Vet Times Podcast

As always, BCVA Congress will see the handover of the association’s presidency. This year, Colin Mason will be taking over from Elizabeth Berry – and both joined the Vet Times Podcast to discuss objectives, new initiatives and this year’s event. Among the topics are the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, which is due to launch in England this autumn; roll-out of the new cattle hoof care standards scheme; bovine viral diarrhoea eradication programmes; some of the workshops being held at congress; and the social aspects of this year’s event. Congress takes place at the Hilton Metropole Birmingham from 20 to 22 October. ___________________

Ahead of BCVA Congress, we catch up with Fiona Lovatt to discuss progress with the Farm Vet Champions project, which launched last year. Spearheaded by RCVS Knowledge, the project is a collaboration between a number of veterinary organisations – including the BCVA – to empower the livestock profession to establish good antimicrobial stewardship. More than 700 vets have signed up so far – and in May 2022 the ability to set SMART goals was launched, allowing champions to set individual or team targets towards more responsible antibiotic use and healthier stock on farms. Fiona is clinical lead of Farm Vet Champions, and in this episode she discusses the SMART goals platform, how the project is leading the way for the veterinary profession, and future developments with the scheme. __________________

This month, VN Times editor Rachael Buzzel is joined by locum RVN Jack Pye, who specialises in emergency and critical care and has a passion for ultrasonography. Jack is also a member of BVNA council, sits on the VN Times editorial board, and is a regular guest, contributor and official quizmaster on VN Happy Hour. He joins Rachael to discuss his love for ultrasonography; from the lightbulb moment to speaking at BVNA Congress and now offering CPD in practices all around the country. __________________

Canine infectious respiratory disease (CIRD) complex, formerly known as kennel cough, is a contagious cause of acute-onset cough in dogs. To explain more, Langford Vets referral clinician Emi Barker joins this Vet Times Podcast. Emi has also written a Focus article for Vet Times on this subject (Volume 52 Issue 30, Pages 6-8), entitled “Kennel cough beyond the kennel – CIRD and COVID-19’s parallels”, which can be read at https://www.vettimes.co.uk/article/kennel-cough-beyond-the-kennel-cird-and-covid-19s-parallels/ ________________________

It might not be new, but preventive medicine is a concept that has certainly grown in importance in the past few years. Veterinary specialist Mike Davies, who has just written a Focus article, “Preventive medicine – what it means in practice”, in Vet Times (Volume 52, Issue 34, Pages 4-7), joins this Vet Times Podcast to discuss what the profession is doing well and where there’s room for improvement. ___________________

Building resilience has been the theme of Alexandra Taylor’s year as BVNA president – and she joins us to review some of those initiatives, as well as preview how the campaign will conclude at congress. Charlotte Pace, who will take over as president at congress, also joins us to provide an insight into her aims and objectives around the theme of empowerment. Mrs Taylor and Ms Pace also discuss the launch of two new BVNA toolkits over the coming months – one aimed at supporting student VNs, the other offering advice around the topic of pay. Congress takes place at Telford International Centre from 7 to 9 October. To learn more about this year’s event, look out for your copy of BVNA Congress Times, being mailed with September‘s VN Times.

RVN Nicola Lakeman is the keynote speaker at BVNA Congress 2022 – and her lecture will give an insight into how resilience has played a part in her career. Ahead of congress, Ms Lakeman joined us to share her excitement for the event and discuss how she hopes delegates will be able to relate to her experiences. “Building resilience” is the headline theme of congress, which takes place at Telford International Centre from 7 to 9 October. To learn more about this year’s event, look out for your copy of BVNA Congress Times, being mailed with September’s VN Times. ________________________

This time last year, BEVA was tentatively preparing to stage the UK’s first major veterinary congress since the outbreak of COVID-19. But this year the event returns in all its former glory – and final preparations are under way for an event that will reunite and champion the equine veterinary profession. In this Vet Times Podcast, BEVA president Huw Griffiths looks back at his objectives and previews congress, while president-elect David Rendle looks forward to his presidential term and reflects on the veterinary profession’s efforts to support colleagues in Ukraine since the country was invaded by Russia earlier this year. _________________________

In this Vet Times Extra podcast, Paul Imrie speaks to Gudrun Ravetz, head of workplace engagement, and Dan Makin, joint venture partner at Vets4Pets Poole Holes Bay, to discuss the importance of workplace culture in veterinary practices. ___________________

Geriatric cats can have a range of health and welfare issues as they age, but vets and owners can both play rewarding roles in positively impacting their quality of life. Here, with advice on handling some of the challenges and how to empower owners as important members of the vet team, feline medicine specialist Sarah Caney joins us for this Vet Times Podcast. _______________________

For the final instalment of our Big 6 series, we revisited the topics from our previous five articles and asked our panel the question: “Where do we go from here?” We asked former RCVS president and IVC chief medical officer Amanda Boag, veterinary business consultant Alan Robinson, practice owner Lorna Clark, Purina’s scientific affairs manager Libby Sheridan and innovation expert Greg Dickens to help us find the answer. The topics discussed in our final live forum covered the previous parts of this series: • transformational technology • client care • engaging employees • finance and regulation • operational opportunities

In this episode, we speak to Jenny Helm on the subject of asymptomatic cases of lungworm in dogs, as well as findings from a study around the length of time Angiostrongylus vasorum can survive in the environment. ______________________

Now in its 16th year, Rabbit Awareness Week 2022 is taking place from 27 June to 1 July. The event is backed by the Rabbit Awareness Action Group (RAAG), which comprises of some of the UK’s largest animal welfare organisations and charities, and is led by Burgess Pet Care. This year’s theme is “Room for rabbits”, and aims to educate owners on how to provide rabbits with a suitable environment. So, in this episode, vet and Burgess Pet Care operations director Suzanne Moyes discusses the statistics behind this year’s theme, as well as how veterinary practices can support the campaign and engage with owners. This podcast is also available as a webinar in the rabbits collection on Vet Times CPD+ alongside a second webinar with Woodgreen Pets Charity – a member of the RAAG – which considers the roles of companionship, handing and diet in ensuring rabbits are kept in suitable environments. Visit https://cpd.vettimes.co.uk/cpd-plus/exotics/cpd-rabbits

This podcast explores the role of behavioural science in understanding and addressing pet obesity. Thomas Webb, a professor in psychology at the University of Sheffield, will explain how research insights into owner beliefs and behaviours can help to support owners in the difficult journey of pet weight management. Prof Webb studies self-regulation, looking into how people control their thoughts, feelings and behaviour in order to achieve their goals. Applying his research to the field of pet obesity helps us understand the many difficulties owners can face around goal-setting and translating their good intentions into action. In this podcast, Prof Webb will discuss how veterinary professionals can tailor their support to the particular challenges that each owner identifies, ultimately helping them to change their behaviour in ways that benefit their pet. ___________________________

For this penultimate forum in our Big 6 series, Vet Times invited business consultant Alan Robinson, innovation consultant Greg Dickens, co-founder of WellVet and the Vet Mums group Liz Barton, and practice owners Lorna Clark and Jenny Millington to discuss how practices should approach the many operational challenges and opportunities in a post-pandemic world. While many areas and topics were debated during the course of our latest live forum, the discussion has been grouped under three main headings: powering people, structured services, and system solutions.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a key player in osteoarthritis (OA) pain transmission and, as a result, anti-NGF drugs (monoclonal antibodies bedinvetmab for dogs and frunevetmab for cats) represent a novel therapeutic target for OA. In this episode, Congress Times editor Tom Jackson speaks to Matt Gurney of Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists about his early experiences of using this treatment, and how the role of NGF – and the drugs that work against it – is an untapped pathway in OA management. _____________________ MATTHEW GURNEY BVSc CertVA PgCertVBM DipECVAA FRCVS Matt graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2003 and spent several years enjoying mixed practice before returning to Liverpool to undertake a residency in anaesthesia and analgesia. From 2009 to 2018 he developed and led the anaesthesia service at Northwest Veterinary Specialists, a multidisciplinary specialist hospital in Cheshire. Matt is a European Veterinary Specialist and an RCVS Recognised Specialist and is currently Presiden

In this Vet Times Extra podcast, we are talking about eyes, with veterinary ophthalmology specialist Charlotte Dawson. We will be chatting to Charlotte specifically about the use of anti-collagenase therapy in the management of corneal ulcers in dogs and cats. ___________________ Charlotte Dawson graduated from the RVC in 2009, and after a year in general small animal practice she went on to complete two rotating internships. The first was at a private referral practice and the second was at the RVC. Having also undertaken specialist training in the RVC's ophthalmology service, she is now senior lecturer in veterinary ophthalmology and head of the service. Since finishing her studies in ophthalmology, she has also completed a postgraduate teaching qualification and enjoys all aspects of university life, including clinics, teaching and research. ___________________ SPONSORED This podcast is sponsored by Stromease, from TVM TVM is an animal health company dedicated to the health and well-being of pets,

In the second of a new three part series, Vets Now head of telehealth Dave Leicester shares exclusive consumer insights from the Video Vets Now service. Dave also discusses how the changing demographics of pet ownership are likely to have a profound effect on the future of telehealth across the veterinary sector.

For the fourth article in the Big 6 series, we invited chief executive of XLVets Andrew Curwen, founder and director of the Animor vet group Patrick Magrath, SPVS board member and consultant Peter Orpin, and practice owners Lorna Clark and Cees Bennett to debate some of the key dynamics around finance and regulation. While many areas and topics were debated during the course of our latest live forum – which is also available in full as a podcast – the discussion has been grouped under six main headings: • sustainable growth • mending the model • cost of living crisis • the corporate landscape • regulation or delegation? • the vet-led team

With herds getting larger, many farms have introduced professionalised farm teams. But what are they? Phil Elkins explains what they are, what they should be involved in and how they are evolving in this Vet Times podcast. ________________ Phil Elkins graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2005 and spent 14 years in clinical practice, including gaining the CAVP (Cattle) in 2015. He is now an independent dairy and industry consultant. Phil's main interests are in optimising health, welfare and production efficiency through a holistic approach to farm systems. He has written an article “Farm management teams: their role and part vets can and should play” in Vet Times Livestock Volume 8, Issue 1 (included with Vet Times 52.08), which can be viewed at www.vettimes.co.uk/article/farm-management-teams-their-role-and-part-vets-can-and-should-play/