VN Happy Hour welcomed three of the biggest names in UK veterinary nursing when the hugely successful live event returned on 23 February 2023.

The online event saw a lively discussion around the theme of “Protect the title”, during which our panel explained why it’s so important to protect the “veterinary nurse” title and what this would mean for you as a VN, as well as the profession.

More than 1,200 delegates have attended VN Happy Hour events since the concept was first launched during the pandemic, and we experienced one of our biggest turnout to date when BVNA president Charlotte Pace, Linnaeus chief nursing officer Andrea Jefferey and RCVS VN council chair Matt Rendle, tackled the hot topic of vet nurse title protection.

Answering questions sent in by delegates, our all-star panel provided insights and discussed developments on this key issue, as well as offering tips and advice on all things veterinary nursing.

Canine hypothyroidism, and the far less common hypoparathyroidism, are fascinating endocrine diseases that provide diagnostic challenges to vets and ongoing management considerations for owners.

Small animal internal medicines specialist Laura Bree joins the Vet Times Podcast to delve a little deeper into this subject.

𝗟𝗔𝗨𝗥𝗔 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗠𝗩𝗕, 𝗠𝗥𝗖𝗩𝗦

Originally from Galway in Ireland, Laura completed her veterinary undergraduate degree at the University College of Dublin in 2013.

She later progressed on to complete a discipline-specific small animal internal medicine internship in 2014. Furthermore, Laura enrolled on to a four-year specialist internal medicine residency and postgraduate doctorate programme at the University College of Dublin, where she achieved the European Diploma in Small Animal Internal Medicine in 2018.

Relocating to the UK, Laura spent three years as a specialist internal medicine clinician at Willows Veterinary Referrals, before moving to London to join the London Veterinary Specialist team as its head of medicine in 2022.

Laura adores geriatric pets, and has clinical interests including endocrinology and endoscopy.

RVN and clinical tutor in veterinary nursing at Myerscough College Rachel Pilling has always had a passion for well-being and is a strong advocate in supporting mental health of veterinary professionals.

Having always wanted to become a wellness coach, the time never seemed to be right. However, a devastating diagnosis for Rachel paved the way to building a new business to help others look after their mental health and learn lessons in “self kindness”.

𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗟 𝗣𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗥𝗩𝗡, 𝗙𝗗𝗦𝗰𝗭𝗥𝗠, 𝗜𝗤𝗔

Rachel always pursued a career working with animals – from horses at her local riding school to an animal keeper at a safari park for eight years, followed by the journey to becoming a qualified veterinary nurse.

After the birth of her daughter Meghan, Rachel moved into a more supportive role as a clinical tutor of veterinary nursing at Myerscough College, alongside locum work as an RVN.

When Rachel returned to practice after a year of maternity leave, she noticed a difference in her confidence and looked at ways to build this back up, which was difficult while working part-time hours.

Following a diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma in August 2022, Rachel was given the push to complete an accredited diploma in life coaching in October 2022 and decided to set up her own coaching business, with a focus on improving positivity and mental well-being within the veterinary profession. She wants to help others discover their own potential and to show that anything is achievable with the right mindset.

Rachel is in the early stages of developing her business, but is very excited to see where it will lead and the impact that it will have on professionals working within the veterinary sector.

For business updates, follow Rachel at https://www.instagram.com/the_veterinary_coach/

The inaugural Vet Times Big 6 Live debate, held at the 2023 SPVS Congress in Birmingham, saw senior figures in the sector tackled key issues for the future of veterinary practice, including the “under care” debate, the use of technology in practice, working patterns, ownership and management models.

The live debate, hosted by chief reporter Allister Webb, featured RCVS president Melissa Donald, BVA president Malcolm Morley, XLVets chief executive Andrew Curwen, BVNA president Charlotte Pace, PetsApp co-founder Thom Jenkins and SPVS board member Ami Sawran.

Neonatal diarrhoea is a common problem found on many cattle farms in the UK and is a major cause of economic losses for farmers, estimated to cost the UK cattle industry around £11million annually.

Fencovis® is the most recent addition to the well-established Boehringer Ingelheim cattle vaccine range. It is licensed to prevent calf scour caused by bovine rotavirus and E coli K99, to reduce the incidence and severity of scour caused by bovine coronavirus and to reduce faecal shedding in scour caused by bovine rotavirus and bovine coronavirus.

Fencovis® combines killed antigen with an oil-free adjuvant to deliver optimal safety and efficacy. It comes as a ready-to-use injection available in 1, 5 and 25 dose packs.

In this podcast, we speak to independent animal health researcher Jamie Robertson and Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health ruminant vet advisor Becca Cavill to explore some of the preventive steps that would be useful to discuss with clients to help reduce the risk of scour in calves.

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𝗝𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗘 𝗥𝗢𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗦𝗢𝗡

Having graduated in agricultural science from the University of Aberdeen in 1977, Jamie later left the UK to live and work abroad on livestock development programmes. After returning to Aberdeen in 1984 for an MSc in animal production, he has since worked on R&D projects examining the link between environment and animal health.

He is currently director of livestock management systems and honorary fellow at the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.

𝗕𝗘𝗖𝗖𝗔 𝗖𝗔𝗩𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗕𝗩𝗦𝗰 𝗠𝗥𝗖𝗩𝗦

Becca graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2003 and spent 18 years in clinical farm practice before becoming ruminant veterinary advisor for the south of the UK at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health in 2021.

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𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗗

This podcast is brought to you by Fencovis® from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health. Fencovis® contains inactivated E coli expressing F5(K99) adhesin, inactivated bovine rotavirus and inactivated bovine coronavirus. UK: POM-V.

Further information available in the SPC or from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd, RG12 8YS, UK. UK Tel: 01344 746960 (sales) or 01344 746957 (technical), Email: [email protected]

Fencovis® is a registered trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH, used under licence. UI-BOV-0008-2023.©2023 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd. All rights reserved. Date of preparation: January 2023. Use Medicines Responsibly.

Elbow dysplasia is a cause of lameness in young dogs and osteoarthritis in older ones, with medial compartment disease one step in canine OA progression.

Vet Phil Witte joins the Vet Times Podcast this week to discuss the conditions, diagnoses and all the surgical options.

𝗣𝗛𝗜𝗟 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗘, 𝗕𝗩𝗦𝗰 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗔𝗩𝗣(𝗚𝗦𝗔𝗦) 𝗕𝗦𝗰 𝗗𝗦𝗔𝗦(𝗢𝗿𝘁𝗵) 𝗠𝗥𝗖𝗩𝗦

An RCVS specialist in small animal surgery (orthopaedics), Phil has worked in general practice and as an orthopaedic surgeon in referral practice.

He holds the RCVS certificate in small animal surgery and the RCVS diploma in small animal orthopaedics.

He currently works as the lead surgeon at Cornwall Veterinary Referrals. His interests include trauma management, angular limb deformity and joint disease.

He has written a Focus article for Vet Times (Volume 53, Issue 4, Pages 8-10) called “Medial compartment disease – what is it? And what can we do?”, which will be available soon via vettimes.co.uk

Lameness is the most costly of all endemic dairy cattle health disorders, and can cause damage to reputations, as well as welfare problems.

We probe foot health in this Vet Times Podcast, where vet specialist Owen Atkinson discusses the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s Healthy Feet Programme and how and why vets need to be at the heart of lameness team working on farm.

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𝗢𝗪𝗘𝗡 𝗔𝗧𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗢𝗡, 𝗕𝗩𝗦𝗰, 𝗗𝗖𝗛𝗣, 𝗠𝗥𝗖𝗩𝗦

Owen worked in farm practice for more than 20 years before establishing Dairy Veterinary Consultancy in 2013. He now provides strategic health advice and training to ruminant and dairy agri-businesses, vet practices and dairy farmers throughout UK.

Awarded the RCVS Diploma in Cattle Health and Production in 2013, Owen is an RCVS-recognised specialist, a CowSignals master trainer and a Nuffield Scholar (2010). His interests include lameness; youngstock; building design; rumen health; and responsible use of medicines.

Owen’s mission is to improve the lives of cows and the people who care for them. He has written a Focus article on dairy cattle lameness, due to appear in a future Vet Times (Volume 53, Issue 5), and later online.

Treatment fundamentals for wounds should be the same regardless of the severity of diverse causes.

In this podcast, small animal specialist Jon Hall joins us to discuss all the important wound care considerations and innovations.

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Jon Hall is a European College of Veterinary Surgeons and RCVS diplomate in small animal surgery.

He is a fellow of the RCVS, a senior fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a professor in small animal surgery at the University of Nottingham. Jon is head of soft tissue surgery at Wear Referrals.

Along with Emily Frapwell, he has co-written a Focus article in Vet Times (Volume 52, Issue 50, Pages 4-6) called “Wound care in companion animals: options and innovations”. It is online now at CPD+ – Vet Times’ academy of exclusive content.

Visit https://bit.ly/3IhbHPL

In this latest Vet Times Jobs People Match Podcast, Stephanie Sorrell – also known as The Mindful Vet – joins us to talk about her veterinary journey, the challenges she has faced, well-being and issues around burnout.

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𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗣𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗘 𝗦𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗟 𝗕𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗠𝗲𝗱 (𝗛𝗼𝗻𝘀) 𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗭𝗖𝗩𝗦 𝗗𝗶𝗽𝗘𝗖𝗩𝗜𝗠-𝗖𝗔 𝗠𝗥𝗖𝗩𝗦

Stephanie graduated from the RVC and undertook her residency in internal medicine at the University of Edinburgh. She is a European internal medicine specialist and RCVS feline specialist.

Stephanie is the director of Canine and Feline Medicine Consultancy Ltd, through which she provides locum internal medicine and feline medicine cover to private and university-based referral practices. As well as this she is a senior consultant for Virtual Veterinary Specialists, which provides telemedicine advice to practitioners and is part of the FIP advice team.

In addition to her clinical work, she is passionate about improving mental health and well-being for those within the veterinary profession. She has successfully completed a Mental Health Awareness and Wellbeing Diploma as well as Mindfulness Champion training, and is currently working towards becoming a fully accredited mindfulness teacher.

As director of The Mindful Vet [https://themindfulvet.co.uk] Stephanie provides bespoke internal medicine and feline medicine clinical CPD as well as non-clinical CPD such as well-being, burnout and resilience.

Stephanie has a passion for teaching and has lectured extensively at conferences and CPD events as well as publishing original research papers in journals and textbooks both on clinical and non-clinical CPD topics.

Regulatory compliance within the biocides industry has long been a source of confusion. With regulations changing so significantly post-Brexit, it’s easy to lose track of what to look for in a compliant and effective veterinary disinfectant.

Here, Anna Williams, senior regulatory manager, and Chris Plummer, head of technical at Byotrol plc, an antimicrobial technology specialist and manufacturer of Anigene professional surface disinfectant cleaner, discuss how changing regulations are likely to impact the veterinary sector.

This podcast will discuss changes in the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR), the impact on the veterinary sector, how the BPR changes will improve quality of products and how veterinary organisations should choose a supported product.

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𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗔 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗔𝗠𝗦

Anna is the senior regulatory manager for biocides at Byotrol, ensuring biocidal products are compliant with the relevant regulations, and providing guidance on the development of new technologies.

Having graduated from Bournemouth University with a degree in environmental science, Anna has a passion for science and technology, and has worked closely with competent authorities across the UK and Europe to bring approved biocidal, detergent and cosmetic products to market.

𝗖𝗛𝗥𝗜𝗦 𝗣𝗟𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗥

Head of technology at Byotrol, Dr Plummer joined the company in 2009 as chief microbiologist. Prior to his career at Byotrol, Dr Plummer worked for Unilever, where he held several R&D roles including research microbiologist in household care, skin care, and oral care.

He is an active member of the British Standards Institute (BSI) Committee, a collaborative industry group which is dedicated to creating new standards for chemical disinfectants and antiseptics.

Dr Plummer graduated with a BSc in microbiology from the University of Central Lancashire, and a PhD in microbiology from the University of Sheffield, researching disease mechanisms in heart valve infections.