Vet Times

Tag: welfare

  • The camelid conundrum

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    Despite expecting a purely equine placement, I’ve had a bit of a crash course in camelids over the past two weeks. As alpacas and llamas continue to increase in popularity throughout the UK, more and more first opinion vets are having to apply their knowledge from other species to these slightly odd creatures. Having had…

  • OSCE season – the myths are out there

    OSCE season – the myths are out there

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    The final RCVS objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) for diploma nurses will be held this month, and in July City and Guilds have theirs. CQ will also have some around the end of term, too. There are many myths around OSCEs (everyone cries, someone always vomits, you can fail for wearing make-up, etc), but don’t worry. It’s…

  • Practice Standards Scheme compulsion

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    As reported in Veterinary Times (February 9 issue), the RCVS would like all veterinary practices to comply with at least the lower rung of the Practice Standards Scheme (PSS). This is a lovely headline, and a worthy ideal. I think a mandatory system will level a very uneven playing field, allowing practices to compete, particularly at the lower…

  • Obesity: facing the big dog in the room

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    Obesity is a huge welfare problem that is rapidly increasing. We all know this. That owners with obese animals are guilty of neglect is obvious[1.yes, rarely there can be endocrine or metabolic problems], as is the state of their animals, and they don’t need a vet to bring this up in a consult – all…

  • Represent, support, engage!

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    The AVS (Association of Veterinary Students) Congress marks one year since my involvement with the association began. Last year, in Nottingham, I stood up at the AGM and gave a hustings speech. Before long, I found myself elected the editor of JAVS (the Journal of the Association of Veterinary Students), which is sent out to students…

  • What makes a good vet?

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    As a student on placement, I’m often in awe of the vets I’m working with. The ability to take a history, examine an animal, run through differentials and come up with a diagnosis or action plan within 10 minutes – all while listening to an owner commenting on the weather or traffic – seems superhuman.…

  • Helping the hounds of the homeless

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    The homeless come with a certain stigma – particularly those with pets at their side. Should we be concerned for the welfare of those animals, whose owners cannot afford to feed themselves so surely cannot adequately care for a companion? Of course we should. However, instead of claiming these pets should be removed from their owners, Ruby…

  • Communication and memory

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    I often see new graduate workshops and tutorials advertised where the seminar leaders address the problems of communication. Similar events are offered to older codgers, too. I’ve been to a couple; the Veterinary Defence Society points out the majority of complaints it handles involve some form of breakdown in communication. The speakers often lay the blame squarely…

  • Hitting the third-year wall

    Hitting the third-year wall

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    Everyone had heard rumours third year at veterinary school was the worst. On coming back to university after a long summer of extra-mural studies and relaxation, we were nervous. Two weeks in, things didn’t seem too bad and we were sceptical. We were indifferently meandering through the bewildering world of Latin names and impossible-to-spell drugs, resigned…

  • Looking to the future: John Blackwell

    Looking to the future: John Blackwell

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    London Vet Show 2014 saw the launch of Vet Futures, a major new initiative that aims to help the veterinary profession prepare for and shape its own future. Jointly funded and led by the RCVS and the BVA, this project aims to help understand where the provision of veterinary services is currently heading, whether this…