Livestock Matters - Spring 2019

Livestock Matters Spring 2019 22 Eleven years ago, Jules Rottenbury could be found managing an outdoor adventure centre – teaching army marines how to drive quad bikes, taking customers horse–riding, and organising paintballing days. While considering a change in job, she spotted an advert at a local vet practice for a part–time receptionist and stock controller. Becoming an SQP Jules explains: “I’ve a dog and two horses, and I’ve always been a big animal lover. I even lambed a sheep at the adventure centre whilst in the middle of a quad bike trek, carrying on with the group once I was sure the ewe and her lamb were ok! “When I joined the practice, it was mixed – clients were farmers, and horse and pet owners. Initially, my job was to look after the stocks of medicines and consumables: order supplies, ensure correct medicines storage and stock rotation, and fulfil client orders. “During this time, I was amongst vets, and dealing with prescriptions for POM–VPS medicines. I became interested in the parasitic products that vets were prescribing across the group for all species. This sparked an interest in ecto and endo parasites, and at home I started reading up on parasites and diseases, for my own interest. “One evening I came across the AMTRA website and learnt about SQPs, and what they did. I approached the practice’s partners who were happy to support me. I studied in my own time, and with the help of the vets and nursing team, passed the exams in all the modules, and became the practice’s first SQP for farm animals. The R–SQP qualification also allowed me to advise on horses and pets, in addition to supplying all VPS medicines. “I’ve always had encouragement from my veterinary colleagues at the practice. In fact, in the first year after qualifying, I gained a lot of extra knowledge and a lot more confidence from having their back–up and support. An interest in worms “I’m happy to confess to being a worm nerd!” says Jules. “I think they are a very adaptable, resilient species and have some interesting life–cycles. “For instance, Haemonchus contortus – the Barber’s pole worm – is a prolific egg layer. Sheep can show clinical signs of infection in a very short time. “Our vets are reporting increasing numbers of cases of these. It’s not easy to differentiate their eggs under the microscope. So are we getting better at diagnosing them, or are there really more cases? “Other interesting parasites are the bladder While working as a receptionist and stock controller at a vet practice, Jules Rottenbury became interested in intestinal worms and their life–cycles. She pursued her interest and became an SQP. Over the past six years she’s been advising farmers on products and programmes for worm and parasite control. She is keen to ensure these medicines are used responsibly . Me and My Practice Jules Rottenbury Torch Farm & Equine Vets An interest in intestinal worms triggered new career for animal lover