Vidas Equine Insulin provides insulin levels in approximately 20 minutes, which the company says will help with the diagnosis and management of Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), commonly associated with insulin dysregulation in horses.
Vidas Equine ACTH provides dysregulation level testing of the adrenocorticotropic (ACTH) hormone related to the development of Equine Cushing’s Disease (aka Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction - PPID) in about 45 minutes.
Pierre Rouppert, Global Veterinary Product Manager at bioMérieux, said: “Our new endocrinology tests, because of their rapidity and ease of use, will bring clinical value for veterinary practices, directly at the Point of Care.
"Equine Metabolic Syndrome and Cushing’s Disease are chronic conditions that often evade detection in their initial stages, making early testing crucial in achieving proper management and animal care.”
David Smart, Global Veterinary Business Developer at bioMérieux, said: “This dedicated equine immunoassay test for insulin and ACTH represents a transformative step forward in animal care.
"Veterinary practitioners will be able to achieve fast, reliable and cost-effective laboratory grade results that can aid early detection and subsequent diagnosis for two prolific and debilitating medical conditions in horses.
"The fast and accurate results from these two new tests will allow quicker clinical decisions that will ultimately help more horses receive an improved standard of care and reassure horse owners.”
https://www.biomerieux.com/corp/en/our-offer/clinical-products/vidas-equine-insulin.html
The charity says it is facing serious financial pressures, with the cost of caring for rescued animals having increased by £17M over the last 5 years.
Meanwhile, claims for emergency treatments payments have dropped by 87% in the last two years because of a greater awareness by vets of their responsibilities under the RCVS Code in providing treatment to injured wildlife and stray animals.
Rebecca Ashman, the RSPCA’s Head Vet for Operations, Partnerships and Prevention, said: "Thanks to this, and better understanding of the role and remit of the RSPCA, we have been able to focus our charity resources on managing cases of cruelty and neglect."
She added: “The RSPCA has always worked closely with the veterinary professions and we are very grateful for the ongoing support of practices with our work.
"Colleagues will be aware that we have increasingly needed to focus on our core work of rescuing and rehabilitating neglected and cruelly treated animals, in the face of growing demand.
“We have seen the number of animals in our care grow; we are now caring for double the number of cats and dogs since the pandemic, many of whom need longer, more complex rehabilitation due to the nature of why they came into our care.
“Despite work to put the RSPCA on a more sustainable footing, between 2020 and 2024, the annual cost of rescuing and caring for animals has gone up by £17m, due to rising energy prices, veterinary costs, the increased need to pay for private boarding and the increase in the number of animals in our care.
"Alongside this, unforeseen costs such as the hike in national insurance, high inflation, rising fuel and increase in the cost of living, means it is a challenging climate for all charities, putting us under pressure at a time when donations are slowing across the sector.”
The RSPCA says it will continue to allocate log numbers for IET until the end of 2025 and vets have until the end of January 2026 to make any requests for payment in the usual way.
The webinar explores the practical application of thoracic ultrasound to support earlier, more accurate identification of BRD in the field.
The webinar demonstrates how integrating thoracic ultrasound into routine assessment can help clinicians identify cases earlier, target treatment more precisely and avoid the use of blanket metaphylaxis – supporting both herd health and antimicrobial stewardship.
George said: “Recent research suggests that nearly one third of UK dairy calves experience BRD and subclinical pneumonia, and a significant proportion may remain undiagnosed when assessed by clinical signs alone.
"One of the clearest indicators of pneumonia is lung consolidation.
"Thoracic ultrasound enables us to detect this early, grade its severity and provide a meaningful prognosis.
"It’s easy to do in the field with minimal patient preparation and gives a level of clarity that helps manage BRD much more effectively.”
Alongside the main webinar is a series of four bite-sized sessions which address common clinical scenarios, including when initiating antimicrobials is justified in BRD cases and how thoracic ultrasound can be used to monitor treatment progress.
Krka has also developed a new Vet2Vet Insight guide on creating an on-farm BRD protocol, together with a downloadable, editable template that practices can tailor to their own herd health plans.
https://www.krka.co.uk/veterinary-knowledge-hub
Led by clinicians from Davies Veterinary Specialists, the Royal Veterinary College, and Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service, the study assessed the proportion of metronidazole use that was prescribed for non-antimicrobial purposes, and the rationale for it.
A survey was completed by 138 veterinarians, primarily in the UK and working in primary care small animal practice, who treated 332 cases (285 dogs and 47 cats) with metronidazole.
In 42% of cases, metronidazole was selected exclusively for non-antimicrobial targeted therapy, and was most commonly prescribed to treat acute diarrhoea, chronic diarrhoea, or giardiasis.
This, say researchers, is despite recommendations that antimicrobials are very rarely warranted for the management of acute and chronic diarrhoea.
The most common rationale cited by vets to justify metronidazole use was its supposed anti-inflammatory or immunomodulatory properties.
Other reasons included: treatment of suspected or confirmed anaerobic or susceptible bacterial infection, the patient being systemically unwell or having severe disease, treatment of protozoal infections, experiencing a previous positive outcome in a similar case or the same patient, anti-diarrhoeal action and owner or practice expectations.
Dr Justin Ng, lead author of the study, said: “These insights are alarming given that such practices frequently deviate from current antimicrobial use guidelines, potentially contributing to ongoing challenges with antimicrobial resistance and adverse effects on gastrointestinal health.”
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsap.13910
The company says it has now had over two million client interactions, more than three quarters of which result in the pet visiting their vet practice, generating an average revenue of £206 per case, with a net promoter score of 88.
VidiVet was founded by veterinary surgeon Ben Sweeney in 2020, the main idea being to keep vet clinics at the centre of the customer journey whilst driving footfall and revenue, keeping pet owners happy and saving clinic teams time and stress.
VidiVet now has more than 60 vets providing a remote digital support team for vet clinics, 24/7.
Every vet working for VidiVet is still in clinical practice and has spent at least five years working in practice, with an average of 14 years experience.
Ben said: “We enable practices to complete the circle of care and augment the services they offer.
"Rather than us competing with clinics, under our strapline of ‘Just Trust VidiVet’, we continually delight clients, drive efficiencies and deliver revenues.
“We work with clients to determine whether their pet requires emergency treatment and, in most cases, direct them back to the practice at an appropriate time, based on their symptoms.
"Crucially, Vidivet vets never diagnose or prescribe, meaning they remain totally impartial and all revenues generated from a case go to the clinic.
VidiVet’s head of veterinary operations, Sarah Holmes, who is also a qualified vet, added: “VidiVet’s success is built on our ability to provide immediate advice from highly experienced UK based vets who all still work in clinics, and we only select those with exceptional communication and clinical skills.
"When this is combined with people’s appetite for instant information in a digital age, it gives us a very compelling offering, which is hugely popular with both veterinary practices and pet owners.”
Pippa Adams, director at PowisVets in Stourbridge, said: “We have been using VidiVet for four years now and it has been a game changer for our business.
"The clients love it, the system is simple for our staff and it has really helped our business as we have been growing.
"We would recommend it to any vet practice.”
www.vidivet.com.
The EMS database began development in 2022.
It was launched for placement providers a year ago and for students in March this year.
The College says it was implemented following a lengthy consultation amongst veterinary students, EMS placement providers and the veterinary schools, which resulted in broad commitment to the project.
Feedback from graduates had indicated that EMS was a hugely valuable part of their undergraduate studies, but that access to placements could be difficult.
The aims of the database were to streamline the EMS placement booking process for providers, to support vet schools in their implementation of EMS and to help students find placements relevant to their learning needs and personal circumstances.
According to the RCVS, initial reaction to the database from providers and students was positive.
Hundreds of providers joined the system, reporting that they appreciated having a central system which allowed students from all schools to be able to book placements.
Students accessing the system said the database was easy to use and contained features that improved EMS accessibility.
However, the College says that despite all this, the majority of schools were, in part due to a range of IT and legal complexities, no longer able to commit to the project now or within the time needed to make it viable.
Tim Hutchinson, Vice-Chair of the Education Committee, said: “This decision has not been taken lightly, as the Education Committee recognised both the substantial work from EMS providers in creating and maintaining their placement profiles, and the support shown from students using the database.
“RCVS staff and stakeholders have put a tremendous amount of effort into getting this system off the ground, however it could only have worked with all parties continuing to engage and, despite best efforts, this unfortunately has proved not to be.
“On behalf of the Education Committee, I would like to thank those stakeholders who signed up to the database for their engagement, and I share their frustration that this project did not succeed.”
The RCVS says it will provide support for those veterinary schools that were signed up and using the database whilst the system is wound down.
Any bookings already in the system will be relayed to veterinary school internal systems.
It is expected that the software will be retired by February 2026.
The news comes only weeks after the RCVS announced conditional accreditation of the school's veterinary degree for a further year whilst further improvements could be made, having previously identified ‘wide-ranging concerns’.
The RCVS responded to the news with the following statement:
"We were very sorry to learn that Cambridge University’s Council of the School of Biological Sciences has decided to recommend to the University’s General Board that veterinary education at Cambridge should cease and, as ever, our first thoughts are with the students and staff team at the veterinary department, who will be affected directly by this news.
“As we reported on 25 November 2025, in light of the significant progress made by the vet department at Cambridge over the past 12 months towards meeting our accreditation standards, our Education Committee decided to grant conditional accreditation of the Cambridge veterinary degree programme for a further year to allow time for remaining improvements to be made.
“As stated, we appreciate the considerable efforts and hard work that the staff team at the vet department had put into rectifying many of the issues identified in the 2024 accreditation event, for taking on board the constructive advice that was given and working together to make many of the necessary improvements.'
“We had collaborated with the team within the vet department on putting together an action plan and timeline for meeting the 20 remaining recommendations, and we hoped that the department would continue on its current trajectory towards meeting our accreditation standards.
“The visitation panel noted the considerable efforts the department staff had made to make improvements in a relatively short timeframe, and the staff’s commitment to improving the remaining issues was clear. We also understood from discussions during the visitation that the department had the full and ongoing support of the School of Biological Sciences and wider University.
“In light of the School Council’s recent recommendation, however, we know that this will be a very upsetting and uncertain time for the vet department staff team and students, so we stand ready to offer as much support as we are able over the coming months.”
The BVA has also responded, it's President Dr. Rob Williams MRCVS saying: “When we met with senior leadership at Cambridge University back in June, we secured reassurances that they remained committed to the long-term future of the vet school.
"It’s therefore deeply concerning to hear that once again the future of Cambridge Vet School is in doubt.
"Working with students, alumni and staff, we’re seeking clarity on the situation and will make the case for its veterinary medicine degree course to continue."
A final decision will be made by the university's general board in January.
This takes total investment to £21 million, following a £6 million Seed round in August 2023.
Hello Vet was founded in 2022 by healthcare entrepreneurs, James Lighton and Alessandro Guazzi, and veterinary surgeon Oli Viner.
They opened their first site in London Fields in July 2024.
VetSurgeon.org spoke to Oli, who explained some of the things Hello Vet is doing to offer greater transparency and tangible value whilst remaining affordable:
Oli said: "We're using technology to reduce the amount of time we spend on admin and mundane stuff, so we can concentrate more on those things which deliver better value for our clients.
"For example, our clinicians make clinical notes as normal, but they are translated by AI into treatments plans which, after a once-over by our nursing team, we give to clients both as an aide-memoire and as a tangible presentation of the advice they've bought from us.
"When we used to do this manually, it would take 10 minutes. With AI, that's down to 90 seconds.
"We also use WhatsApp to foster a better connection between clinicians and clients, and to triage cases.
"We don't charge for interactions on WhatsApp, so it saves clients time and money whilst allowing us to focus our efforts where they are most needed and offer greater value.
Hello Vet reckons its WhatApp triage service has saved clients more than £75K in fees alone in the last year.
Another novel side to the practice is that it allows clients into its procedure rooms to hold their pets’ paws as anaesthesia is administered and to be present when their pets wake up.
Oli said: "This reduces stress for both pets and people and there are studies1 which have shown it improves outcomes and speeds recovery.
"As importantly, it shows tangible value to the client when they can see all the equipment we've invested in.
"Allowing clients to be there at the start of a procedure strengthens relationships with the team and builds trust."
Hello Vet now plans to launch clinics across the UK and hire a team of 200 vets and vet nurses over the next two years.
James Lighton, co-founder and CEO, said: “We know that most veterinary professionals come into this industry because they love working with animals.
"But too many good people are leaving this vocation.
"We want to become Britain’s best place to work, to ensure working in a vet clinic feels like the dream job it should be.
https://www.hellovet.co.uk
Reference
The app allows first-opinion vets to submit advice requests directly, including attachments such as radiographs, videos, images, clinical notes and laboratory results.
Responses from Movement Referrals’ clinicians are documented within a chat-style interface, allowing practices to monitor the status of their requests and retain a clear record of the advice they've been given.
Movement says the platform was developed to address the difficulties of managing advice requests via email, where tracking conversations and recording responses can become challenging alongside routine practice correspondence.
The app also generates an AI summary of uploaded clinical notes and includes a “refer this case” function to facilitate formal referral where appropriate.
John Innes, co-director of Movement Referrals and developer of the app, said: "This app is quick to install on a desktop or laptop and we have tested it with a small number of practices so far - feedback has been very positive."
To register, referring practices are advised to use a shared practice email address that all clinicians have access to, and email info@movementvets.co.uk with the message: “Please register our practice for the Movement Vets app”.
https://movementvets.co.uk
The move, branded as Pharmacy2U Pet Health, means clients can manage human and animal medicines through one website and app account, with pet prescriptions dispensed and delivered via the same Royal Mail 48-hour service used for its 1.8 million patients in England.
The development comes as the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) prepares to publish its final decision following an investigation into prescription pricing and competition in the veterinary sector.
The regulator has already raised concerns around transparency and consumer awareness of prescription options.
Pharmacy2U, which was launched in 1999, acquired Lloyds Direct in 2023 and The PharmPet Co in 2024, says its veterinary business has grown by 100% in the last year.
By incorporating veterinary dispensing into its main platform, it is now positioning itself as a single access point for family healthcare, including companion animals and other species.
Neil Younger, Veterinary Services Director, Pharmacy2U (and the original founder of The PharmPet Co) said: “Pet owners are often unaware that in some cases they get their pet’s medication up to 50% cheaper, by simply going online."
The move places veterinary dispensing within a national distance-selling infrastructure, increasing its visibility alongside NHS prescription services.
https://www.pharmacy2u.co.uk
The six bite-sized modules are designed to give whole practice teams GDPR training that reflects day-to-day veterinary workflows, and to provide a simple way for practices to evidence staff training for compliance purposes.
Training-Progress said the aim is to move GDPR training beyond generic, “box-ticking” content by focusing on real scenarios and data-handling habits inside practices.
The programme is split into two learning streams.
A “Team Stream” is aimed at all roles across the practice, covering core GDPR principles and typical data processes in a veterinary setting.
A “Leadership Stream” is described as a deeper dive for practice leaders, focusing on policies, processes and data management.
Laura Shaw, Training-Progress, said the company is frequently asked for GDPR training written specifically for vets, adding: “Generic courses simply aren’t relevant enough to change behaviour.
"Our modules address the real issues that occur in practices every day—issues that cause stress, risk client trust, and can lead to significant consequences with the ICO.”
Nicola Major, practice manager at VetDentist in Harrogate, which trialled the training, said: “The course breaks down everything you need to know about GDPR in a clear, practical way, making a complex subject easy to understand and apply.”
https://www.training-progress.com/gdpr
The session, From Early Care to Lifelong Health: Diarrhoea Management in Puppies and Kittens, will explore evidence suggesting early-life acute intestinal disorders can have lasting effects on gut integrity, immune function and the risk of chronic disease.
Purina says the discussion will focus on practical approaches that teams can apply in practice, including when antibiotic therapy is appropriate in young patients and how to minimise antibiotic-associated dysbiosis.
Topics include mechanisms by which enteritis — including giardiasis and parvoviral enteritis — may compromise gut integrity and increase chronic disease risk, along with best-practice protocols for managing acute diarrhoea to mitigate dysbiosis, preserve gut barrier function and potentially reduce future gastrointestinal and dermatological disorders.
The round table will be chaired by Jan S. Suchodolski MedVet, DrVetMed, PhD, AGAF, DACVM, with contributions from Ana Rostaher Prof, Dr med vet, Dipl ECVD, RCVS; Camille Torres-Henderson DVM, DABVP (Canine/Feline), DACVIM (Nutrition); Stefan Unterer Prof, Dr med vet, Dr habil, Dipl ECVIM-CA; and Michelle van Lienden DVM.
Natalia Wagemans, Head of the Purina Institute, said the aim is to provide “practical, evidence-based insights” that veterinary professionals can apply “immediately to improve long-term outcomes for pets”.
The event is free to attend, will be recorded and made available on demand for registered participants, and will offer live audio and subtitles in more than 50 languages.
https://events.purinainstitute.com/login/purinainstitute/MicrobiomeForumRoundTable2026
For small animal work, the survey shows consultation fees up 4.5% and neutering fees up 8%.
Vaccine fees increased by 9–16%, which SPVS suggests may reflect wider use of Lepto 4 vaccines replacing Lepto 2.
Prescription fees rose 3% to £19.25 (excluding VAT), which SPVS notes remains well above the CMA’s proposed capped rate of £13.33.
The largest shifts in small animal charging were in some surgery and diagnostics. SPVS highlights examples including pyometra treatment, x-rays and ultrasound, which it reports have increased by around 20%.
The picture was different in large animal practice, where SPVS says all visit charges decreased.
Large animal prescription fees, however, rose to £24.48, an increase of nearly 20% on last year.
In equine work, consultation charges increased by 10% and many visit charges fell, according to the survey. The biggest single increase SPVS flagged was blood sampling and interpretation of results, up 42%.
Commenting on the findings, SPVS said there were “no real surprises” this year, with mostly moderate increases and a smaller number of larger uplifts.
SPVS also took the opportunity to emphasise how it believes potential CMA remedies on medicines pricing could affect practice economics, because many veterinary businesses rely on cross-subsidy.
That, it said, could cause a “waterbed effect” where other fees have to rise to maintain viability.
SPVS said it has been meeting with the CMA to slow any changes so that fee increases can be introduced gradually and to minimise potential risks to animal welfare, and plans to run in-person roadshows after the final remedies are published.
https://spvs.org.uk/cma-spvs-response
Dr De Decker is the RVC’s Professor in Neurology and Neurosurgery and has led the QMHA Neurology and Neurosurgery service since 2016.
A Ghent University graduate (2005), Dr De Decker completed a rotating internship and a PhD focused on diagnosing and treating disc-associated cervical spondylomyelopathy (wobbler syndrome) in dogs.
He joined the RVC in 2010 and is a European- and RCVS-Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Neurology.
His clinical and research interests include spinal cord disorders, neurosurgery and clinical reasoning in dogs and cats.
His published work has included studies on thoracic vertebral malformations in French Bulldogs, Pugs and English Bulldogs (with and without neurological deficits), diagnostic imaging in intervertebral disc disease, and immune-mediated inflammatory brain disorders.
Alongside clinical work, Dr De Decker teaches BVetMed and postgraduate MVetMed students and delivers continuing professional education nationally and internationally.
He is Past-President of the British Veterinary Neurology Society and currently chairs the Education Committee of the European College of Veterinary Neurology.
Dr De Decker said: “It is an enormous privilege to take up the role of Clinical Director… I look forward to contributing to the further development and growth of the QMHA and its community.”
The branding will sit alongside existing practice names, appearing on signage, uniforms, client materials and digital channels.
Lime Trees Vets in Stoke-on-Trent is the first site to adopt the identity, with further practices transitioning in phases through the year.
IVC Evidensia says the move is intended to bring its first-opinion, referral, farm and equine services together under a single banner, reflecting the scale of its UK network and communicating its core values simply, whilst preserving local clinical independence.
George Dymond, CEO of IVC Evidensia UK and Ireland, said the aim is to make it clearer how practices within the group are connected while retaining their local presence.
Website updates, client campaigns and social media channels will be updated as the rollout progresses.
The workshops have been co-authored with a workplace wellbeing company called Ultimate Resilience, and will be delivered by two of the company's clinical psychologists: Dr Felicity Baker and Dr Jackie Allt.
The sessions will focus on leadership skills, recognising early signs of stress and burnout, and practising conversations to support colleagues.
The workshops will run for designated groups across the profession during March, April, May and June.
Places are limited to 16 per workshop and cost £150 per person and online places cost £120.
The RCVS is also running a free ‘Work, mental health and mood’ webinar on Monday 30 March, 6.30pm to 7.45pm.
The webinar will cover recognising mood and affective disorders at work, supporting colleagues, reducing stigma, and signposting to help.
Speakers are clinical psychologist Dr Marco Vivolo, veterinary mental health researcher James Glass MRCVS, and wellbeing instructor Emma Sadler RVN.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/managing-mental-health-in-the-workplace-for-everyday-veterinary-leaders-tickets-1981567626112
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/events/mmi-work-mental-health-and-mood-webinar
The survey of 2,256 horse owners examined current EHV vaccination rates, owner understanding of the disease, and perceived barriers to uptake.
While 95% of respondents reported vaccinating for influenza and tetanus, only 17% said they vaccinate for EHV despite 86% believing vaccination significantly reduces disease spread.
The most commonly cited reason for not vaccinating against EHV was that their vet had not recommended it, reported by 65% of respondents.
40% said they were unaware that a vaccine was available.
Although 98% recognised equine gatherings as a risk factor for EHV transmission, more than a quarter did not fully understand how the virus spreads or the risks posed to their horse.
75% reported frequently taking horses off their home premises.
94% understood that nose-to-nose contact could transmit the virus.
However, one in four did not know EHV could also spread via airborne droplets, shared equipment, handlers or bedding.
78% of owners not currently vaccinating said they would be likely to do so after learning more about the potential impact of the disease.
Zoetis National Equine Veterinary Manager Dr Wendy Talbot said the findings reinforced the influence of veterinary recommendation in reducing the risk of EHV outbreaks.
Questions will be collated and shared with candidates, who will each be able to answer one question of their choice.
This year's election is for three available elected places on RCVS Council.
The candidates are:
Th candidates’ biographies and statements are all available on the College website.
Questions must be emailed to vetvote26@rcvs.org.uk by Wednesday 25th February 2026.
www.rcvs.org.uk/vetvote26
For the first time, the three-day programme will use a different clinical theme each day.
Friday 26th June will focus on gastrointestinal disease.
Saturday 27th June will focus on respiratory disease.
Sunday 28th June will focus on cardiology.
Delegates will be able to tailor their itinerary across the themed days without pre-booking sessions or paying extra.
Ticket prices are being held at 2025 rates and International Cat Care has also introduced a choice of three-day and one-day tickets for 2026.
An Early Bird discount is available on three-day tickets.
Professor Séverine Tasker, International Cat Care’s veterinary strategic lead, said, “I’m excited to welcome veterinary professionals in all roles, at all career stages, to World Feline Congress 2026, to join with us to advance their knowledge in cat friendly veterinary care.”
https://icatcare.org/events/world-feline-congress-2026
Dates and venues are:
Each event provides six hours of interactive CPD designed for the whole veterinary team.
The sessions will be led by QI speakers Lou Northway RVN, Julie Gibson MRCVS and Rachel Clay MRCVS.
RCVS Knowledge said the expanded in-person programme is intended to make hands-on quality improvement support more accessible across regions.
Content will cover applying QI principles to real workplace projects, building systems that learn from errors, and approaches including clinical audit and significant event analysis, with peer discussion across practices.
RCVS Knowledge Clinical Lead Lou Northway said: “It’s time to put ‘we’ve always done it this way’ in the bin and embrace a ‘could it be better?’ mindset.”
London tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/qi-in-a-day-london-tickets-1976907557722 Bristol tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/qi-in-a-day-bristol-tickets-1980388235523 Newcastle tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/qi-in-a-day-newcastle-tickets-1980388352874
The one-hour session is aimed at veterinary staff undertaking radiography.
It will focus on hands-free techniques, with practical approaches to stable patient positioning and producing consistent, repeatable images without relying on manual restraint or complex setups.
It will also cover will also cover what defines a good radiographic image, using real-life examples such as ‘what a lateral elbow should look like’.
The webinar will include an overview of legal obligations around ionising radiation.
The session will be presented by VET.CT radiologist Dr Lisa Friling (pictured), who said: "Improving radiation safety in practice does require change, which can be challenging.
"However, this change is important - to improve health and welfare of patients and the safety of staff, and it is absolutely possible with the right support and guidance.”
The recording will be added to VET.CT’s free X-Pert Radiation Safety Centre, which includes downloadable toolkits for small animal and equine practice, including positioning guides, top tips, chemical restraint protocols and case studies.
Morning registration: https://events.zoom.us/ev/AoUvrzk-_2uzZnp4qAmFOGXmRcK1aTTw-6qvuXG9dcE1R9P6nekq~Anw9-XhUxtsFzbNTgw72jB-z7T3VYWaNeeenRj7ewgvpDl2-SZXIsQQCoA Evening registration: https://events.zoom.us/ev/AhNUeTTJeRFdCzhNTqhFXC51TVI4oiPcHToPFDrNJGeKzxSD9KjG~As1a8XpiRKr-QcSd8p2-ki8MyicKNFrSRGNG8ZTRBTLssfxmt46S5Xfv9Q
The X-Pert radiation safety resources for small animal practice: https://uk.vet-ct.com/welcome-to-x-pertEquine resources here: https://uk.vet-ct.com/welcome-to-x-pert-equine
Focusing on “The Gut-Brain Axis in Practice", the symposium will use talks, discussions and case studies to explore how gut–brain science, the pet–human relationship and probiotics may relate to canine behaviour.
Registration is open to veterinary surgeons, vet techs, RVNs, behaviourists and nutritionists.
Speakers named include Dr Clara Palestrini (University of Milan), Dr Sarah Heath (European Veterinary Specialist in Behavioural Medicine), and Dr Marta Amat Grau and Dr Xavier Manteca Vilanova (University of Barcelona), among a total of 10 speakers.
The programme also includes a round-table discussion and a session focused on evidence-based insights and real-life case reports.
Simultaneous translation will be available in French, Spanish, German, Italian and Portuguese alongside English.
https://www.vet-center.eu/pro-plan-calming-care-symposium
The cross-sectional study, published in PLOS One, evaluated 898 dogs across 14 breeds and assessed conformational risk factors associated with BOAS.
Only 11% of Pekingese were graded free of BOAS.
Japanese Chins also showed high levels of disease, with only 17.4% graded unaffected.
King Charles Spaniels, Shih Tzus and Boston Terriers demonstrated intermediate risk profiles.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Pomeranians, Boxers and Chihuahuas had substantially lower proportions of clinically affected dogs.
Across all breeds, increased facial shortening, dynamic nostril collapse and higher body condition score were significantly associated with BOAS severity.
Francesca Tomlinson, lead author and PhD researcher at the University of Cambridge, said: “Our research shows that BOAS varies widely between brachycephalic breeds.
"By understanding these differences and identifying key risk factors, we can move towards more targeted and effective strategies to improve welfare.”
The findings provide updated comparative data for clinicians advising owners on risk, weight management and early respiratory grading, and support structured respiratory grading schemes, including those led by The Royal Kennel Club.
References
The event will explore how referral and second-opinion care fit within the contextualised care model and how the profession can strengthen delivery of compassionate and sustainable specialist care.
The meeting is aimed at veterinary specialists, general practitioners, veterinary nurses, practice managers and others interested in referral practice, ethics, patient welfare and professional wellbeing.
Sessions include a presentation by Dr Rachel Dean FRCVS of VetPartners examining whether the concept of a veterinary “gold standard” can act as a barrier to contextualised care.
Other talks will explore how market structures influence veterinary care, the impact of changing ownership models on client relationships, and ethical dilemmas in practice.
Additional sessions will cover story-based approaches to contextualised care, collaborative contextualised care, clinical communication tools, and whether contextualised care differs within corporate practice settings.
The programme will also include discussion of RCVS Knowledge research alongside workshops and networking opportunities.
https://www.vsavet.org/events/contextualised-care-in-a-changing-veterinary-landscape
The updated resources include sanitation protocols for clinical and non-clinical areas, plus staff training materials to standardise hygiene across teams.
They also includes guidance on positive surveillance for nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections, and an online self-audit tool designed to help practices review current procedures and identify gaps.
The update is intended to support infection prevention and responsible antimicrobial use, and to reduce the risk of resistant infections affecting animals and their owners.
The Foundation said it is expanding educational materials for veterinary professionals and pet owners, supported by a new board of trustees, veterinary student educators and clinical advisors.
https://www.thebellamossfoundation.com/veterinary-professionals