TB, Badgers and CHeCS

This veterinary webinar was presented with members of the British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA) members in mind. A captive audience therefore, and the webinar provides a very up to date summary of the problem of TB and how to control it. There can be fewer more contentious veterinary debates than the one surrounding badgers and TB. Brexit perhaps, Homeopathy, dropout rates from the profession, and most recently student selection. It is many years since I was a cattle vet-my first foray into the profession.  This was a rosy time when TB was virtually eliminated from the country.

Wealth Dynamics

Being the creator of a system of psychometric profiling for business, Roger begins this veterinary CPD webinar by elaborating on just what he means by ‘Wealth Dynamics’. He draws on parallels with relevant systems such as those used in explaining horse behaviour, in that each individual animal has a personality unique from other individuals yet it is still possible to categorise based on trends of particular traits.

An Update On Mycobacteria In Cats

‘If you’re not seeing cases of mycobacteriosis in cats then they are seeing you’ was the statement delivered by Professor Danielle Gunn-Moore in last week’s Platinum Member webinar. This was one of the key take home messages Danielle wanted vets to take on board about mycobacteriosis in cats and explained this disease is more common than most of us think. The reason why some of these cases are missed is because some affected cats can present with subtle clinical signs which can easily be mistaken for other conditions or, sometimes, as ‘nothing to worry about’.

Update On Addison's Disease: New Treatment Options For The Great Pretender

Addison’s disease has always been one of my most rewarding conditions to treat, having seen patients make miraculous recoveries often from the brink of death, by simply administering aggressive fluid therapy and, after performing the necessary diagnostics, a dose of glucocorticoids. However, after watching last week’s webinar, led by Professor Ian Ramsey, I’m now starting to wonder if I may have missed some cases of Addison’s over the years?

Treating Wildlife Within The Law

After watching a webinar in March this year led by BVZS president and VDS consultant Michael Stanford discussing ‘The Legalities of Treating Wildlife’, there were clearly a number of messages to take on board to protect ourselves against an increasingly litigious society. One of those messages was to ensure transfer of ownership of injured wildlife to the practice when brought in by a member of the general public as any finder of an injured wild animal are considered to legally become its owner. Transferring ownership should help overcome issues regarding the legalities of treatment and euthanasia of wildlife. This message was re-enforced in last week’s webinar led by wildlife rescue scientific advisor, Liz Mullineaux.

Treating Pet Sheep and Goats

If you watched ‘Treating the Large Animal emergency’ a few weeks ago you will pleased to know this follow up webinar directing its focus towards pet sheep and goats has proved itself to be equally as useful. Dr Gayle Hallowell once again led this engaging webinar and delivered a mass of information citing a variety of cases along the way.

To Stun or Not To Stun

Before I start I would like to make two clear points. First of all I am taking it as read that this audience believes that to slaughter without stunning is actually harmful to animal welfare. And secondly I want to differentiate between religious slaughter and non stun slaughter these are not the same thing and I want to separate them out very clearly right at the start.

To Arthrodese Or Not To Arthrodese - That Is The Question

“To arthrodese or not to arthrodese” is the question I asked myself when I tuned into this week’s webinar on carpal and tarsal injuries. As we encounter these injuries relatively frequently in practice it is surprising this topic is not covered more often at CPD events, and I was hoping that some light could be shed on the diagnosis and treatment of these sometimes challenging cases. And after listening to the highly respected speaker, Professor John Innes BVSc PhD CertVR DSAS(orth) MRCVS from Liverpool University, I was not disappointed.

Tigers: Cute Pet or Untamed Beast?

Did you know that there are more pet tigers in America than there are in the wild globally? I’m not talking about animals in zoos or wildlife parks, but tigers kept as domestic pets. In fact, 94% of tigers in the USA are pets, according to the WWF. The exact number is unknown, but it is believed that across America there is upwards of 5,000 backyard big cats, including lions, leopards and cougars. Yes, somewhere in Texas there’s a crazy cat lady you really don’t want to mess with.

Thoracic Plumbing: Pleural Drainage With Catheters And Tubes

A cat or a dog in respiratory distress can be one of the most daunting and stressful clinical presentations for any vet in general practice. Last week’s webinar led by Elke Rudloff DVM, DACVECC, CVMA offered practical tips on how to manage these cases efficiently and effectively and is a must see for anyone who wants to alleviate not only the respiratory distress of their patient but also the stress these type of cases can place on themselves.

The Welfare Of Show Dogs & The Role Of The Vet

This is what I want to cover. You will notice that I have not put legislation on here that’s because I have only got 10 minutes and I could spend an entire 10 minutes winging about the state of legislation and its poor enforcement. So I want to concentrate really on the veterinary aspects of improving pedigree welfare. Little bit of background first. Firstly we can’t even decide how many dogs there are in this country and this I think raises a significant issue about a whole level of surveillance of disease but there are roughly 8 – 10 million dogs.