Vet Times

Tag: BVA

  • Is that you ’rona?

    Is that you ’rona?

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    I couldn’t not write about where we are right now with coronavirus. It’s Sunday 22 March and we’re not yet in full lockdown, but it must be coming – who knows what will be happening by the time this is published. So, what can I write about? I want to write about you – the…

  • Social distancing and vets

    Social distancing and vets

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    The Government’s advice is clear. We should not be leaving our houses for anything other than four very clear reasons: Shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible One form of exercise a day – for example, a run, walk or cycle (alone or with members of your household) Any medical need, to provide care…

  • Sustainable veterinary

    Sustainable veterinary

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    Having recently attended a talk from Davies Veterinary Specialists regarding its environmental initiatives, I felt that both I personally, and many veterinary practices out there, could be doing a lot more to be “greener”. In a recent BVA Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey, it was found 89% of members think vets should play a…

  • Brexit and vets: providing lactose against the intolerant?

    Brexit and vets: providing lactose against the intolerant?

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    I often wonder what we would pad the daily news out with if the UK hadn’t voted to leave the European Union on 23 June 2016. Last week, it was shaken up a bit with incidents of “milkshaking” – trending on Twitter as “lactose against intolerance” (was it British milk they were using?). Even so, it seems…

  • Being woke – the journey to greater welfare

    Being woke – the journey to greater welfare

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    I’m going to start with a trigger warning: this blog contains the word “woke” – partly because I am genuinely “down wiv da kidz”, but also because this word, for me, sums up where we are with understanding the full extent of our responsibilities, both as an industry and as humans with regard to animal…

  • Brachycephalic syndrome

    Brachycephalic syndrome

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    The pug, shih-tzu and chihuahua are all breeds vets would describe as brachycephalic. This means their noses are proportionally shorter than the rest of their head – a far cry from their ancestors that would have these in about a 1:1 ratio. A lot of people find the large, puppy-dog eyes and wrinkly face charming…

  • The client gender issue

    The client gender issue

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    We have had the BVA report on the issues of the gender divide in veterinary industry and how it’s affecting the income and progress of female vets – a serious issue we are all aware of and, hopefully, working together to resolve. However, I’d also like to focus on the issue of the gender bias…

  • An abbreviation too far?

    An abbreviation too far?

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    We love an abbreviation in the veterinary world. CBA, RTA, TTA – just hopefully not all on the same patient, or all at the same time. To laypeople, medical notes must seem like another language. Therefore, it’s no surprise, when said laypeople request access to their records, that these notes rarely hold the answer. So…

  • New vet schools are not the solution

    New vet schools are not the solution

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    We’ve barely had a day of news in the past year that didn’t include Brexit. Yet, do any of us really know what the real consequences will be? Within the veterinary profession, specific factors are undoubtedly going to be influenced by Brexit, even if we don’t know the extent of these yet. They do, however,…

  • Religious slaughter: an alternative perspective

    Religious slaughter: an alternative perspective

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    If I were to whack you over the head with a hammer, it would really hurt and then you may fall unconscious. However, when it comes to animal slaughter, this is viewed by many as the best method. A perception has occurred that if an animal is “mechanically stunned” – gassed, hit with a captive…