‘Under Care’ RCVS guidance

On the 1st September 2023 mass panic ensued within the profession as the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) implemented their new ‘under care’ guidance. After a thorough and wide-ranging review taken by the RCVS and British Veterinary Association (BVA) that began in 2020, this guidance was developed to protect animal health and welfare, maintain public trust, prioritise veterinary decision-making and future-proof the industry.

The new guidance requires veterinary surgeons to carry out a physical examination at the time of prescription for all antibiotics, antiparasiticides, antifungals and antivirals. The big challenge in September 2023 was linked primarily to the antiparasiticides, more commonly known as ‘flea and worming treatments’. In a workforce that was already understaffed and oversubscribed following the pandemic, the reality of asking every client to bring their pets in for a consultation prior to dispensing their regular flea and worming treatment was a pressure too far. Subsequently, the RCVS delayed the implementation of this specific section until 12th January 2024 to give us all more time to prepare. Now in force, we will require that your pet is examined prior to dispensing any further antiparasiticides should a prescription not already exist in their clinical notes. We have been busy ensuring that as few pets are affected as possible, however be prepared that you may be asked to bring your pet in when requesting these products.

Sad Goodbye to Tracey

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we said farewell to our beloved Head Nurse Tracey in January.

Tracey has been with us since 2019 and as the practice grew became All Pets’ first Head Veterinary Nurse in 2020. She has led our nursing team through multiple changes and provided them with much needed help and encouragement, as well as being a pillar of support for Emily and Ruth. It has been a privilege to work alongside Tracey, our Mother Hen, and we are sure you all join us in wishing her the very best for her new adventure in the UK.

XL Bully

You may be aware that effective 31st December 2023 the UK government amended the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 to include XL Bully dogs. The impact this will have on both the breed and veterinary teams in the UK is expected to be significant. Full details of the UK ban are available on the DEFRA website. It is important to know that this law does not currently apply to Jersey, but owners should be mindful of the current Jersey banned dogs list, and we have been reassured that any genuine Jersey dog would always be allowed to return to the island.

Internal Promotions

We have some exciting promotions to announce within the practice!

Joint Head Nurse(s)!
Stepping into Tracey’s role are RVNs Laura and Tiz who have been promoted to the positions of Joint Head Nurse. As two well-respected members of our nursing team, we felt their skill sets complement each other perfectly to create a positive leadership team.

Laura has been with All Pets for 10 years this year and completed all of her veterinary nurse training with us. A familiar face to many clients, Laura knows the ins and outs of the practice better than most!

“I’m so excited to have been offered the position, it’s come at a great time where I can celebrate promotion and nearly ten years at All Pets! I hope I can continue to be a familiar friendly face to staff and clients”

Laura RVN

Tiz joined the team in 2022 bringing both a wealth of nursing experience and a certificate in feline behaviour. Her work in senior positions at former veterinary practices demonstrates her natural ability in this role.

“I look forward to working with Laura and the team to continue making All Pets the nurturing special place it is”

Tiz RVN

Head Receptionist

It has been the longest time coming, but after 10 years at the All Pets reception desk, Marlene has taken on the well-deserved title of Head Receptionist. All our clients know and love Marlene, the familiar smile that greets you through the doors every morning! Her infectious laugh is heard by all in the building, and we can’t wait to support her in this new role.

I feel incredibly honoured and excited to be in my new role as Head Receptionist and to continue giving all our clients a warm and welcoming visit

Marlene

Dental Awareness Month

February is dental health awareness month and therefore we’d like to raise awareness of periodontal disease.

A significant amount of our pets have periodontal disease, with 87% of dogs and 70% percent of cats suffering from some form of dental disease after the age of three. Dental disease can have adverse effects on other body organs so by providing regular cleaning or check-ups we can help keep our pets healthier for longer.

We will be offering FREE DENTAL CHECKS with nurses so you can make sure they’re in the best dental health possible.

For any dental procedure recommended as a result of the check, you will receive a 10% discount.

Emily’s Return

Following the surprise early arrival of Emily and Anthony’s son Walter in September, we are all looking forward to welcoming her back from 1st April 2024. Emily will be working a few days over February and March, so you may see her sooner!

Hills VIP Clinic

We are pleased to announce that we are now a Hills VIP clinic! This means, with the support of Hills, we can sell their premium, science-backed diets at an affordable everyday price.

Price Increase

As mentioned in our August newsletter, to minimise the impact of a large annual price increase we aim to adjust our prices in line with RPI every 6 months as necessary. Following the release of the latest RPI of 7.5%, we will be implementing a 3% increase across our services.

Our Pet Health Plan prices have not changed since 2020 despite ongoing increases in manufacturing costs. Unfortunately, we have reached a point where we can no longer absorb these price rises and need to apply a modest increase to our plan prices. Rest assured, our members will continue to save over 20% each year on preventative care, plus numerous further discounts. In addition, pets over the age of 8 years will benefit from blood pressure and urine screening worth over £50 per year. The increased prices will apply immediately to new health plans, and from 1st March for existing plans. If you already have a plan with us, you should have received an update via email or letter about the increase.

To read more about our Pet Health Plans please click here