Vet Times Podcast

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

Today, we’re talking telehealth – specifically, the importance of telemedicine triage in today’s veterinary world. We’re also going to be talking a little bit about the changing face of the consumer. To help us do that, Vet Times editor James Westgate is joined by IVC Evidensia’s interim head of telemedicine, and head of telehealth at Vets Now, Dave Leicester.

VN Happy Hour returned on 25 November for a look at obesity and nutrition in companion animals. Hosts Rachael and James were joined by Nicola Lakeman, a well known and very highly respected veterinary nurse with expertise in the fields of nutrition and nursing clinics, as well as Royal Canin Weight Management Clinic Nurse Georgia Woods-Lee and NutritionRVN.com founder Jessica Joosse.

Systemic hypertension is a significant cause of morbidity in older cats, but early outward signs can be subtle or absent. Ellie Mardell, feline medicine specialist, discusses diagnostic and management considerations in this Vet Times Podcast. Ellie Mardell, VetMB, MA, CertSAM, DSAM(Feline), MRCVS, after three years in small animal practice, undertook a residency in feline medicine at the AHT and then worked at the University of Bristol for a year. She since gained an RCVS diploma and specialist status in feline medicine while working in a private referral hospital in the north-west of England. In 2018, Ellie established her own company, Feline Better, providing a visiting feline medicine consultancy and endoscopy service to local practices, and offering coaching for the membership of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists exam through Platinum CPD. She wrote an article, “Feline hypertension”, that appeared in Vet Times (Volume 51, Issue 40, Pages 6-8) that goes into more detail on

Mast cell tumours are prevalent in dogs, particularly certain breeds, and are relatively easy to diagnose with the correct work up. In this Vet Times Extra podcast, Gerry Polton, from North Downs Specialist Referrals, discusses some of the challenges and treatments of mast cell tumours, including intratumoural injection STELFONTA®, from Virbac. ___________________ Gerry Polton, MA, VetMB, MSc(Clin Onc), DipECVIM-CA(Oncology), MRCVS, is a European veterinary specialist in oncology and an RCVS-recognised specialist in veterinary oncology (small animals). Graduating from the University of Cambridge Veterinary School in 1997, after which he initially worked in first opinion practice, Gerry entered specialist practice as a clinical oncologist in 2002. He was awarded a Master of Sciences degree in clinical oncology by the Institute of Cancer Research at the University of Birmingham in 2003, having presented a thesis on the subject of canine anal sac tumours, a subject on which he is a renowned world expert.

BVA Congress, which takes place at the London Vet Show (11 to 12 November 2021), will mark five years of the association’s efforts to create a better world for animals through its animal welfare strategy. Sean Wensley was BVA president when the first strategy was launched in 2016 – and ahead of his lecture at congress, he joined a special episode of the Vet Times Podcast to discuss its success and consider how it may develop further over the next five years. ___________________ Sean Wensley BVSc, MSc, FRCVS, 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 has assisted with animal welfare and conserva

Bovine TB is the most infamous notifiable livestock disease of livestock currently within our shores, but farm vets need to be aware of others. To discuss some of them, Phil Elkins joins us for 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 “Notifiable diseases in cattle” for Vet Times (Volume 51, Issue 44, Pages 6-8), which is available online at www.vettimes.co.uk/article/notifiable-diseases-in-cattle/

Have you ever wondered what the role of the vet nurse will look like in the years ahead? Have you thought about how the current shortages of veterinary surgeons could be eased by the skills of vet nurses if you were allowed to do more? Or what future training requirements will be like for vet nurses? October’s VN Happy Hour looked at these and other topics affecting vet nurses as we focused on the future of veterinary nursing with BVNA president Alex Taylor, BVNA senior-vice president Jo Oakden and BVNA council member Lyndsay Hughes. This month’s VN Happy Hour was extra special, as it was the one year anniversary of the launch of our VN power hour. When we launched VN Happy Hour we wanted to create an event which provided not only networking opportunities and thought-provoking discussions but also fun and laughter.

Lungworm prevalence has increased, and vet professionals need to know how to diagnose and treat it – and communicate vital messages to owners. In this episode, Ian Wright joins the Vet Times Podcast to tell us all about lungworm. ----------------- Ian Wright BVMS, BSc, MSc, MRCVS, is a practising vet and co-owner of The Mount Veterinary Practice in Fleetwood, Lancashire. He has a master’s degree in veterinary parasitology, and is head of the European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP) UK and Ireland, guidelines director for ESCCAP Europe, and editorial board member for Companion Animal and VetCPD Journal. Ian has written an article, “Lungworm control”, for Vet Times (volume 51, Issue 41, pages 8-10). It is available online now at https://www.vettimes.co.uk/article/lungworm-control/ -----------------

Managing canine osteoarthritis can be challenging for lots of reasons – and even more so at the moment, with most practices busier than ever. Join vet and founder/director of Canine Arthritis Management (CAM) Hannah Capon MA Vet MB MRCVS and small animal rehabilitation focused vet nurse Danielle Pountain RVN Dip AVN, Dip HE CVN, as they share their top tips for streamlining canine OA management in your practice. Daxocox® is a brand new canine OA management option from Animalcare; the first and only weekly oral NSAID, for consistent osteoarthritis pain and inflammation management. For more information on Daxocox®, head over to www.Daxocox.co.uk _________________________

VN Times Podcast, Ep 23: Happy Hour 9 – Brachycephalic Breed Health by Veterinary Times

The BVA’s 2021-22 president is Justine Shotton, who has pledged to make sustainability a key priority for the veterinary profession over the next 12 months. Dr Shotton has taken a sabbatical from her role as veterinary services manager at Marwell Zoo in Hampshire to focus on the presidency, and took time out of relocating to London to join the Vet Times Podcast to discuss her objectives for the year ahead. She also previews some of the sessions taking place at BVA Congress – being hosted by the London Vet Show in November – that will explore the role the profession can play in tackling climate change. ________________________ Justine Shotton BVSc, MSc, MRCVS, is a 2008 University of Bristol veterinary graduate with a first class intercalated degree in veterinary pathology from the RVC She has always had a passion for conservation – after graduating she volunteered at wildlife rehabilitation centres in Guatemala and a small animal clinic in Honduras before spending five years working as a mixed practi

This podcast features independent consultant Dr Dottie Laflamme, a world-class expert in nutrition. In this session, Dr Laflamme will explore a broad view of nutrition in heart health, thinking beyond the current dietary guidelines provided by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) for managing canine myxomatous mitral valve disease. While the ACVIM guidelines focus on sodium, omega-3 fatty acids, and protein and caloric content, Dr Laflamme will explain how recent research has highlighted the importance of additional nutrients in cardiac health and disease. Key nutrients to be discussed include taurine, carnitine, antioxidants and magnesium, as well as alternative energy sources that can be easily utilised by hearts with cardiac insufficiency. Dr Laflamme will translate these insights into practical recommendations for vets managing cardiac conditions. ______________ Dr Laflamme received her DVM, MS in ruminant nutrition, and PhD in nutrition and physiology, all from the University

This session explores exciting new scientific advances in cardiac nutrition. Dr Johnny Li, an expert in nutrigenomics and Senior Principal Scientist at Nestlé Purina PetCare, will explain how recent research has expanded the ways in which we can use nutrition to support cardiac health. In 2015, Dr Li and his team published a cutting-edge metabolomics study that identified key metabolic changes in canine myxomatous mitral valve disease. Subsequently, the team conducted clinical research to explore how dietary intervention can address those metabolic changes. In this podcast, Dr Li will share the insights from his research and explain how vets can use diet as an important tool to help support dogs with cardiac conditions. ___________________ Dr Li is a senior principal scientist at Nestlé Purina PetCare Company. His research utilises multi-omics approaches to identify nutrition solutions and biomarker signatures in pets with unmet health needs. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Xiamen Uni