VetNI

Veterinary Northern Ireland

Sunshine and smiles at the NIVA Summer Social!

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A fantastic time was had at the NIVA Summer Social in beautiful Tollymore Forest Park. Thanks must go to Angie Drayne, supported by Janette Adams , for the nature walk – so much fascinating information was shared. Mandy and Gavin made everyone welcome at their gorgeous wee country pub, Dolly’s Brae Inn, and great BBQ food (oh, those salads!) was supplied by Alex Berry and served by Brian Berry of Simply Irresistible. The quiz was lively and competitive with great questions from quizmaster Stewart Holden that gradually sorted the front runners from the wooden-tops – thank you Stewart! Congratulations to the winning team “The Folks on the Hill” from Rathfriland vet clinic. Special commendation goes to Phil and Pauline Walsh who came second despite being the smallest team!! Lovely etched wooden spoons went to the team with the lowest score but we are too diplomatic to mention who took these home.
We are still counting the money made for Marie Curie in memory of Sam Nelson – thank you to all those who supported this event, either through draw ticket purchases or by turning up on the day. The big prize (a week in a choice of two luxury Donegal holiday cottages, Whispering Willows) was won by Annette Doyle with Gemma Daly winning the weekend in the beautiful Tollymore Gate Lodge. Thanks also to NIVA Council for their help on the day and to those who gave prizes for the draw and raffle – Fiona McFarland, The Vet Service, the Drayne family, Joanne at Virbac, Gavin and Mandy at Dolly’s Brae, Tim at Shanaghan Photography, Seamus O’Kane, the McFarland family, Sean from Botanica, CVS, Pollyanna’s Gift Shop, Julie from Idexx and Chris from Boehringer Ingelheim. Our sponsors also deserve recognition – Lintbells, Botanica, Lloyd & Cowan, IMV Imaging, McEvoy Hoofcare Ltd., IVC – thank you all!

Pet Passport Information

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As a consequence of the decision to defer the scheduled date that the UK is due to leave the EU until 31st October 2019, normal arrangements continue to apply to the issue of Pet Passports.

During this extension period pets travelling from the UK to the EU should be prepared for travel as follows:

  • microchipped
  • rabies vaccinated (make sure the pet is microchipped first or the rabies vaccine will be invalid)
  • issued with a pet passport
  • if required treated for tapeworm (dogs only)

The 21 day waiting period applies from the date of the rabies vaccination before travelling.

Dogs returning to the UK from the EU must be treated by a vet for tapeworm between 24 to 120 hours before arriving in the UK.  The vet must record the treatments on the pet passport.

DAERA Trade Transition Team

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DAERA has recently published guidance on the internet in respect of exporting where the UK leaves the EU without a deal.  The link can be found here:
https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/guidance-exporters-products-animal-origin-poao-event-uk-exits-eu-no-deal-scenario

To ensure you get the correct support with your queries on DECOL, updated contact details are included below:

Please ensure you advise your customers that if they intend to export the product they are purchasing, they must make an application via DECOL for the necessary export paperwork.  Links are included below:

Main page: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/landing-pages/exporting-animals-and-animal-products-northern-ireland

Meat and meat product page : https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/services/meat-and-meat-product-exports

A successful Spring Meeting for AVSPNI

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Over 60 vets from around the province gathered at the Glenavon Hotel on 3rd April for the Spring meeting of AVSPNI.  After a lovely meal, a brief business meeting updated members on current activities and upcoming events.

The floor was then passed over to our speaker for the evening Karin Mueller, Karin spoke about the importance of fluid therapy in farm animal patients.  She reminded us of the need to ensure sufficient volumes were given and continued for long enough to permit the kidney to be adequately reperfused and able to deal itself with any remaining electrolyte imbalances.  Her second topic covered the basis of blood transfusion and was very helpful in the range of simple practical tips that it included in how to manage what is often an emergency and unfamiliar situation.  Her final talk of the night looked at the issue of urolithiasis.  Again she had a simple and practical approach to both medical and surgical management of these cases and everyone left more confident about their ability to treat the condition.

As a bonus for members who could not attend Karin has agreed to prepare a short recorded talk on top tips for examining a sick camelid.  Members will be advised by email when this is ready to be accessed online.  We thank Karin for all her effort in preparing the talks and coming to Cookstown.

The meeting would not have been possible without the support of our very generous sponsors MSD and we thank then for their sponsorship and the ‘party bags’ everyone went home with. With all our new beanie hats there will be no more cold heads when out on calls.

IMPORTANT! VETNI – IT ISSUES

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I’m sorry to report that we have had a major problem with our server and currently do not have access to VetNI email accounts or files.

If you have contacted us since 27.3.2019 we have not received your email. If you need to contact us over the next few days please call 02825 258943. We are working on resolving this IT issue but the situation will be the same for the next few days whilst work is in process.

The next meeting is the AVSPNI Spring meeting on Wednesday, if you are planning on attending please call to register 02825 898543. We will however accept walk ins on the day.

We are sorry for the inconvenience caused and hope that normal service is resumed shortly.

Red Tractor Pig Standards updated

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With effect from 1 April 2019 pig scheme members must ensure that staff deemed competent by the vet to administer medicines and veterinary treatments have read the Practical Guide to Responsible Use of Antibiotics on Farm, which is available to download from the AHDB website here.  These guidelines offer advice on using antibiotics whenever the pig farm’s veterinary surgeon recommends them to be appropriate.  Contingency planning guidance issued by Red Tractor in the summer last year is also worth highlighting in these uncertain times. All information on the Red Tractor scheme can be found on the Red Tractor website.

Veterinary Medicines regulation in the event of a No Deal – VMD information on Gov.UK

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Throughout the government’s negotiations to leave the EU on 29 March the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has developed plans for all possible outcomes including no deal.
VMD has therefore published on GOV.UK  its EU Exit Information Hub www.gov.uk/guidance/eu-exit-information  which sets out what  vets and other stakeholders will need to do differently if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. It also sets out the areas of veterinary medicines regulation where there will be no change.
For vets the areas you will need to do things differently in the event of a no deal are:
–              Applying for a Special Import Certificate/Special Treatment Certificate
–              Operating the prescribing cascade
Please visit the Veterinary Medicines Directorate’s EU Exit Information Hub www.gov.uk/guidance/eu-exit-information  for detailed advice and guidance  on the above areas and all areas of veterinary medicines regulation that will and won’t be  changing in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal. 
The VMD will continue to assure the safety, quality and effectiveness of all veterinary medicines authorised in the UK  to protect animal health, human health and the environment.

Be aware! Export of horses and ponies post-BREXIT

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Vets! Please check and familiarise yourselves with the government guidance on equine movements post-Brexit as you will be the source of advice for your clients. As well as travel to mainland Europe, the rules also apply to NI – R of I cross-border movements.

A Q&A sheet is included from DAERA here but please also refer to the Gov.UK site link above for the latest updates.

Time to end non-stun slaughter

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The A.V.S.P.N.I. is proud to lend its weight to the campaign to end the slaughter of livestock without prior stunning which was launched this week by the B.V.A. in conjunction with the R.S.P.C.A.  Among our core beliefs as an Association has always been the principle that the veterinary profession should give a lead in the wider animal welfare debate. As a veterinary organisation many of whose members work with food animals we feel that concern for the welfare of livestock at the time of slaughter must always be part and parcel of a meat-eating society. Our unwavering opposition to non-stun slaughter is longstanding. We understand that at present no animals are slaughtered in Northern Ireland without first being stunned. In the absence of a functioning devolved government there is no prospect of legal measures to end the practice of non-stun slaughter being introduced. For the present however we would call for the mandatory labelling of meat products with the method of slaughter to enable consumers to exercise their right to choose. The A.V.S.P.N.I. would further call for the import of meat products derived from unstunned animals to be restricted to the quantities required to meet the needs of those religious and ethnic groups whose beliefs require it. A moratorium on the export of animals for slaughter elsewhere without prior stunning is also much to be desired.  The slaughter of animals without prior stunning was outlawed in Denmark in 2014 and in the Flanders province of Belgium this year. The A.V.S.P.N.I. believes it time Northern Ireland followed suit.

For more information on this read this campaign on the BVA Website