Source: https://www.vetclick.com/
Posted
7th June, 2019 13h27

Author
BSAVA

The trend to feed raw diets to dogs and cats continues to generate debate amongst the veterinary profession, pet owners and commercial providers of these diets. The Journal of Small Animal Practice (JSAP) weighs up the pros and cons in this month’s issue.

The recent shift from heat-treated, manufactured pet food for dogs and cats has been driven by perceived health benefits of raw diets and suspicion of processed pet food. The diets of wildliving related species have been used as a rationale for raw feeding, but differences in biology and lifestyle impose limitations on such comparisons.

Raw diets for dogs and cats: a review, with particular reference to microbiological hazards is a review that looks at the practice, rationale and motivation for raw feeding before evaluating existing evidence on both benefits and risks of such diets.1

“Formal evidence does exist for claims by rawfeeding proponents of an altered intestinal microbiome and (subjectively) improved stool quality,” said Dr Andrew Wales. “However, there is currently neither robust evidence nor identified plausible mechanisms for many of the wide range of other claimed benefits.”

He continued: “There are documented risks associated with raw feeding, principally malnutrition (inexpert formulation and testing of diets) and infection affecting pets and/or household members. Salmonella has been consistently found and there is also a risk of introducing antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.”

Following a recent paper2 describing 13 cats in the UK that appeared to have been infected by Mycobacterium bovis by feeding Natural Instinct Wild Venison, a commercial raw mince for cats, the leader of the investigation, Professor Danièlle Gunn-Moore, of the University of Edinburgh said: “Feeding raw food was the only conceivable route of infection in most cases; this outbreak of tuberculosis has now affected more than 90 individuals in over 30 different locations, with more than 50 of the cats developing clinical disease.”

The full review article can be found in the June issue of the Journal of Small Animal Practice which is free for BSAVA members. It can also be read online here https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsap.13000

For information on how to become a BSAVA member visit https://www.bsava.com/Membership/Member-categories

1Raw diets for dogs and cats: a review, with particular reference to microbiological hazards R.H. Davies, J.R. Lawes, A.D Wales.

2Tuberculosis due to Mycobacterium bovis in pet cats associated with feeding a commercial raw food diet. O’Halloran C, et al. 2019 May 13:1098612X19848455. doi: 10.1177/1098612X19848455. [Epub ahead of print]

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Source: https://www.vetclick.com/

Posted
12th June, 2019 12h02

Author
BSAVA

BSAVA is launching a new event to tackle some of the potentially contentious clinical and non-clinical issues facing veterinary professionals.  BSAVA Summitwill take place over two days from 16-17 December 2019 at the Royal College of Physicians in London and will involve a series of high-profile keynote speakers and interactive workshops. Registration opens on 17thJune 2019.

The event will deliver CPD differently to other veterinary meetings, with most sessions run as facilitated workshops to enable delegates to lead and shape discussions. Confirmed facilitators include RCVS CEO Lizzie Lockett, BEVA President Renate Weller, Director of Clinical Research and Excellence in Practice at VetPartners Rachel Dean and Small Animal Medicine Specialist and Advanced Practitioner in Veterinary Cardiology Dr Kit Sturgess. Each day delegates can choose three out of a total of five workshops. Online forums will be used in the run up to BSAVA Summit to develop ideas and thinking for the workshops before the event.

High profile, non-veterinary keynote speakers will kick-start each day with lectures to encourage a wider range of thinking.Dr Graham Easton a general practitioner and GP Appraiser in North West London, medical journalist and Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer in the Department of Primary Care and Public Health, will be providing a thought-provoking start to the first day.

Day one will focus on ‘The Profession Today’ and topics will include workforce issues, telemedicine, specialism, the future of advanced practitioners and regulation of the profession.

Day two, to be introduced by another prominent keynote speaker to be announced shortly, will explore the future of ‘The Profession Tomorrow’ with topics including communication, over-diagnosis, over-treatment and innovation.

On the Monday evening delegates, speakers and facilitators will be able to enjoy networking and reflecting on the day’s discussions at a drinks reception in the library at the Royal College of Physicians. They can then indulge in the spectacular sights and sounds of London in the build up to Christmas.

BSAVA President Sue Paterson said:

“We have launched BSAVA Summit to address the rising demand for a space to debate important topics, challenge mindsets and question accepted benchmarks. Following feedback from our members and the profession, Summit will revolutionise veterinary conference norms with a free-flow approach to champion active debate, discussion and reflection.

“There is a growing need to tackle some of the ethical and professional problems that face vets today such as over diagnosis, the role of specialists in practice, and research in practice. Importantly, the format of the discussion forums means that whilst the debate is led by a facilitator, the delegates will drive the agenda to arrive at stimulating and satisfying outcomes.  It has been designed to fit with the new outcomes-based approach proposed by the RCVS where veterinary professionals are encouraged to plan their CPD, do their CPD and reflect on what they have learnt.

“The delegates are the key to the event, and Summit should attract people who want to be involved, want to input, want to make a difference and want to help drive the profession forward. I already have people eagerly emailing me wanting news of when the registration goes live.

“Summit aims to help delegates take a hard look at the way they work. Our aim is for each delegate to set themselves personal goals and we will be following up in 3 months to see if they have achieved them.”

Although BSAVA Summit is primarily targeted at experienced small animal practitioners, all vets, including equine and large animals practitioners, are welcome to attend.

“Through enabling this collaborative event, we know that delegates will all bring experience and expertise that will help shape the future of veterinary practice; this will have a positive impact on both animal welfare and the profession.” explained Angharad Belcher, Head of Partnerships at BSAVA.

The full programme will be available and registration will open online on 17th June.  BSAVA members will have an opportunity to book advance tickets, with general sale opening two weeks later. For further information visitwww.bsavasummit.com

For information on how to become a BSAVA member visit https://www.bsava.com/Membership/Member-categories

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