will be introduced from January 2013.

Veterinary associations welcome Welsh government proposals

Veterinary associations including the Kennel Club and BVA have wholeheartedly supported the Welsh government’s proposals to introduce compulsory microchipping.

The new proposals will ensure all dogs are stored on a microchip database, making it far easier for owners to find their lost pets whilst cutting costs for local authorities in kennelling stray dogs.

A consultation for the proposal will run until 08 August 2012. The Kennel Club urges vets to add their support to the Welsh government.

If these measures prove effective, compulsory microchipping could be introduced throughout the UK.

The PDSA need your advice in the latest PAW report

Feedback from vets and vet nurses will shape the PDSA’s wellbeing policies and advice to owners, and will help the PDSA analyse the true state of pet care in the UK.

Vets and vet nurses have a unique insight into the world of pet care. If you have a few minutes to spare please help the PDSA.

RCVS Council election ‘fair’ despite duplicate ballot papers

Concerns over voters potentially dual-voting due to duplicate ballot papers and multiple votes online have been discounted by Electoral Reform Services (ERS), who concluded ‘it was not possible to say there had been instances of dual voting’.

The ERS estimates the number of duplicate papers sent to voters numbers at 289, but hastened to add that even if the votes were discounted it would have had no difference on the result.

Read the ERS’ full statement.

Advertising your services online is important, but are you wasting your money?

Throwing a marketing budget at an online directory provider might seem like a quick way of marketing your practice, but how much of what is sent out will actually lead to an increase in sales?

ReachLocal highlights the importance of directed and sensible advertising in a local area.

Reforms to dangerous dog laws are welcome but further action is needed, say Kennel Club

New guidelines will target irresponsible dog owners rather than dogs themselves. Under new legislation the penalties applied for owning a banned breed will also be applied to owners of dangerous dogs of any kind.

This new legislation will make it easier to ban irresponsible owners from keeping dogs, allow genuinely dangerous dogs to be put down and allow compensation to be paid to victims. Accountability of the owner is a key focus of the changes, with an aim to use more jail sentences and community orders in the future.

Whilst the Kennel Club has welcomed these reforms, their focus is on preventing dog bites in the first place which, they claim, can only be done through educational programs and greater surveillance by the authorities.

For more information visit the Kennel Club’s Dangerous Dogs campaign.

Novartis Animal Health recommend vigilance as changing weather could increase risk of nematodirus worms

Changing temperatures increase the risk of nematodirus worms, which require a period of cold weather followed by an increase of over 10 degrees to hatch. Nematodirus is especially dangerous to lambs, with a high mortality rate if measures are not taken to protect lambs whilst grazing.

Novartis advises direct action by using products such as the white drench Rybocen to control nematodirus and other roundworms.

For more information visit Farm Animal Health

Kinetic Technologies announced the launch of Opti Vet AR- Allergy Relief Eye Drops for dogs and cats formulated with Naphazoline HCl and Pheniramine Maleate. The company also launched the EquiShield CK line of topical antiseptics containing 2% Chlorhexidine and 1% Ketoconazole.

(Source – Brakke Consulting)