Vet Arrested and Charged For Animal Health and Welfare Offences
Veterinarian Dr. Enrico Saccone and three others have been arrested and charged by Police Scotland with 19 offenses under the Animal Health and Welfare Act.
The arrests were made as part of a joint investigation relating to Platinum Vets and K9 Fertility in Lanarkshire, Scotland.
In a statement, a policeman working on the case reported that “These arrests are the result of a joint investigation with the Scottish SPCA, Defra, the RCVS, and the VMD in the Strathaven area. They are due to appear in Hamilton Sheriff Court on Friday 20 May 2022. A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”
To read the full story, click here.
VMAE Launches Pilot Study to Aid DVM Mental Health and Wellness
The Veterinary Medical Association Executives (VMAE) have launched their new pilot program ‘Veterinary Wellbeing Alliance’, an initiative in partnership with wellness platform Listeners On Call (LOC) that is aimed at helping veterinary professionals reduce stress and burnout.
So far ten thousand veterinary professionals across Georgia, New York, and Texas have improved access to mental health resources due to the program.
“Veterinary well-being has been a growing concern in recent years, and the pandemic has made it all the more urgent,” says VMAE chief executive officer, Adrian Hochstadt. “With increasing levels of burnout as practices face higher client demand than ever, it’s vital veterinary professionals have ready access to support.”
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Could Marijuana Help Pets?
In a recent interview with DVM360, Dr. Robert J. Silver, DVM, MS (the chief veterinary officer at Real Mushrooms for Real Pets), outlined key points from his lecture on veterinary cannabis therapeutics.
During the interview, Robert J. Silver stated he aims to use the session to give veterinarians a more in-depth understanding of cannabis and how it can be utilized in veterinary medicine.
“Part of my teaching is to help familiarize veterinarians with the terminology with the ingredients within the molecules that are found in the [cannabis] plant, and also with the system that the molecules work on the endocannabinoid system. So I think 1 take-home point would be that the cannabis plant is more than just CBD.” Said Robert J. Silver.
To watch the interview, click here.
Australian Veterinary Association Raises Concern about Veterinary Mental Health
The Australian Veterinary Association has raised concerns around veterinary mental health and is calling on the Federal Election to commit to investing $3m across five years to help the wellbeing of Australian veterinarians.
In a statement, AVA president, Dr. Warwick Vale said:
“I’ve been to too many funerals of colleagues, I’ve seen too many colleagues drop out of the profession, and I’ve seen too many colleagues break under the strain.
“The AVA is investing in solving this crisis, but we can’t do it on our own—we need the next Federal Government to stand shoulder to shoulder with us and lend a supporting hand to our country’s veterinarians.”
To read the full story, click here.
UK First: RVC Launches Primary Care and Shelter Medicine Internship
The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has launched a Postgraduate Diploma in Primary and Accessible Care and Education (PGDipPACE) internship, which aims to help students develop skills in teaching and research in a practical setting.
Interns on the course will be awarded associate fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.
In an interview, Adrian Boswood, vice-principal for learning, teaching, and assessment at the RVC, said: “We were keen to develop an internship that offered a deeper understanding and broader experience of primary and accessible care while developing expertise in education; allowing these interns to share their enthusiasm for practice with the next generation of vets.”
Teaching is due to begin in August 2022.
To read the full story, click here.
How to Switch off After Work
Being a veterinarian can be tough, dealing with the life and death of beloved family members, emergencies, grief, and throw in long working hours, and short-staffed hospitals and it’s no wonder the profession is suffering.
So after a long day, how can you switch off to ensure you’re practicing self-care and avoid getting burnt out?
Firstly, use your journey between work and home to transition from ‘work mode’ to ‘relax mode’. Rather than using this time to overthink the coulda, woulda, shoulda’s, or worrying about work, try listening to music, a podcast, audiobook, or practice mindful breathing.
When you have arrived home, instead of heading for the couch, do something you love! A walk in nature, calling friends, taking a shower, watching a movie, or eating your favorite snack are all great ways to ground yourself.
Lastly, make plans to look forward to. After all, laughter is the best medicine. Be sure to factor in fun events or plans with friends to lighten the load.
