VetNI

Veterinary Northern Ireland

AVSPNI Summer CPD & Social Event

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The annual AVSPNI Summer CPD & Social Event was held on 10th June 2015 on a gloriously warm, sunny day at Andy Oliver’s Race yard in Co. Tyrone. Andy specialised as an Equine Vet before becoming a very successful trainer.

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Approximately 40 Vets attended this AVSPNI Summer CPD meeting. It was a spectacular sight to behold the race horses, with their coats gleaming in the brilliant sunshine, head out to the Gallops. The event commenced with a delicious cold buffet lunch provided by Simply Irresistible accompanied by beer brought by the main sponsor Norbrook – the Ballyedmond family are diversifying into brewing. Once replete, the vets broke up into two groups. One was given a personal guided tour by Andy who informed them about the day to day running of his race yard. Andy also described in detail the various techniques (both veterinary and training) he uses in order to get the best from his racehorses. This was followed by a question and answer section. The second group received a clinical talk on “Gastric ulcers in foals and horses” from Dr Rebecca Froehlich-Kelly from Norbrook. Mid-afternoon, after some light refreshments, the groups swapped over. Mrs. Melanie Spahn, President of AVSPNI, delivered some closing words, thanking Andy for hosting the Summer CPD Day which everyone thoroughly enjoyed. She also thanked the principal sponsors, Norbrook and Sean from Botanica who also provided sponsorship and gave a short talk on his products. Following the CPD element of the day, the vets travelled to the nearby Ryandale at Moy for a lovely dinner, chat and “post mortem” on what proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable day.

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NIVA Senior Members Lunch 2015

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This year’s annual NIVA Senior Members’ Lunch, held on the 19th June, saw a return to the ever popular Templeton Hotel. Around 40 guests attended the event availing of the opportunity to catch up with acquaintances and former colleagues on a gloriously sunny day.
Guests had the opportunity to mingle in the bar before being shown through to the Raffles Restaurant where they were served a delicious lunch. The satisfying sounds of continuous chat and laughter throughout the meal were a testament to a truly social occasion. Following the meal, the NIVA President, Simon Doherty, gave a brief talk on his chosen charity Send a Cow of which he is an Ambassador and Trustee. Send a Cow’s vision is for a confident and thriving rural Africa; it seeks to achieve this by providing rural families with training in health & hygiene, gender empowerment, organic horticulture and animal husbandry, before livestock placements are made.
Simon would like to express his gratitude to all those, present and absent, who made a donation to this worthy cause. After a brief vote of thanks to Simon and the staff of the Templeton Hotel, some of the guests adjourned outside for a quick photo opportunity.
We look forward to seeing our guests at next years Senior Members’ Lunch.

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Animal Welfare Leaflet (September 2015)

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Welfare of Animals Act (NI) 2011
Under the Welfare of Animals Act (NI) 2011 a person who is responsible for an animal must ensure that its needs are met, and it is an offence to fail to take reasonable steps to ensure its welfare.  Causing an animal unnecessary suffering is also an offence and can be punished with a prison sentence of up to 2 years and an unlimited fine.
Three separate bodies are responsible for enforcement of the Act depending on the type of animals involved and, in some cases, the nature of the welfare issue.
Officers from the enforcement bodies will investigate complaints and can use their statutory powers to take a range of actions including giving advice, issuing legally binding Improvement Notices, taking animals into their possession and prosecution.

If you do become aware of an animal welfare case please DO report it to the appropriate enforcement body as set out below,providing as much information as possible.
Please DO NOT:
·         uploadcomments or photographs to social media sites or other media outlets as this may jeopardise potential court proceedings;
·         interfere with evidence as this may affect any subsequent criminal investigation; or
·         attempt to rescue an animal from another person or property as you may be found to be acting illegally.

NON-FARMED ANIMALS
District Councils are responsible for enforcement of the Welfare of Animals (NI) Act 2011, as it applies to Non-Farmed Animals.This means domestic pets of any vertebrate species such as cats, dogs, horses and donkeys, etc.
The Council Animal Welfare Officersdo not offer re-homing services for unwanted animals but will be able to refer you to other bodies that may be able to help.
If you need to report a Non-Farmed Animalwelfare case during office hours Monday – Friday 9am-5pm you should contact the appropriate telephone number or email address relating to the region you live in, these are set out below.
Please note that emails will only be responded to during office hours which are Monday to Friday 9am-5pm.
For emergency animal welfare cases only between 9am and 5pm at weekends and over holiday periods contact the same numbers and you will be directed to an out of hours service.
Belfast City Council
Telephone: 028 9027 0431
Email: [email protected]  
Eastern Region –Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Ards & North Down District Council
Telephone: 028 9049 4567
Email: [email protected]
Northern Region– Mid & East Antrim District Council, Causeway Coast & Glens District Council, Antrim & Newtownabbey BoroughCouncil
Telephone:   028 2563 3134
Email: [email protected]
Southern Region – Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council,Newry Mourne & Down District Council
Telephone:   028 3751 5800
Email: [email protected]
Western Area – Fermanagh & Omagh District Council, Derry City & Strabane District Council, Mid Ulster District Council.
Telephone:    028 8225 6226
Email: [email protected]

FARMED ANIMALS
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD)is responsible for enforcement of the Welfare of Animals (NI) Act 2011, in relation to Farmed Animals.Welfare complaints in respect of Farmed Animals (that is animals bred or kept for the production of food, wool or skin or other farming purposes) should be referred to DARD.
During office hours which are Monday to Friday 9am-5pm, contact DARD bytelephone:0300 200 7840. 
After 5pm and at weekendsif you have a complaint relating to a Farmed Animal contact a local Private Veterinary Practice.

WILDLIFE
If you suspect Wildlife Crime, for example;Badger Baiting,illegal killing of birds of prey ,destroying or disturbing bat roosts, release into the wild of non-native species, trapping wildlife illegally, trade in endangered species, deer poaching etc. then please contact the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).If an animal is involved with other criminal related activity for example dog fighting please telephone the local PSNI by dialling 101or if very urgent please call 999.  Information can also be given anonymously through the Crime Stoppers Charity on 0800 555 111. The PSNI are also responsible for animals wandering on roads under the Animals (NI) Order 1976.   

Information on animal welfare and how to care for animals is available at www.nidirect.gov.uk/animal-welfare.

Wanted!!! Diabetic dogs for clinical trial

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Wanted! Diabetic Dogs for international clinical trial
There is a request for diabetic dogs to take part in a large international clinical trial which will be running throughout 2015.  Please help by referring your suitable cases to participating practices in Northern Ireland!  All costs will be   covered for included dogs, and referring vets may be eligible for a £150 M&S voucher.  For full details, please see the attached PDF.

click here to download more info

On Farm Emergency Slaughter Pads

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Following consultation with interested bodies the emergency slaughter certificate has now been amended and produced as a triplicate pad with guidelines on farm slaughter included.

The on farm emergency slaughter pads are available for purchase from BCVA by contacting the Office (Tel: 01452 725735, [email protected]). Containing fifty certificates, each pad costs £25.00 plus VAT. Please note that there is also a charge for postage.

Illegality of cow pacifiers in the UK

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Reminder to vets that the use of electronic equipment by farmers or stock persons known as cow “pacifiers” or electroimmobilisers are illegal in the UK.

For those of you not familiar with the process, electroimmobilisation commonly involves the insertion of a probe into the cows rectum, where a low voltage electric current is delivered to produce tetanic contractions in skeletal muscle. This results in a reduction in voluntary movements and the voltage can be increased until the animal is immobilised. It has been commonly marketed in countries such as New Zealand and South Africa as a method for restraining animals for routine procedures such as castrations, dehorning, foot trimming, training heifers in the milking parlour, difficult calving deliveries and other animal husbandry techniques in suckler and dairy cattle.  Research has revealed that cattle are aversive to this procedure (Carter and others 1983; Grandin 1988) and that no analgesic effects are produced. Current legislation clearly states that these methods are illegal in the UK.

Queen presents inaugural RCVS Queen’s Medal to Des Thompson

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Her Majesty the Queen bestowed the first ever Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Queen’s Medal to Des Thompson OBE at a private ceremony in Buckingham Palace on the afternoon of Wednesday 8 October 2014.  The Queen’s Medal was launched in 2013, with the approval of Her Majesty as Patron of the RCVS, and is now the highest award that can be bestowed upon a veterinary surgeon in recognition of a particularly outstanding contribution to the profession. In receiving the medal, Des was joined by Professor Stuart Reid, current RCVS President, Colonel Neil Smith, immediate past President, and Gordon Hockey, RCVS Registrar. The Belfast-based vet received two separate nominations for the medal, both citing his decades of active involvement in veterinary politics which includes being president of the RCVS, the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA), the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS) and the Northern Ireland Veterinary Association, among other organisations.  Also cited was his willingness to help other members of the profession, particularly young vets at the beginning of their careers, through his involvement with organisations such as the Young Vet Network in Northern Ireland and the Veterinary Benevolent Fund.  Commenting after the presentation, Des said: “It was a complete honour and a wonderful experience to be received by Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace today, and I’m thrilled to have been awarded the RCVS Queen’s Medal. Her Majesty was interested to hear about Northern Ireland, and the fact that I’ve been practising there since I qualified.”Des at palace

Horse Passports

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Make sure you advise your clients correctly about the need for horse passports. You can download a flyer for display from DARD website http://www.dardni.gov.uk/2012-horse-passport-flyer.pdf
Link to Weatherbys Identification of horses booklet:https://www.weatherbys.co.uk/sites/default/files/Identification%20of%20Horses%20Booklet.pdf
Link to DARD info on horse passports:http://www.dardni.gov.uk/horse-passports-q-and-a.pdf
Horse passport agency:http://www.horsepassportagency.co.uk/