NZ Vet Nurse Journal 99 September 2021

VOLUME 27 No. 99
September 2021
Reflective Practice
Endometritis in the Dairy Herd
Radiation Safety Legislation
Rescue Cats and Carers

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CONTENTS
VOLUME 27 No. 99 September 2021
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OFFICERS
President Julie Hutt
PO Box 35831
Browns Bay
Auckland 0753
021 599 059
president@nzvna.org.nz
Vice-President Amy Ross
021 852 664
vicepresident@nzvna.org.nz
Treasurer Kathy Waugh
021 843 277
treasurer@nzvna.org.nz
Membership Secretary Samantha Chapman
0800 868773
membership@nzvna.org.nz
National Secretary Luanne Corles
027 472 1072
secretary@nzvna.org.nz
JOURNAL EDITOR
Antoinette Ratcliffe
journal@nzvna.org.nz
Assistant Editor: Catherine Taylor
catherine.ellen.taylor@gmail.com
COVER:
Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor), Bruny
Island, Tasmania, Australia
Photograph by JJ Harrison
https://www.jjharrison.com.au/
Creative Commons Attribution-Share
Alike 3.0
NZVNA FORMS
The registration or list badge order
forms, merchandise order forms and new
membership forms can now all be found on
the website www.nzvna.org.nz or by emailing
membership@nzvna.org.nz.
The New Zealand
Veterinary Nursing
Association would like
to thank Hill’s Pet
Nutrition NZ, our gold
sponsors, for their
continued support of the NZVNA and the
veterinary nursing profession.
OUR VISION
Caring for our community
by promoting excellence
in animal healthcare.
11
DISCLAIMER The New Zealand Veterinary Nursing
Association Journal is published by the New Zealand
Veterinary Nursing Association Incorporated (NZVNA).
The views expressed in the articles and letters do
not necessarily represent those of the NZVNA or the
editor, and neither the NZVNA nor the editor endorse
any products or services advertised. The NZVNA is
not the source of the information reproduced in
this publication and has not independently verified
the truth of the information. It does not accept any
legal responsibility for the truth or accuracy of the
information contained herein. Neither the NZVNA nor
the editor accepts any liability whatsoever for the
contents of this publication or for any consequences
which may result from the use of the information
contained herein or advice given herein. The provision
is intended to exclude the NZVNA, the editor and its
staff from all liability whatsoever, including liability for
negligence in the publication or reproduction of the
materials set out herein.
04 Letter from the Executive
Committee by Amy Ross
05 Letter from the Editor
by Antoinette Ratcliffe
05 Membership Secretary report
by Sam Chapman
06 Meet Samantha Chapman, our
new administrator by Amy Ross
07 Reflective practice for veterinary
nurses - what is it and why is it
important? by Laura Harvey
11 Endometritis in the Dairy Herd
by Ashley Hider
14 Maintaining a safe distance:
radiation safety legislation
update by Catherine Rice
19 Instructions for authors
submitting articles to the New
Zealand Veterinary Nurse journal
by Antoinette Ratcliffe and
Catherine Taylor
21 World-first study seeks better
life for rescue cats and carers
by Dr Cath Watson
21

NZVNA
Letter from the Executive Committee
Worldwide, the veterinary industry is suffering a staff
shortage. This is due to a combination of circumstances,
including but not limited to: an increase in workload (from
both a higher demand from current clients as well as many
new clients); limitations on work visas in New Zealand due to
COVID-19; and MIQ restrictions for anyone not coming to New
Zealand from Australia. However as I write this, New South
Wales is currently facing a large community outbreak, and our
travel bubble is currently closed to all of Australia. All these
factors are leading to burn out in veterinary clinic staff.
I was recently speaking with a friend, a veterinarian, who was
telling me how their consults were already booked solid for
the day, and then an emergency was brought in as the clinic
doors were opening. The emergency of course took priority,
but the clients that had the first consults of the day were irate
with the staff as they had to wait and were going to be late
for work. My friend went on to say that she knows her team
of veterinary nurses have been doing their best to keep the
clients calm so that she can concentrate on her job, which she
is very thankful for.
Their whole team was burned out before the day had really
begun.
While I do not have an easy answer for how we as a
community can stop burnout within the industry, I feel
that a few things we can do is change how we operate and
communicate with everyone, for example:
• Have a sign in the waiting room that states emergencies
take priority and consults may be delayed
• Another important sign is ‘abuse of staff will not be
tolerated’
• Limit how many routine consults, e.g. vaccinations, you
book in each day
• Do not feel that you have to book every consult or
routine procedure in on the same day
• Limit how many new clients you can accept every month,
or hire additional staff to help cope with the increased
workload (I know this is easier to say than do)
• Communicate with your clients that repeat prescriptions
will take 24 - 48 hours to fill, and if it must be filled on
the same day as requested there will be a surcharge
• Let your clients know ahead of time that like a lot
of everyday products, there is currently a delay in
the shipping of products such as pet food and some
medications
• Look at how our human medicine counterparts operate
– nurses triage you before you see your doctor so why
can’t veterinary nurses and technicians triage your
patients?
• Debrief with your team after a stressful day on what
worked and what you would like to change next time
• Talk to your team if you are feeling burned out or
experiencing compassion fatigue
• Talk to Vitae if you need further assistance – remember
that NZVNA members receive three free Vitae sessions as
part of their membership
• Have a look at your fees and make sure that all of your
team is charging out correctly. Unfortunately, with
the delays in shipping, the cost of most products has
increased significantly over the last two years and we
need to reflect this in our invoices so that we are not
subsidising pet care
• If you see a problem, don’t just complain about it -
offer a suggestion of what changes could be made.
Your manager may not be able to implement your
suggestions, but they can take them on board as well as
seeing that you want to help change the problem
As I said previously, there is no easy answer – you may
already be doing some of these things or some of these things
may not work for your clinic, but take what you can from these
suggestions and change them to what can work for you.
If you have any other suggestions for change we would love to
hear from you.
Amy Ross
Vice President
4 September 2021

NZVNA
Letter from the Editor
Firstly, I hope everyone is doing okay with all the extreme
weather events we’ve been experiencing recently. I’m now
very aware of how much work it takes to restore a house that
has been flooded from a torrential downpour, something I
could have done without!
If you have some time or energy to spare with all that is going
on, it’s worth checking in on the wildlife in your area to find
out how they are fairing. I have recently been looking into
my local kororā population and, through this, have become
an advocate for the kororā that reside by my old art studio in
Shelly Bay. I have met many passionate people through this,
and have found out how kororā are seen as the equivalent of
the ‘canary in the goldmine’ to environmental change.
learn about Endometritis in a Dairy Herd in Ashley Hider’s
article.
Catherine Rice runs us through New Zealand’s radiation safety
legislation, and explains what the most recent changes issued
in July 2020 mean for veterinary nurses in practice.
Catherine Taylor (assistant editor of the New Zealand
Veterinary Nurse journal) and I have also refreshed the
instructions on how to submit an article for publishing, so
if you have an idea for an article, or would like to write one,
please get in touch at journal@nzvna.org.nz.
Antoinette Ratcliffe
Needless to say, when I found out that their habitat and this
year’s chicks are at risk due to a council resource consent
oversight, I started to ask these representatives questions,
and proposed a call to action to the conservation groups that
should have been included on the advisory board. My position
on this research will be part of my TEDx talk in November.
I’m aware that the last part sounds like a joke, but seriously,
I’m speaking as an ex-veterinary nurse, kororā advocate, and
taxidermist to open up the discussion about the ethics of being
all these things in New Zealand.
So I’m thinking that maybe my story has piqued your interest
in some reflective practice of your own. Laura Harvey has
written a paper on this topic, which looks into what and why
we should be actively thinking, and working on reflective
practice.
We also get to find out more about our new NZVNA
administrator Sam Chapman, in Amy Ross’s interview, and
| Above: Cece wondering what all the typing is about
Membership Secretary report
Part of my new administration role within the NZVNA has
been undertaking the duties previously completed by
Kathy in her Membership Secretary capacity. It has been a
pleasure helping the NZVNA members with queries over the
last few months and I look forward to continuing to work
with you all.
Please continue to reach out for support with your
memberships as necessary. You can check that we have
your correct and current contract details by visiting https://
www.nzvna.org.nz/Membership/Manage+my+account.html.
Alternatively send me an email at membership@nzvna.org.nz.
Sam Chapman
5 September 2021

NZVNA
Meet Samantha Chapman,
our new administrator
By Amy Ross Vice President NZVNA
In 2020, Kathy Waugh let us know that
she was planning to retire from the
NZVNA Executive Committee (EC), and
we quickly realised that we did not have
anyone that was currently sitting on the
EC that would be able to take over all of
Kathy’s portfolios. Even if we split her
portfolios amongst ourselves, we were
worried that with over 1200 members, we
would not be able to continue to offer the
same level of service that we currently
do.
A decision was made that after 28 years,
it was time to employ an administrator
so that we can continue to offer our
members the support required as well as
continue to advance our profession.
In February, we welcomed Samantha
Chapman on board. Many of you have
already spoken or emailed with her.
Sam and her family live in Waihi and
enjoy the proximity to both Waihi Beach
and the Karangahake Gorge. Sam is mum
to 3-year-old Miss George and dog-mum
to little Alfie, as well as wife to Ben. Sam
is also the treasurer at Waihi Beach
Playcentre where George attends, and
she is currently completing the NZQA
Playcentre Education.
In 2020, after many years of part time
study while working in an administration
role and then while on maternity
leave, Sam graduated with a Bachelor
of Business from Massey University.
She also has a part time role in after
hours customer service for a group of
veterinary clinics in Auckland and the
Waikato region.
6 September 2021

REFLECTIVE PRACTICE
Reflective practice for veterinary nurses –
what is it and why is it important?
By Laura Harvey
NZVNA Executive Committee member
Senior Lecturer in Applied Animal Health, Academic
Programme Manager – Applied Animal Health Unitec
You have likely heard the term ‘reflective practice’ or
‘reflective practitioner’ at some point in your recent
working career. What does this mean, and how does it
apply to veterinary nurses in clinical practice?
At a basic level, reflective practice is the ability to learn
from our experiences. It is interpretive, in that what we
know about a topic can change based on our experiences
(Kaufman & Mann, 2014). At a deeper level, reflection is
the ability to self-regulate life-long learning by adapting
to the situations around us, based on previous experience
and knowledge. It is essential to self-assessment, and as
such, has become expected of those in professional roles
(Kaufman & Mann, 2014).
Reflection is a key component of self-regulated learning,
allowing learners to understand the validity and relevance
of experiences (White et al., 2014). Effective self-regulated
learning is essential in all health-care professionals due
to the link between learning, ongoing education, and
increased quality of care (White et al., 2014).
Whilst there is very little literature relating the benefits
of reflective practice specifically to veterinary nursing,
we can make some inference on its benefits by looking
at its utilisation with other health practitioners.
Reflective practice is part of the curriculum in both
Laura Harvey, RVN, BSc, PG Cert (Vet Education), MSc, is a Senior
Lecturer and Academic Programme Manager in Applied Animal
Health at Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland. She is an
RVN, and recently completed her MSc in Advanced Practice in
Veterinary Education.
Laura has an interest in researching the veterinary profession
and the role of the veterinary nurse in modern practice, in
particular, the mental health and wellbeing of veterinary nurses,
and the utilisation of veterinary nurses in practice.
medical and nursing education in the human field, as
well as veterinary medical education (White et al., 2014,
Mackintosh, 1998). The value of reflective practice in these
situations is varied and numerous. There are personal
benefits to the reflective practitioner, both in terms of
their own wellbeing (making sense of what happened),
and being able to reflect on situations, both positive and
negative, putting an experience into context and learning
from it, as well as the ongoing self-regulated learning
that takes place (Morrison, 1996). Any health care
profession, be it human or animal, is one that requires
participants to be ever-evolving in their knowledge base,
as our understanding of veterinary care, and evidencebased
practice increases. Self-regulated learning, that
is, the ongoing adult learning through one’s career (and
beyond), helps improve one’s ability to undertake their
role successfully.
Reflective practice has benefits beyond just those
impacting the individual. Reflective practice can be of
benefit in a professional setting, both in terms of fulfilling
the requirements of the role and in terms of improving
patient care. This relates to the previously mentioned
ability to put a situation into context, and to learn from it
(the whole premise of reflective practice). This ability to
learn from a situation is valuable (reflection-on-action),
but what really allows reflective practice to improve
one’s ability to perform their role successfully, and have
significant patient care benefits, is the ability to reflect
on a situation about to happen (reflection-for-action).
This involves utilising previous experience to ensure the
situation/scenario is carried out successfully, as well as
ongoing reflection during a situation, adapting to what is
happening, and what you are doing, as you go (reflectionin-action)
(Thompson & Pascal, 2012). If you stop and
think about it, you are probably already doing this in
some small way already, where you learn from past
mistakes or experiences to do better next time, and adapt
what you are doing as the situation changes.
Dewey (1910) was one of the first to try and define
reflection in relation to learning, as the ‘active, persistent
7 September 2021

REFLECTIVE PRACTICE
and careful consideration’ of belief or knowledge.
Dewey’s reflective process had five steps; 1: the problem
or phenomenon, 2: the observation, 3: inspection of facts,
4: formation of a hypothesis, 5: testing through new
observations or experiments.
Reflection is also a key aspect in many different learning
theories. Transformative learning, a theory developed in
the late 1900’s (Mezirow & Taylor, 2009), is the process
of interpreting the meaning of experiences to guide
one’s actions. It has reflection as a key component.
Transformative learning, as Mezirow and Taylor (2009)
describe, comes from making sense of our experiences
and exploring any assumptions we have made. Both these
theories are very linear in their approach and have helped
shape the landscape of reflective practice.
The early theorists on reflective practice have all
developed their own methods for undertaking
reflections, largely based on those early ideas by
Dewey and Mezirow. Gibbs’ (2013) method is based
on six steps, commonly known as Gibbs Reflective
Cycle (see figure 1). Gibbs’ method is commonly used
in reflective practice in healthcare settings (Oelofsen,
2012), with steps encouraging practitioners to identify
and evaluate the situation, analyse it, look at potential
outcomes and alternatives, and learn from it for future
recurrences.
Johns’ (2017) Model for Structured Reflection (revised
from an earlier version) offers a similar approach to Gibbs
with a set of questions to answer, leading the reflective
practitioner on a journey to understand their actions.
Figure 1. Gibbs Reflective Cycle (University of Kent, 2012).
Description
What happened?
Action Plan
If it rose again
what would you do?
Feelings
What were you
thinking and feeling?
Gibbs Reflective Cycle
Conclusion
What else could you
have done?
Evaluation
What was good and bad
about the experience?
Analysis
What else can you
make of the situation
8 September 2021

REFLECTIVE PRACTICE
The Fook and Gardner (2007) model is based on facilitated
small group discussion, allowing for the contribution
of multiple perspectives. Each group member presents
some practical experience for reflection, with the aim
of devising new approaches to practice, in a trusting
environment.
The benefit to the Gibbs (2013) and Johns (2017) models
is that they are designed to be used by an individual,
allowing this process to be undertaken at a time
convenient for the reflective practitioner. Putting this into
practice, a situation is described and analysed, drawing
conclusions about what else could have been done, and
a plan is made, to (hopefully) improve the outcome next
time. It is easy to see how this reflective cycle might work
in a clinical situation for a major incident (for example,
an emergency trauma case), but this reflective cycle can
be applied to almost any situation, whether it be patient
care, dealing with clients, or communication with your
colleagues.
The Fook and Gardner (2007) model is designed to be
undertaken in small groups. Whilst there are benefits in
collegiality, and understanding a situation from multiple
viewpoints, it also requires a more formal undertaking,
necessitating the group to meet at the same time/
place to undertake the reflective process. This model
works well for reflecting as a team on an event that
impacted multiple people (think back to that trauma case
mentioned earlier).
One significant disadvantage to reflection is the ability to
accurately recall the circumstances of an event. Without
accurate recollection of an event, one could argue that
the reflective process isn’t beneficial to learning, or to
professional development (Mackintosh, 1998).
Evidence-based practice is the ability to develop a
clinical question, research current literature, analyse
the evidence, and formulate an action plan (Thompson
& Burns, 2008). The ability for veterinary nurses to do
this well relies on an ability to reflect on current practice,
understanding what is and is not working, to be able to
know what it is you need answered. Only when you begin
to reflect on past experience, and try to understand what
happened, can you gain a new understanding (Boud et al.,
1985).
This ability to undertake reflective practice, using
whichever framework best fits the individual and the
situation, is a valuable skill for veterinary nurses, who
work in a profession that is ever-changing, with new
information and research coming to light. Being able to
make sense of this new information, potentially changing
the way tasks/situations in clinical practice are dealt with,
can only lead to better outcomes for patients, clients and
the veterinary healthcare team.
References
Boud, D., Keogh, R. & Walker, D. (1985). Promoting Reflection
in Learning: a Model. In: Boud, D., Keogh, R. & Walker,
D. (eds.) Reflection: Turning Experience into Learning.
London: Kogan Page.
Dewey, J. (1910). How we think, Boston, USA, D.C Heath & Co.
Fook, J. & Gardner, F. (2007). Practising Critical Reflection: A
Handbook, Berkshire, UK, McGraw-Hill Education.
Gibbs, G. (2013). Learning By Doing, Oxford, UK, Oxford
Centre for Staff and Learning Development.
Kaufman, D. M. & Mann, K. V. (2014). Teaching and learning
in medical education: How theory can inform practice.
In: Swanwick, T. (ed.) Understanding Medical Education:
Evidence, Theory and Practice. Chichester, UK: Wiley
Blackwell.
Macintosh, C. (1998). Reflection: a flawed strategy for the
nursing profession. Nurse Education Today, 18, 553-557.
Mezirow, J. & Taylor, E. W. (2009). Transformative Learning
in Practice: Insights from Community, Workplace, and
Higher Education, Oxford, UK, Wiley Blackwell.
Morrison, K. (1996). Developing reflective practice in higher
degree students through a learning journal. Studies in
Higher Education, 21, 317-332.
Oelofesen, N. (2012). Using reflective practice in frontline
nursing. Nursing Times, 108, 22-24.
Thompson, D. N. & Burns, H. K. (2008). Reflection: An
essentiallement of evidence-based practice. Journal of
Emergency Nursing, 34, 246-248.
Thompson, N. & Pascal, J. (2012). Developing critically
reflective practice. Reflective Practice, 13, 311-325.
University of Kent. (2012). Reflective learning [Online].
Available: https://www.kent.ac.uk/learning/PDP-andemployability/pdp/reflective.html
[Accessed].
White, C. B., Gruppen, L. D. & Fantone, J. C. (2014). Selfregulated
learning in medical education. In: Swanwick, T.
(ed.) Understanding Medical Education: Evidence, Theory
and Practice. Chichester, UK: Wiley Blackwell.
9 September 2021

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ENDOMETRITIS
Endometritis in the Dairy Herd
By Ashley Hider
(BVT) Canterbury Vets, Ashburton
Introduction
Bovine endometritis is a common condition seen in New
Zealand dairy herds shortly after calving, and is defined
as inflammation of the uterine lining.
Contamination occurs when bacteria enters the uterus
while the cervix is open during calving. Most cows can
clear the bacteria without treatment but, in 10-20% of
cows, this will develop into a chronic clinical or subclinical
endometritis. Systemic clinical signs are often absent
and can cause a significant reduction in reproductive
performance and profit to the dairy farm. It is important to
identify infections early to allow treatment before mating,
and increase the chances of a successful pregnancy
(Barański et. al., 2012).
Herd History and Assessment
In September 2020, we were called out to a dairy farm
in the Manawatū region. Our goal was to identify cases
of endometritis in preparation for the planned start of
mating in a months’ time.
The 300-cow herd consisted of Holstein-Friesians, Jerseys
and Kiwicross. Body conditions of the cows ranged from
approximately 4.0 to 6.0 out of 9.0. The recommended
score for mating should be approximately 5.0, which
suggests that some cows are not reaching their target.
Many of the cows had diarrhoea, possibly due to lush
grass growth. The facilities consisted of a herringbone
dairy shed with 50 bails.
At-risk cows had been marked with a red dot, which
included those with difficult calvings or twins. A
veterinarian was previously required for an assisted
calving in breech presentation. The farm has also had a
few cases of down cows from hypocalcaemia this year,
which is another important risk factor for endometritis.
Risk Factors
Prevention is beneficial for the long-term reproductive
health of the herd. Even when cured, cows will have a
lower reproductive performance and profitability in the
future. Risk factors include:
• Dystocia and retained placentas
• Abortions and stillbirths
• Older cows or those with metabolic disturbances
• Inadequate nutrition and low body condition before
calving
The best way to prevent endometritis is through effective
management of the transition period, keeping cows in a
good body condition, and minimising the number of cows
with diseases around calving (DairyNZ, 2020).
Differentials and Diagnostics
Post-partum uterine diseases include metritis, ovarian
cysts and, less commonly, pyometra. Clinical endometritis
is characterised by the presence of purulent or
mucopurulent uterine discharge 21 or more days after
parturition with no systemic signs (Šavc et al., 2016).
To diagnose cows in the herd with endometritis, a
Metricheck device was used, as seen in Figure 1., to
examine the vaginal discharge. The handle is used to
clean the vulva lips and the cup is advanced through the
vagina to the cervix. The handle is slightly elevated and
removed to collect a sample of discharge in the rubber cup
at the end of the rod. The device is cleaned with diluted
disinfectant after each use to prevent contamination
between cows.
The discharge is examined and scored on a scale from 0
to 3 to identify inflammation and potential infection, as
shown in Figure 2. A “dirty” cow is described as one with
a score of 2 or higher. For this case, it was decided to treat
Figure 1: Metricheck device
Ashley is a recent graduate with a Bachelor of Veterinary
Technology from Massey University. She has just started working
in a mixed animal practice for Canterbury Vets Ashburton, where
she is pursuing her interests in equine and large animal medicine.
11 September 2021

ENDOMETRITIS
any cow with a score of 1 or higher, to prevent missing
those with a mild infection. These cows were marked with
tail paint and drafted into a separate race for treatment
with intrauterine antibiotics.
The presence of purulent discharge in the vagina does not
necessarily confirm endometritis, as the source could be
from the cervix or vagina itself. Diagnosis of subclinical
endometritis requires either cytology, ultrasonography,
or endometrial biopsy (Gilbert, 2015). This can be costlier
and more time consuming than metrichecking.
Treatment
The aim of treatment is to reverse inflammatory changes
and increase fertility of the cow. This can be done with
either intrauterine antibiotics or prostaglandin therapy.
Early treatment is important, as it has been shown that
cows treated earlier had a 9.6% higher six-week in-calf
rate and conceived eight days earlier on average than a
group with delayed treatment (Clews & Cranefield, 2017).
The treatment used consisted of a single intrauterine
infusion of Metri-Clean, containing 500mg cephapirin
(Figure 3). This treatment protocol has been shown to be
the most effective treatment with a clinical cure rate of
about 76% (Tison et al., 2017).
Another treatment method includes the administration of
prostaglandin (PGF2α). Prostaglandin is an endogenously
secreted hormone that causes luteolysis of the corpus
luteum and return to oestrus. This helps with the
defence mechanisms of the uterus, stimulating uterine
contractility and clearance of its contents. This treatment
is used when a functional corpus luteum is present.
A benefit to this treatment is that there are no milk
withholding times as there are with antibiotics.
There is a large proportion of cows (57-75%) that will
self-cure due to the natural healing process during
Figure 2: The discharge is examined and scored on a scale
from 0-3 to identify inflammation and potential infection
Figure 3: Metri-Clean antibiotic syringe
uterine involution. This may lead us to question whether
treatment is needed for this condition. However, curing
does not imply a return to normal fertility. Cows with a
clinical cure tend to have better reproductive performance
than those who self-heal. The median day to pregnancy
in cows that were treated was improved by approximately
20 days compared to cows that self-cured (Tison et al.,
2017). The financial impact of this means the aim should
be to resolve cases as soon as possible through medical
treatment.
Results
From the 300 cows in the herd, 80 cows were identified as
dirty, approximately 27% of the herd. Ideally, this should
be around 10-20%. Out of the 80 cows, 23 were treated
and eight were untreated as we were unable to pass the
pipette to treat.
Another call-out was made a week later and the 80 cows
were rechecked. Only 5 of the remaining cows were
dirty, which brings the percentage of the herd down to
9.3%. rechecked. This number is higher than previous
years (6.2% in 2018 and 4.6% in 2019), which could be
explained by the increase in dystocia and hypocalcaemia
occurrences this season.
Reproductive and economic losses
Cows with endometritis, especially those that go without
treatment are at high risk for long term consequences:
• Prolonged calving to conception intervals
• Disrupt cyclical activity/ non-cycling cows
• Unsuccessful fertilisation and early embryonic death
• Fewer days in milk
• Increased involuntary cullings
Endometritis is a significant cost to New Zealand dairy
farmers, even when infected cows are identified and treated
early (Clews & Cranefield, 2017). Economic losses arise from:
• A delay in ovarian activity
12 September 2021

ENDOMETRITIS
• Increase in services per conception
• Decrease in milk yield
• Cost of treatment
Conclusion
Endometritis is an important herd health issue to monitor
post-calving in the dairy herd. Examination of vaginal
discharge is a useful tool that can identify dirty cows
before mating starts. Failure to identify and treat these
cows can result in reduced fertility performance and
economic losses for the future. Prevention of increasing
endometritis cases in the future can be done through
effective management of the transition period, and
minimising diseases around calving.
References
Barański, W., Podhalicz-Dzięgielewska, M., Zduńczyk, S.,
& Janowski, T. (2012). The diagnosis and prevalence of
subclinical endometritis in cows evaluated by different
cytologic thresholds. Theriogenology, 78(9), 1939-1947.
Clews, M., Cranefield, S., (2017). Endometritis in New
Zealand dairy cows. Conference Proceedings of the
Large Animal Veterinary Technicians Group of the NZVA.
DairyNZ (2020). Endometritis. https://www.dairynz.co.nz/
animal/cow-health/endometritis/
Gilbert, R. (2015). Metritis and endometritis
in large animals. MSD Manual. Retrieved
from https://www.msdvetmanual.com/
reproductive-system/metriis-in-large-animals/
metritis-and-endometritis-in-large-animals
Sheldon, I. M., Lewis, G. S., LeBlanc, S., & Gilbert, R. O.
(2006). Defining postpartum uterine disease in cattle.
Theriogenology, 65(8), 1516-1530.
Tison, N., Bouchard, E., DesCôteaux, L., & Lefebvre, R.
C. (2017). Effectiveness of intrauterine treatment
with cephapirin in dairy cows with purulent vaginal
discharge. Theriogenology, 89, 305-317.
Virbac (2020). Metri-Clean. https://nz.virbac.com/files/
live/sites/virbac-nz/files/pdf/product-profile/METRI-
CLEAN.pdf
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13 September 2021

RADIATION SAFETY LEGISLATION
Maintaining a safe distance:
radiation safety legislation update
By Catherine Rice
RVN(UK) GCTLT MProfPrac(Dist)
Principal Lecturer, School of Veterinary Nursing
Otago Polytechnic
New Zealand’s radiation protection legislation has
changed. As users of x-ray machines in practice,
veterinary nurses, rural animal technicians, and
veterinarians are obliged to comply with the provisions
set out in the Radiation Safety Act 2016 (New Zealand
Government). The Code of Practice for Veterinary
Radiation 2020 issued by the New Zealand Ministry
of Health’s Office of Radiation Safety (ORS) provides
the veterinary industry with guidance for applying the
updated 2016 Act. The changes most relevant to veterinary
nurse and rural animal technician practitioners relate to
the application of the ‘as low as reasonably achievable’
principle, primarily regarding veterinary radiographers
maintaining the recommended distance from the primary
beam during radiography.
Legislation changes
The Radiation Safety Act 2016 and the Radiation Safety
Regulations 2016 came into force in March 2017 (New
Zealand Government). These repealed the previous
Radiation Protection Act 1965, and the Radiation
Protection Regulations 1982 which fell under the 1965
Act (New Zealand Government). New Zealand’s radiation
safety legislation is administered by the Ministry of
Health’s Office of Radiation Safety (ORS). To guide the
Catherine qualified as a RCVS RVN in 2004 whilst living in
Northern Ireland. With varied experiences in small animal,
equine and mixed practice and a brief stint working with the
Dogs Trust, she returned home a decade ago to take up a
teaching role at Otago Polytechnic. She has formal qualifications
in tertiary education and recently completed a Master of
Professional Practice. Her research focused on raising veterinary
professionals’ awareness about the links between animal abuse
and family violence. She has publications in veterinary nursing
practice and in education.
practical application of the law, the ORS issues Codes
of Practice for specific professions and industries that
use ionising radiation. The ORS C9 Code of Practice for
Veterinary Radiation issued in July 2020 supersedes
the Code of Safe Practice for the Use of X-Rays in
Veterinary Diagnosis (ORS, 2006) issued under the
previous legislation (Ministry of Health, 2021). The Code of
Practice for Veterinary Radiation “applies to all activities
associated with the use and storage of irradiating
apparatus and radioactive material for veterinary
diagnosis and research” (ORS, 2020). This includes the
use of x-ray and computed tomography equipment in
veterinary diagnosis, and radioactive material such
as technetium-99m used in diagnosis and iodine-131
used for veterinary therapy. It provides the operational
information required to comply with sections 9 to 12 of
the Radiation Safety Act 2016 (ORS, 2020).
Radiation protection management
The new Code of Practice for Veterinary Radiation aligns
with the Health & Safety at Work Act 2015, under which
an organisation’s management has a duty to ensure that
the health, safety and welfare of employees is protected
(New Zealand Government, 2015). The responsibility to
protect people and the environment from the harmful
effects of ionising radiation that was imposed on
‘Principal Licensees’ under the old Act now lies with
the ‘Managing Entity’ - “the legal entity that manages
or controls radiation sources” (ORS, 2020). Section 13
of the Radiation Safety Act 2016 stipulates that to use
ionising radiation for veterinary diagnosis or treatment
a Managing Entity must hold a ‘source licence’ (New
Zealand Government, 2016). This differs from the previous
regulations where the Principal Licensee was required to
obtain a ‘use licence’ for x-ray equipment. According to
the Radiation Safety Regulations 2016, a ‘use licence’ is
now only required by practitioners who use radioactive
material for example, technetium-99m for diagnostic
purposes or iodine-131 for treatment of thyroid conditions
(New Zealand Government, 2016).
14 September 2021

RADIATION SAFETY LEGISLATION
Under the terms of the Code the Managing Entity
can delegate “the planning and delivery of radiation
procedures to a veterinarian”. This must be in writing,
duties relating to protection and safety must be
documented, and the veterinarian must assume
responsibility for safe practice by countersigning the
letter. The Code requires that the Managing Entity “must
take prime responsibility for protection and safety”,
“making a commitment to protection and safety from the
highest level of management at the facility” (ORS, 2020).
The Radiation Safety Officer
The Managing Entity must appoint a ‘Radiation Safety
Officer’ to oversee the “application of regulatory
requirements for radiation protection and safety” (ORS,
2020). This person is present in the clinic day-to day
and must be notified of their appointment in writing
with “a letter setting out duties and countersigned by
the appointee” (ORS, 2020). Responsibilities delegated
to the Radiation Safety Officer relate to compliance
with radiation protection working processes. Duties
include supervising the use of equipment, ensuring
safety features and warning systems are utilised and
restricting access to controlled areas. The Radiation
Safety Officer takes responsibility for establishing and
supervising workplace monitoring arrangements for
personal dosimetry, radiation survey meters and personal
alarm monitors, reviewing readings and investigating
higher-than-usual exposures. The Radiation Safety
Officer manages staff training: auditable records of staff
qualifications and radiation protection education must
be kept as evidence that all staff working with radiation
sources have an appropriate level of knowledge and
the skills required to protect themselves and others.
A framework for training requirements for staff is
provided in the Code (appendix 2). The role also includes
establishing, issuing, and periodically reviewing local
rules as well as investigating and reporting incidents and
accidents (ORS, 2020).
Quality Assurance
The ORS Code of Practice for Veterinary Radiation
(2020) stipulates that where ionising radiation is a
risk, protection and safety must be integrated into the
overall management system of the organisation. Section
1 sets out the requirements for the Managing Entity
to “establish an annual review of the protection and
safety management system to assess its effectiveness
and to verify compliance” (ORS, 2020) The focus of the
review is to ensure equipment performance and working
procedures are effective in minimising occupational
and public doses. Annual review should include: repeat
exposure analysis, x-ray machine performance (checking
collimation and machine condition), checking the integrity
of personal protection equipment, assessing image
processing systems film or digital imaging including
satisfactory viewing of images using light boxes (for
film) or monitors (for digital), evaluating technique
charts, examining working procedures for radiation
safety, and checking records of equipment, training,
and authorisations and updating where required (NZ
Ministry of Health, 2021). An annual audit by the Radiation
Safety Officer and Managing Entity complies with the
requirement to promote a “continuous improvement and a
safety culture” (ORS, 2020, p.6) in radiographic practice.
Ionising radiation
Exposure to ionising radiation in veterinary practice
is a health risk. Radiation is invisible, and damage is
latent and cumulative (Sales et al., 2020). Radiation can
affect the body in different ways. The damage may be
somatic, increasing the risk of cancers later in life, or
genetic causing hereditary damage in later generations
(Easton, 2012). The doses of radiation received by
veterinary personnel are usually well below the maximum
permissible dose. However, as doses received over years
in the veterinary profession accumulate “there is still
the possibility of radiation injury at low radiation levels”
(Cartwright, 1992). Radiation affects individuals differently
and the exact level of risk of developing cancers in later
life from exposure during veterinary radiography is
unknown.
As many veterinary professionals are female it is
prudent to consider the risk to unborn children. The
human embryo is most susceptible to damage by
ionising radiation pre-implantation, from conception to
eight to ten days (Ayres, 2012). This may be before a
woman is aware of her pregnancy. The foetus remains
vulnerable to the harmful effects of ionising radiation
during organogenesis in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Morris (2000) states, “there is also a clear dose response
15 September 2021

RADIATION SAFETY LEGISLATION
relationship between irradiation of the foetus and
leukaemia in the first 10 years of a child’s life”. In light of
these facts, it is vital that the risk of exposure in practice
is effectively managed.
As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA)
The ‘as low as reasonably achievable’ (ALARA) principle
is the mainstay of international radiation protection
law, and of safe practice. The aim is to keep the dose to
personnel ‘as low as reasonably achievable’. It is based
on the premise that any exposure to ionising radiation,
no matter how small, can increase the chance of negative
biological effects such as cancer. Under the new Code of
Practice for Veterinary Radiation the managing entity
must set up radiography equipment and protocols
according to the ALARA principle (ORS, 2020). To protect
from radiation exposure and meet the requirements of the
Radiation Safety Act 2016 three basic elements of practice
must be controlled: distance, time, and shielding.
Exposure to radiation occurs in three ways: by direct
exposure to the primary beam, from exposure to scattered
radiation caused by the interaction of the primary beam
with objects in its path, and by leakage of radiation
from the x-ray tube housing (Brown & Brown, 2017). The
intensity of radiation falls away rapidly with distance
from the source, therefore the further away radiographers
position themselves from the source of the radiation, the
safer they are. Under no circumstances should any part
of a human body be directly in the path of the primary
beam. This includes hands inside lead gloves. Studies
show that standing two to three metres away provides
adequate protection from scattered radiation (Cartwright,
1992). Historically, maintaining safe distance has been
identified as an issue by veterinary nurse radiographers
in New Zealand.
Radiation protection and the veterinary nurse
In a 2013 survey of New Zealand veterinary nurses 30% of
participants expressed concern about the safety of their
radiography work practices. The most significant matter
identified by survey respondents was the expectation
that they would perform routine manual restraint of
veterinary patients undergoing radiographic procedures.
Fifty-eight percent of the veterinary nurses reported
holding animal patients for radiographic procedures more
often than industry recommendations. A lack of sedation
of small animal patients was identified as a significant
barrier to safe practice (Rice, 2013). Consequently,
the wording in the updated code regarding the use of
sedatives to avoid the manual restraint of animals during
radiographic procedures is of specific interest.
Manual restraint regulations
The new Code of Practice for Veterinary Radiation directly
prohibits holding patients for procedures unless sedation
or general anaesthesia is contraindicated. The Managing
Entity must under section 4 (e)(ii) “prevent the manual
restraint of animals unless it is medically unacceptable to
immobilise the animal by sedation or general anaesthesia
and/or mechanical restraint” (ORS, 2020). This wording
is more robust than the preceding legislation which did
not directly address the practice of manual restraint of
animals for radiographic procedures. Veterinary users of
x-radiation were simply advised to keep doses of ionising
radiation “as low as reasonably achievable, social and
economic considerations being taken into account” (ORS,
2006).
The new code provides clarity on the requirement for the
use of sedatives or general anaesthesia to immobilise
animals for x-ray procedures. This offers protection for
those veterinary nurses who have been expected to
perform routine manual restraint of veterinary patients.
Radiation protection and the Rural Animal Technician
The new Code’s direction on the use of mobile stands and
devices to hold the image receptor (long handled cassette
or spade holders) is of interest to equine veterinary
nurses and rural animal technicians. The former Code
which guided large animal practitioners in the application
of the previous legislation recommended that veterinary
radiographers simply keep exposure to ionising radiation
‘as low as reasonably achievable’ (ORS, 2006). An
information pamphlet issued by the National Radiation
Laboratory (the agency that preceded the ORS) offered
more specific advice for large animal radiographers
including, “do not hold the x-ray machine unless it is
strictly necessary” and “use a spade holder or stand for
the cassette” (Cartwright, 1992). However, no specific
directive on the use of equipment designed to enable the
operator to maintain a safe distance from the primary
beam was written into the Code of Safe Practice for the
Use of X-Rays for Veterinary Diagnosis (ORS, 2006).
16 September 2021

RADIATION SAFETY LEGISLATION
While it was mandatory for the management (principal
licensee) to make “cassette holders or other mechanical
means available for use” (ORS, 2006) for persons involved
in field radiography, the document stopped short of
making management responsible to ensure the use of the
protective equipment.
The revised code now requires that clinic management
not only ‘provides’ but also ‘ensures the use’ of equipment
that enables veterinary radiographers to maintain the
recommended (two-metres) distance from the primary
beam wherever possible. In section 4, the code states that
“the managing entity must prevent the: (e)(i) holding of
x-ray equipment unless it is specifically designed for that
purpose and it is impracticable or medically unacceptable
to use fixed x-ray equipment” (ORS, 2020, p. 9).
The Managing Entity must not only “provide restraints
and positioning aids to enable mechanical restraint” such
as “foot blocks, vice grips and long-handled x-ray plate
holders” and “mobile stands to position the x-ray machine
for radiography”, but significantly, the code also states
that the Managing Entity must “ensure the use of” this
“protective equipment for the operator and all people
providing assistance during the radiation procedure” (ORS,
2020, p. 10).
In radiation protection, maintaining two-metres distance
from the primary beam is safe practice. Clarity on the
requirement to use mobile stands, and devices to hold
the image receptor is provided in the new Code enabling
veterinary radiographers to maintain a safe distance from
the primary beam.
Protection for veterinary radiographers
The Code of Practice for Veterinary Radiation (2020)
provides legal protection for veterinary nurses and rural
animal technicians in managing the risk of exposure
to ionising radiation in their work. Whilst veterinary
radiographers have always been advised to keep
their dose of ionizing radiation ‘as low as reasonably
achievable’. The wording of the new code is more specific
than its predecessor. Whilst the previous legislation
guided practice using the ALARA principle, in some areas it
left what is ‘reasonable’ open for interpretation.
The new Code applies the Radiation Safety Act 2016
in the veterinary context. It specifically addresses the
manual restraint of small animal patients and the holding
of x-ray tube heads and image receptors during large
animal radiographic procedures. These practices which
put the veterinary radiographer closer to the primary
beam than radiation protection guidelines recommend
are now directly prohibited. This removes contention and
protects veterinary nurses, rural animal technicians and
veterinarians from exposure to ionising radiation at work.
For further information and to update your clinic on the
new requirements you can download the Code of Practice
for Veterinary Radiation from the Ministry of Health’s
Office of Radiation Safety webpage.
References
Ayres, M. H. (2012). Small Animal Radiographic Techniques
and Positioning. Wiley.
Brown, M., & Brown, L. (2017). Lavin’s Radiography for
Veterinary Technicians (6th ed.). Elsevier
Cartwright, P. H. (1992). Radiation Protection in Veterinary
Radiography. Vetscript, 5(8), 6-7. http://www.sciquest.
org.nz/node/43011
Easton, S. (2012). Practical Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging.
Wiley.
Ministry of Health. (2021). Codes of Practice. https://www.
health.govt.nz/ourwork/ionising-radiationsafety/
codes-practice
Ministry of Health. (2021). Ionising radiation
safety. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/
ionising-radiation-safety
Morris, S. (2000). Health and safety in the veterinary
clinic. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the New
Zealand Veterinary Nursing Association. http://www.
sciquest.org.nz/node/42730
New Zealand Government. (2015) Health & Safety at
Work Act 2015. https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/
public/2015/0070/latest/DLM5976660.html
New Zealand Government. (1982) Radiation Protection
Regulations 1982. https://www.legislation.govt.nz/
regulation/public/1982/0072/latest/DLM81126.html
New Zealand Government. (2016) Radiation Safety
Regulations 2016. https://www.legislation.govt.nz/
regulation/public/2016/0303/4.0/DLM7049020.html
New Zealand Government. (1965) Radiation Safety
Act 1965. https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/
public/1965/0023/latest/DLM372539.html?search=qs_
17 September 2021

RADIATION SAFETY LEGISLATION
act%40bill%40regulation%40deemedreg_
Radiation+Safety+Act+1965__25_h&p=1#DLM372538
New Zealand Government. (2016). Radiation Safety
Act 2016. New Zealand Government. https://www.
legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2016/0006/latest/
DLM6339517.html
Office of Radiation Safety. (2006). Code of Safe Practice
for the Use of X-Rays for Veterinary Diagnosis. New
Zealand Government. https://www.health.govt.nz/
publication/code-practice-veterinary-radiation
Office of Radiation Safety. (2020). Code of Practice for
Veterinary Radiation. Ministry of Health: New Zealand
Government. https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/
documents/publications/code-of-practice-veterinaryradiation-ors-c9-30june2020.pdf
Rice, C. (2013). Radiation safety practices of New Zealand
veterinary nurses. The New Zealand Veterinary Nurse,
19(67), 18-25.
Sales, J., Caine, A., Dennis, R., Lhermette, P., & Girling, S.
(2020). Diagnostic Imaging. In B. Cooper, E. Mullineaux,
& L. Turner, BSAVA Textbook of Veterinary Nursing (6th
ed.). (pp. 428-488). WIley.
Weston, J. (2004). Health and safety in pregnancy and
lactation. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the
New Zealand Veterinary Nursing Association, (87-92).
Do you want to be a listed or
registered veterinary nurse in 2022?
To gain entry on to the list or register for 2022 veterinary nurses must:
Voluntary list
Hold a veterinary nursing qualification equivalent to one
year full time study
Voluntary register
Hold a veterinary nursing qualification equivalent to or greater
than two years full time study
Complete at least 40 hours paid or unpaid work as a veterinary nurse in a veterinary facility per year
Complete at least 20 hours of CPD* per year – 8 of the 20 points can be claimed as quality non-accredited CPD
* Newly qualified veterinary nurses are exempt from the 20 hours CPD requirement for the year in which they qualify e.g. if a
veterinary nurse qualifies in 2020 they are not required to complete 20 hours CPD during 2021. However you must upload proof
of your qualification to MyCPD Record prior to 28th February 2022. If you have not received your diploma then a letter from
your provider is sufficient in the meantime.
Only a maximum of eight online quizzes can be used towards your year’s CPD.
What do I need to do?
• NZVNA members will upload their CPD certificates and points using ‘MyCPD’ under the 2021 tab on the NZVNA website by the
28th February 2022
• Provide proof of 40 hours veterinary work in the CPD year (ie. letter or payslip)
• Ensure your qualification is already uploaded to the NZVNA website
Successful participants will be entered on to the list or register as appropriate to their qualification. The NZVNA and AVPRC
will work together to audit submissions for registration after the 1st of March. This process can take up to two months. The
successful applicants will have their names placed on the register. The register is now held on the AVPRC website and we will
inform you through our media channels when it is accessible.
In order to gain entry on to the list or register for 2022 you must supply evidence that you meet the criteria by 28th February 2022.
Submit all evidence via ‘MyCPD Record’ on the NZVNA website. All CPD must have been achieved during the year of submission.
18 September 2021

NZVNA
Instructions for authors submitting articles
to the New Zealand Veterinary Nurse journal
By Antoinette Ratcliffe (NZVNJ Editor)
and Catherine Taylor (NZVNJ Assistant Editor)
The New Zealand Veterinary Nurse journal is published
quarterly in March, June, September and December
each year. Production costs are covered by New Zealand
Veterinary Nurse Association membership fees and
advertising.
Authors are expected to submit their articles as a Word
document suitable for publication. If authors need
assistance with writing, please contact the editor.
Articles
The article should have a title. Following the title, please
also include the name of the author, their qualification,
and their clinic name.
Contributions must be original. Articles or extracts
from articles may be completely copied only if there is
permission from the original author(s) and source of
publication. It is the responsibility of the author, rather
than the editorial board, to obtain this permission.
The author should disclose if they have published the
same article, or a very similar article, elsewhere.
Articles that are clearly editorials/advertising containing
obvious product placement will be labelled as such, and
an editorial fee will apply.
Author biography
Each article needs to be submitted with an author
biography. Please provide approximately 50 words about
the author, written in third person.
Proofreading
The authors should proof read their article looking for
spelling errors, and omitted details. While the editorial
board will proofread the articles, the articles should be
presented error free.
References
A list of references should be applied if appropriate.
Follow the guidelines for APA 7th edition referencing for
method of reporting references (https://www.canterbury.
ac.nz/media/documents/educational/APA-7th-quickguide.pdf).
The number of references must be kept to a
reasonable number relative to the length of the article.
The editorial board will omit references if the list is judged
to be too long.
Figures
Good quality illustrations that clearly convey the
necessary points should be submitted with the article.
Submit any photos or graphics in the original form (ie: TIF,
JPEG, PDF files), as they lose their clarity when extracting
them from Word documents.
Photographs need to be as high resolution as possible,
with no filters added.
All figures should be clearly numbered in their file name
with the same number that they are referred to in the
article. Captions should accompany thumbnail sized
images and be concise and accurate. This information
needs to be supplied with the text on a separate page at
the end of the article.
Diagrams/figures can be copied from textbooks, only if the
original author and the source is clearly acknowledged.
It is the responsibility of the author to obtain this
permission before submitting the article to the editorial
board.
Recording drugs and fluid therapy
Drugs addressed in the article should be identified as
their generic name, with the concentration, dose rate and
route of administration ie: Meloxicam 0.5mg/mL (0.1mg/
kg) PO.
When fluid therapy is administered, the fluid type and
mL/h must be included.
Timing of article submission and publication
Articles will be published as soon as possible after
submission. Articles therefore need to be submitted at
least two months prior to publication, preferably earlier.
19 September 2021

NZVNA
Depending on when the article is received, the size of
the particular issue and the need for peer reviewing,
articles may be held over for a later issue at the editor’s
discretion.
Peer review process
Articles may be sent to appropriate people in that field
of expertise for peer review/proof reading if the editorial
board deems it necessary. This is to ensure accuracy
within the text to protect the readers, the authors, clients
and patients of veterinary practitioners.
NZVNA website
Articles will be placed on the website in the form of
The New Veterinary Nurse journal e-copy and can be
accessed by NZVNA members. Quizzes may be made using
published articles for nurses to complete for CPD points.
These will be made available on the website.
Planning a case report?
When writing an article take the time to look at how
articles in previous journals are arranged. Information
needs to follow some logical headings as detailed below:
• Introduction
• History (including patient details)
• Clinical signs/patient assessment
• Materials and methods
• Results of investigations (ie: lab results, radiographs)
• Discussion
• Conclusion
• References
Not all of these headings will need to be used in all
articles and some may be combined depending on the
type of case and amount of information available.
Are you interested in
contributing to the
New Zealand
Veterinary Nurse
Journal as part of
your CPD portfolio?
We are on the look out for
proofreaders, peer reviewers,
photographers and writers
who are interested in having
their work published.
CPD points range from 5 to 10 points,
and proofreaders get 1 CPD point
per article they proof.
Please contact the editor for further information
at journal@nzvna.org.nz
20 September 2021

RESCUE CATS AND CARERS
World-first study seeks better life
for rescue cats and carers
By Dr Cath Watson
Healthy Pets New Zealand Chair
Healthy Pets New Zealand (HPNZ) is funding a worldfirst
study into the benefits of cat fostering that will
seek to improve the lives of rescue cats, their human
carers, and some of New Zealand’s most vulnerable
native species.
New Zealand has one of the world’s highest rates
of cat ownership, with around 43% of households
having at least one cat (Fraser et al., 2020), and our
estimated stray cat population of 2.5 million is a threat
to indigenous fauna, including some iconic native bird
species. Each year between 25,000-30,000 cats and
kittens – many of which are abandoned – come into the
care of the SPCA in New Zealand. The total number of
abandoned cats is likely to be much higher.
Additionally, there are well-reported health and
wellbeing benefits of companion animals, but
determinants of those are poorly understood. Research
so far has tended to not distinguish between types of
companion animals, and fostering programmes
have been commonly overlooked in the
literature.
Dr Cath Watson has been a companion animal clinical
veterinarian since 2000. She has worked in a range of practices,
both in New Zealand and in the United Kingdom. Currently
based in Central Otago, she now travels the country as a locum
contractor. She has also served on the Board of the New Zealand
Veterinary Association, was President of its Companion Animal
Branch for three years, and a Southland regional representative
for 10 years. Cath has also worked for the Veterinary Council of
New Zealand as a Continuing Professional Development auditor,
is a trustee of Companion Animals NZ Trust, and has been
contracted to the SPCA to help write their veterinary procedures.
Cath has a passion for anything in the outdoors, and loves
exploring New Zealand’s back-country haunts by foot, bike or
skis. She shares her central Otago home with her husband, who is
also an experienced companion animal veterinarian.
Photograph by Galawebdesign, CC BY-SA 3.0
Fostering has unique aspects that sets it apart
from pet ownership, service animal and animal
therapy programmes. First, fostering is a volunteer
activity often motivated by environmental and animal
welfare concerns (Abell, 2013; Neumann, 2010). Second,
fostering programmes’ primary focus is to provide care
for the animal, to socialize and prepare them for adoption.
Third, fostering is short-term and temporary - volunteers
provide a temporary home and care for the animal before
adoption.
21 September 2021

RESCUE CATS AND CARERS
In addition to the potential health impacts on fosterers,
it is also important to consider the benefits fostering
programmes may offer to the animals. Shelter cats tend to
be motivated by social interaction and food (Vitale et al.,
2017). Thus, one of the main tasks of volunteer fosterers
is to habituate kittens to human contact to reduce fear,
anxiety and stress, while increasing friendliness. This
ensures that cats meet criteria for adoption.
Fostering is an important management tool at a
time when unwanted cat numbers bring significant
environmental and animal welfare challenges, and
volunteer cat fostering programmes can play a key role
in reducing the impact of stray cats on the biodiversity of
New Zealand, by providing a safe environment to socialise
cats prior to rehoming.
Led by researchers from Victoria University of Wellington
and Massey University, the study will seek to inform the
development of best-practice cat fostering and improved
understanding of the human-animal bond. Little is known
about animal fostering, and most research on animalhuman
relationships examines other species, such as
dogs and horses, even though cats are amongst the most
popular animal companions in industrialised countries
(Overgaauw et al., 2020).
New knowledge about cat fostering and human-cat
interaction will inform materials to support successful cat
fostering, including better understanding of how this form
of interspecies communication works. It will also address
ongoing issues in the field of human-animal studies,
such as animal/human agency, anthropomorphisation,
how exactly humans and animal companions interact,
and what the challenges and benefits of interspecies
relationships are (Demello & Shapiro, 2010).
In a world-first, Professor Ann Weatherall is leading a
video study to analyse the behaviours of both cats and
fosterers during regular interactions such as feedings and
the administering of medications. The longer-term aim
is to provide a comprehensive suite of video and written
materials to help advance the practice of cat fostering for
the benefit of people, cats, and the environment.
The study is the first to be funded by the new HPNZ
Human-Animal Bond research grant, which is supported
by HPNZ Human-Animal Bond partner and premium pet
nutrition brand, Royal Canin.
“As a company, our goal is to help make a better world
for both pets and their people. That’s why we’re proud to
be the first HPNZ Human Animal Bond Partner and help
support this research.
“Almost half of New Zealand households are home to at
least one cat but, until now, there has been no research
undertaken to gain insight into the special bond between
cats and their humans in New Zealand.
“By laying a foundation of understanding about the
bond between cats and their fosterers, this study
is an important first step towards developing new
practices that will benefit animals, people and the
environment in this country,” says Royal Canin Scientific
Services Veterinarian, Dr Corey Regnerus (personal
communication, 31st May, 2021)
22 September 2021

RESCUE CATS AND CARERS
HPNZ is a charitable trust run by a team of volunteer
veterinary professionals that has been raising money
to fund research into companion animal health and
well-being since 1998, when it was established by NZVA’s
Companion Animal Veterinarians.
There is no government funding for companion animal
research in New Zealand, so HPNZ relies on individuals,
businesses and organisations, like Royal Canin, that
share HPNZ’s values and wish to support our work. If
you’d like to know more, or how you can be involved,
please visit www.healthypets.org.nz or contact
healthypetsnz@gmail.com.
References:
Abell, J. (2013). Volunteering to help conserve endangered
species: An identity approach to human–animal
relationships. Journal of Community & Applied Social
Psychology, 23(2), 157-170. doi: 10.1002/casp.2114
Fraser, G., Huang, Y., Robinson, K., Wilson, M. S., Bulbulia,
J., & Sibley, C. G. (2020). New Zealand Pet Owners’
Demographic Characteristics, Personality, and Health
and Wellbeing: More Than Just a Fluff Piece. Anthrozoös,
33(4), 561-578. doi: 10.1080/08927936.2020.1771060.
Demello, M., & Shapiro, K. (2010). The State of Human-
Animal Studies. Society & Animals, 18(3), 307- 318. doi:
10.1163/156853010x510807.
Neumann, S. L. (2010). Animal welfare volunteers: who are
they and why do they do what they do?. Anthrozoös,
23(4), 351-364. doi: 10.2752/175303710X12750451259372
Overgaauw, P. A. M., Vinke, C. M., Van Hagen, M. A. E., &
Lipman, L. J. A. (2020). A One Health Perspective on
the Human–Companion Animal Relationship with
Emphasis on Zoonotic Aspects. International Journal of
Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(11), 3789.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph17113789.
Vitale, S., Lindsay, K. R., Mehrkam, R., & Udell, M. A. R.
(2017). Social interaction, food, scent or toys? A formal
assessment of domestic pet and shelter cat (Felis
silvestris catus) preferences. Behavioural Processes,
141, 322-328. doi: 10.1016/j.beproc.2017.03.01
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23 September 2021

REGISTER NOW!
NZVA and NZVNA conference
Te Pae Convention Centre, Christchurch
17 November 2021 18–20 November 2021
INDUSTRY BRANCH SESSIONS: 1-5PM
INDUSTRY BRANCH DINNER: 6PM
21 November 2021
WORKSHOPS AND FIELD TRIPS - SEE
WEBSITE
COMPANION ANIMAL
COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE
DAIRY CATTLE
EPIDEMIOLOGY, FOOD SAFETY,
ANIMAL WELFARE AND BIOSECURITY
LARGE ANIMAL VETERINARY TECHNICIANS
VETERINARY BUSINESS
VETERINARY NURSING – COMPANION
ANIMAL
VETERINARY NURSING – WELLBEING
WILDLIFE
www.nzva.org.nz/2021conf-november
24 September 2021

Veterinary Nursing
Fri 19 Nov Sat 20 Nov Sat 20 Nov (Wellness)
7am Registration opens
8am
8.30am
Anaesthesia troubleshooting | Vicki Walsh
Urinary catheters: when, how, and what care
is needed | Kat Crosse
Health and safety and YOU | Megan
Alderson
9am
9.30am
Brachycephalics in practice: recognising
danger ahead | Kat Crosse
On the frontline - fielding questions about
pet behaviour | Elsa Flint
Managing different personalities | Michael
Meehan
10am
Morning tea
10.30am
11am
Brachycephalics in practice: airway surgery
and recovery | Kat Crosse
Analgesia in anaesthesia – how are the
opioids stacking up? | Vicki Walsh
The team meeting | Megan Alderson
11.30am
12pm
Radiography: what’s important and what’s
not | Nicki Moffatt
TIVA (total intravenous anaesthesia) benefits
and risks, when to use and what you require
to deliver safely | Vicki Walsh
Climbing the ladder... | Tutor: Lauren Prior,
VTS: Katie Duncan, Nursing Abroad: Robyn
Taylor, Head Nurse: Libby Leader
12.30pm
Lunch
1.30pm
2pm
Radiography hacks | Nicki Moffatt
Ensuring our patients have a nice day -
keeping the practice fearfree | Elsa Flint
Finding research: Evidence based understanding
| Alastair Coomer
2.30pm
3pm
Xenotransfusion - should we or shouldn’t
we? | Robyn Taylor
Don’t be confused on how to transfuse:
canine transfusion made simple | Robyn
Taylor
Are you being heard? | Michael Meehan
3.30pm
Afternoon tea
4pm
4.30pm
NZVNA AGM
Anaesthesia and the parts of the ‘iceberg’ we
don’t see | Vicki Walsh
Resilience at work | Kathryn Jackson
ECG under anaesthesia | Vicki Walsh
5pm
Emergency avian care 101 | Pauline Howard