The essential publication for BSAVA members

companion
OCTOBER 2012
Exotic pet
and wildlife
nursing
Puppy Contracts
Exploring welfare
initiatives
P6
Clinical Conundrum
German Shepherd
with respiratory signs
P10
How To
Perform
pericardiocentesis
P14
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EJCAP ONLINE
Dont forget that as a
BSAVA member you are
enttled to free online
access to EJCAP register
at www.fecava.org/EJCAP
to access the latest issue.
PETSAVERS FUNDED STUDY
Calcium and phosphate homeostasis
in hyperthyroid cats
This PetSavers-funded study found that
changes in plasma parathyroid hormone and
broblast growth factor-23 concentratons
which occur in hyperthyroid cats are not
mediators of progression of chronic kidney
disease; however, broblast growth factor-23
would appear to have some prognostc
signicance in hyperthyroidism.
Screening of ragdoll cats for kidney
disease
In this study, ultrasonographic ndings
compatble with chronic kidney disease were
observed in almost 10% of cats, and polycystc
kidney disease occurred at a low prevalence.
Rectal lymphoma in 11 dogs
This retrospectve study found that canine
lymphoma of the rectum is associated with a
favourable prognosis.
Scater radiaton dose levels in small
animal radiography
The authors conclude that while the doses
recorded were small in terms of associated
risk, they are nonetheless cumulatve, which
companion is published monthly by the British
Small Animal Veterinary Association, Woodrow
House, 1 Telford Way, Waterwells Business Park,
Quedgeley, Gloucester GL2 2AB. This magazine
is a member-only benet. Veterinary schools
interested in receiving
companion should
email companion@
bsava.com. We welcome
all comments and ideas
for future articles.
Tel: 01452 726700
Email: companion@
bsava.com
Web: www.bsava.com
ISSN: 2041-2487
Editorial Board
Editor Mark Goodfellow MA VetMB CertVR DSAM
DipECVIM-CA MRCVS
CPD Editor Simon Tappin MA VetMB CertSAM
DipECVIM-CA MRCVS
Past President Andrew Ash BVetMed CertSAM MBA
MRCVS
CPD Editorial Team
Patricia Ibarrola DVM DSAM DipECVIM-CA MRCVS
Tony Ryan MVB CertSAS DipECVS MRCVS
Lucy McMahon BVetMed (Hons) DipACVIM MRCVS
Dan Batchelor BVSc PhD DSAM DipECVIM-CA MRCVS
Eleanor Raffan BVM&S CertSAM DipECVIM-CA MRCVS
Features Editorial Team
Andrew Fullerton BVSc (Hons) MRCVS
Mathew Hennessey BVSc MRCVS
Design and Production
BSAVA Headquarters, Woodrow House
No part of this publication may be reproduced
in any form without written permission of the
publisher. Views expressed within this
publication do not necessarily represent those
of the Editor or the British Small Animal
Veterinary Association.
For future issues, unsolicited features,
particularly Clinical Conundrums, are
welcomed and guidelines for authors are
available on request; while the publishers will
take every care of material received no
responsibility can be accepted for any loss or
damage incurred.
BSAVA is committed to reducing the
environmental impact of its publications
wherever possible and companion is printed
on paper made from sustainable resources
and can be recycled. When you have finished
with this edition please recycle it in your
kerbside collection or local recycling point.
Members can access the online archive of
companion at www.bsava.com .
3 BSAVA News
Latest from your Association
45 Consultations
Updates & have your say on nurse
anaesthesia
69 Puppy Contracts
Exploring welfare initiatives
1013 Clinical Conundrum
A German Shepherd with
respiratory signs
1418 How To
Perform pericardiocentesis
20 Congress
Richard Dawkins announced as
special speaker
2122 Congress Management
Making the most of your PR
2325 Publications
Exotic pet and wildlife nursing
2627 PetSavers
Latest fundraising and funding news
2829 WSAVA News
The World Small Animal Veterinary
Association
3031 The companion Interview
Beverley Cuddy
33 Focus On
North West Region
3435 CPD Diary
Whats on in your area
Additional stock photography Dreamstime.com
Britishbeef; Katrina Brown; Liumangtiger;
Michael Pettigrew; Mikael Damkier; Nullornotset;
Okeanas
Whats in
JSAP
this month?
Here are just a few of the
topics that will feature in
your October issue:
can result in a more signicant dose. Therefore
manual restraint should be avoided and other
forms of immobilisaton should be used.
The susceptbility of Pseudomonas
spp. isolated from dogs with otts to
topical ear cleaners
Topical treatment with ear cleaners is
considered to be a valuable adjunct in the
treatment of canine otts that involves
multantmicrobial-resistant organisms
such as Pseudomonas spp. The use of these
preparatons as a sole form of therapy may be
eectve in some cases.
Pedicle ligaton in ovariohysterectomy
The results of this study suggest that utlising a
knot design that has more inherent resistance
to slippage of the rst throw may be preferable
over square and surgeons knots when tying
a ligature on a bulky vascular pedicle like the
ovarian stump in a large bitch.
Log on to www.bsava.com to access
the JSAP archive online.
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3
B
SAVA Scottish Congress committee celebrated their most successful
Congress to date with over 200 delegates and almost 50 different
commercial exhibitors joining them in Edinburgh last month. With main
lecture streams covering Ophthalmology and Orthopaedics for vets
and Nutrition/Nutraceuticals and Neonatology for nurses alongside a series of
afternoon seminars, there was plenty to entice a wide range of delegates from
Scotland, England, Isle of Man, Canada, Germany, Finland and the USA,
making Scottish Congress 2012 a truly international affair.
Delegates and exhibitors were kept entertained with a pub quiz on the
Friday, and on the Saturday the Gala Dinner and Ceilidh dancing carried on
into the early hours of Sunday morning, giving a real Scottish feel to the event.
Plans are already underway for 2013 with the event to be held once again
at the Edinburgh Conference Centre, Heriot-Watt from 30 August to
1 September. Topics will include Cardiology and Neurology for vets and
Clinical Pathology/Laboratory Skills and Wound Management for nurses.
I
n the coming weeks you will have news about
membership renewal for 2013 asking you to update
your details and consider Direct Debit. We are making
more efforts to make it easier for you to renew and
ensure you dont miss out on your current benefits, or
the loyalty bonus due to you.
Congress registration
Because you can register now for 2013 Congress
it is possible to register in an incorrect category.
For instance, you might be a 3rd Year Qualified
Member in 2012, but will become a Full Member in
2013, when the event takes place. So please make
sure you renew promptly and that you select the
appropriate Congress registration for your status in
2013. If you have any questions about Congress or for
more information about benefits and renewal visit the
website or email administration@bsava.com or call
01452 726700.
Important
renewal
information
W
SAVA were delighted to have received
a record donation of 10,000 from
BSAVA to support their education
programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa.
In many ways, this region is the final frontier for
small animal medicine. WSAVA says that the lack
of even basic equipment, such as microscopes, is
an issue of great concern. BSAVAs donation is
being combined with funding to the tune of 4000
Euros received annually by the WSAVA from the
Netherlands Association for Companion Animal
Medicine (NACAM).
BSAVA
funding
CPD in
Sub-Saharan
Africa
An international
avour at Scottish
Congress 2012
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Speak louder
Have your say on
consultations
The role of the vet in animal welfare
Respondents did consider that the five welfare needs
were a helpful way of considering animal welfare, and
the most commonly mentioned welfare problems were:
Obesity
Behaviour problems
Stress in cats (especially in multi-cat
households)
Boredom/lack of exercise (dogs/rabbits)
Husbandry problems (especially in exotic pets)
Chronic pain/disease (especially in geriatrics)
Problems of inbreeding breathing problems and
atopic dermatitis mentioned.
Most of the responses concentrated on the need to
educate owners, especially before/in the early stages
of ownership. There was general agreement that vets
and nurses could be doing more to promote animal
welfare and that there may be a role for BSAVA in
providing support materials for this.
Compulsory microchip scanning
Half of respondents reported that they routinely scan
new pets registered at their practice, and all bar one
favour this procedure in theory. However only 2/16
routinely check these details against the appropriate
database, with respondents mentioning how
time-consuming it is to ring several numbers to get the
right database and out of date information as the main
problems. Individual respondents also mentioned the
possibility that stolen animals might not be presented
at a practice and may miss out on needed treatment,
as well as problems that could arise if veterinary
surgeons became involved in ownership disputes.
Overall, vets responding to this survey are willing to
scan but there is a long way to go in getting the
database provision to a point where it is practical.
While these responses are helpful to BSAVA, we
would prefer to have much larger numbers of
responses on which to base our decisions and
responses. So please take a few minutes to read
and respond to the following consultation.
If you have any comments on any of the
consultations mentioned in this article or ideas
on how to increase member response please
contact Sally Everitt (Scientific Policy Officer)
email s.everitt@bsava.com .
B
SAVA is frequently asked to comment on
matters of policy or interest to government
or other organisations. In responding to
consultations we aim to represent the
views and interests of veterinary surgeons in small
animal practice but to do this we need your help.
At other times we need information to plan future
activity within BSAVA. Please keep your eye on
notices in companion and where we are given
short notice, we will email you asking you to take
part. This way we can be truly representative in
our responses and when formulating policy.
Two recent consultations (featured in June
companion) asked about the role of the vet in
animal welfare and attitudes to compulsory
microchip scanning. While the responses we
received were very interesting and valuable, the
number of responses was small (7 and 16
respectively). Here is a brief summary of the
responses, followed by our latest consultation on
the role of the veterinary nurse in monitoring and
maintaining anaesthesia.
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A
recent motion in the Scottish Parliament
proposed that like humans, animals should
only receive care from extensively-trained
staff, and calls on veterinary surgeries to only
use registered veterinary nurses to monitor
anaesthetised animals (John Finnie, August 9th).
Current guidance from the RCVS states that
Monitoring a patient during anaesthesia and the
recovery period is the responsibility of the veterinary
surgeon, but may be carried out on his or her behalf by
a suitably trained person and that Veterinary nurses
and student veterinary nurses may be directed to assist
veterinary surgeons with the maintenance of
anaesthesia and the monitoring of patients under
anaesthesia. Following discussion at VN Council, the
RCVS is reviewing the position of VNs and lay
individuals in relation to anaesthesia.
Although many people support the idea of
Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs) being available
to monitor all anaesthetics, concern has arisen that at
the present time there are insufficient RVNs to make
this practicable. In response to this, SPVS and The
College of Animal Welfare have developed a Level 2
certificate in assisting veterinary surgeons with
anaesthesia and sedation and monitoring animal
patients, which will be awarded by City and Guilds.
In order to represent your views when discussing
these developments with outside bodies, BSAVA need
you to take a few minutes to complete the following
questionnaire. You can either post your completed
questionnaire to us, or preferably complete the online
questionnaire at www.bsava.com/consultations
it should only take a few moments. Thank you.
Monitoring and
maintaining
anaesthesia:
the role of
the veterinary
nurse
NURSES MONITORING AND MAINTAINING ANAESTHESIA QUESTIONNAIRE
1. Please describe your positon in practce (vet, nurse, employer, employee)
6. Should qualied veterinary nurses be allowed to alter vaporiser set ngs
without authorisaton from the veterinary surgeon?
[] Yes[] No
Comment:
8. Would you encourage lay sta to take the certcate in assistng veterinary
surgeons with anaesthesia and sedaton and monitoring animal patents?
[] Yes[] No
Comment:
9. Would you encourage qualied veterinary nurses to undertake further training
in anaesthesia?
[] Yes[] No
Comment:
10. Any other comments on the role of nurses in anaesthesia
7. Should qualied veterinary nurses be allowed to induce anaesthesia?
[] Yes[] No
Comment:
3. Proporton of small animal work carried out in your practce
(approximate percentage)
4. Is the practce registered with the RCVS Practce standards scheme?
[] No [] Core standards (Tier1)
[] GP Practce (Tier 2) [] Hospital (Tier 3)
[] Emergency Service Clinic [] Veterinary Nurse Training Practce
5. Who assists the veterinary surgeon in monitoring anaesthetcs in your
practce?
Always Usually Sometmes Never
Registered veterinary nurses [] [] [] []
Listed veterinary nurses [] [] [] []
Student veterinary nurses [] [] [] []
Lay sta involved in nursing dutes [] [] [] []
Lay sta not normally involved in [] [] [] []
nursing dutes
2. How many sta are employed in your practce?
[] Veterinary surgeons [] Registered veterinary nurses
[] Listed veterinary nurses [] Student veterinary nurses
[] Lay sta involved in nursing dutes
[] Lay sta not normally involved in nursing dutes
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Puppy contracts
It is four years since the BBC documentary Pedigree Dogs Exposed
highlighted the dangers of inherited diseases in dogs emerging from
an artificially shallow gene pool. Since then, veterinary and animal
welfare organisations have launched a number of initiatives aimed
at improving the physical and mental health of puppies.
John Bonner looks at progress so far
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H
ow does a pet owner avoid being sold a
poorly pup? In most cases, if you find that
you have bought faulty goods, the answer is
simple you take them back. But if the object
purchased is a living, breathing canine infant then the
situation is a little more complicated.
If the puppy has an inherited condition, this may
not become obvious until the animal is weeks or years
old. Yet, even it is detected earlier, when the puppy
has only been with its new family for a few days, they
are already likely to have established strong emotional
bonds which make it impossible for them to send it
back to the breeder.
The best guarantee for the new owners that their
puppy is healthy is for it to have been examined by a
veterinary surgeon before any money changes hands.
Many practices already provide their dog-breeding
clients with a document that they can give to the buyer,
stating that the animal has been seen and appears to
be in good shape. With that in mind this autumn the
Advisory Council on the Welfare Issues of Dog
Breeding (ACWIDB) will be conducting a pilot study for
a scheme involving a standardised veterinary health
check form.
This is a three-month trial involving around 50
breeders and their usual veterinary practice. If
successful, it will then be launched nationwide in early
2013, according to Chris Laurence, an ACWIDB
Council member and former chief veterinary officer
with the Dogs Trust.
Aims of the Council
The form is the latest in a series of steps that have been
taken by the council to try and reduce the number of
pet owners who experience the emotional and financial
distress which may arise if their pet is found to have a
serious genetic or conformation-related disorder. When
the Council was established in February 2010, in the
wake of the controversy surrounding Jemima Harrisons
film, it reasoned that the most important safeguard for a
new puppy owner is good quality information on what
to look for in a new puppy.
So its first task was to set up a website offering
advice on the issues to be considered when thinking
of buying a pedigree puppy or indeed any dog,
irrespective of age and breed. The ACWIDB also
recognised that understanding of the science
underlying many of the health and welfare problems
encountered in dogs was inadequate, and drew up a
programme for future research in this area.
The puppy contract projects
As a multidisciplinary group of experts supported by
each of the main dog welfare charities, the ACWIDB is
leading the development of a strategy for improved
canine health. But it is not the only influential group
working in this area.
In its July 2012 report on A healthier future for
pedigree dogs, the Associate Parliamentary Group for
Animal Welfare set out the agenda for political action
to facilitate change. This included backing the concept
of a puppy contract to be signed and kept by the new
owner and the breeder, pet shop or other business
supplying their animal.
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Puppy contracts
The RSPCA and the BVA Animal Welfare
Foundation decided to develop this idea, with the April
launch of their puppy information pack. This contains
both a formal, legally binding contract to be signed by
both parties and a document containing information
about the pups parentage and any screening tests
carried out to identify inherited disease. The
information pack is intended to be an evolving project
and its contents will be reviewed after a year, said Lisa
Richards, a scientific officer in the RSPCA companion
animals department.
In a separate initiative, the Dogs Trust and Kennel
Club have come together to create a puppy plan to try
to ensure that a new pet is sound in mind as well as
body. The plan sets out steps to ensure that the pup is
properly socialised and with early life experiences that
may prevent the development of the sort of behavioural
problems that are the main cause of dogs being
rehomed as adults.
With this profusion of different initiatives, there is
certainly a risk that prospective pet owners could feel
overwhelmed by the amount of advice being offered,
acknowledges Paula Boyden, the Dogs Trusts current
CVO. However, she points out that initiatives like the
puppy information pack and the puppy plan address
different issues and are apparently intended to be
complementary. The only area where there is any
redundancy is in the issue of puppy contracts where
the RSPCA/BVA AWF initiative covers much the same
ground as the Kennel Club contracts. The main
difference is that the latter only really attracts the
attention of pedigree dog breeeders. Paula points out
that it is still early days and there is potential for
bringing the two schemes together to reduce the risk
of confusing potential owners.
To what end?
Unlike any previous documents provided by the
breeder for those buying their puppies, the RSPCA/
AWF contract is intended to have legal standing, and
could form the basis for a claim for redress in the civil
courts if the information provided were false or
incomplete, explains James Yeates, RSPCAs CVO.
Plus, it can benefit both sides in the transaction, he
asserts. It empowers the good, responsible and
loving breeder to showcase their stock and show that
their puppies are the best and healthiest available.
In contrast, the health check form is not intended to
be a guarantee of the puppys suitability for sale, says
Harvey Locke, senior vice-president of the BVA, whose
organisation strongly supports the scheme. It is not
meant to have any legal standing. It is a low-cost,
precursory check that is intended to encourage
breeders to have the whole litter examined by a vet
before it goes off for sale.
Harvey Locke points out that the health check is
intended to identify only those physical signs of
inherited defects that be would detected during any
routine pre-vaccination check by a general
practitioner, without specialist knowledge or
equipment. Veterinary surgeons are asked to look at
24 parameters that would be a normal part of the
physical examination of a new patient. The examination
may help to identify defects which had not been
noticed by the breeder, such as a cleft palate or an
irregular heart sound.
The role of the vet
The wording on the certificate also makes clear that
the examination is a snapshot of the puppys health
status on that particular date, and cannot be expected
to predict any subsequent changes. The check will
not detect some inherited defects that may manifest
themselves later in life or may be affected by the
environment in which the puppy is reared. It is
therefore not a guarantee that the puppy is without any
faults, it warns.
Yet, despite these caveats, the Veterinary Defence
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9
we always advise vets to
exercise caution when signing any
form of certification. These forms
will be treated as certificates and
the vet will be responsible for
what is said at the time
Society has serious concerns about the principle
behind the vendor certificate. Clinical signs of
conditions such as a heart murmur may not be
detectable if the puppy is examined at 6 weeks old but
become very obvious a few months later, says Fred
McKeating, technical services director for the society.
We get a couple of calls every month concerning
cases where the purchaser has been presented with a
certificate produced by the breeder saying that the
animals have been checked by a vet. When something
goes wrong, it is the vet who gets the blame.
Similar pre-purchase checks carried out by equine
practitioners are a regular source of problems for the
VDS. So, as an insurance company, we can only
indemnify vets who produce these certificates for their
clients when the examinations are carried out under
very controlled circumstances. He warned
practitioners to avoid being presented with a box of
almost identical black Labrador puppies and being
expected to make a rapid examination of each at a cost
that does not erode the breeders commercial margin.
We always advise vets to exercise caution when
signing any form of certification. These forms will be
treated as certificates and the vet will be responsible
for what is said at the time. So the more extensive and
well defined the examination is, the better protected
the vet will be.
Caroline Bower, a director of a large veterinary
hospital in Plymouth, believes that the certificates can
make a positive contribution to raising health standards
in puppies, provided that breeders and buyers
understand the limitations of a physical examination
carried out without specialist equipment or laboratory
tests. They will show that the breeder is taking their
responsibilities seriously and reduce the likelihood that
a buyer will face the dilemma of whether or not to take
the puppy back when it is found to be unhealthy but
only after it has become part of the family.
Caroline is confident that colleagues would
appreciate the importance of carrying out a thorough
physical examination before signing their name to a
certificate. It was also vital that all the puppies in a litter
are individually identifiable with a microchip, and that
they are examined one at a time with the rest of the
litter kept outside the consulting room until needed.
She also feels that practitioners should be given
guidance on some aspects of the examination,
particularly the time that it is expected to take, so that
they can charge realistically for the service.
Stephanie Writer-Davies, a Hertfordshire-based
practitioner and member of council of the Society of
Practising Veterinary Surgeons agreed that clear
advice would be necessary to help those practitioners
asked to complete the certificates. But she believed
that the scheme is a positive step and would want to
see the documents given to all new dog owners.
SPVS would like to see them used for all puppy
purchases, including those from pet shops for example,
since not all puppies are sold directly from breeders. In
theory, this should help to improve dog health and
welfare and encourage owners to engage with a
veterinary practice from the beginning with all the
benefits of the advice and the services provided that
help keep their puppy happy and healthy, she said.
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companion
Clinical conundrum
Elisabeth Henderson, intern at the University
of Bristol, invites companion readers to
consider a German Shepherd bitch with
respiratory signs
Case presentation
A 9-year-old neutered German Shepherd bitch was referred with a
one-week history of lethargy, reluctance to lie down, an
unproductive cough, dyspnoea, retching and one episode of
vomiting.
The dog was fed a complete dog food, but wasnt up to date on
routine vaccinations, flea treatment or worming. There was no
history of travel outside the United Kingdom or exposure to toxins.
The owners reported a mild improvement in the frequency of
coughing with amoxicillin/clavulanate and meloxicam.
Routine haematology and biochemistry blood testing (results
unremarkable) and radiographs of the thoracic cavity under general
anaesthesia (Figure 1) had been carried out via the referring
veterinary surgeon on the day of presentation.
List the differential diagnoses for
pleural effusion
Differential diagnoses for pleural effusion are listed in
Table 1. In this case, no analysis was performed on the
fluid at the referring vets; however, the macroscopic
appearance was of a serosanguineous fluid, which is
most frequently consistent with a modified transudate.
Figure 1: Right lateral (A) and dorsoventral (B) thoracic
radiographs
A
B
What is your interpretation of the
thoracic radiographs?
The radiographs reveal a marked pleural effusion,
causing the lungs to have a scalloped appearance in
both radiographs. It is impossible to assess the
cardiac silhouette, due to the overlying opacity. There
is also marked deviation of the caudal trachea dorsally
and to the right side. Tracheal deviation laterally would
suggest that there is a soft tissue lesion within the
thoracic cavity, e.g. mediastinal or heart-based mass.
The lung pattern appears normal; however this is
difficult to interpret due to the overlying opacity.
Following radiography, bilateral therapeutic
thoracocentesis was performed to stabilise the patient
prior to transportation. Approximately one litre of
pleural fluid was removed, mainly from the right side of
the thoracic cavity.
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Clinical examination
Clinical examination on arrival revealed:
A normal body condition (body condition score 5/9)
Tachypnoea at rest (RR>100 breaths/min) with
increased inspiratory effort
Hypersalivation
Pale pink and moist mucous membranes with a
capillary refill time of <2 seconds
Tachycardia (180 beats/min) and muffled
cardiopulmonary sounds ventrally, and
A tense abdomen.
What would be the next diagnostic step?
It was deemed that further drainage of the pleural
space was required, due to the presence of dyspnoea/
tachypnoea; further imaging of the thoracic cavity was
also indicated. The dog was administered flow-by
oxygen, and general anaesthesia was induced for the
placement of a thoracic drain. Small-bore chest drains
can be placed in most patients using local anaesthesia,
with possible sedation, but this patient was
anaesthetised to allow further imaging after drainage.
During anaesthesia, ventilation was required to
maintain oxygen saturation above 95%, especially
when the dog was positioned in lateral recumbency.
Bilateral small-bore chest drains were placed using a
Seldinger technique

and a further 900 ml of

serosanguineous fluid was removed from the pleural
space. After this, the dog was able to maintain
adequate oxygen saturation >97% without ventilation
assistance. Respiratory rate decreased and ETCO
2

was 5058 mmHg. Further thoracic imaging following
drainage of the pleural effusion was performed to see
whether an underlying cause could be identified.
What is your interpretation of
the CT images?
The post-contrast longitudinal
section (Figure 2A) reveals a
large heterogeneous soft
tissue-attenuating mass
lesion within the
Transudate Hypoalbuminaemia (hepatc failure, protein-losing nephropathy, protein-losing enteropathy,
third-space loss)
Modied
transudate
Neoplasia, ruptured diaphragm with organ entrapment, right-sided congestve heart failure
(pericardial eusion or restricton, tricuspid regurgitaton, cardiomyopathy, pulmonary
hypertension), lung lobe torsion, long-standing transudate, vasculits, pulmonary thromboembolism,
pyometra, secondary to abdominal surgery
Exudate Neoplasia: mediastnal (lymphoma, thymoma), mesothelioma, rib chrondrosarcoma, osteosarcoma
Pyothorax: migratng foreign body, penetratng wound, parapneumonic eusion, ruptured
oesophagus, abscessed neoplasia, haematogenous
Sterile inammaton: dirolariasis, lung lobe torsion, pulmonic eosinophilic inltrate, ruptured
diaphragm with organ entrapment, pancreatts
Chylothorax Idiopathic, traumatc thoracic duct rupture, congenital, dirolariasis, jugular vein thrombosis,
neoplasia, right-sided congestve heart failure
Haemothorax Coagulopathy, neoplasia, trauma, lung lobe torsion
Table 1: Differential diagnoses for pleural effusion

See How To in the

August 2012 issue
of companion
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companion
Figure 2: (A) Heart base mass and splenic mass on CT,
post contrast. (B) Transverse view of thoracic cavity on CT.
Arrows indicate potential metastases
A
B
Clinical conundrum
cranial mediastinum that appears to be originating
from the heart base. There is moderate heterogeneous
enhancement with contrast, showing the lesion
extending (4 cm) into the right atrium and right
ventricle. The mass also extended cranially from the
right atrium, measuring 8.2 x 11.4 cm in size. The
trachea is markedly displaced towards the right side
(as previously seen on radiographs).
There is displacement of the great vessels laterally
due to the midline presence of the mass. The lung
lobes appear partially collapsed due to the mass and
pleural fluid which resulted in a slightly increased
interstitial pattern. A large soft tissue-attenuating mass
with heterogeneous contrast enhancement was also
visible within the spleen (4 cm diameter). The
transverse section of the thoracic cavity showed
multiple soft tissue nodules throughout the lung
lobes (Figure 2B), consistent with metastatic disease.
A moderate pleural effusion and a mild pneumothorax,
probably secondary to bilateral drain placement, are
also present.
Construct a second differential
diagnosis list
Heart base tumour with secondary pleural effusion
haemangiosarcoma, lymphoma, rhabdomyoma,
rhabdomyosarcoma, schwannoma,
chemodectoma (ectopic endocrine tissue:
parathyroid/thyroid, mesothelioma)
Splenic lesion primary haemangiosarcoma/
haemangioma, metastases (e.g. chemodectoma/
haemangiosarcoma), secondary neoplasia,
nodular hyperplasia
Lung lobe lesions pulmonary metastases
(primary/secondary)
The prognosis was unfortunately considered poor.
The heart base mass was deemed non-operable due
to its size and location. The fact that the animal
presented with a large volume of pleural effusion which
had to be repeatedly drained suggested that rapid
recurrence of pleural effusion and subsequent
dyspnoea would likely occur. Euthanasia of the animal
was recommended.
Pathology report and outcome
The animal was euthanased while still under general
anaesthesia. Histopathology was carried out on the
heart base mass (Figure 3A), splenic mass (Figure 3B)
and a mediastinal lymph node that macroscopically
appeared abnormal.
The microscopic appearance of the heart base
mass was of malignant chemodectoma with metastasis
to the spleen and lymph node. The normal structure of
each tissue specimen was lost, having been effaced
by neoplastic cells.
Discussion
Chemodectomas neoplasms of the chemoreceptor
organs are classified as neuroendocrine tumours
based on their nature. Chemoreceptor organs detect
changes in blood oxygen levels, carbon dioxide levels,
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13
CONTRIBUTE A CLINICAL CONUNDRUM
If you have an unusual or interestng case that you
would like to share with your colleagues, please submit
photographs and brief history, with relevant questons
and a short but comprehensive explanaton, in no more
than 1500 words to companion@bsava.com
All submissions will be peer-reviewed.
pH and blood temperature. They act via the
parasympathetic nervous system to elicit appropriate
changes in cardiorespiratory function.
Chemodectomas arising from the aortic body are
the most commonly reported chemoreceptor tumour in
the dog. The aortic body is located within the
pericardium at the base of the heart, typically between
the aortic arch and the pulmonary artery.
These neoplasms are non-functional, are often
locally invasive, and rarely metastasize. In one study of
357 cases of chemoreceptor tumours in dogs, only
12% of aortic body tumours had distant metastases,
most frequently to the liver and lungs. In this case
there was metastatic spread to the spleen and
mediastinal lymph node.
Studies have indicated that brachycephalic breeds
of dogs (e.g. Boston Terrier and Boxer), are more
commonly affected, based upon the theory that the
chronic hypoxia associated with these breeds leads to
hyperplasia of the chemoreceptor organs. Some
studies indicate that male dogs have a higher
incidence of pathology than females.
Unless these tumours are of sufficient size to
cause impairment of the heart and large vessels, they
often go unnoticed and frequently they are found
incidental to other disease processes. Partial resection
of these tumours may be possible, but in this case the
tumour infiltrated both the right atrium and ventricle
and was sadly non-resectable.
Figure 3: (A) Longitudinal section of heart base mass. (B) Transverse section of splenic mass
A B
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14
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companion
How to perform
pericardiocentesis
P
ericardial effusion (PE) is the
accumulation of fluid within the
pericardial sac (Figure 1).
Investigation as to the cause of the
PE, as well as its drainage, are essential to
allow specific treatment and accurate
assessment of prognosis. Most commonly,
the fluid appears serosanguineous,
although in some cases it may be a clear
transudate, whole blood, chyle, or a septic
exudate. In dogs, PE is primarily caused
by neoplastic disease, with right atrial
haemangiosarcoma (Figure 2) representing
the most common tumour.
Other neoplastic causes of PE in dogs
are heart base tumours (chemodectomas),
mesothelioma and lymphoma. Left atrial
tears, infections, haemorrhage, trauma and
foreign bodies are other less common
causes of PE. When a primary cause
cannot be identified, the effusion is termed
idiopathic. In cats, PE is less commonly
observed and is usually the result of
congestive heart failure or feline infectious
peritonitis, although other more rare
aetiologies have also been reported.
When to perform
pericardiocentesis
As fluid collects in the pericardial sac, it
markedly impedes the filling ability of the
heart (diastolic dysfunction). Since the
right side of the heart tends to suffer
most because of its thinner wall, PE
normally results in signs of right-sided
congestive heart failure, with pleural
effusion, jugular pulsationdistension, liver
congestion and ascites. Pericardial
effusion causing these clinical signs is
also referred to as cardiac tamponade.
The fluid accumulated in the
pericardial sac needs to be removed
(pericardiocentesis) as soon as possible,
using one of the several techniques
available. Many dogs and cats tolerate
pericardiocentesis unsedated, although
mild sedation may be necessary in some
cases. The withdrawal of even a small
amount of pericardial fluid may
dramatically and rapidly improve the
patients haemodynamic status.
How to prepare the patient for
the procedure
Most clinicians prefer to restrain the
animal in left lateral recumbency in order
to approach the pericardium from the
right side of the chest, therefore avoiding
the risk of puncturing the branches of the
left coronary artery. However, other
clinicians prefer a right-sided approach
with the patient in sternal recumbency.
The cranioventral part of the right
hemithorax (see Figure 3) should be
Luca and Heidi Ferasin
of Specialist Veterinary
Cardiology Consultancy
Ltd take us step by step
through the procedure
Figure 1: Thoracic radiograph, right-lateral view,
of a 10-year-old female neutered Labrador with
idiopathic pericardial effusion (PE).
Cardiomegaly with a globular shape and very
sharp outline of the heart are typical
radiographic features of PE. Mild to moderate
ascites and pleural effusion are also visible
C
Figure 2: Echocardiographic images obtained
from an 8-year-old female neutered Boxer
(right parasternal long axis view) showing a
moderate pericardial effusion (PE). Arrows in
(A) indicate the diastolic collapse of the right
atrial wall due to the pressure exerted by the
pericardial fluid. Arrows in (B) highlight the
presence of a rounded right atrial mass
consistent with cardiac haemangiosarcoma.
(C) shows a very small amount of PE following
successful palliative pericardiocentesis
A
B
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15
surgically prepared and a surgical drape
placed on the chest to avoid any hair
contamination. The operator should wear
surgical gloves and maintain the sterility of
the operational area and instruments
throughout the procedure.
Electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring
allows identification of rhythm abnormalities
during pericardiocentesis; these are usually
represented by ventricular ectopics that
may occur when the needle or the catheter
touches the epicardial surface of the heart.
The amplitude of the ECG complexes tends
to increase as soon as the pericardial fluid
drainage is started, reaching a normal
amplitude after successful completion of
the procedure. Some clinicians prefer to
perform the procedure under ultrasound
guidance, in order to visualise the
penetration of the needle in the pericardial
sac and assess the amount of residual fluid
during drainage. However,
ultrasonographic guidance is not crucial for
pericardiocentesis and it requires
additional precautions to maintain the
sterility of the surgically prepared area and
operators hands.
Anecdotal recommendations advocate
a rapid intravenuous infusion of an isotonic
crystalloid solution prior to
pericardiocentesis in an attempt to restore
the systemic blood pressure. However, it is
unclear whether this intervention is really
beneficial, since most of the infused fluid
may be retained within the venous bed due
to the reduced venous return caused by
cardiac tamponade.
A clotting profile should be considered
prior to pericardiocentesis in all cases
when rodenticide poisoning cannot be
completely ruled out in the patients history.
Where and how to insert the
needle
Several different pericardiocentesis
techniques are possible depending on
personal preference and the equipment
available. The general principles behind
them are similar and are discussed below,
with three specific techniques described
later in more detail.
Regardless of the chosen
pericardiocentesis technique, the
needle needs to be inserted at the level
of the 5th or 6th right ventral intercostal
space (Figure 3).
Before inserting the needle, local
anaesthetic (e.g. lidocaine) is infiltrated
under the skin at the insertion point.
After approximately one minute, an
equal volume of local anaesthetic is
injected deeper, at the level of the
intercostal muscles and parietal pleura
(Figure 4A).
A small stab incision is made through
the skin with a No. 11 scalpel blade
(Figure 4B).
The needle is then inserted through the
Table 1: Pericardiocentesis equipment checklist
Plain tube A: for monitoring signs of clotting; plain tube B: for laboratory biochemistry; plain tube C: for bacterial culture;
EDTA tube: for cytological evaluation; (*) injectable lidocaine; (**) as shown in Figure 8
Technique 1
(Intravenous
catheter)
Technique 2
(urinary
catheter)
Technique 3
(Seldinger wire)
Surgical gloves
Surgical drape
Scrubbing set
Scalpel blade (No. 11)
14 or 16G 5 intravenous catheter
2 ml syringe with 23G needle
Injectable local anaesthetc
(*)

20 or 30 ml Luer lock syringe
3-way stopcock
IV fuid extension line
Kidney dish
Graduated collectng vessel
Plain tube A
Plain tube B
Plain tube C
EDTA tube
Self-adhesive plaster
Urinary catheter
Pericardiocentesis set
(**)

Figure 3: The ideal point of needle insertion for
pericardiocentesis in dogs and cats is indicated
with an asterisk (*). The needle is inserted at
the 5th or 6th right ventral intercostal space
(costochondral junction) and advanced through
the pleural triangle (often called the cardiac
notch) where there is no lung tissue between
the needle tip and the heart
small stab incision, perpendicular to
the chest wall, and subsequently slowly
advanced medially and slightly dorsally
(Figure 4C). The needle should
advance smoothly without finding any
significant resistance until the
pericardium, the perforation of which is
felt as a small popping sensation, like
perforating a paper sheet; the fingers
may sense a distinct give when the
needle penetrates the pericardial sac.
Pericardial perforation is usually
followed by a slow flow of bloody fluid
through the hub of the needle. If the
tip of the needle touches the
epicardium, the needle hub will move
rhythmically with the heart beat and
usually causes ventricular ectopics
visible on the ECG trace.
A small sample of fluid can be placed
into a plain tube to monitor for signs of
clotting. To perform this test, it is
sufficient to turn the tube upside down
every 30 seconds for 23 minutes.
Blood that has been present in the
pericardial space for even a short time
should be defibrinated and should not
clot. Clotting blood suggests that the
needle has either inadvertently entered
a cardiac chamber or has caused
epicardial injury; therefore the needle
should be withdrawn slightly.
Another simple technique for
differentiating bloody pericardial fluid
from blood is to measure the fluid PCV
and compare it with venous blood PCV.
Blood PCV will be significantly higher
than pericardial fluid PCV.
Samples for biochemical and
cytological analysis should also be
collected at this stage.
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How to perform pericardiocentesis
Technique 1 (over-the-needle
intravenous catheter)
The equipment needed is listed in
Table 1.
Additional side holes can be made in
the intravenous catheter with the
scalpel blade prior to its insertion, to
increase the suction capacity and fluid
flow (Figure 5).
After needle insertion into the
pericardial sac, fluid (usually bloody)
starts flowing through the needle hub
(Figure 6A, B & C). Fluid samples are
collected for monitoring clotting and
other laboratory tests.
A kidney dish should be positioned
underneath to collect the initial flow of
fluid. In some cases, the pressure of
the pericardial fluid is not sufficient to
cause a spontaneous flow and gentle
suction with a 2 ml syringe might be
necessary to verify the presence of the
needle in the pericardial sac.
At this point, the stylet is held firmly
with two fingers while, using the
opposite hand, the catheter is slid
gently a few centimetres over the stylet
into the pericardial sac.
The stylet is then removed and an
extension set attached to the catheter
(Figure 6D & E).
A three-way stopcock is subsequently
attached to the other end of the tube
(Figure 6F).
The second port will be connected to
the syringe and the third port will be
positioned above the collecting vessel.
The port connected to the syringe will
be open at all times. The port
connected to the patient will be open
during suction. Once the syringe is
filled with fluid, the patient port is
closed and the plunger of the syringe is
pushed to empty the fluid into the
graduated collecting vessel.
The cyclic suctions should continue
until there is no more fluid flowing in the
syringe. At this point, gentle small
advancements and withdrawals of the
catheter may allow removal of residual
fluid pockets.
At the end of the procedure, the
catheter is slowly withdrawn with gentle
rotatory movements.
The amount of fluid that can be
drained depends on several factors,
including the size of the patient and
the severity and duration of the
underlying condition. This can vary
from 1020 ml in a cat to more than
one litre in a large breed dog
(Figure 6G).
After the procedure, an
ultrasonographic assessment can
reveal if the pericardiocentesis has
been successful or whether there is
significant residual PE that may warrant
a second intervention.
B A C
Figure 4: (A) A small amount of local anaesthetic is infiltrated under the skin and deeper, at the level of the intercostal muscles and parietal pleura, at the
insertion point. (B) A small stab incision is made through the skin with a No. 11 scalpel blade. (C) The catheter is inserted through the incision,
perpendicular to the chest wall, and directed medially and slightly dorsally
B
A
C
Figure 5: How to create side holes in an
intravenous catheter. (A) A 14G 5.25
intravenous catheter; (B) and (C) 23 side holes
are created with a No. 11 scalpel blade. This will
increase the suction capacity and fluid flow
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Marked abdominal effusions can
also be drained following
pericardiocentesis. However, ascites
normally resolves spontaneously in a
day or two following the normalisation
of the cardiac preload.
There is no need to suture the skin at
the level of the stab lesion; however, a
small adhesive dressing can be placed
to avoid further bleeding and reduce
the risk of post-procedure infections.
Technique 2 (urinary catheter)
This technique can be considered for large
breed dogs where the catheter may not be
long enough to remain in situ as the
pericardial sac shrinks as a result of fluid
drainage. It helps to increase the rigidity of
the catheter, which may otherwise be
compressed by the intercostal muscles.
The technique can be easily performed by
inserting a sterile urinary catheter through
an intravenous catheter (or needle)
inserted as described above.
The equipment needed is listed in
Table 1.
A
C
E
B
D
F G
Figure 6: Over-the-needle intravenous catheter technique. (A) Skin incision. (B) Catheter and stylet
are introduced through the skin incision. (C) Pericardial fluid flowing through the stylet hub. (D) The
stylet is withdrawn, leaving only the catheter in the pericardial space. (E) An intravenous giving set
extension tube is connected to the catheter. (F) Pericardial fluid is pumped into a collecting jar using
a 3-way stopcock attached to a 20 ml Luer lock syringe. (G) Pericardial fluid collected after successful
pericardiocentesis in an 8-year-old male neutered German Shepherd Dog
It is good practice, before starting the
procedure, to verify that the urinary
catheter is thin enough to pass freely
through the catheter/needle.
Once the urinary catheter is in the
pericardial sac, the needle can be
removed and the catheter can be
connected to the three-way stopcock
(Figure 7).
The procedure is then continued as
described for the IV catheter technique.
The major advantage of using a urinary
catheter is that it will stay in the pericardial
sac even after its reduction in size following
drainage. Furthermore, the catheter tip is
very smooth and rarely causes damages to
the epicardium even after several to-and-
fro movements.
Technique 3 (Seldinger wire)
There are several commercial
pericardiocentesis kits available based on
the Seldinger technique. One of these kits
is shown in Figure 8.
The needle is placed as described
above. Once it has penetrated the
A
B
C
Figure 7: Urinary catheter technique.
(A) A sterile urinary catheter is inserted
through an intravenous catheter (or a long
needle) and advanced in the pericardial space.
(B) Pericardial fluid starts flowing into the
catheter; (C) The catheter is connected to a
20 ml syringe through a 3-way stopcock
Figure 8: Pericardiocentesis set based on
Seldinger wire technique. (A) Skin scrubbing
pads; (B) scalpel blade; (C) needle; (D) dilator;
(E) catheter; (F) guide wire; (G) Luer lock
syringes; (H) three-way stopcock; (I) collecting
bag; (J) suture material
18
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companion
How to perform pericardiocentesis
pericardial sac (Figure 9A), the flexible
tip of the guide wire is advanced
through the needle into the pericardial
space (Figure 9B).
The needle is then withdrawn (Figure
9C) and replaced with a soft, multi-side
hole catheter (Figure 9D) which is
advanced over the guide wire with a
gentle rotatory movement through the
skin and into the pericardial space
(Figure 9E).
An instrument called a dilator is
available in these kits to dilate the
needle track, although this operation is
often unnecessary due to the previous
stab incision with the scalpel blade and
the rigid tapered nature of the catheter.
Once the catheter is in position, the
guide wire is removed (Figure 9F)
and fluid is aspirated as described
for the other techniques above (Figure
G, H & I).
Potential complications
Complications are uncommon but may
include laceration of a coronary artery,
perforation of the right atrium or right
ventricle, and pneumothorax secondary to
lung lesions. Ventricular arrhythmias and
atrial fibrillation are occasionally observed
but they are usually self-limiting and
spontaneously reversible. Dissemination of
tumorous cells in the chest cavity and
rapid relapse of fluid accumulation, even
within minutes or hours, is expected in
cases of malignant PE, especially when
caused by cardiac haemangiosarcomas.
Pericardiocentesis is an essential
therapeutic technique for the small animal
practitioner, as removal of even a small
volume of pericardial fluid can alleviate
cardiac tamponade dramatically, improving
right-sided cardiac function. Ultimately the
success of the procedure depends on the
cause of the PE, which determines the
long-term prognosis.
Figure 9: Seldinger wire pericardiocentesis
technique. (A) Needle insertion. (B) A guide wire is
fed through the hub of the needle. (C) The needle
is withdrawn, leaving the guide wire in the
pericardial space. (D) Multi-side hole catheter.
(E) The side hole catheter is advanced over the
guide wire into the pericardial space. (F) Once the
side-hole catheter is in position, the guide wire is
removed. (G) Fluid is flowing through the hub of
the catheter. (H) The hub of the catheter is
connected to an IV extension tube. (I) The other
end of the tube is connect to 20 ml Luer lock
syringe via a 3-way stopcock for suction
A B
C D
E F
G H
I
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By all means lets be open-minded, but not so
open-minded that our brains drop out.
Richard Dawkins
Congress 47 APRIL 2013
20
|
companion
L
ord Robert Winston provided the BSAVA
Special Lecture this year. So how do we top a
Lord? Well, how about with a god? For this is
how The Telegraph newspaper described
author and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins
the god of atheism.
Although Dawkins is a prolific writer who first came
to prominence with his 1976 book The Selfish Gene, it
is his strident manifesto for secularism, The God
Delusion, that now finds him so frequently called upon
for comment and often causing controversy.
Taking up the baton passed by the likes of Lord
Winston, Susan Greenfield and Phil Hammond
Dawkins is in prestigious scientific company as our
special speaker for the BSAVA lecture, sponsored in
2013 by Anistel. This takes place on the Thursday
afternoon of Congress in Hall 1, with a capacity for a
1500 audience (the exhibition stays open during the
lecture). The lecture is open to anyone with a
Congress badge. The event generates a huge amount
of publicity and showcases Congress as an important
venue for scientific excellence.
Along with Stephen Hawkins, Dawkins is
one of the few scientists that members of the
public can easily name, in part due to his
willingness to engage in academic and media
debates. Dawkins was born in Nairobi in 1941
where his father worked for the British
colonial service. He returned to Britain after
the War to grow up on the familys estate
farm. He studied zoology at Balliol College,
Oxford, where he was tutored by Nobel
Prize-winning ethologist Nikolaas
Tinbergen, graduating in 1962. He
received his MA and DPhil degrees
by 1966, and remained a research
assistant for another year, when
his research concerned models of
animal decision-making.
DAWKINS ACHIEVEMENTS
In additon to the Internatonal Cosmos Prize, Professor
Dawkins awards have included the Silver Medal of
the Zoological Society of London (1989), the Royal
Societys Michael Faraday Award (1990), the Nakayama
Prize for Achievement in Human Science (1990), the
Kistler Prize (2001), the Shakespeare Prize (2005), the
Lewis Thomas Prize (2007), Galaxy Award 2007 for Best
Author and Audible Download Book of the Year (for
The God Delusion) and the Karlheinz Deschner Award
(2007), the same year he was honoured by Time Life
as one of the 100 most inuental people. He has
honorary doctorates in both literature and science,
and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature as
well as a Fellow of the Royal Society.
He has since been an assistant professor of
zoology at the University of California, Berkeley, and a
lecturer and reader in zoology at the University of
Oxford. In 1995 he was appointed Simonyi Professor
for the Public Understanding of Science, a position
that had been endowed by Charles Simonyi with the
express intention that the holder be expected to make
important contributions to the public understanding of
some scientific field, and that its first holder should be
Richard Dawkins.
Since 1970 he has been a fellow of New College.
He has delivered a number of inaugural and other
lectures and it is a going to be a treat for delegates
to hear him speak at Congress in April 2013.
Afterwards, delegates attending the talk are
encouraged back over to the NIA for drinks at the
Welcome Reception.
The BSAVA lecture is one of the many additional
social events taking place next year Party Night is
always a huge draw, and makes Congress a great
place to meet and make friends, as well as access the
very best veterinary science.
The Special Lecture at BSAVA Congress 2013
is being presented by one of the foremost names
in British science
Talking
Dawkins
companion
|
21
Congress 47 APRIL 2013
television crew from the programme Its
me or the dog arrived for a recce at the
practice where he was working as the night
vet. None of his colleagues was particularly
keen to appear before the camera, so the
1995 Edinburgh graduate volunteered to
give it a try. Although the sequence filmed
that day wasnt used, the director had
noted how comfortable he looked in the
new role and asked him to appear in a later
programme in the series.
That led to regular invitations to pass
on his knowledge on the BBC Breakfast
programme, the Paul OGrady show and a
range of television shows both in the UK
and, on occasions, in the United States. He
is also in demand as a speaker on local
and national radio and as a correspondent
for a number of pet magazines, and has
had two books published.
Lest anyone thinks this is a path to
riches, Marc points out that most of his
appearances in the media have been
poorly paid, or entirely unpaid, and taking
time off from his clinical duties meant that
he was often losing money. Yet the work is
rewarding in other ways. I got the bug
after that first encounter with the television
crew. I realised what a fantastic
G
etting chased off the premises
by a group of heavies while on a
covert mission filming the
welfare conditions at a Ukrainian
zoo now that wouldnt be a typical days
work for most veterinary surgeons.
This was hardly a routine task for Marc
Abraham, either. These days he can
normally be found practising his surgical
skills on the cat and dog population at
Grove Lodge Vets Southwick clinic. But he
has also carved out a career as one of the
countrys most prominent media vets and
that incident was just one of his adventures
since discovering that he has a talent for
communicating with pet owners through
their television screens.
Marc will be sharing his thoughts on
how to get the right messages across to
clients during a management session at
BSAVA Congress in Birmingham next April.
He will tell colleagues that they dont need
to have natural flair or extensive training to
raise the public profile of their practice.
I will be talking about public relations,
which is something that the profession has
traditionally tried to steer clear of. If they try
at all, then it is often something that often
they dont do particularly well.
Being a good communicator does help
but having passion for your vocation is
what matters most, he says. If, as vets and
VNs, we genuinely care about animals and
the way that they are looked after, then we
just get on with it and try to put those
messages across.
Surprising secondary career
Marc was already writing a regular weekly
column on pet care issues for the local
newspaper when he got his break in
broadcasting. In 2006, a Channel 4
Professions needs to
get proud about PR
As part of the comprehensive and compelling
management programme at Congress, Marc
Abraham will be talking about how everyone can
contribute to the practices communications strategy
22
|
companion
Congress 47 APRIL 2013
Professions needs to get proud about PR
opportunity this gives to connect with a
huge number of people all at once and try
to put over simple but important points
about animal welfare.
Reluctant heroes
Marc believes that many practitioners miss
the opportunity to reach out to the public
through the media because they dont
really understand what qualifies as news or
how to go about publicising a news story.
But we are very lucky; much of what we
do is news as far as a local newspaper
audience is concerned. If you remove an
unusual foreign body from a dogs gut,
rescue a kitten that has got itself stuck
somewhere or take in an orphaned fox
cub, then those are terrific picture stories
for a local newspaper.
He will pass on a few tips on how to
go about preparing a press release or to
use the work of the practice as material for
a regular column. The local newspaper
can also be encouraged to carry stories
about the practice based on its
marketing activities.
Marc believes that many practitioners
are reluctant to consider marketing
activities that they fear will be expensive
and provide intangible results. This is not
necessarily the case, he says, indicating
that his practices modest investment in
sponsoring a local boys football team has
produced a lot of positive media
coverage and generated considerable
goodwill in the area. He points out that the
younger generation is a key audience for
the welfare messages that all practices
are trying to convey and so they should
seize upon any opportunity to give talks
in schools.
Marc was recently awarded the
CEVA award for his contribution to animal
welfare for his media work, as a patron of
several welfare charities and for his efforts
in support of the campaign against
puppy farming and other forms of animal
welfare abuse.
This is in itself superb PR Mark says
THREE DAYS OF ESSENTIAL MANAGEMENT
Afer the success of the two days of management lectures at Congress 2012, delegates asked for
a couple of changes lose the management marquee and relocate somewhere else in the NIA,
and add in even more lectures of the same quality. We listened so in 2013 there will be three
days of management talks in the comfort of the Olympian Suite (downstairs in the NIA). Being in
the NIA means you can easily get to the exhibiton as well as the lectures, and you stll have the
Sunday free to do a proper tour and see all thats on ofer.
Here is a taste of what you can expect from the expanded Management Programme. For
details and to register visit www.bsava.com or email congress@bsava.com if you have any
questons.
Thursday
Brian Faulkner Understanding and managing values, beliefs and opinions as the basis of
leadership
Brian Faulkner What is emotonal intelligence and how can we use it to deliver customer
satsfacton?
Brian Faulkner Pyschology of confdence, achievement and success in veterinary practce
Rosie Allister Wellbeing in the vet profession: what do we know and why does it mater?
Rosie Allister New graduates: approaches to reducing atriton and improving performance
through understanding wellbeing
Rosie Allister Mentoring in practce
Friday
Peter Heathcote Our cultural journey from zero to hero
Mark Abraham PR the clever way
David Hinton Using your PMS data to improve your practce performance
David Hinton Have a beter business with what you have now
Richard Holmes The Specsavers corporate view of marketng messages
Richard Holmes The corporate view: consumer-centred communicaton
Richard Holmes The corporate view: making your brand LIVE
Darren Mackintosh Fit for practce: how running an award-winning health club helps me run
our veterinary practce
Saturday
Alex German Setng up an obesity clinic
Monica Augusto Setng up a diabetes clinic
Neil Burton Setng up an arthrits clinic
Brian Sharp Setng up a physiotherapy clinic
Tobias Grave setng up an emergency clinic
Luke Gamble Setng up a travel clinic
Martha Cannon Setng up a cat-friendly clinic
Laura Blackwood Setng up an oncology clinic
that there are plenty of other awards
schemes at a local level which a PR-savvy
practice should consider entering as a
low-cost and potentially high-reward
method for promoting its work.
So, adopting a professional approach
to PR will help to safeguard the health of
the business, as well as raising the welfare
standards for the neighbourhood pet
population. But it will also serve to counter
the one recurring bad news story which all
practitioners will have read about
the claim that veterinary services are
expensive. If you are seen to be
engaging with the people in your area,
I think that becomes much less of an
issue. Clients do not mind spending
money because they know about the
work that you do, not just during that
particular consultation but throughout the
year. It is all about becoming the
veterinary voice of your community.
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Nursing requirements
for exotic pets
Within the last 10 years, the
variety of animals seen in general
practice has increased alongside
owner expectations. Molly Varga
and Rachel Lumbis, co-editors of
the new BSAVA Manual of Exotic
Pet and Wildlife Nursing with
Lucy Gott, describe some of the
specialist nursing requirements
of the more exotic pets
T
he increase in the number of exotic pets seen
in practice places a responsibility on both
veterinary surgeons and nurses to apply their
skills and knowledge effectively to the
management of less familiar species. Even popular
exotic pets, such as rabbits, have significantly different
nursing requirements to those of dogs and cats.
On the face of it, these three cases studies present
very similar veterinary and nursing challenges. The
goal for each case is the same to support the animal
through its illness and restore it to health. However, the
manner in which this goal is achieved is different for
each species.
CASE STUDY 1 MILO
Milo is a 14-year-old cat. She has chronic renal failure and
requires both fuid therapy and assisted feeding.
Current bodyweight is 3 kg
Fluid requirements Milo is 10% dehydrated. She
requires 300 ml [10(%) x 3(kg) x 10] over 48 hours
to replace the fuid defcit. Her maintenance fuid
requirement is 150 ml [50(ml) x 3(kg)] per day. Total
fuid requirement is 300 ml per day (12.5 ml/hour) plus
4 ml/kg per episode of vomitng (ongoing losses)
Restng energy requirement is 160 kcal/day
[(30 x 3(kg)) + 70]
CASE STUDY 2 HERBIE
Herbie is a 4-year-old rabbit. He is in gut stasis.
Current bodyweight is 3 kg
Fluid requirements Herbie is apparently 5%
dehydrated; however, his gut contents appear very
doughy, suggestng that the dehydraton is probably
10%. He requires 300 ml [10(%) x 3(kg) x 10] over
48 hours to replace the fuid defcit. His maintenance
fuid requirement is 210 ml [70(ml) x 3(kg)] per day.
Total fuid requirement is 360 ml per day (15 ml/hour)
plus 4 ml/kg for ongoing losses
Basal energy requirement is 158 kcal/day
[70 x (3(kg))
0.75
] multplied by an illness factor of 1.25.
He requires 197 kcal/day
CASE STUDY 3 FRED
Fred is an African Grey parrot. He presented
with vomitng and his conditon is deterioratng.
He has hypocalcaemia. Fred requires
appropriate supportve therapy.
Current bodyweight is 300 g
Fluid requirements Fred is approximately
5% dehydrated. He requires 15 ml
[5(%) x 0.3(kg) x 10] over 48 hours to replace
the fuid defcit. His maintenance fuid
requirement is 100 ml/kg/day. Total fuid
requirement is 37.5 ml per day (1.5 ml/hour)
plus 4 ml/kg for ongoing losses
Basal energy requirement is 17.55 kcal/day
[78 x (0.3(kg))
0.75
] multplied by an illness
factor of 1.25. He requires 22 kcal/day
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Nursing requirements for exotic pets
Cats
It has long since been recognised that cats thrive
better in an environment without dogs. As a result it is
now commonplace in the UK to have a dedicated cat
ward within the hospital and even separate waiting
rooms and treatment areas for dogs and cats.
Provision of litter trays, a place to hide (e.g. can be as
basic as a towel draped across the front of the cage)
and familiar foods are all key to encouraging normal
feeding and toileting behaviour in hospital. Cats are
tolerant (to an extent!) of intravenous fluid provision
and repeat injections or oral medications. Many cats
will also accept supportive feeding when required.
Nasogastric tubes present more of a challenge, but
this can be easily overcome with the use of an
Elizabethan collar.
Rabbits
As a profession, we are becoming better at
recognising that rabbits (the third most popular pet in
the UK) have different requirements from those of cats.
These differences mainly stem from the fact that
rabbits are a prey species, which is a very different
concept when considering hospitalization, since the
most commonly seen species in practice (i.e. dogs
and cats) are predators.
Ideally, rabbits should be housed separately from
predator species and preferably out of sight, sound
and smell contact. However, this is often difficult to
achieve without compromising the ability of veterinary
staff to adequately observe inpatients. As for cats,
rabbits should be provided with a place to hide within
the hospital cage (a cardboard box or pieces of large
plastic drainpipe are suitable) and many rabbits are
trained to use a litter tray (Figure 1).
As a prey species, rabbits appear more tolerant of
injections and the administration of medications;
however, the effects of the stress caused by these
interventions should not be ignored. Rabbits that are
severely stressed have been shown to become
oliguric, and this can adversely affect the provision of
fluid therapy. In addition, rabbits in a hospital situation
often take several hours to days to settle enough to eat
normally, an activity that is crucial for the health of their
gut. Veterinary staff need to be aware of these
potential complications, as behavioural cues indicating
an adverse event (such as biting or vocalisation) are
often not seen.
Birds
The nursing requirements of birds differ again from
those of cats and rabbits. Parrots, in particular, often
bond with their owners and fare better in hospital if
they can form a bond with a member of staff. Parrots
are also neophobic and often suspicious of novel food
items, making any dietary changes difficult.
Handling parrots is often stressful for both the
animal and the member of staff. Unfortunately, due to
their high metabolic rate, frequent handling is required
to administer fluids and provide supportive feeding.
When they are ill, birds benefit from peace and quiet;
however, when they are starting to recover, they seem
to enjoy the hustle and bustle of busier areas (Figure 2).
Figure 1: An indoor rabbit set-up. A hide area, tunnels for
bolt holes, a hay rack and a litter tray have been provided. As
large an area as possible should be provided, to allow the
rabbit to exercise fully
Figure 2: A ward for avian and reptilian patients
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From a safety perspective, parrots present several
challenges. They can inflict a severe bite and their
claws can inflict painful wounds. Veterinary staff need
to be taught how to handle these animals safely. Birds
can also spread the zoonotic infection psittacosis
(caused by Chlamydophila psittaci), and the dust and
down they shed can exacerbate asthma, eventually
causing significant lung pathology in humans.
Comparative fluid requirements
Many principles of fluid therapy as a supportive
treatment for cats can also be applied to exotic pet
patients. However, it should be noted that small
mammals have a significantly higher fluid requirement
than cats. This is due to: higher metabolic rate;
increased glomerular filtration rate; and relatively larger
lung surface area, resulting in greater fluid loss via
respiration. Birds also have a higher metabolic rate,
and subsequently a greater fluid requirement, than
cats. However, as with reptiles, birds excrete protein
waste products in the form of uric acid rather than
urea, which requires less water for excretion.
The anatomical and physiological differences, as
well as the risk of fluid overload, in small mammals,
birds and reptiles compared with dogs and cats,
means that initially a more conservative infusion rate is
required and that less traditional routes of fluid
administration should be considered. Regardless of
the species, voluntary water intake can be encouraged
through the provision of an appropriate container.
Advice should always be sought from the owner
regarding the supply of water bottles, bowls or other
alternative receptacles in the home environment.
Comparative energy requirements
When formulating a nutritional plan for hospitalised
patients, it is important to communicate with the
owner and consider the patients normal dietary
habits at home. This is particularly important for cats,
as they often favour a specific texture, flavour and
consistency of food; they may also have preferences
regarding the timing of meals and the position and
design of food bowls.
Energy requirements in cats are calculated using
the resting energy requirement. This is the amount of
energy (measured in kilocalories) required for
maintaining homeostasis whilst a patient rests quietly in
a stress-free, non-fasted, thermoneutral environment.
Traditionally, the resting energy requirement was
multiplied by an illness factor of between 1.0 and 2.0 to
account for the increase in metabolism associated with
different conditions and injuries. The subjective nature
of such factors, combined with the potential for
overfeeding, has led to the discontinuation of this
practice. Current recommendations involve the use of
the resting energy requirement as a baseline and
modifying food intake according to changes in
bodyweight and body condition score.
Small mammals, birds and reptiles have a greater
surface area related to bodyweight and a higher
energy expenditure than cats. In these species, the
basal energy requirement (rather than the resting
energy requirement) multiplied by a disease factor is
anticipated to prevent weight loss and is therefore
advocated. The higher metabolic rate in these animals
dictates a more ad libitum feeding schedule and
prolonged periods of fasting should be avoided. As
with dogs and cats, it is essential to obtain a thorough
dietary history and establish any preferences in
relation to diet and feeding bowl.
NOW AVAILABLE
The BSAVA Manual of Exotc Pet and Wildlife Nursing is
the latest additon to the series of nursing ttles. It covers
commonly kept species and takes the reader through a
logical sequence: from the inital phone call (including
inital contact advice), through to consultaton, admitance,
hospitalisaton and interventon. The Manual is designed to
be practcal and user-friendly, so that readers experienced
in the care of dogs and cats can fnd relevant informaton
easily and apply it directly to exotc pet and wildlife species.
Additonal content, including client handouts, is available
online to readers
Member price: 45.00
Non-member price: 68.00
To purchase your copy, visit the BSAVA website at www.bsava.com
or call our Membership and Customer Service Team on 01452 726700.
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Picture perfect pets
T
he annual PetSavers photography competition
is ready to invite your entry, so now is the time
to visit www.petsavers.org.uk for full details
on how to enter.
The digital photography competition organised by
PetSavers has had some really creative entries in
recent years, and it attracts veterinary professionals
and pet owners alike.
The theme for
this years
competition is
Priceless Moments.
PetSavers is calling on vets, VNs and their
pet-owning clients to snap and share those
priceless moments we have with our animals
The judges will be looking for qualities such as humour
and personality in the photos, as well as general
photographic skill.
See what has caught the judges eye in the past by
taking a look at last years winning entries (pictured), or
viewing all of our previous winners by visiting our
website. Many of the winning images have been made
into PetSavers cards, so who knows you might even
find Rex or Felix being sent out on thousands of
Christmas greetings in the future.
How to enter
The competition is in two categories; Adult (16 and
over) and Junior (under 16). First prize in each
category is 200 in photography vouchers, second
prize is 100 in photography vouchers and third prize
is 50 in photography vouchers.
The closing date is Thursday 31 January 2013.
Entry to the competition could not be easier; simply
email your photographs to info@petsavers.org.uk.
An entry form, which can be downloaded from the
website, must also be submitted; this can be emailed
with your photograph or alternatively you can print and
fax the form to us at 01452 726701.
Get the practice involved
You can help us promote our photography competition
by displaying posters and telling your clients about it. It
is also a great way to introduce them to the vital work
that PetSavers does to improve the quality of life and
welfare of companion animals. If you would like more
information about PetSavers or this competition,
including terms and conditions, then email us or visit
the website. n
Top: (LR) Timmy Kettyle, 2nd prize winner in Junior Category of PetSavers
Photography Competition 2012; Philip Lhermette, PetSavers Chair; Adam Philips,
1st prize winner in Adult Category of PetSavers Photography Competition 2012.
Bottom: (left) Timmy Kettyles entry: Where did you say it went?; (right) Adam
Philips entry: Wash behind the ears!
1st prize winner in Junior Category of
PetSavers Photography Competition 2012
Other finalists in PetSavers
Photography Competition
2012. Clockwise from top
left: 2nd prize winner in Adult
Category; 3rd prize winner in
Adult Category; 3rd prize
winner in Junior Category
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C
ommitted giving allows you to
make a regular donation towards
the work of PetSavers: donations
can be made monthly, quarterly
or on an annual basis. A regular gift to
PetSavers enables us to plan for the future,
and in addition it is very important for any
charity to have a secure fund-base.
Who are our committed givers?
Many different people donate on a regular
basis, including those in the veterinary
profession who have received funding for
training or research, and pet owners who
I
mmune-mediated haemolytic anaemia (IMHA) is a
common cause of anaemia in dogs. The disease
involves destruction of red blood cells by the dogs
own immune system. Despite increasing availability
of blood transfusions, many dogs still die from IMHA, a
major cause of death being thromboembolic disease
(blood clots).
Drugs to reduce blood clot formation improve
survival in dogs with IMHA. One such group of drugs
are the anti-platelet drugs, including aspirin and
clopidogrel. These are commonly used in dogs with
IMHA as they have been shown to improve survival
and can be administered as once-daily tablets. The
doses used are based on studies in healthy dogs and
such studies have shown that individual dogs respond
differently to the same dose of these drugs.
The purpose of this trial is to look at the effects of
aspirin and clopidogrel, used at standard doses, in
dogs with IMHA. This will mainly involve looking at the
Committed giving
want to do what they can to support
PetSavers work to improve treatment
and diagnosis for the illnesses and
conditions that affect pets. Some people
give in memory of beloved pets sadly
lost to them.
Becoming a committed giver
If you would like to support PetSavers and
become a committed giver you will need to
arrange a standing order with your bank.
A downloadable form is available on our
website www.petsavers.org.uk, or call
Gemma White on 01452 726723 for details.
Gift Aid
If you become a PetSavers committed
giver we may be able to make your
donations go even further. If you sign the
gift aid declaration, PetSavers can claim
28p back in tax for every 1 that you have
donated. This is valid for any donations
made in the last six years prior to signing
the declaration and for all future donations.
To be eligible to sign a gift aid
declaration you must pay enough UK
income tax and/or capital gains tax to
cover the amount of tax the charity will
reclaim. There is a gift aid declaration
on the committed giving form which can
be downloaded from our website, or we
can arrange to send one to you. Thank
you for considering this excellent way of
funding our work you can make all
the difference. n
platelets of treated dogs using a technique known as
impedance aggregometry. We will compare the
platelets of dogs with IMHA before and after treatment
and look to see how this relates to the dose of
anti-platelet drug used and the survival of the dog.
This study will benefit future dogs with IMHA by
enhancing our understanding of what anti-platelet
drugs do in this disease and how best to monitor and
adjust them. We hope this and future studies will help
to reduce the mortality rate in dogs with IMHA. n
Effects of anti-platelet drugs
in IMHA dogs
Lindsay Kellett-Gregory of the
Royal Veterinary College outlines
her PetSavers-funded study to
assess the efficacy of currently
prescribed anti-platelet drugs in
reducing clot formation in IMHA
Contnue reading about projects PetSavers has funded this year by reading next
months issue of companion magazine. To fnd out more about applying for funding
or fundraising for PetSavers, email info@petsavers.org.uk or call Gemma White on
01452 726723.
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E
llen van Nierop is a Dutch vet living and working
in Ecuador. She completed her studies at the
Rijksuniversiteit, Ghent, Belgium. She then
volunteered at wildlife centres around the world
before settling and starting work in Ecuador eleven
years ago. She later met her husband, also a vet, and
they set up their own small animal clinic together.
Ellen has been the Ecuadorian representative of
the WSAVA for the Asociacin de Mdicos Veterinarios
Especialistas en Pequeas Especies (AMVEPE) since
2009 and, during that time, shes been heavily involved
in making the WSAVA relevant to vets in Ecuador. In
addition to her work as a vet, Ellen has sought
additional training in finance and administration and is
currently a year from completing a five-year Engineer
WSAVA welcomes
new board member
The WSAVA is growing
fast and expanding its
activities into more and
more areas. Ellen van
Nierop has been
appointed to strengthen the
Executive Board and help it to
deliver our goals
in Accounting and Auditing qualification.
Commenting on her role on the WSAVAs
Executive Board, she says: I come eager to help and
to learn and am very excited to be a part of a large
international organisation that is making a difference
in communication and continuous education for
veterinarians. I hope to represent first line
veterinarians who have political, economical, or
linguistic difficulties in getting full access to
continuous education in the small animal field. I wish
to put my knowledge of developing countries,
languages and communication skills, as well as my
acquired knowledge in the administrative and financial
field, to work with a group of like-minded international
veterinarians who have already shown that it is
possible to go beyond the limits of nationalities and
circumstances towards our common ultimate goal
the wellbeing of our small animal friends.
Welcoming Ellen, WSAVA President Peter Ihrke
comments: Ellen has been an outstanding country
representative for Ecuador and shares our passion for
driving the WSAVAs work forward. We are absolutely
delighted that she has agreed to join the Executive
Board. Her skills as a veterinarian and linguist are
matched by her understanding of finance and
administration. She will be a great asset to the team.
Ellens appointment is subject to assembly ratification
in March 2013. n
WSAVA/FASAVA 2013
We are delighted to invite all veterinarians and veterinary nurses to join your kiwi colleagues, from
69 March 2013 at the Sky City Conventon Centre, Auckland. This is a once in a lifetme opportunity to
come to New Zealand and experience a world-class small animal veterinary conference at the same tme.
Registratons are now available get in early to obtain the early bird specials. See you there!
Pieter Verhoek
Chairman, Local Organising Commitee
WSAVA/FASAVA Congress 2013 Pieter Verhoek
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A
t last a quiet moment to talk
to WSAVA members
everywhere greetings to
you all! It has been another
busy few months for the WSAVA. Im
pleased to say that weve been
continuing our focus on the fight
against rabies, with Professor
Michael Day representing us at the
OIE meeting in May. We gave a joint
lecture on the eradication of rabies in
Africa and Asia. It was well attended,
showing the high level of interest in
this topic. We firmly believe that the
eradication of rabies is achievable and that vets must play an essential role in
vaccinating at-risk dogs. Recent research from Professor Cleaveland in the
UK confirms that most cases of rabies can be prevented by vaccinating 70%
of free-roaming and captive dogs.
Were also delighted to introduce our newest Board member Dr Ellen van
Nierop. Shes a great addition to the team and her background in finance will
be particularly valuable. Welcome Ellen!
We have developed a new look e-bulletin. Siraya Chunekamrai, our
honorary secretary and PR chairperson, welcomes your feedback and
stories for future issues, to be sent to news@wsava.org.
People often ask me why we work so hard for the WSAVA. My answer is:
Because I love it! The WSAVA is a great cause and we are a wonderful family.
By working together, we are changing the world and making it a better place
for man and its companion animals. n
WSAVA President Peter Ihrke is
recuperating from recent back surgery and
sends his best wishes, so Past President
Jolle Kirpensteijn shares some highlights of
recent WSAVA activity
Update from the
Past President
WSAVA President Dr Peter Ihrke and
WSAVA Past President Professor Jolle
Kirpensteijn
W
SAVA/FASAVA World Congress 2013 will
feature a stream on veterinary dermatology,
covering a range of topics from the smelly
dog to the itchy cat, led by Mike Shipstone
from Australia and Paul Bloom from the USA. This will
also include an update on the surgical treatment of ear
disease by Alex Walker from New Zealand.
For those with an interest in veterinary dentistry,
we have Brook Niemiec from the US and Tony Caiafa
from Australia. These outstanding veterinary dentists
will cover periodontics, endodontics and feline
dental disease.
Those interested in exotic and wildlife medicine
havent been forgottenDavid Vella from Australia
will provide the essentials on managing the small
mammal and reptile population, while Laurel Degernes
from the USA will present some detailed topics in
avian medicine.
Whatever your area of interest, we have something
to please everyone. Eight consecutive streams over
four days will give you ample opportunity to mix and
match whatever takes your fancy. In addition there will
be six State-of-the-Art lectures where experts in their
fields will present the very latest research. Do not miss
this opportunity to attend the greatest veterinary event
to be presented in New Zealand.
Full programme available at www.wsava2013.org/
programme. n
World Congress
2013 more to
look forward to
Richard Jerram, Chair,
Scientific Programme,
continues his preview of
the science that will
be available in Auckland
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Beverley Cuddy is Publisher, Editor and
majority shareholder of Dogs Today
magazine, after pursuing a management
buy-out 20 years ago to save the
magazine from closure. She had a column
in the Mail on Sunday for eight years and
writes for the Guardian, Times and
Telegraph. She is chairman of the
Tailwaggers Club Trust, a charity that helps
pet owners in distress, and is a trustee
with Hounds for Heroes, which aims to
provide specially trained assistance dogs
to injured and disabled people of both the
UK armed forces and civilian emergency
services. She is married to Graham Smith,
MD of Loudhouse Communications, and
they have three sons. They live with their
dogs, Oscar a Bearded Collie, and Tess,
a Dogs Trust graduate who is a working
Springer Spaniel
Beverley
Cuddy
the companion interview
Didnt you even manage to shoe-horn
your hobby into your history degree and
design business?
Somehow, I got a degree in history, but by
then I was a championship show judge
and had already started my first design
business. At its height we produced over
100 different Bearded Collie-related lines.
Yes even my dissertation had been a bit
doggy I chose the concept of animal
cruelty in Victorian Britain, pretty much the
history of the RSPCA. The research had
meant spending some time looking at the
archives at ancient weekly show dog paper
Our Dogs and they asked me to write for
them, so I stumbled into journalism. A year
Q
Tell us about your passion for dogs
and how that developed into
competing at Crufts.
A
My teachers despaired. I had been
a promising student until I got my
first Bearded Collie at age 11. Id
met a very wonderful Beardie called Percy.
I picked out Chi-Chi from one of Percys
litters and stumbled into showing dogs
quite by accident. Even handicapped by a
young novice handler, Chi-Chi quickly
became a champion. Her son and
daughter did, too. School seemed very
boring in comparison and I even played
truant from two mock O levels to compete
at Crufts.
later I was head-hunted by their rival Dog
World and I had to leave my eight Beardies
with my long-suffering parents when I
headed down south.
With so many dogs you must have had
your fair share of visits to the vets?
Just before I left home, my latest show
prospect, Sally, contracted parvovirus. It
was that terrible era when lots of dogs died.
A very young vet, Miss Morton, had joined
our local practice in St Helens. I didnt
know she was destined to be a future BVA
President, but Id have even voted for her to
be Prime Minister after she helped us to
save Sallys life. We had to hydrate Sally at
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more recently we launched the
Dont Cook Your Dog campaign
all charities and organisations stood
shoulder to shoulder I think this was
possibly one of our finest hours
home by mouth. Those seven days and
nights changed me forever.
How did your career progress in the
pet press?
A year subbing boring show reports was
followed by a few more as Kennel Clubs
Information Officer. I moved sideways on to
the KCs own magazine and putting a
magazine together was the most fun Id
had in years. However I was coming home
to an empty flat and I wanted a job where I
could afford to live with my dogs. A role in
corporate relations at British Telecom
tripled my salary, but within a year I was
bored. An advert in the Guardian for a
new dog magazine changed all that.
And when I discovered that the person in
charge was Viscount Rothermere, the
proprietor of the Daily Mail, I was excited
but slightly daunted.
Tell us about your relationship with the
newspaper magnet
Our first meeting was interesting. I was just
a young girl from Liverpool; my experience
of what to say to titled media moguls was
very patchy. We had a good chat about
dogs and he said something I knew was
wrong and I corrected him. It seemed key
and after that we got along very well. He
encouraged me to campaign to make life
better for our best friends. Sadly, while he
and I believed in what we were doing, the
hundreds of people in between us in the
management structure thought we were
both barking mad!
I was only the editor and somehow we
lost 350,000 after some very expensive
TV advertising. The shareholders started to
get grumpy and the decision was taken to
close the magazine. Its a long story, but
I bought the magazine for 1 and Lord
Rothermere decided to become a
shareholder in my new company. He told
me his financial advisor had told him to do
it. He showed me a photo of his advisor
it was Ryu-Ma, his Akita!
Campaigning has been central to the
publication; what have been the key
campaigns?
In the last two decades weve certainly
kept going with the campaigns: health
reforms, tailwaggers against cosmetic tail
docking, introduction of pet passports,
DDA reform, positive training methods,
anti-battery farming puppies, pro-rescue
theres a lot more to come. More recently
we launched the Dont Cook Your Dog
campaign to press for zero tolerance of
dogs being left in hot cars. The
campaign quickly went global. All charities
and organisations stood shoulder to
shoulder. I think this was possibly one of
our finest hours.
How did you get involved in Hounds for
Heroes?
Over the years I have heard so many
amazing stories of how the love of a good
dog had changed someones life. But none
compare with Endal. In 1999 I heard a
rumour that there was an assistance dog
that had started using a cash machine to
help his owner. Allen Parton had survived a
massive head injury that wiped most of his
memory. He came home in a wheelchair
barely able to speak. After a couple of
attempts at killing himself a Labrador
called Endal had somehow made a
connection and pulled Allen out of the
darkest of places and restored his hope.
Endals practical and emotional
support meant that this very special dog
did a lot more than just open washing
machine doors. Allen started to talk, to go
to the pub, to start to enjoy the life he had,
rather than mourn the one he couldnt
remember. He had no idea who his wife
and children were when he came home.
He looked much the same, but he was an
entirely different man. Thanks to Endal,
Allen regained his self-esteem. Allen and
Sandra fell in love all over again and
remarried. Thanks to Endal, Allen had
become the articulate and inspirational
man he is today.
Allen really wanted other returning
troops and injured emergency personnel to
be given the chance of their own Endal
effect, so he decided to start his own
charity, Hounds for Heroes. I am delighted
to be a trustee and to have watched Allens
remarkable progress these last 12 years.
Hes written a column in the magazine for
many years, so the readers feel theyve
been with him at every turn too. If you
havent read Allen and Sandras best
selling book Endal, you really should! Its
quite a story. Hounds for Heroes is only
three years old but it is probably the
fastest-growing charity in Britain today. Two
squadrons of pups are already in training.
What other dog charities are close to
your heart?
Im also Chairman of an ancient charity
called Tailwaggers Club Trust. They
discovered me after our anti-tail docking
campaign of the same name inadvertently
infringed their copyright. Its a tiny charity
that really could do with more funds. Its
unique in that each case is taken on its own
merits and people are at least able to tell
someone about their pet-related crisis.
Most often its people struggling to pay an
unexpected vet bill after a dramatic
life-changing episode. Some of the stories
are heart-breaking and people have
already remortgaged or sold their
possessions but they still face life or death
decisions. Other cases need more practical
help, like the older lady who became
suddenly homeless and was sleeping in
her car because the local council wouldnt
let her keep her dogs while she waited for
emergency housing.
FURTHER INFORMATION
You can nd out more about Beverleys
charites at:
www.houndsforheroes.com
www.tailwaggersclubtrust.com
For more information or to order
www.bsava.com
BSAVA reserves the right to alter prices where necessary without prior notice.
companion offer of the month
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WHAT THEY SAY
well-crafed, well-balanced, well-organized
a very useful additon to any library
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an exceptonally well-presented manual,
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Formulary and laboratory reference ranges included
Offer is available to BSAVA members only. Ends 31 October 2012. Free P&P on
telephone orders for UK and Eire delivery, online rates of P&P apply for
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WHAT THEY SAY
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companion
|
33
CPD coming soon
Wednesday 7 November 2012 (Evening meeting)
Pain
Speaker: Mat Gurney
Holiday Inn, Haydock
Full BSAVA Members: FREE
Non BSAVA Members: 24 inc. VAT
Sunday 9 December 2012 (Day meeting)
Collapse!
Speaker: Rebecca Litler
Swallow Hotel, Preston
Full BSAVA Members: 180 inc. VAT
Non BSAVA Members: 300 inc. VAT
Tuesday 19 February 2013 (Evening meeting)
Immunology
Speaker: Nat Whitley
Holiday Inn, Chester
Full BSAVA Members: FREE
Non BSAVA Members: 24 inc. VAT
Wednesday 6 March 2013 (Evening meeting)
Avoiding an RCVS complaint
Speaker: John Hird
Holiday Inn, Haydock
Full BSAVA Members: FREE
Non BSAVA Members: 24 inc. VAT
Thursday 19 September 2013 (Evening meeting)
Avian emergencies
Speaker: Molly Varga
Brockholes Nature Reserve, Preston
Full BSAVA Members: FREE
Non BSAVA Members: 24 inc. VAT
Tuesday 12 November 2013 (Evening meeting)
Spinal surgery
Speaker: Turlough ONeil
Holiday Inn, Haydock
Full BSAVA Members: FREE
Non BSAVA Members: 24 inc. VAT
Wednesday 4 December 2013 (Day meeting)
Cardiac disease including practical
ultrasound
Speaker: Simon Swif
David Lloyd Club, Chorley
Full BSAVA Members: 180 inc. VAT
Non BSAVA Members: 300 inc. VAT
WHOS WHO ON NORTH WEST COMMITTEE
Chair: Rebecca Litler
Treasurer: Neale Roach
PetSavers: Ruth McElroy
Commitee Member: Simone der Weduwen
Focus on...
BSAVA North West
Region
MEMBERS: dont forget to bring a valid BSAVA
membership card to the meeting!
Please visit www.bsava.com for further
information on prices and course content.
T
he team in BSAVAs North West region is
always keen to hear what local colleagues
want in terms of CPD so please email your
ideas to northwestregion@bsava.com with
your suggestions on topics and speakers and to find
out about getting involved and helping to design the
delivery of CPD in your area.
Regional committees help to provide local and
regional day and evening courses aimed at the
practitioner looking to update their current knowledge
and techniques, and provide opportunities to meet
neighbouring colleagues. We are always looking for
fresh faces to assume positions within regional
committees. Committee members generate ideas,
including how and where courses are delivered and
which speakers are invited.
Getting involved gives you the capability to shape
regional CPD and meet new people. There are a range
of benefits available to committee members such as
complimentary BSAVA Congress registration, the
opportunity to attend other regions CPD throughout
the country and the knowledge that you are helping to
shape the future of your profession.
So far in 2012 North West has had a truly mixed
bag of meetings. The two evening meetings
Rebecca Littler on diabetes and Victoria Roberts on
chicken medicine were fantastically successful
and extremely well attended. Sadly, this was not
continued into the spring day-long meeting in
Haydock where Turlough ONeill was to speak on
fracture repairs. Due to lack of pre-registrations
we had to postpone that event, but we plan to
hold the course in 2013, as it promises to be an
excellent meeting.
As regards the venues that we select these
are chosen with the thought in mind that we are
shaped like a tall box as our region runs from
Cumbria down to Staffordshire; so we try to use three
venues, as this allows all of our BSAVA members the
opportunity to get to at least two meetings without
a significant journey. However, please let us know
if we are missing out on a good venue or location,
so that we can continue to serve our members as
best we can.
34
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companion
CPD diary
EVENING WEBINAR
Wednesday 3 October
20:0021:00
Advanced reptile medicine
Speaker: Joanna Hedley
Online
Details from administration@bsava.com
EVENING WEBINAR
Thursday 18 October
20:0021:00
Coughing dogs and cats
Speaker: Mike Martin
Online
Details from administration@bsava.com
DAY MEETING FOR NURSES
Tuesday 2 October
Nursing reptiles: keeping
everything to scale
Speaker: Matthew Rendle
Blackpool Zoo, FY3 8PP
Details from administration@bsava.com
EVENING MEETING
NORTH WEST REGION
Thursday 4 October
Use of steroids in otitis
Speaker: Sue Paterson
Holiday Inn Chester South, Wrexham Road,
Chester CH4 9DL
Details from northwestregion@bsava.com
EVENING MEETING
NORTHERN IRELAND REGION
Thursday 4 October
Canine pancreatitis: an update on
causes, diagnosis and treatment
Speaker: Penny Watson
Stormont Hotel, Upper Newtownards Road,
Belfast BT4 3LP
Details from nirelandregion@bsava.com
DAY MEETING
METROPOLITAN REGION
Tuesday 23 October
Neurology back to basics
Speaker: Laurent Garosi
The Kennel Club, 15 Clarges Street,
Piccadilly, London W1J 8AB
Details from metropolitanregion@bsava.com
EVENING MEETING
SOUTH WALES REGION
Tuesday 23 October
Tortoises: tips and tricks to
become an expert
Speaker: Mike Jessop
Carmarthen Veterinary Centre SA31 3SA
Details from southwalesregion@bsava.com
DAY MEETING
Thursday 25 October
Old bugs and new bugs: what do I
need to know about infectious
disease in cats?
Speaker: Samantha Taylor
BSAVA Headquarters, Woodrow House,
Gloucester GL2 2AB
Details from administration@bsava.com
EVENING MEETING
MIDLAND REGION
Tuesday 16 October
Pitfalls in interpretation of
in-house laboratory results
Speaker: Joy Archer
Yew Lodge Hotel, 33 Packington Hill,
Kegworth, Derby DE74 2DF
Details from midlandregion@bsava.com
EVENING MEETING KENT REGION
Thursday 18 October
Orthopaedic diseases of
the carpus
Speaker: Christopher Stork
Best Western Russell Hotel, 136 Boxley Road,
Maidstone ME14 2AE
Details from kentregion@bsava.com
EVENING MEETING
SOUTH WEST REGION
Tuesday 9 October
Passport perils: update on PETS
scheme, leishmaniasis and other
imported diseases
Speaker: Sverine Tasker
Aztec Hotel and Spa, Aztec West Business
Park, Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4TS
Details from southwestregion@bsava.com
EVENING MEETING
SOUTH WALES REGION
Wednesday 10 October
Quiz night with the BSAVA
President
The Unicorn Inn, Church Road, Llanedeyrn,
Cardiff CF3 9YA
Details from southwalesregion@bsava.com
DAY MEETING
SURREY AND SUSSEX REGION
Thursday 11 October
An update on feline endocrinology
Speaker: Martha Cannon
Holiday Inn, Povey Cross Road,
Gatwick RH6 0BA
Details from surreyandsussexregion@bsava.com
October 2012
EVENING MEETING
SOUTH WEST REGION
Tuesday 16 October
Film reading
Speakers: Esther Barrett and
Chris Warren-Smith
Kingsley Village, A30, Penhale, Fraddon,
Cornwall TR9 6NA
Details from southwestregion@bsava.com
EVENING MEETING
SOUTH WEST REGION
Thursday 18 October
Film reading
Speakers: Nic Hayward and Kate Bradley
Communal Building, School of Veterinary
Science, University of Bristol, Langford,
North Somerset BS40 5DU
Details from southwestregion@bsava.com
DAY MEETING
Thursday 4 October
Coughing in the dog and cat
Speaker: Mike Martin
Uplands House, High Wycombe
Details from administration@bsava.com
DAY MEETING
Tuesday 9 October
Canine developmental elbow
disease
Speaker: Noel Fitzpatrick
BSAVA Headquarters, Woodrow House,
Gloucester GL2 2AB
Details from administration@bsava.com
DAY MEETING
SOUTH WEST REGION
Friday 5 and Saturday 6 October
Imaging the emergency and
critical care patient
Speakers: Nicolette Hayward, Ross Doust,
Federica Corletto, Esther Barrett, Andrew Parry
Clifton Pavilion, Bristol Zoo Gardens, Clifton,
Bristol BS8 3HA
Details from southwestregion@bsava.com
EVENING WEBINAR
Monday 8 October
Canine infectious
diseases
Speaker: Patricia Ibarrola
Online
Details from administration@bsava.com
companion
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35
EVENING WEBINAR
Tuesday 12 November
Old bugs and new bugs:
what do I need to know
about infectious disease in cats?
Speaker: Samantha Taylor
Online
Details from administration@bsava.com
EVENING WEBINAR
Tuesday 20 November
Crusty canine and
festering feline
Speaker: Natalie Barnard
Online
Details from administration@bsava.com
November 2012
DAY MEETING
SCOTTISH REGION
Sunday 28 October
Diagnostic imaging: interactive
and case-based abdominal and
thoracic imaging, primarily
radiography
Speaker: Gawain Hammond
Dunkeld Hilton Hotel, Perthshire PH8 0HX
Details from scottishregion@bsava.com
EVENING MEETING
SOUTH WEST REGION
Wednesday 14 November
Clinical pathology
Speaker: Kathleen Tennant
Canalside, Huntworth, Bridgwater,
Somerset TA7 0AJ
Details from southwestregion@bsava.com
OTHER UPCOMING BSAVA CPD COURSES
See www.bsava.com for further details
BSAVA Educaton
Tuesday 4 December
Decision making for the hips and pelvis
Midland Region
Wednesday 5 December
Evidence-based management of
renal failure
South Wales Region
Wednesday 6 December
Liver disease
Kent Region
Thursday 6 December
Christmas Referrals Fair. Not just skin
deep: cutaneous manifestatons of
systemic disease
EXCLUSIVE FOR MEMBERS
Extra 10% discount on all BSAVA
publicatons for members atending any
BSAVA CPD event.
All dates were correct at tme of going to print; however, we
would suggest that you contact the organisers for confrmaton.
DAY MEETING
SOUTHERN REGION
Thursday 25 October
A practical guide to in-house
cytology including urinalysis
Speaker: Balazs Szladovits
Potters Heron Hotel, Ampfield, Romsey,
Hampshire SO51 9ZF
Details from southernregion@bsava.com
DAY MEETING
Tuesday 6 November
Crusty canines and festering
felines
Speaker: Natalie Barnard
Crabwall Manor, Chester
Details from administration@bsava.com
EVENING MEETING
NORTHERN IRELAND REGION
Thursday 1 November
Wound management
Speaker: Georgie Hollis
VSSCo, Lisburn BT28 2SA
Details from nirelandregion@bsava.com
EVENING MEETING KENT REGION
Wednesday 7 November
Dentistry in rabbits and rodents
Speaker: Cedric Tutt
Best Western Russell Hotel, 136 Boxley Road,
Maidstone ME14 2AE
Details from kentregion@bsava.com
EVENING MEETING
SOUTH WALES REGION
Wednesday 7 November
Nasal disease
Speakers: Nic Hayward and Kit Sturgess
The International Legacy Hotel,
Cardiff CF15 7LD
Details from southwalesregion@bsava.com
EVENING MEETING
MIDLAND REGION
Thursday 8 November
Interpretation of abdominal
ultrasound images
Speaker: Andrew Parry
Wolverhampton Medical Institute,
New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton,
West Midlands WV10 0QP
Details from midlandregion@bsava.com
EVENING MEETING
SOUTHERN REGION
Thursday 22 November
Chronic vomiting and diarrhoea in
cats: a practical approach to
investigation and treatment
Speaker: Martha Cannon
Beechdown, Beechdown Park,
Winchester Road, Basingstoke RG22 4ES
Details from southernregion@bsava.com
EVENING MEETING
SCOTTISH REGION
Thursday 22 November
Keep calm and carry on: seizure
management in dogs
Speaker: Annette Wessman
Glasgow University Vet School
Details from scottishregion@bsava.com
DAY MEETING
SOUTH WEST REGION
Thursday 22 November
Medical and surgical management
of canine lower urinary tract
disease
Speakers: Ian Battersby and Ronan Doyle
Alveston House Hotel, Alveston, Thornbury,
Bristol BS35 2LA
Details from southwestregion@bsava.com
DAY MEETING
SOUTH WEST REGION
Friday 23 November
Medical and surgical management
of canine lower urinary tract
disease
Speakers: Ian Battersby and Ronan Doyle
Kingsley Village, A30, Penhale, Fraddon,
Cornwall TR9 6NA
Details from southwestregion@bsava.com
DAY MEETING
EAST ANGLIA REGION
Sunday 11 November
Whats new in oncology?
Speaker: Gerry Polton
The Cambridge Belfry, Cambourne,
Cambridge CB23 6BW
Details from eastanglia.region@bsava.com
DAY MEETING
Tuesday 20 November
Common and emerging infectious
diseases in the pet rabbit: an up to
date review
Speaker: Emma Keeble
BSAVA Headquarters, Woodrow House,
Gloucester GL2 2AB
Details from administration@bsava.com
EVENING MEETING
NORTH EAST REGION
Wednesday 7 November
Inappetent cats
Speaker: Roger Wilkinson
IDEXX Laboratories Wetherby,
Grange House, Sandbeck Way, Wetherby,
West Yorkshire LS22 7DN
Details from northeastregion@bsava.com
EVENING MEETING
NORTH WEST REGION
Wednesday 7 November
Pain
Speaker: Matt Gurney
Holiday Inn, Haydock
Details from northwestregion@bsava.com
With a fresh approach, BSAVA Congress 2013 offers something for
everyone; vets, nurses, practice managers, new graduates, experienced
principals, specialists, general practitioners, and everyone in between.
With such a diverse programme and creative delivery, no other
veterinary conference offers so much for the whole of your team.
Reasons to attend
More than 300 lectures
A lifecycle approach to the lectures relevant to your career stage
Be challenged and encouraged in interactive and small-group sessions
State of the Art lectures
Plenty in the programme to stretch even the most experienced GP
A creative approach to practical, hands-on sessions
Management programme expanded to three days great for vets,
VNsandmanagers
Clinical Research Abstracts and poster displays nurturing new science
Largest small animal commercial exhibition in Europe with over
250exhibitors
Great networking opportunities at social events
The ICC / NIA
Birmingham UK
www.bsava.com/congress
Register online now
47 April 2013
The Congress for
the whole team