Latest News

 9/2/2021 
 

Health Canada Public Advisory re. Use of Veterinary Ivermectin to Prevent or Treat COVID-19

Health Canada is advising Canadians against the unauthorized use of either the veterinary or human drug versions of Ivermectin to prevent or treat COVID-19.  Health Canada advises that there is no evidence that ivermectin in either formulation is safe or effective when used for those purposes and that the human version of ivermectin is authorized for sale in Canada only for the treatment of parasitic worm infections in people.  Please visit the Health Canada site for full details. 

 9/2/2021 
 

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Alerts

Bluetongue Virus 

The Chief Veterinarian of the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries has released an alert regarding Bluetongue virus amongst bighorn sheep and white-tailed deer in the south Okanagan.  Please view the entire alert linked here.  

Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy

The Chief Veterinarian of the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries has released an alert regarding suspect equine herpesvirus encephalomyelopathy in a horse in the western lower mainland.  Please see the alert linked here.

 7/21/2021 
 

Strengthening Governance of the Antimicrobial Resistance Response Across One Health in Canada

The AMR Network project has released its final report.  This project was funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada to develop options for governance of a One Health pan-Canadian network that will better integrate the diverse stakeholders with responsibilities in addressing antimicrobial resistance in Canada to drive a national effort to mitigate the threat of AMR for all Canadians.  The establishment of a new governance model for AMR in Canada will be a key piece to the puzzle required to effectively deliver on the Pan Canadian Action Plan once it is released.   The final report of the project, Strengthening Governance of the Antimicrobial Resistance Response Across One Health in Canada can be found at the following links.    

Volume I: Final Report
Volume II: Supplemental Documents

 6/9/2021 
 

Anticipated Animal Euthanasia Drug Shortage

The Veterinary Drug Directorate has released a communication regarding the anticipated shortage of euthanasia products for use by veterinarians.  Please click here to view.   

 6/9/2021 
 

Canine Importation Letter from CFIA to Veterinarians

The CVMA has shared a letter from the CFIA regarding canine importation.  The CVBC would like to pass this information along to all registrants.  Please click this link to view.   

 5/12/2021 
 

Introduction of New Registrar, Dr. Megan Bergman

The CVBC is excited to have Dr. Megan Bergman step into the role of Registrar & CEO effective July 19, 2021. See the CVBC’s Eblast from April 9, 2021 for an introduction to Dr. Bergman, and stay tuned for an upcoming video podcast where we will hear about Dr. Bergman’s history, heroes and hopes. 

 3/16/2021 
 

Unauthorized Practice

The attached poster has been developed by the College of Veterinarians of BC and the Society of BC Veterinarians as a joint public education effort to explain the value and importance of veterinary dental care and the risks of seeking the care of non-veterinarians who are engaging in the unauthorized practice of veterinary medicine. 11×17″ posters will be distributed to all SBCV members and to all practice facilities in the mailout for the SBCV’s upcoming Westcoast Veterinarian journal. 

 4/22/2020 
 

Introduction of Interim Registrar

We are pleased to announce that as of April 20th Dr. Jane Pritchard has stepped into the Registrar duties as an Interim Registrar of the CVBC.  Dr. Pritchard has very recently retired as the Chief Veterinary Officer of the Province and Director of the Animal Health Branch.  Dr. Pritchard comes with a long and distinguished history of public service spent with the Province.  Her knowledge and experience with the Ministry of Agriculture, regulation and governance, and the veterinary profession in general will prove invaluable to help the College through this next transition phase. 

 3/12/2020 

Notice to Registrants

As communicated by e-blast to registrants on March 4, 2020, Ms. Luisa Hlus has left the College of Veterinarians of British Columbia.  Dr. Stacey Thomas (Deputy Registrar) has been appointed by Council to the role of Acting Registrar while Council conducts a formal search for a new Registrar.
 3/4/2020 

Results of the 2020 Election

The following three registrants have been elected to Council, effective March 6, 2020:
  • Dr. Maarten Hart
  • Dr. Jane Mancell
  • Dr. Michele Martin
Voter turnout amounted to 611 eligible registrants.  Thank you for participating.
 2/11/2020 

Renewed Council Election Cycle 2020

As messaged to the profession on January 28, 2020, nominations are open again to fill three positions on Council, each for a three-year term.  Below is a revised election schedule applicable only to the current circumstances, modified by Council at its January 24, 2020 meeting (pursuant to Bylaw s. 1.8(4)):

Nominations Deadline – February 13, 2020 at noon

  • Candidates Declared by February 17, 2020
  • Electronic Election Opens on February 18, 2020
  • Voting Deadline – March 2, 2020 at midnight
  • Outcome Announcement by March 4, 2020
  • First Council Meeting – March 6, 2020
1/2/2020 
 

Unauthorized Practice Alert – Pampered Pets Ultrasonic and Rhonda Marie Hiebert

On December 20, 2019, the CVBC obtained a Court Order by consent, prohibiting a non-veterinarian from offering oral hygiene, dental care and other health services.  A copy of entered Court Order may be found here.  In 2017, the BC Supreme Court delivered reasons for judgement in a similar case Dentapet decision.  Please visit our website page Public Protection/Unauthorized Practice/Injunctions for more information and contact the office if you have any questions.

11/14/2019 

Antimicrobial Resistance

All CVBC registrants are encouraged to review the following material which is of relevance (by extrapolation) to the care of veterinary patients, but also with regards to every veterinarian’s responsibility to practice within the principles of antimicrobial stewardship in the “One Health” model. In Canada, 26% of infections in humans are resistant to the medicines that are generally first prescribed to treat an infection, a rate that could rise to 40% or beyond in the coming decades, according to an expert panel convened by the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA).  By 2050, a total of 396,000 lives could be lost and the Canadian economy could lose $338 billion. When Antibiotics Fail  is an independent expert assessment of the best available evidence of the potential impact of antimicrobial resistance, produced by the CCA at the request of the Public Health Agency of Canada. Visit  www.cca-reports.ca download this report.
 9/26/2019 
 

Understanding the Cannabis Act and Regulations

The Canadian Council of Veterinary Regulators’ (CCVR) Cannabis Working Group has developed the following resource for Canadian veterinarians regarding the Cannabis Act and Regulations.  Please follow this link.

 2/25/2019 
 

Application of the CVBC’s New Professional Practice Standard: Small Animal Anesthetic Monitoring

On February 21st,  the CVBC circulated a message to all registrants advising of a new practice standard to be in effect as of March 1, 2019, reflecting the importance of monitoring and record keeping during anesthetic procedures.

If your clinic currently does not have the equipment necessary to comply with the standard, proof of having placed an equipment order on or before March 1, 2019 will avoid adverse consequences until you are able to take delivery and train your staff.

UPDATE:  Council amended the PPS: Small Animal Anesthetic Monitoring on March 1, 2019.  Section 2 – Blood Gases now requires that every facility monitor and record either oxygenation (via pulse oximetry or arterial blood gas analysis of PaO2) OR end-tidal CO2 (via capnography) at a minimum of 5-minute intervals.  The amended Standard is effective April 1, 2019.   Please click here to review the standard.

10/23/2018
 

New Standards and Policies

Please see below for links to recently published standards and notices. Please refer to the Legislation, Standards and Policiespage for all standards, guidelines, policies and notices.

 6/26/2018 
 

Unauthorized Practice Alert

It is not appropriate for B.C. veterinarians to send invitations for veterinarians licensed in other jurisdictions to provide services directly to B.C. breeders or other members of the public. Such services must be rendered by veterinarians licensed in B.C. and working from a B.C. accredited practice facility. B.C. licensed veterinarians may utilize unlicensed consultants as long as the B.C. veterinarian maintains the veterinary client patient relationship and records, and does not permit the consultant to assume that role, outside of an accredited practice. For more information visit the Unauthorized Practice and Practice Facilities pages. If you have any questions, please contact the office. We will continue to update this post as we receive more information.