VCA streamlines care through personalised online platform
VCA has launched a new online tool across their 900 clinics in the US and Canada to help patients connect with their clinic easily online. MyVCA patient portal supplies users with a personalised interface, access to book appointments online, a refill service, automatic reminders for appointments, and articles curated for their pet’s health needs.
VCA’s director of national marketing, Martha Smith says: “In getting our clients easier and more convenient access to authentic, reliable pet health information and tailored recommendations from their pets’ health-care teams whenever and wherever they need them, we aim to further empower them to even more effectively support their pets’ health and wellness needs, ultimately creating more confident pet owners, and healthier pets,”
https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/vca-streamlines-care-through-personalized-online-platform/
Laser pointers can cause behaviour disorders in cats
John Ciribassi, DVM, DACVB has said that laser pointers can be harmful to cat’s behaviour and even cause disorders. He has asked vets to instruct their clients to be aware of this. Ciribassi claims that laser pointers lack an “endpoint” which can lead cats to develop a compulsive disorder and start to chase similar things like shadows and other lights. However, instead of abandoning the laser pointer, you should add a clicker and treats when cats catch the laser point light. This will then show the cat that it has ‘won’ and thus leads to positive reinforcement.
http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/laser-pointers-can-cause-behavior-disorders-cats
New vaccine will stop the spread of bovine TB
Researchers from the University of Surrey have created a vaccine that is compatible with a synthetic form of the tuberculin skin test (PPD). Currently, the BCG vaccine is not compatible with PPD making it impossible to vaccinate cattle against TB. At present, cattle with TB are culled. This will allows veterinarians to protect cattle with the new BCG vaccine, while still maintaining a diagnostic test that will detect TB.
CVS Group announces that it has joined the Time to Change Pledge
CVS Group has signed the Time to Change Pledge at the CVS Group 2020 conference which approves the plan to which supports best practice evidence-based interventions and policy, to help colleagues work in ways that promote positive mental wellbeing. 250 CVS workers will become Wellbeing Champions, trained in first aid for mental health. CVS plans to train further into stress management and mental health issues for line managers in 2020.
Richard Fairman, CEO and wellbeing working party chair said: “We are proud to be the first major veterinary employer to sign the Time to Change Pledge. The CVS wellbeing working party has made much progress in the last 12 months delivering our plan which has been formalised through participating in the Time to Change pledge. We recognise that the pressures in our industry are significant and unique, and that there’s more work to do. We remain committed as a company and wellbeing working party to changing the way we all think and act about mental health in the workplace for the better.”
BVA and BVPA respond to confirmed bird flu case in England
In mid-Suffolk, there is a confirmed case of H5 low pathogenicity avian influenza in a chicken farm. A one-kilometre restriction zone has been put in the place of the affected area. The British Vet Association and the British Veterinary Poultry Association have both said that there should be no worry in a threat to UK consumers of chicken products as the Food Standards Agency has emphasised that bird flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers.
https://veterinary-practice.com/news/2019/bva-and-bvpa-respond-to-confirmed-bird-flu-case-in-england
Trap, Neuter and Return programmes run in Guangxi find homes for 54 cats so far!
Animals Asia has supported ten NGO’s in the province of Guangxi to run stray cat Trap, Neuter and Return (TNR) programmes. These volunteers help trap, neuter, vaccinate, de-worm and re-home stray cats. In 2019 they have managed to find homes for 54 stray cats.
Animals Asia’s China Cat and Dog Welfare Director, Suki Deng said: “These results are really encouraging. With over 50 cats having found new homes in the province so far and many more sterilised, that means there will be fewer cats living tough lives on the streets. This work really encapsulates what Animals Asia does. We work on the ground with authorities and local communities to share vital information and we fund practical programmes that improve animal welfare and community outcomes. We’re really looking forward to hearing back from the other NGOs we’ve funded with more heart-warming stories of cats being given better lives and we vow to continue this work in the years to come.”
5 Simple Mindfulness Practices for Daily Life
Here is an article to help practice mindfulness throughout the day with 5 different techniques. These include mindfulness strategies when waking up, eating, pausing throughout the day, working out and driving.
Try these out for a week or two and record whether they have helped.
