Vet Times Podcast

The VN Times VN Happy Hour broadcast on 28 April 2002, entitled “Finding your nursing niche”, looked at how developing a nursing specialism can enhance your clinical career. Guests this month included Emma Gerrard, a specialist staff theatre nurse at a not-for-profit community interest practice and the first VN to hold an officer position for the BSAVA when she was elected regional chairperson and council representative for the Cymru/Wales region. April’s VN Happy Hour also saw the return of Jack Pye, who discussed his nursing niche in the world of diagnostic imaging, as well as his latest career development as a much sought-after provider of in-house and online ultrasonography CPD. Abi Edis rounded up April’s exciting panel. She qualified as a nurse in 2010 and, after three years, pursued her career with exotic medicine. Abi has worked as an exotic species veterinary nurse at the RVC’s Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital for more than eight years, has lectured at both national and international conference

Companion animal pain physiology, and its classification, is complex and dynamic. In this Vet Times Podcast, Nuria Quesada Vicent discusses definitions, treatment options and important considerations for vets. ______________ Nuria graduated from the Complutense University of Madrid in 2012. After working for five years in two referral hospitals in Spain, Nuria undertook a small animal anaesthesia internship at Pride Veterinary Centre in Derby. She then did a locum role for six months at the University of Glasgow, and in 2019, started the three-year training programme in anaesthesia and analgesia at the RVC. She has written an article in Vet Times (Volume 52, Issue 14, Pages 6-12), “Pain relief in companion animals – an update on all of the options”, which covers the topics covered in this podcast more comprehensively. It is available at https://www.vettimes.co.uk/article/pain-relief-in-companion-animals-an-update-on-all-of-the-options/

For the third article in the Big 6 series, we invited a panel of industry experts to debate some of the key dynamics around employee engagement. This episode features former RCVS president and IVC chief medical officer Amanda Boag, Vets4Pets people director Gordon Dunn, VMG senior vice president Rich Casey, business consultant Alan Robinson, SPVS board member and consultant Peter Orpin, co-founder of WellVet and the Vet Mums group Liz Barton, and practice owners Lorna Clark and Cees Bennett. While many areas and topics were debated during the course of our latest live forum, the discussion has been grouped under five main headings: • pay and conditions • leading culture change • flexible thinking • female leadership • the next generation Read the article at www.vettimes.co.uk/article/big-6-2022-engaging-employees/ ___________________ This episode comes to you in association with Vets4Pets, whose inaugural “Project Listen” report was published in February 2022 with the aim of challenging the status q

In this episode, we are joined once again by Sean Wensley ahead of the release of his debut book. Titled Through a Vet’s Eyes: How We Can All Choose a Better Life for Animals, the book explores our relationship with animals; how we treat them, how we get it wrong and what we can do to fix it. Ahead of its release on 28 April, we have invited Sean back to the Vet Times Podcast to give us a synopsis of the book and discuss the impact he hopes it will have on our animal welfare footprint. _______________________________ SEAN WENSLEY BVSc, MSc, FRCVS Sean is senior veterinary surgeon (communication and education) at PDSA. He chairs the Animal Welfare Working Group of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE), was president of the BVA from 2015-16 and is a Fellow of the RCVS. He is also an honorary lecturer in animal welfare at the University of Nottingham, a member of the Companion Animal Welfare Council, and a committee member of the Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law Veterinary Association. Sean h

Lacey Pitcher tells us all about her new role at the RCVS as part of the Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) team, how the role aligns with her core values and allows her to continue working in practice as a locum RVN. Lacey shares how she balances these two roles, her thoughts on well-being within the profession and her top tips for looking after your own mental health. ____________________ LACEY PITCHER RVN Lacey is a registered veterinary nurse originally based in South Wales, who has worked throughout the UK utilising her qualification in a variety of roles. She is passionate about public education and communication, firmly believing in building bigger tables and not bigger walls. Lacey has worked alongside rescue for a number of years and has a particular interest in brachycephalic breeds, given their increased welfare needs. Lacey still works out-of-hours in emergency care, alongside her role at the RCVS.

This thought-provoking podcast explores the owner perspective on canine osteoarthritis (OA) management, helping vets achieve greater understanding of their dog owning clients and appreciate how this can improve patient care. Hannah Capon (vet and founder/director of Canine Arthritis Management (CAM)) and Gwen Covey-Crump (lead clinical specialist of the Small Animal Rehabilitation and Pain Management Service at Langford Vets) analyse the importance of not only achieving compliance, but also adherence and concordance (plus what those terms actually mean!). They also discuss new approaches and products that can positively impact the success of a canine OA care plan, including the first and only weekly oral NSAID, Daxocox®. _________________________ SPONSORED Today’s podcast is sponsored by Daxocox, the first and only weekly oral NSAID. Daxocox not only achieves significant improvement of clinical signs associated with the pain of osteoarthritis in dogs, but also helps reduce the risk of breakthrough pain.

For the second discussion in our Big 6 podcast series, we invited veterinary business consultants Alan Robinson and Alison Lambert, innovation expert Greg Dickens, VMG president Rich Casey and practice owner Jenny Reason to discuss the wide-ranging impacts of a fast–evolving client base. While many areas and topics were debated during the course of our latest live forum, the discussion has been grouped under four main headings: • COVID client care • managing clients • client connection • client value perception

Puppy behaviour has always been important, but with so many more dogs in ownership since the pandemic, more clients will be in need of advice. In this Vet Times Extra podcast, Nicola Lakeman discusses pet behaviour, including nursing consults, best times to discuss it and neutering and castration issues. ________________________ Nicola Lakeman has recently completed a master’s degree in advanced veterinary nursing with the University of Glasgow. She has expertise in the fields of nutrition and nursing clinics, and was the first VN in the UK to gain the veterinary technician speciality in nutrition. Nicola has written for many publications and texts, and is author of The Consulting Veterinary Nurse. ________________________ SPONSORED This podcast is sponsored by Virbac Virbac is proud to bring you Suprelorin, a sustained release implant containing deslorelin (a GnRH super agonist) which is licensed for use in healthy, sexually mature dogs that have not been neutered to make them temporarily in

Congress Times editor Tom Jackson speaks to the BSAVA president ahead of the association’s first congress in Manchester from 24 to 26 March 2022. The event is also being held online. _____________________ SHELDON MIDDLETON VetMB, BA, MA, MRCVS Sheldon is managing director of RVC Veterinary Practices (an arms-length company owned by the RVC) and principal at Acorn House Veterinary Hospital in Bedford. He has been with the practice for 15 years. A graduate of the University of Cambridge, he has a particular interest and a general practitioner certificate in ophthalmology. He has been a member of the BSAVA Board for the past six years and has volunteered for the association since graduation. Dr Middleton is 2021-22 BSAVA president, and one of the key focus areas of his presidency has been shaping Congress 2022 into the ultimate veterinary get-together as the UK released from the challenges and constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alison Speakman will take over the BSAVA presidential chain of office when the association holds its annual meeting in May. She joined Congress Times editor Tom Jackson to discuss her aims and ambitions for the role, as well as her journey with the BSAVA. Dr Speakman has also spearheaded the creation of the Wellbeing Zone, which debuts at this year’s congress being in Manchester from 24 to 26 March. In this podcast, she explains her reasons for leading the initiative and what she hopes delegates will take away from the zone. ___________________ Alison Speakman BVMS(Hons), PhD, CertAVP, MRCVS Dr Speakman qualified from the University of Glasgow in 1991 and, after a year in mixed practice in Lancashire, completed a residency in feline medicine followed by a PhD on Bordetella bronchiseptica infection. Following a short period of post-doctoral research, she returned to small animal practice in Lancashire. Apart from a two-year spell as a veterinary technical director in industry and a year in Australia, Dr

Inflammatory conditions of cattle have been a focus for research in the past few years, so we’re now much more aware of the impact inflammation can have and how important it is to control. Last year’s updated Red Tractor standards on pain management have helped to bring a renewed focus on pain control. So now seems a good time to review the science behind pain and inflammation in cattle and how best to manage them. In today’s podcast, we’ll be talking with Chris Hudson, of the University of Nottingham – but who is offering his own personal thoughts and interpretations – and Kath Aplin, from Boehringer Ingelheim, about inflammation in cattle, and looking at areas where outcomes might be improved by controlling or modifying inflammatory processes. This podcast is sponsored the makers of Metacam, Boehringer Ingelheim.   ______________________ CHRIS HUDSON BVSc DCHP MRCVS Chris qualified from the University of Bristol in 2002, and has worked in commercial practice and academia. He is currently clinical assoc

Join us for February’s Happy Hour as we discuss dog breeding, as well as highlighting good breed health – the VN’s role in education and the pre-purchase journey (consults, campaigns, social media etc). Our amazing panellists for this month’s VN Happy Hour, which took place on 24 February, were: KATHRYNE WRIGLEY (lead interview) Kathryne has a keen interest in canine reproduction and completed her dog breeding diploma in 2010. She is a The Kennel Club (KC) Assured Breeder and breed health coordinator for Gordon setters. In practice, Kathryne is keen to promote responsible breeding and enjoys supporting novice breeders. She has run successful antenatal clinics and, as a trained pregnancy scanner, believes she is in a position to advise and support breeders throughout the breeding process. LACEY PITCHER Lacey is passionate about public education and communication. She has worked alongside rescue for a number of years and has a particular interest in brachycephalic breeds given their increased welfare needs.

Almost five years ago the Big 6 project broke new ground with a series of hard-hitting articles focused on the six core dynamics shaping the veterinary profession at that time. Now, Big 6 is back, with a series of in-depth articles and long-form podcasts to bring Vet Times readers exclusive insights and analysis about the dynamics driving the sector today, and in the future... For the first discussion in the series, we invited business consultant Alison Lambert, IT expert Jack Peploe, innovation consultant Greg Dickens, practice owner Jenny Reason, and vet business owners Thom Jenkins and Jamie Crittall to discuss the impact of technology on the profession.

VN Times editor Rachael Buzzel is joined by RVN and chair of the Veterinary Critical Care Nurses (VCCN) region of the British Association of Critical Care Nurses (BACCN), Laura Edwards. Laura shares with us plans for the coming year, and explains how the collaboration between human and animal nurses can open the doors to incredible opportunities and possibilities for both professions. _________________ LAURA EDWARDS BA, RVN, AFHEA Laura has worked for the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at The University of Edinburgh since 2011. She started her career as an animal care assistant and then qualified as an RVN in 2017. She started working as a veterinary nursing lecturer at Scotland’s Rural University College in 2019. This move to teaching has been instrumental in focusing her efforts on RVN progression and retention within the sector. Having worked with and been taught by some of the most inspiring, ambitious, and knowledgeable nurses, Laura has spent the past three years trying to find ways to lif

Ceva Animal Health is passionate about supporting the pet and their owner through diagnosis and management of congestive heart failure, which is why it is supporting this podcast. Alison Lambert (founder of Onswitch) will share the results from Ceva’s novel pet owner research that helps you understand what matters to owners when their pet is diagnosed with this common condition. _____________________ Alison Lambert BVSc CMRS MRCVS is a Yorkshire farmer's daughter, who qualified as a vet from the University of Liverpool in 1989. She worked in practice for several years before pursuing a career with Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Mars, discovering the customer experience passion that led her to establish Onswitch in 2001. Alison is honorary associate professor at the University of Nottingham’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Science. She is published widely, regularly speaks at key international veterinary congresses and events, and was given the Australian Veterinary Assocation’s Veterinary Business Thought Le

Otitis – whether externa, media or interna – is painful for the pet, and can be frustrating for their carers and vets. Offering some valuable information on this clinical presentation, Diana Ferreira joins us for episode 66 of the Vet Times Podcast. ____________________ Diana Ferreira, DVM, MSc, MRCVS, Dipl ECVD, graduated in 2010 from the University of Lisbon Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. In 2012 she started a three-year residency programme in veterinary dermatology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona Clinical Veterinary Hospital. Dr Ferreira obtained a European College of Veterinary Dermatology diploma in 2016 and joined the AHT the same year. Diana now works as a veterinary dermatologist at the One Vet Group in Portugal.

Older pets are naturally at increased risk of age-related disease, and spotting these early is important for vets and owners. Joining us again for another Vet Times Podcast, vet Mike Davies discusses key diseases, the importance of screening and other tips for care of geriatric pets. ___________________ Mike Davies BVetMed, CertVR, CertSAO, FRCVS qualified from the RVC, has RCVS postgraduate certificates in veterinary radiology and small animal orthopaedics, and holds a fellowship by examination in clinical nutrition in cats and dogs. He is an RCVS specialist in veterinary nutrition (small animal clinical nutrition). Mike has worked in academia and private practice, and for several pet food manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies. He speaks internationally on clinical nutrition and geriatrics, and founded the original City and Guilds Certificate in Small Animal Nutrition, and the BVNA certificates in small animal and exotic nutrition. He runs Provet’s Certificate Course in Clinical Nutrition. He has a

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected us all in many ways, and one of the effects we have seen is the impact on the human-animal bond. In this Vet Times Extra podcast, Jon Bowen, behaviour consultant at the RVC, discusses the behavioural problems seen during the pandemic and the impact these have had on owners, as well as vets and vet nurses. Dr Bowen also talks about the importance of canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC) vaccination when our canine patients are returning to socialising again, and how we can make these veterinary visits less stressful for the dogs, their owners and the veterinary team. ______________________ Jon Bowen graduated from the RVC in 1992 and spent several years in general practice. He is behaviour consultant at the RVC’s Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, and sees referral cases from all over south-east England. He is currently newsletter editor for the Companion Animal Behaviour Therapy Study Group, and has coauthored a text book of behavioural medicine. ______

Angiostrongylus vasorum is a parasite that affects our canine patients in the UK, often with devastating consequences. Over recent years we have seen an increase in prevalence of lungworm disease. In this podcast, veterinary parasitologist Prof Eric Morgan and Jenny Helm, European Board of Veterinary Specialisation (EBVS) and RCVS specialist in small animal medicine and oncology referral clinician, discuss the prevalence of A vasorum in the UK, clinical signs to look for – including the wide and varied presentations we may see in clinical practice – along with options for treatment and prevention, including some of the innovative products recently brought to market in the UK. ___________________ ERIC MORGAN MA, VetMB, PhD, DipEVPC, MRCVS Eric is professor in veterinary parasitology at Queen’s University Belfast, and diplomate of the European Veterinary Parasitology College (DipEVPC). His research interests centre on the epidemiology of animal diseases under climate change, and consequences for their manag

Making a diagnosis can be tricky enough, and particularly so with lameness. But is there another way of doing things? Ross Allan thinks so, and tells us more in this Vet Times podcast. _______________________ Ross Allan graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2001, and gained a BSAVA Certificate in Small Animal Surgery in 2014 and RCVS advanced practitioner status in 2015. He is clinical director of referrals at Pets’n’Vets Family in Glasgow, where he leads Roundhouse Referrals’ surgical team, widening access to advanced veterinary surgery in western Scotland through innovative services such as “fixed price” tibial plateau-levelling osteotomy surgery. Working within the Roundhouse Veterinary Hospital, Ross is familiar with the challenges and reward in effectively supporting owners and treating pets with OA. Ross wrote an article in Vet Times (Volume 51, Issue 39, Pages 4-8) titled “Diagnosing lameness – ‘a science of uncertainty and an art of probability’” that covers more of the concepts discussed i