Veterinary Voices UK

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Veterinary Voices UK

We inform and engage with animal owners by providing a balanced view on medical and veterinary issues

We share posts, articles and information on campaigns and issues that the 18000+ members of Veterinary Voices UK believe would be of interest to animal owners.

09/01/2025

Home Office requests review of ketamine classification

The government will seek expert advice on reclassifying ketamine to become a Class A substance.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/home-office-requests-review-of-ketamine-classification

We recognise the grave concerns for drug misuse and abuse in the UK, We are glad to see that they are seeking expert advice, and we hope that the voice of the profession is heard.

Ketamine is a drug widely used in veterinary medicine, at various dosages for various needs and requirements.

It can be used as, but not limited to, an incredible adjunct to many protocols for safe, well rounded anaesthesia and analgesia. The drug is used in critical, emergency and trauma patients, is well used in exotic, farm, equine and zoo medicine. It can help lower inhalation anaesthesia requirements, can be used as part of a multimodal analgesia protocol and could reduce rescue analgesia need. It can also be used in some chronic pain conditions.

It is absolutely essential that reclassification means UK veterinary teams do not face challenges or disruption obtaining the drug, as they would if it was a Class 1.

We hope that the British Veterinary Association - BVA and MPs such as Danny Chambers MP are able to give the perspective of the veterinary community to ensure that should the classification change, the health and welfare of our patients is not compromised.

*Edited*

02/01/2025

Flooding and Pets

Sadly, the UK has been hit by widespread flooding in many areas.

This presents a number of challenges and risks to communities.

Local outbreaks of leptospirosis have been anecdotally reported following flood water, and this is mirrored by risks to humans after flooding.

Risk factors for human leptospirosis following flooding: A meta-analysis of observational studies

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6541304/

We would advise that for this reason you avoid letting our pets play in standing flood water where there is risk of both sewage overflow, animal urine (and excrement) or farming run off, in case we run the increased risk of leptospirosis or a gastroenteritis.

It would be sensible to also check your pets Leptospirosis vaccination is up to date. These are very safe. Based on the most recent periodic safety update report data received for each product, the incidence of adverse animal events for L4 vaccine products this figure is 0.045%, fewer than 5 for L4, for every 10,000 doses sold.

Any outdoor animals should be checked regularly to ensure their enclosure isn't waterlogged and they have plentiful access to dry, warm bedding and food. They may need to be temporarily relocated.

It is also incredibly important to come together as a community. For those who have been flooded there is a long road ahead to return to normality after damage to the house. Making sure your friends and neighbours are okay, offering food and support and helping drop off food, including pet food, at local food banks can help.

As with anything, we know communities can remain strong when they come together.

01/01/2025

Happy New Year to all our community!

Whether you're a veterinary professional or owner, fosterer or guardian of animals we cannot wait to see what 2025 brings.

To start it off let's hear some New Year Resolutions that involve your pets?

Here are a few suggestions from us!

🩵 We love the Pet Food UK slogan 'Love them madly, feed them wisely '.

Just as many of us feel the need to kick start the new year with a healthy initiative, why not consider how many of our UK pets are overweight. Start making positive changes now!

We can love them madly without overfeeding!

🩵 Enrichment! We would love to see more pet owners looking into species appropriate enrichment for their pets and animals!

Why not allow play, foraging, exploration and puzzles to keep the mind and body active and healthy?

🩵 Keep sharing helpful, evidence based information and say NO to sharing medical misinformation. Fact check and source check before sharing.

🩵 Let our dogs sniff more on walks. Slowing down can be beneficial for both you and your pets! Take in the beautiful world 🌍 around us and let your canine companion use that fantastic nose to explore the area.

🩵 Look into the '5 Pillars of a feline environment' by the ISFM and see how you can improve your cats well-being by making simple changes to the home and environment. We see a lot of stress related illnesses in cats and owners aren't always great at picking up on signs of stress because they can be very subtle (and sometimes not, such as house soiling!)

What are your aims for 2025?

We would LOVE to hear if you've been researching a new animal, or have a new idea for what you want to achieve with your pet this year 🩵🌈.

29/12/2024

The Puppy Conundrum: What is ethical breeding?

As the Kennel Club Assured Breeders Scheme closes down at the end of 2024, how do we ensure that prospective puppy owners are educated on what constitutes an ‘ethical breeder’.

Do you believe that there is such a thing as ‘ethical breeders’?

Join Veterinary Surgeons Sean McCormack and Alison Skipper, with Veterinary Voices own Robyn Lowe, as they delve into challenging topics around the Kennel Club, pedigree dogs, health testing, societies purchase habits (sometimes compulsive, and based on aesthetic and fashionable breeds over health) and the future of puppy breeding and purchasing.

What are the ‘green flags’ of a good breeder - how do we stop the UK puppy demand supporting illegally imported puppies, or unethical and unscrupulous breeding methods and establishments or organisations?

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/veterinary-voices/episodes/The-Puppy-Conundrum-What-is-ethical-breeding-e2smv85

20/12/2024

Christmas dinner for dogs?

Christmas can be an exciting time for all the family, so it’s not surprising that people want to include their four-legged family members in the festivities. This may include feeding a few yuletide treats, but be warned, some of our favourite seasonal foods could spoil your dog’s day very quickly! Common Christmas foods can cause anything from digestive upset to serious, life-threatening toxicity.

Firstly, there’s absolutely no need to feed your dog anything in addition to their usual, complete food if it’s not right for them, or you’d prefer to play it safe. For example, those with sensitive stomachs, medical conditions such as pancreatitis, or requiring special food for nutritional support of a health problem should stick to their usual diet. If in doubt, don’t feel under pressure to feed anything different– your dog won’t know that they are missing out and you may help them avoid a poorly timed illness.— with Purina UK & Ireland.
If you do decide to feed treats, a small quantity should be given alongside your dog’s usual food. A completely different Christmas Day diet consisting mostly of human food is a bad idea.

Here are some common foods your dog might be sniffing out this Christmas:

✅Turkey: dogs can eat turkey meat, but it should be boneless and skinless. It’s best to avoid any meat that’s soaked in gravy, butter or seasonings and go for plain meat instead.
✅Other vegetables: small amounts of green beans, sprouts, parsnips, peas and
swede can all be given.
➡Potatoes: be careful. A small amount of cooked, peeled potato is fine, but the butter and cream added to mash or the fat that roast potatoes are cooked in could be a problem.
➡Cranberry sauce: be careful. Small amounts of cranberries are fine for dogs, but
other ingredients in the sauce could be toxic such as sweeteners (xylitol) and nuts. It
may also have a very high sugar content.
✅Dog treats: if you plan on giving treats other than your pet’s usual food, a safe option is to purchase some treats designed for dogs, produced by a reputable manufacturer.

❎Stuffing: avoid. Often contains onions, garlic and various spices. Plants in the allium family, such as onion and garlic can cause anaemia in dogs.
❎Gravy: best avoided. Gravy can be high in fat, sodium, and contain ingredients such as garlic
❎Bones: Avoid. Cooked bones from the turkey carcass, and other meats, can damage the gastrointestinal tract lining or get stuck.
❎Dairy products: best avoided. Often high in fat and containing lactose, these
products can be hard for dogs to digest and lead to stomach upsets and illness.
❎Macadamia nuts: avoid. Can cause weakness, wobbliness, vomiting, tremors, high
temperature and central nervous system problems.
❎Chocolate: avoid. Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine that is highly
toxic to dogs. The darker the chocolate, the higher the levels of theobromine.
Chocolate can cause a variety of problems including gastrointestinal upset, hyperactivity, tremors, seizures and heart problems. Even chocolate with minimal
theobromine e.g. white chocolate can cause gastrointestinal problems due to its high
fat content.
❎Christmas pudding and mince pies: avoid. They contain several hazardous
ingredients, the most worrying being dried grapes (raisins, sultanas, currants).
❎Grapes can cause kidney failure in dogs.
❎Pigs in blankets: best avoided. High in sodium and fat, it’s a good idea to substitute these for some lean meat instead.

If you are concerned about the health of your dog or worried that they may have eaten something toxic, you should contact your vets immediately as prompt treatment may be needed.

It pays to be prepared for stomach upsets over bank holidays. See our post on acute
diarrhoea for more information and consider stocking up on any essentials in advance: https://www.vetvoices.co.uk/.../help-my-pet-has-diarrhoea...

19/12/2024

🤍Anyone who has to work over Christmas will struggle with emotional pressures and this is made worse for veterinary professionals because they have to deal with an increase in the number of euthanasias.

🖤Veterinary professionals have to regularly remain calm and professional during their daily work. Often moving from a trauma, to a new puppy, to an euthanasia, and then back to a happy new kitten without those owners knowing the immense emotional situation they had previously faced a few moments earlier.

🤍In a poll on Veterinary Voices UK 90% of veterinary professionals reported an increase in euthanasias around Christmas.

🖤This means that not only are veterinary professionals facing increased emotional burden, which can take its toll on mental health, but owners across the country are having to make a huge and often upsetting decision about their beloved pets.

🤍This highlights the importance of the vet, practice and client relationship at this time of year. We are able to extend our support both ways, helping veterinary professionals get through this busy and emotive time and helping owners deal with the grief of losing a beloved pet.

18/12/2024

❄️Keep Calm It's Christmas❄️

💙Christmas may seem like a time for cheer
💙But for our pets there may be an element of fear....

We wanted to raise awareness this Christmas to help pets and families have a safe and enjoyable festive period.

Although some pets enjoy being in the centre of the action, many will find parties and groups overwhelming so here are our Christmas Top Tips ☃️

❄️Children

Some pets get on fabulously with children, but many will not be used to the loud noises and excessive attention.

Children make up a large percentage of dog bite statistics. We need to be aware that many pets often feel they have no option to lash out after they have been telling us (via subtle body language) that they are feeling uncomfortable in a situation.

Therefore we need to teach children entering the house during the Christmas period to be animal savvy!

🌀Do not approach a sleeping animal.
🌀Ask permission before you pet an animal.
🌀Don't disturb a pet while eating.
🌀Don't take toys away from a pet.
🌀Don't jump on or ride dogs.
🌀If cats are in a safe hiding place then leave them be.

Canine Arthritis Management have produced a good book for children particularly focusing on our dogs with arthritis:

https://www.camonlineshop.com/why-dont-you-listen-book/

❄️Safe spaces

Safe places for our pets to escape the commotion are imperative to allow them to relax.

Provide cats with safe escape routes and calm, quiet rooms to hide in away from the commotion.

Provide dogs with a safe, comfy area they can retreat to if the party gets too much. This should be an area they are not allowed to be disturbed in and can be a room, crate or quiet corner.

❄️Fireworks

Follow our firework safety advise to keep pets safe and calm if fireworks are set off at Christmas.

❄️Vet visits

If your pet needs a prescription please give your Veterinary practice plenty of notice to dispense as there may be changes in Christmas medicine deliveries.

❄️Small furries

Indoor small furries like rabbits, Guinea pigs and hamsters will often find the noise and busyness extremely stressful. Keep them away from excessive handling by children and allow them a quiet place to stick to their routine.

❄️ Reptiles/exotics/birds

Reptiles also won't appreciate any over handling. Many species also run the risk of zoonotic bacteria (particularly salmonella) from their gastrointestinal tract if children or other guests are handling and nibbling finger food!

Some birds may enjoy the attention but others will find it overwhelming, and should not be handled in a party environment. They should not be around teflon pans cooking, certain sprays, cigarette smoke and room fragrances so may need to be kept away.

💙 Supporting this Christmas

💙 https://www.vetlife.org.uk/donate/

15/12/2024

Shared on behalf of community member:

For colleagues who are also AVMA members (and anyone concerned about animal welfare standards and/or transparency and independence in veterinary decision making) .

The AVMA has quietly released a new draft of the Guidelines for the Depopulation of Animals for use when events such as contagious animal diseases and pandemics occur.

The draft includes the use of ventilation shutdown plus (VSD+), which is a controversial method for pigs (tier 3) and poultry birds (tier 2). This approach essentially comprises shutting off the ventilation systems in large scale animal units leading to animals suffering from heatstroke, as they are deprived of air and exposed to excessive heat. Eventually this causes their death due to hyperthermia, often over many hours. This is a veterinary-sanctioned approach.

This method is not used in the UK or EU due to the significant suffering caused and more humane methods are available.
A summary of some concerns is outlined here https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/do/10.1002/vetr.00200007

The AVMA didn’t allow vets who opposed VSD+ to attend their Cargill-sponsored Humane Endings Symposium, aiming to keep a “safe space” for discussing depopulation methods. This is such a a different to approach to the UK where spaces such as the BVA’s Animal welfare forum allow for robust discussion of difficult topics.

The lack of transparency and the AVMA support for this approach in the USA is something we should all be concerned about
AVMA members have until January 30th to comment on these guidelines- you can still make a difference!

👉 How You Can Help:
📢 Share this info on social media to spread the word.
🩺 Talk to colleagues about this issue.
🔎 Learn more about the Guidelines and their impact.

15/12/2024

Can being more Clark Kent, less Superman reduce Second Victim Syndrome?

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/veterinary-voices/episodes/Can-being-more-Clark-Kent--less-Superman-reduce-Second-Victim-Syndrome-e2s31rg

➡️ In this podcast, Luiz Santos BVSc MSc Dip. ACVAA, presents his pioneering
research into Second Victim Syndrome in the veterinary profession and his
extensive knowledge on the topic in the medical field. In conversation with
Danny Chambers and Robyn Lowe we delve into personal experiences of Second
Victim Syndrome and how it can affect any one of us at any time.

🩵 Following an adverse event in practice, our focus is often on the harm done to
our patient, and the negative psychological impact on the caring professionals
involved are often overlooked. These psychological impacts can be severe and
long lasting and can lead to long term mental ill-health and/ or leaving the
profession.

➡️ We call this Second Victim Syndrome.

🩵 We discuss practical ways to reduce our experiences of this and how having a
superhero mentality may not always be helpful to ourselves and others around
us, highlighting the importance of peer support.

🩵 If you feel you have been affected by this podcast, or that you are experiencing
symptoms of Second Victim Syndrome then please contact Vetlife Helpline,
available 24/7 on 0303 040 2551/ www.vetlife.org.uk

Please see the following links for more information on Second Victim Syndrome:
ForYOU website, providing useful information on Second Victim:

https://www.muhealth.org/about-us/quality-care-patient-safety/office-of-
clinical-effectiveness/foryou

A Youtube podcast, with Dr Susan Scott describing her extensive work
with Second Victim Syndrome amongst medics

https://youtu.be/5MdvKUXZWS4

‘The natural history of recovery for the healthcare provider “second
victim” after adverse patient events,’ by Dr Susan Scott

https://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/18/5/325

‘Medical error: the second victim,’ by Albert Wu

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1117748/

14/12/2024

As animal athletes, we understand that Santa's Reindeer needs good quality nutrition.

Veterinary professionals are very knowledgeable on nutrition matters in numerous species, which is why we want to send our Reindeer feeders a special notice.

Some 'Reindeer feed' sold in shops, contain raisins. Although Dancer and Prancer have a soft spot for this dried fruit, if your pet dogs gets into the garden BEFORE Santa has come then we risk them eating the Reindeer food.

This may contain harmful substances - such as raisins.

We should also make sure it contains now harmful, non biodegradable substances like glitter in it, that could harm other wildlife.

Can our parents, guardians and caregivers ensure that our reindeer food is scattered where dogs cannot access it!

13/12/2024

We need your help!

Tell us the best toys, training or activities you do with your pet whether that be a cat, dog, rabbit or anything else!

Christmas is around the corner, but upwards of 60% of our pet population are overweight, so rather than buying lots of treats that they don't need, why not try something else?

✅ Puzzle feeders
✅ Enrichment games
✅ Licki mats
✅ Snuffle mats
✅ Toys and games
✅ Training games
✅ Grazing and foraging

Please tell us what you've found really helps you and your pet bond, whilst also instilling more healthy decisions by slowing down meal times, reducing unnecessary snacks and spending quality time together bonding and proving physical and mental stimulation.

Photos welcomed too! We love to see these happy animals.

12/12/2024

The high emotional stakes, the staff shortages, the cost of treatment.
When did it become so acceptable to abuse other people who are trying to help you?

It has been reported in a survey by the British Veterinary Association - BVA that 51% of vets in clinical practice have to work over the festive season but only one in ten feel happy to do so.

Reasons for this concern included:

❄️Being away from family and friends
❄️Lower staffing levels
❄️Higher levels of euthanasia
❄️Lack of support for difficult cases
❄️Coping with upset clients

In an informal poll ran by Veterinary Voices UK a number of Registered Veterinary Nurses also reported they would be working at some point during the festive period with issues mainly arising from:

❄️Travel to family being difficult
❄️ Missing time with family and friends
❄️ Being an locum away from home and finding it difficult to find a good Christmas meal!
❄️ Night shifts on Christmas Eve causing broken sleep before Christmas Day

It's especially important this time of year to look after one another, as Christmas can be especially lonely for many.

Despite it being a tough time of year for many, it is made worse by increased levels on negative interactions - and this isn't just veterinary. Police, medics and retail workers are also facing this awful behaviour.

👮‍♀️The police quoted: "The run-up to Christmas means more people are out enjoying the revelry, and with alcohol consumption comes an increase in assaults, both physical and verbal. "Our ask is simple – emergency workers want to help you, so please treat them with respect and work with us, not against us."

🛍Retail Trust Quoted: The Retail Trust’s survey of 1,200 retail workers found 80% of shop workers and 90% of store managers have faced abusive incidents, with one in three experiencing this weekly. 47% of staff say they feel unsafe at work as a result.

❎Too add insult to injury, when disgruntled veterinary clients post negative and slanderous reviews online, veterinary teams are advised to not engage - this is often the right thing to do, but it leave teams with a huge amount of disillusionment when there is no ramifications for online abuse. We do not share the true story. We do not post the clinical history and the background. We do not share the facts. Because we are unable to.

❎Please, you do not have to agree, you do not need to hold the same opinions or have the same outlook on life. But you can still be polite. You can communicate dissatisfaction without shouting and intimidation.

💚As a result of the statistics around loneliness in the profession, and especially around Christmas when shift patterns may make people feel even more excluded and isolated, Veterinary Voices UK have set us 'Veterinary Voices - Save a Seat' where veterinary families can buddy up to people locally who have room for one more.

💚When they go low, we go high.

💚Be the person to make a difference, be the person to share some kindness.

10/12/2024

The MP for Wi******er is fighting in parliament for a law to ban the sale of mutilated animals.

10/12/2024

Christmas Countdown

Who has seen their first Christmas toxicity?

Was it the hidden advent calendar or a box of celebrations?

Christmas can be a fun and festive time, but it also poses some risks to our pets.

Take care with the following:

➡️ Chocolate
➡️ Mince Pies
➡️ Christmas Pudding
➡️ Some Sweets
➡️ Left Overs
➡️ Bin Raiders and mouldy food
➡️ Christmas Plants
➡️ Ingestion of tinsel
➡️ Macadamia Nuts

Check out the article on why these can be problematic:

https://www.vetvoices.co.uk/post/christmas-toxicity

08/12/2024

How horrible has storm Darragh been? How has everyone managed? Anyone face any storm damage or spooking because of the winds?

Wet, cold and miserable!

Whilst some dogs will go out for their walk rain or shine, we understand that winter can bring more challenges to getting outside - slippery surfaces, cold and dark weather and less daylight hours can make us feel a bit glum.

Cats might also be less inclined to adventure now the weather has turned glum.

But, without exercise and mental stimulation, some pets might become bored, starting to show behavioural issues because of frustration - remember how it felt in lockdown when you could only go out once a day? 🤯🫥

Boredom Bust those days you're inside by:

✅ Engaging in enrichment feeding. To be frank, this is something we would LOVE to see happy no matter the weather. Feeding many animals by using mental and physical stimulation can slow down eating, help with satiety and keep them physically and mentally engaged for longer.

✅ Try puzzle feeders, toys you can stuff with some food, snuffle mats and licki mats and bowls. Remember to work out your pets calorific need and do not over feed treats during winter to avoid obesity.

✅ Training. It's never too late to work on old and new tricks. Get out the positive training advice and get learning new things.

✅ Physiotherapy. We all like to do a bit of exercise. Some passive physiotherapy exercises can be taught and used in training to keep those muscles active and strong.

✅ Play! Don't underestimate the power of play. It gives great pleasure to both you and your pet to bond in a game.

What do you do to 'boredom bust' if your pet is kept inside because of weather or health?

08/12/2024

Stop reading your pet food ingredient list!

https://vet.tufts.edu/news-events/news/stop-reading-your-pet-food-ingredient-list

Misinformation in pet nutrition is abundant. With people playing on your emotions to judge on your feeding choice.

The most important thing is your pet is fed and healthy. Then, also considering quality of the diet, risk of the diet to your pets health or risk to humans (zoonotic risk). We also need to know if the company is supported by a Veterinary Nutritionist, if they formulate only on spreadsheets or if they follow up with feeding trials. You may also need to consider the protein sources if your pet has dietary allergies, if they are fixed formula, and you may also have other requirements or wishes such as sustainability of the protein source.

💙There are strict rules when it comes to ingredients that can be used in pet food and the details that must be provided on packaging. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation and scaremongering that can make reading pet food labels confusing.

➡Here are a few misconceptions:

❎Myth - animal parts that are not safe for human consumption are included in pet food
✅Reality – all animal derived products used in pet food in the UK must be safe for human consumption. Pet food manufacturers may make use of parts that there is a lower demand for in the human food chain but that are still safe and nutritious, for example offal. Using the term 'human grade' does not really make a difference in the UK, we MUST use products safe for human consumption.

❎Myth – the term “meat and animal derivatives” means that the animal derived ingredients are of poor quality
✅Reality – This term is used because of labelling regulations and is an example of category labelling, it does not reflect ingredient quality. Category labelling allows manufacturers to adjust some ingredients without having to print new packaging. This means that they can make use of what is seasonally available, helping to keep the food affordable. For pets that are sensitive to changes, the alternative is that each ingredient is listed individually which is more often the case for foods with a fixed formula such as those in the Purina Pro Plan range.
“Meat and animal derivatives” are ingredients which are often surplus in the human food chain.

For example, parts of animals that are not normally consumed by people in the UK but that are highly nutritious, such as offal.

❎Myth – Pet food often only contains 4% meat/animal derived products.
✅Reality – This misunderstanding is usually due to labelling rules when a specific ingredient is named. For a product to be labelled as “containing” or “with” a particular ingredient, it must have at least 4% of the specified ingredient. For example, a product that “contains chicken”, must be a minimum of 4% chicken. It may contain much more, and it may also contain other species of animal, such as pork or lamb, under the umbrella of “meat and animal derivatives”, (which has previously been explained still provides good nutrition).

❎Myth – dogs and cats shouldn’t be fed grains. They are used as fillers.
✅Reality – properly prepared grains are a great source of beneficial nutrients. For example, they can provide slowly released energy, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and fibre. Grain allergies and intolerances are uncommon in dogs and cats.

❎Myth – pet food contains ash
✅Reality – the “crude ash” listed on the label under analytical constituents is a legal definition which reflects the mineral content of the food e.g. calcium and phosphorus which help support healthy bones. Other names include inorganic matter or incinerated residue.

❎Myth – higher protein = higher quality food
✅Reality – you can’t judge the quality of complete pet foods by the ingredients list or analytical constituents (e.g. protein %) alone. For example, a higher protein quantity isn’t beneficial if it’s of low quality and not very digestible, or if it is in excess of what the animal can make use of.
Choosing a pet food – you should look to feed a complete diet made by a reputable manufacturer that employs experts to formulate the food following FEDIAF guidelines, has strict quality control procedures and analyses the finished product. Further reassurance can be gained by choosing a manufacturer that performs feeding trials on their products and doesn’t rely wholly on computer-based formulations.

➡The World Small Animal Veterinary Association have an excellent guide to choosing a food
https://wsava.org/global-guidelines/global-nutrition-guidelines/

➡UK Pet Food have lots of great information on ingredients in pet food
https://www.ukpetfood.org/information-centre/industry-guidance/ingredients.html

➡There are some FAQs below:
https://www.purina.co.uk/your-questions-matter

05/12/2024

'The best prevention? Be connected. Forge and nurture confiding relationships with trusted friends and work colleagues – and make sure you use them, early. It really is ‘good to talk’.'

In a recent survey by VetNation, over 80% of respondents said they experienced at least one type of poor mental health.

https://vetnation.co.uk/

➡️Mental health and the veterinary profession is something, as you know, very close to our hearts.

➡️By educating ourselves and the public on the burdens and stressors of our work we can work towards a more sustainable future, recognising when we need help, looking out for our colleagues, creating an open dialogue about mental health so we all feel able to unashamedly talk.

➡️Veterinary professionals in the UK are three to four times more likely than the general population to die by su***de (Platt et al., 2010), each loss in our industry has such a profound impact on us. The effect of a su***de on families, friends and colleagues can be devastating.

➡️You do not need to be at crisis point to seek help, in fact we would much rather you seek help early on. Other feelings, emotions or signs that deserve our up most attention include:

🖤 Loneliness and isolation
🖤 Stress, anxiety, depression
🖤 Eating difficulties
🖤 Sleep disturbances
🖤 Compassion fatigue

➡️Sadly the stigma associated with mental illness often acts as a barrier to accessing care, including mental health services, and indeed stigma can increase people’s reluctant to even discuss the topic in the first place.

According to the results of a 2012 study of veterinary surgeons with a history of suicidal thoughts or behaviour half the participants had not talked with anyone about their problems because they felt guilty or ashamed.

💙One inspirational veterinary mental health advocate once said:

'The best prevention? Be connected. Forge and nurture confiding relationships with trusted friends and work colleagues – and make sure you use them, early. It really is ‘good to talk’.'

➡️ https://www.vetlife.org.uk/

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Do you need to rediscover your passion for veterinary medicine? Danny Chambers and Jenny Guyat from Vet Harmony discuss the career rut many vets and nurses find themselves in at 5-10 years graduated. Listen to "I’m not sure I want to be a vet anymore" here ⬇️ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/veterinary-voices/episodes/Im-not-sure-I-want-to-be-a-vet-anymore---Rediscovering-Your-Passion-e2ji8t4

As animal athletes, we understand that Santa's Reindeer needs good quality nutrition. Veterinary professionals are very knowledgeable on nutrition matters in numerous species, which is why we want to send our Reindeer feeders a special notice. Some 'Reindeer feed' sold in shops, contain raisins. Although Dancer and Prancer have a soft spot for this dried fruit, if your pet dogs gets into the garden BEFORE Santa has come then we risk them eating the Reindeer food. This may contain harmful substances - such as raisins. Can our parents, guardians and caregivers ensure that our reindeer food is scattered where dogs cannot access it! Happy Christmas Eve 🎄❄️🩵

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