'EAT NOT' Ketchum Ear Tag - Whats That Then?

[Twodogs]

I'm not suggesting people need to be dragged through the streets in chains, but if it's left then nothing happens and nobody else needs the warning. It'll continue.

Make an example and word spreads amongst colleagues and the industry. Everyone makes certain not to make the same mistake.

What if someone shot it later that day and ate it, having some reaction? Gross negligence manslaughter?

Quite agree with the above comment.

A hypothetical scenario, a stalker takes the deer and it’s put into the human food chain, much of it goes to a nursery or a nursing home both of which contain vulnerable people. Multiple cases of Gross Negligence Manslaughter? How would the relevant veterinary organisation defend themselves knowing this issue existed, perhaps still exists, and had/has failed to address it in any manner?

It is for this reason the vet, and the organisation, in question needs to be held to account for their actions/inactions and everybody needs to learn from this. How this is achieved is another matter.

 

[WW.]

Quite agree with the above comment.

A hypothetical scenario, a stalker takes the deer and it’s put into the human food chain, much of it goes to a nursery or a nursing home both of which contain vulnerable people. Multiple cases of Gross Negligence Manslaughter? How would the relevant veterinary organisation defend themselves knowing this issue existed, perhaps still exists, and had/has failed to address it in any manner?

It is for this reason the vet, and the organisation, in question needs to be held to account for their actions/inactions and everybody needs to learn from this. How this is achieved is another matter.

I've made the RCVS CEO aware.

 

[WW.]

I've offered to help another wildlife rescue near here previously (not darting related) which they were very keen on until I stated I'd make sure everything was done by the book. They never got back to me. Wildlife rescues are often cowboys

 

[Scuffy]

I've offered to help another wildlife rescue near here previously (not darting related) which they were very keen on until I stated I'd make sure everything was done by the book. They never got back to me. Wildlife rescues are often cowboys

That said, there are a good number who are vastly underfunded for the great work they do.

 

[weblyish]

Think the issue is some vets treat wild animals like pets.
You don't put an eatnot on a dog or cat.
And if you are an urban vet maybe food chain is low on your priorities

our (very urban) local vet has a wall of fame with a poster about the grey squirrel kit it nursed back to health and the munty with the cast on its broken leg

My comment that that they should have been named starter and main course went down as you'd expect

 

[Scuffy]

And it’s illegal to put a grey squirrel back into the wild

 

[weblyish]

And it’s illegal to put a grey squirrel back into the wild

Ditto muntjac

 

[WW.]

That said, there are a good number who are vastly underfunded for the great work they do.

Yes but that's not an excuse for breaking the law. There's an old saying in the vet world that 'euthanasia is not a welfare problem' (if it's dead it can't suffer) - we're now in a society which doesn't recognise that in animals whilst wanting it for people. It's messed up.

 

[ndjfb00]

It's relentless, the drug used in this case was Loxicom injectable 20mg/kg anyone know if that requires a tag??

Facebook

www.facebook.com

 

[Buchan]

The Royal College try their hardest to make an example of anyone administering remote immobilisation that is not a veterinarian, but its ok to close ranks round one of your own ?

Not closing ranks, just suggesting very little is to be gained by making a complaint about the vet and going through a disciplinary process. It would be unlikely they were struck off, and they've already been informed of the correct action. If they do this again, now knowing what to do, that is professional misconduct.
The review of the vet act will hopefully allow for a less formal and more effective official complaint process.

 

[ndjfb00]

Not closing ranks, just suggesting very little is to be gained by making a complaint about the vet and going through a disciplinary process. It would be unlikely they were struck off, and they've already been informed of the correct action. If they do this again, now knowing what to do, that is professional misconduct.
The review of the vet act will hopefully allow for a less formal and more effective official complaint process.

I have to agree in your latest comment, but seems to me that if you look hard enough there are very many of these failings on a national scale, (not unlike most industries) I have been making tentative enquires on my latest case (my last post) and received the following response and for which I have already ascertained this Org were unaware of the ear tag process (that's 2 Rescue Orgs in a week) - They have informed me they are ordering ear tags

''loxicom has a withdrawal rate of 5 days… so as long as the deer is not harvested for meat for 5 days you can eat the deer without any issues''

 

[Buchan]

Vets are able to use what’s called the ‘cascade’ when prescribing. Where there is no available veterinary medicine authorised in a particular territory for the specific indication or condition in the animal being treated, to avoid unacceptable suffering, vets are permitted to use their clinical judgement to treat animals under their care in accordance with steps of the cascade.

We can use the cascade, BUT, for food producing animals, we can only use products that are on the EU 37/2010 list (there is a GB equivalent). Wild deer are not food producing animals but logically the same guidance should apply. So medetomidine has no MRL and cannot be used unless the DO NOT EAT tag is applied (or it is sedated to examine then killed). Loxicom is meloxicam and has an MRL, so can be used, but the withdrawal period would be 28 days as the MRL for deer is unknown (one could argue 7days, but 28 is an accepted standard).
As far as I can tell the requirement for a tag is guidance and not a legal requirement.
There have been a number of articles on this in the last couple of years, I'll flag this shortly on a vet social media page as a reminder.

I would reiterate the drug medetomidine is metabolised fast and is already used in human medicine. They would be safe to eat. Logically, but not legally. As a profession I think we need to be better identifying these deer.

 

[ndjfb00]

Fantastic reply many thanks, really appreciate you taking the time to write that which to me as a layman explains it perfectly

 

[WW.]

Going back to the original video, there's also blatant sacrifice of animal welfare for social media content - several individuals staying in frame for the deer coming round, it spotted them and staggered off in confused fear when half recovered. As opposed to them waiting out of sight for it to recover slowly and move off when itnwas ready when it was fully conscious.

 

[Brad93]

This is very worrying. A similar group has set up near to us recently. Big Facebook following of do-gooder types.

They've also plastered their organisation on A4 sheets and nailed them to every other tree down a stretch of road the deer love to bolt across.