BVA and ITN Productions Launch Films for All Ages and Stages of the Veterinary Profession

ITN Productions has produced a series of short films about the veterinary profession in collaboration with the British Veterinary Association (BVA). This was launched in an exclusive screening to members of the profession at BVA Members’ Day in Bristol on 22 September.

The ‘Veterinary View’ programme, introduced by national newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky, includes 18 news and current affairs style films, each around four minutes, created ITN Productions alongside BVA and a range of veterinary industry partners.

The programme highlights some of the current trends and challenges facing the veterinary profession and celebrates increasingly diverse veterinary careers, innovations and new technologies, responsible pet ownership, and the importance of the vet/client relationship.

BVA President Gudrun Ravetz said:

“Veterinary View not only highlights some of the veterinary profession’s fantastic work, but complements our joint project with RCVS, Vet Futures, in exploring how the profession can best shape its own future. We hope it will stimulate debate among vets, and the wider community in which we work, about both the big challenges and opportunities that the veterinary profession is facing.”

This is the second year of partnership between BVA and ITN Productions, which launched its first Veterinary View series at BVA Members’ Day 2015. Since then thousands of vets and members of the public have tuned in via its screenings of the programme at the London Vet Show, on BVA’s vets.tv and via BVA’s social media channels.

The BVA’s six films also feature a studio interview with incoming BVA President Gudrun Ravetz and Senior Vice President (SVP) Sean Wensley, who discuss BVA’s increased support to help young vets cope with early career challenges and the immediate and potential impact of Brexit, and a news item exploring how the veterinary profession is tackling antimicrobial resistance in both small and large animals.

This year’s programme also features sponsored content covering key issues and innovations within industry, including:

• Bayer Animal Health highlights the dangers of lungworm and their high profile campaign to raise awareness of the disease
• City University Hong Kong emphasises the prominent role that One Health plays in its veterinary medicine curriculum, and its partnership with leading US veterinary school Cornell University
• Henry Schein Animal Health profiles their new ‘Pharmtrax’ smart phone that uses android-based technology to help vets accurately track their time and better manage stock on the go
• Merial Animal Health highlights the impending threat of an equine flu epidemic and ProteqFlu as the leading vaccine in protecting horses of all kinds against the illness
• Petplan explains the benefits of pet insurance to assist with both preventive and emergency healthcare
• VetCell Therapeutics uses two films to explain its pioneering stem cell research in Asia, and how it is already starting to make a difference to arthritic pets in the US
• Virbac Animal Health promotes an alternative to surgical castration which provides a choice to pet owners
• Virbac Animal Health also showcases how augmented reality brings a new dimension to client education and enables vets and owners to access all they need to know about products at the touch of a button, using any smart device.
• Virbac Animal Health also demonstrates how compulsory microchipping is offering vets an opportunity, and how practices are able to connect with their clients with BackHome microchips.
• Zoetis Business Consulting offers practices a bespoke solution to help maximise their practice reach, services and outputs
• Zoetis talks about its new Petdialog+ app that offers owners the opportunity to track their pet’s activity to better assess their health and anticipate future health problems

Head of Industry News at ITN Productions, Simon Shelley, who introduced the programme at BVA Members’ Day, said:

“ITN Productions have been delighted to partner with the British Veterinary Association on Veterinary View, to bring to life stories from vets and supporting organisations from across the country who are dedicated to improving animal health and welfare for the benefit of society. It’s been a pleasure to work with passionate professionals and forward thinking organisations from across the sector who are continually improving preventative care, treatment, and after care for pets and animals.”

All of the films from the Veterinary View programme are now available to view and share on BVA’s website at http://www.bva.co.uk/veterinary-view