WellVet was founded in 2019 and was established and run as a not-for-profit by vets Liz Barton, Ru Tipney, Nat Scroggie and Katie Ford.
It provided in-person and online events to help people build their own wellbeing toolkit.
It also developed and hosted free expert-led resources on perimenopause.
Vet Empowered is a coaching and wellbeing platform run by Claire Grigson and WellVet team member Katie Ford, and it will host the WellVet resources on its website.
Liz said: "WellVet was developed at a time when the conversation around wellbeing was growing, but many resources were not reaching colleagues who could benefit.
"Our aim was to connect people with solutions to live happier and healthier in mind, body and soul.
"We have been honoured to host outstanding expert speakers and to receive many moving testimonials demonstrating real positive impact.
"However, securing funding for WellVet’s activities has become increasingly challenging in the current climate.
"Bringing WellVet’s resources into another established wellbeing platform is the best way to ensure these materials remain freely available and continue to benefit the veterinary community.”
https://www.vetempowered.com/wellvet
The awards cover a range of professional areas including small animal medicine, surgery, welfare science, practice leadership and veterinary nursing.
Ian Ramsey (pictured), Professor of Small Animal Medicine at Glasgow University Veterinary School, received the Bourgelat Award for his outstanding contributions to all areas of internal medicine, particularly in the field of endocrinology.
Matteo Rossanese, senior lecturer in Small Animal Surgery and co-head of Soft Tissue Surgery at the Royal Veterinary College, received the Simon Award for his exceptional contribution to small animal surgery, particularly in cardiothoracic procedures.
Lyndsay Hughes, a Small Animal Director at Drove Veterinary Hospital and former BVNA President (2023-2025), received the BSAVA Veterinary Nurse Award for her exceptional contribution to the veterinary nursing profession
Other recipients include Madonna Livingstone, Head Vet and Head of Exotics at Ark Veterinary Clinics Ltd, and Rowena Packer, a companion animal behaviour and welfare scientist at the Royal Veterinary College.
Jon Fitzmaurice, who has worked at the RSPCA in South Wales for more than 10 years, also received an award for his dedication over more than a decade at the RSPCA South Wales.
Several awards recognised research published in the Journal of Small Animal Practice (JSAP), including work by Stefano Zanardi, Karen Fong and Sze Lynn Yuen.
BSAVA Honorary Secretary Adam Gow said: "We were delighted to receive so many inspiring nominations this year, highlighting just how much outstanding work is happening across the veterinary community."
BEVA said the guidance is intended to help vets ensure good welfare during the necessary euthanasia of horses insured for mortality.
Led by Ian Beamish, the Association reviewed its guidance with input from vets and representatives from the insurance industry.
Ian said: "The veterinary surgeon's primary responsibility is undoubtably to ensure the welfare of the horse, regardless of whether the horse is insured.
"The new guidelines are a modernised version of the outdated 2009 guidelines, with a carefully revised List of Conditions and their prognoses, updated language, and revised protocols on grounds for euthanasia."
He added: "It is important to note that whilst we may advise euthanasia, we may not advise on the insurance policy conditions; this is a matter for the insured and insurer to discuss."
The Equine Insurance Providers Group has approved and adopted the new guidance.
https://www.beva.org.uk/euthanasia-guidelines-for-insured-horses
David has been an elected member of RCVS Council since July 2024 and is currently Professor of Bovine Medicine, Production and Reproduction at Bristol Veterinary School, as well as an RCVS-recognised Specialist in Cattle Health and Production and a European Veterinary Specialist in Bovine Health Management.
He said: “The veterinary professions stand at a defining moment.
"The Competition and Markets Authority investigation and hoped for legislative reform will shape the future of veterinary regulation, practice, and professional standards.
"At such a time, the professions and the public need the RCVS to provide steady, confident, and principled regulation and direction, guided by experience, sound judgement, and professional credibility.
"It is a great honour to be elected to this position by my fellow RCVS Council members, and I look forward to working with them, VN Council members and RCVS staff.
"As Junior Vice-President I will bring experience, judgement, and a collaborative, person-centred approach to Council, supporting thriving professionals, promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion, maintaining the highest standards, and ensuring the College regulates transparently and responsibly delivering leadership the professions and public can trust now and into the future.”
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/about-us/councils-and-committees/rcvs-council
IVC started writing to the practices at the start of last year, threatening legal action over their use of the term 'Pet Health Club', which the company says infringes its trademark rights.
In March 2025, IVC sent follow-up letters to affected practices, offering an extension until 31st December 2025 to comply with its demands, but according to We Are Spartacus, there has been no contact since the deadline passed.
Meanwhile, We Are Spartacus reports that 200 veterinary professionals have registered their opposition to IVC's claims via its website.
Dr Natalie Morris-Webb, owner of Malthouse Vets, one of the affected practices, said: “Last year was a worrying time for lots of independent practices with a ‘Pet Health Club.’
"Many of those that came forward had been using the term long before IVC registered its wordmark in 2019 and either had to face the cost and hassle of rebranding their health plans or enter into a legal dispute with IVC.
“Neither of these are appealing options for independent practices, or their owner managers.
"Although IVC appears to have ceased defending the ‘pet health club’ wordmark, with none of the affected practices reporting any further correspondence for many months, the uncertainty is still there.
"It’s unacceptable that IVC has not yet achieved a commercial settlement, or revealed whether they have given the industry a reprieve and no longer plan to take legal action.”
An IVC Evidensia spokesperson said: "We have no current plans to approach anyone we haven’t previously contacted on this matter, but of course, we reserve the rights available to the company, as trademark holder, to protect our trademarks and customers in the future, as in any sector."
"A material number of those previously infringing our trademark have now updated their branding.
"Anyone still in breach was given clear notification, so the position is unambiguous - they are required to update."
The Pet Health Club website does not currently state that the scheme is owned by IVC Evidensia.
www.wearespartacus.co.uk
The CPD events, which are part of the College's Next Steps project, are aimed specifically at returning parents, those coming back from a career break, and individuals moving into management.
They offer a blend of practical guidance, peer support, professional networking, and careers expertise.
Tash Goodwin Roberts, RCVS Projects Implementation Manager, said: "Navigating change can be exciting, but it doesn’t come without challenges.
"Our Next Steps project is designed to make those transitions as smooth as possible, to make sure you feel confident in reconnecting with your professional identity."
The events will take place on 12 May, 21 May, and 18 June at the RCVS' offices in London.
Tickets cost £50 for those booking at least six weeks in advance.
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/rcvs-next-steps-4825743
For the study, the team at the RVC conducted an online survey of the owners of 9,402 UK dogs to investigate the behaviour of three popular designer Doodle breeds – Cockapoo, Labradoodle and Cavapoo.
Behaviours were compared between the Doodles and their purebred parent breeds, including Cocker Spaniels; Cavalier King Charles Spaniels; Labrador Retrievers; and Toy, Miniature, and Standard Poodles.
Behaviour was assessed using the validated Canine Behavioural Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) which quantifies diverse behavioural challenges including aggression, fear and anxiety, separation-related behaviour and attention-seeking.
The results show that designer Doodles differed from their purebred parents in approximately 54% of behavioural comparisons.
Where differences were identified, Doodles showed more undesirable behaviours in 82% of comparisons.
Some of these common undesirable behaviours included non-social fear (e.g. fear of traffic, loud noises); separation-related problems (e.g. vocalisation and destructiveness when left alone); and excitability (e.g. strong reactions to exciting events such as walks and doorbells).
Doodles showed less undesirable behaviours in only 18% of the comparisons where a difference was identified, for example Labradoodles scored lower for dog rivalry (e.g., conflict with dogs they live with) compared to Poodles.
Considerable variation between the three individual Doodle breeds was also identified, demonstrating that designer crossbreeds should not be treated as a single, uniform group in terms of behaviour.
For example, Cockapoos displayed a higher level of undesirable behaviours compared to their purebred parent breeds, exceeding that seen in Cavapoos and Labradoodles.
In particular, Cockapoos showed higher levels of aggressive behaviours, such as owner-directed aggression and dog rivalry, than their purebred parents.
Dr Rowena Packer, Senior Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science at the RVC and senior author of the paper, said: “Realistic expectations are key to happy dog ownership.
"When expectations and reality don’t align, both dogs and owners can struggle.
"Preconceived beliefs, such as the idea that designer-crossbreeds are naturally easy to train or are safe with children, can have serious consequences if they aren’t supported by evidence.
"Our research shows that many designer-crossbreeds do not always behave as expected, particularly regarding training, anxiety and aggression, which were more common than in their parent breeds.
"We also found that not all ‘Doodles’ are alike, with Cockapoos tending to display more undesirable behaviour compared to Labradoodles and Cavapoos, highlighting that each breed is unique.
"By providing reliable scientific data, we can help puppy buyers to make better-informed choices that support both human wellbeing and canine welfare.”
Reference
The online invitation survey was conducted among 6,500 pet owners from around the world, 1,000 of whom were based in the UK.
Whilst the survey didn't glean any further information about the nature of the infections, such as what percent of them were endoparasites versus ectoparasites, it did reveal that 61% of respondents said their pet experienced discomfort or illness, 39% said they showed behavioural changes and 38% reported that it made them feel anxious.
However, 38% see a parasite infection as not serious or just slightly serious.
Seventy per cent of owners said they get their parasite information from vets, compared to 43% from the internet.
Forty-five per cent use prescription treatments and 40% use vet-administered treatments in a clinic.
According to the company, 71% of UK pet owners said they would like clearer guidance on parasite protection, yet 35% have not been informed about parasite risks in their area by their vet.
Ian Wright MRCVS, Chairman/Director of ESCCAP (European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites), said: "It has never been more important to be aware of parasites and the risk to companion animals – the increased movement of pets and people, as well as climate change, has fuelled a rapid shift in the distribution of parasites and their proximity to pets.
"Pets can carry parasites which affect animal and human health - although there are familiar types, such as fleas – we need to be vigilant for unexpected parasites moving into new countries and regions.
"With simple precautions and preventative measures, we can minimise the risk of diseases they may bring, and continue to enjoy the wonderful benefits of pet ownership."
The new online resources have been compiled by BEVA in collaboration with the RSPCA, World Horse Welfare, the SSPCA and the National Equine Crime Group, together with national Police and Local Authority representatives.
BEVA President Imogen Burrows said: “It can be an intimidating process when visiting an equid without an owner, but our new resources aim to address the potential stress factor and make the rules around the provision of care very clearcut.
“We have produced all the documents the attending vet should need, no matter their location or circumstances.
"Most importantly, if they are attending alone, they will know how to access the right help at the right time, secure in the knowledge that they are following appropriate, validated procedures.”
The resources include a decision tree for quick checking correct procedures, an overview of stakeholder roles and responsibilities, a ‘what if’ section for troubleshooting and an essential contacts registry.
There are also examination and treatment worksheets, and euthanasia certification forms.
Imogen added: “We have put significant thought and effort into producing these new resources, especially from an ambulatory veterinary perspective.
“It should make all the difference for vets, knowing that they have the all the information they need, to hand, In the unlikely event of a callout to an equid of unknown ownership.”
https://www.beva.org.uk/Resources/Clinical-resources/Welfare-toolkit/Managing-equids-of-unknown-ownership
The survey is part an initiative designed to bring together the UK ruminant sector to co-develop a roadmap which will champion animal health and welfare solutions that promote and demonstrate responsible antibiotic stewardship.
It is also designed to find out exactly what ruminant antibiotic use data is needed at both farm-level and national reporting level so that data collected delivers value to farms and vet practices.
Mark Jelley, Chair of Cattle Antibiotic Guardian Group (pictured) said: “Farmers are already required to record their purchase and use of veterinary medicines but turning this requirement into evidence of responsible use while also being confident that data is being used responsibly is challenging.
“Other food producing species in the UK can demonstrate their medicine use with confidence and many competitor nations are now legislating for this data collection too - the ruminant sector is at risk of being left behind.”
Anyone working in the UK ruminant sector - from vets and farmers to government employees and academics - is encouraged to complete the survey, which is open till 28th February 2026.
https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/rvc/uk-ruminant-antibiotic-stewardship-roadmap
Providing an opportunity to present new research to the veterinary community, the Clinical Research Abstracts can be on any veterinary subject, whether it’s the preliminary results of a new study, a discussion of a new technique or a description of an interesting case.
Each application should be based on high-quality clinical research undertaken in industry, practice or academia, and summarised in 250 words
Applications are welcome from vets, veterinary nurses, practice managers and students, with applications from those working in general practice especially encouraged.
Researchers with research of direct relevance to veterinary practice may also submit an abstract for consideration.
Those who are selected to present will receive a free complimentary ticket to BVA Live.
The Clinical Research Abstract awards will also give researchers the opportunity to present their winning abstract at London Vet Show 2026.
Julian Hoad, BSAVA President said: "We’re delighted to invite veterinary professionals to share their latest research with the wider community.
"The Clinical Research Abstracts offer a unique platform to showcase innovation, spark discussion, and contribute to the advancement of veterinary medicine. We look forward to seeing fresh ideas and emerging techniques that can shape the future of clinical practice. It’s an opportunity not to be missed!"
Submissions are open until 6th March 2025.
https://www.bsavaclinicalabstracts.com
The course, which starts on the 26th March 2026, will be delivered through the association's e-learning hub and combines small group face-to-face coaching, online learning and digital content.
The programme has been developed help both new leaders and those looking to strengthen their confidence, self-awareness, and practical leadership capabilities.
Topics include:
Pete Orpin, SPVS JVP and Course Facilitator said: “Veterinary leadership can be a daunting place, without appropriate support and training.
"Leaders do not automatically have all the answers.
"The course aims to provide delegates with peer-to-peer support and practical tools to take back to practice and implement.”
The course costs £2695+VAT for SPVS members and £3,465+VAT for non members.
Price includes one full day SPVS Congress delegate pass where the group will meet at the end of the course
https://spvs.org.uk/spvs-elevate
Marketed since 2016, Thyronorm is an award-winning liquid formulation that simplifies administration compared to tablets and enables precise dosing for both veterinary surgeons and pet owners.
During the product handover veterinary practices can continue to buy Thyronorm from their usual wholesaler, and all practice support activities and retrospective commercial rebates remain unchanged.
Virbac says it is working closely with Norbrook to make sure all practice support activities are smoothly handed over from Norbrook Account Managers to Virbac Territory Managers.
https://uk.virbac.com
For the challenge, Wendy had to run for at least 20 minutes every day.
On a previous attempt, she reached day 605 before being put out of action with a skiing injury.
Wendy's work takes her to all sorts of interesting places and sticking to the challenge has had her running in the African bush, through the jungles of Sumatra and on the ice in Japan, braving temperatures as low as -20C in Finland, to 35% during an Italian heatwave.
It has also meant running on through a 10-day bout of dysentery!
At the end of it all, Wendy raised over £3000 for The Painted Wolf Foundation, a charity working to reverse the decline of painted wolves.
Wendy said: ‘I first saw painted wolves in Botswana twenty years ago – a pack ran out in front of us and I hadn’t seen them before.
"They were stunning.
"The more I learned about them – how they work together, collaborate and look after each other – the more drawn I was to them.
"They are on the IUCN red list, which means they are critically endangered, with only around 6,500 left spread across southern and eastern Africa.
"I decided to use my 1,000-day streak to raise money for the Foundation to support the work being done to help these amazing animals.’
https://www.gofundme.com/f/running-for-1000-days-for-painted-wolves
https://paintedwolf.org
Mr Ghinescu faced three charges:
Mr Ghinescu admitted the facts of charges 1 and 2 but denied that this rendered him unfit to practise as a veterinary surgeon, although Dr Ghinescu has had the status of a non-practising Member of the RCVS since May 2021.
Regarding Charge 3, Mr Ghinescu said that the failure to declare the conviction had been a genuine misunderstanding about whether he needed to declare a driving conviction as part of his annual renewal.
The Committee found that while his position was ‘plainly unreasonable of him and wrong’, it could not be sure beyond all reasonable doubt that his mistaken beliefs were genuine or not – therefore it found it not proven that he had been dishonest.
Nevertheless, it found that Mr Ghinescu had been misleading by failing to declare his convictions, even if unintentionally.
Having found Charges 1, 2 and part of Charge 3 proven, the Committee considered Mr Ghinescu’s fitness to practise, taking into account the part of the Code of Professional Conduct that says veterinary surgeons ‘must not engage in any activity or behaviour that would be likely to bring the profession into disrepute or undermine public confidence in the profession.’
It found that the convictions outlined in Charges 1 and 2 rendered him unfit to practise as a veterinary surgeon and that whilst Charge 3 demonstrated carelessness, it did not amount to serious professional misconduct.
Mitigating factors included having had no previous disciplinary history with the RCVS, admissions at both court and to the College and developing insight into his behaviour, with an acceptance he had acted shamefully and had no mitigation for his behaviour.
Hilary Lloyd, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee was of the view that the nature and seriousness of Mr Ghinescu’s behaviour, which led to the convictions, particularly the assault on his wife, was fundamentally incompatible with being registered as a veterinary surgeon.
"They are clearly serious offences as reflected in the prison sentence Mr Ghinescu was required to serve.
“There were two separate assaults on [his wife], one in the car and then a prolonged attack in the house, involving repeated punches to the face and kicks to the body, followed by threats to kill.
"The Committee considered this to be disgraceful conduct of the most grievous and reprehensible kind.
“The conduct represented a serious departure from professional standards; it was inexplicable, abhorrent behaviour, resulting in injuries to his wife.
"In light of these conclusions, the Committee decided that the only appropriate and proportionate sanction in this case was removal from the Register.”
Mr Ghinescu has 28 days from being informed of his removal from the Register to appeal the Committee’s decision.
www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary
The partnership is designed to help Petgevity policyholders make their cover go further by lowering ongoing medication costs, while keeping more of their insurance “claims pot” available for the unexpected.
Petscribers compares prices from government-accredited online pharmacies, offering claimed savings of between 30–50% on long-term or repeat prescriptions, which Petscribers says account for around 40% of ongoing claims.
Emma said: “As vets, we see firsthand how quickly a pet’s health can change and how fast the bills can stack up when it does.
"By helping owners save on regular medication, we’re protecting what really matters: their ability to afford care when their pet truly needs it.”
petscribers.co.uk
www.petgevity.co.uk
Photo: Emma Pemberthy (L) and Angela Jones (R)
The study analysed 321 canine cases reported to the VPS for electronic cigarette or e-liquid exposure, to assess the risk of nicotine toxicosis in dogs.
53% of dogs remained asymptomatic after oral exposure to e-liquid and 41% developed only mild signs.
Among the 47% that developed clinical signs, emesis, hypersalivation, and tachycardia were the most common.
Other potential signs of nicotine toxicity, such as tremor, ataxia, or tachypnoea, occurred in less than 7% of cases.
Clinical signs generally resolved within a few hours, with a median recovery time of 3 hours, varying from 10 minutes to 6 days.
28% of the dogs received no treatment or observation only, and 45% received gut decontamination, most commonly activated charcoal only or oral lavage only.
Two dogs required the removal of a foreign body (an electronic cigarette and an e-liquid refill bottle).
A moderate, severe or fatal outcome was reported in 6% of cases.
Two dogs died; one after chewing a bottle of e-liquid, and experiencing progressive tachypnoea, persistent tachycardia and hypotension, and one was euthanised due to financial constraints.
The severity of poisoning wasn’t related to the reported dose, and it’s not clear why large doses didn’t cause severe nicotine toxicosis.
The authors conclude that the majority of dogs exposed to e-liquids can be managed conservatively and treatment is symptomatic and supportive.
Nicola Bates, lead author of the study, said: “Although severe effects following exposure to e-cigarettes or e-liquid is uncommon in dogs, each case should be assessed on a case-by-case basis to determine if any decontamination or treatment is required”.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsap.70014
In the first episode, host Ian Wolstenholme will be joined by Dr David Reader, Senior Lecturer in Competition Law at the University of Glasgow, and Dr Scott Summers, Lecturer in Law at the University of East Anglia.
David and Scott, who've used the CMA investigation as a focus for their research, will talk about what prompted their investigation, what the CMA is seeking to understand and why this scrutiny matters for practices, clients, and the wider veterinary sector.
They'll provide insights into things like transparency, pricing, consumer trust, and how regulatory attention may influence day-to-day clinical and business decisions.
Ian said: “We will try and hone in on what the changes will mean in reality for independent practices with advice and guidance on implementation and delivery, drawing on the experience of our own team and other experts in the profession.”
FIVP Practice Matters is available from Spotify, Apple, and the FIVP website.
Veterinary surgeons will also be asked to verify each horse’s health status via a brief questionnaire (around 4 minutes).
The results of the questionnaires will be used to develop a scoring algorithm to measure the impact of health on a horse’s quality of life.
Zoetis says support from the veterinary profession is going to be pivotal to its ability to deliver a valid and reliable measurement tool, one that has the potential to transform the welfare of horses worldwide.
To that end, vets who contribute will gain early insight into a scientifically validated HRQL instrument designed to:
If you would like to participate, of if you would like more information contact Dr Cory Noble at cory.noble@zoetis.com.
The advice includes how to:
The BVA says its position on AI is to encourage vets to have a positive, proactive and open-minded approach to veterinary AI technology while being aware of its potential ethical risks.
As well as urging all veterinary professionals to understand AI and follow the above principles when using it, recommendations in the policy position call for all veterinary workplaces to develop AI use policies, to undertake thorough risk assessments and develop resources to help vets understand how AI tools work and how they can be evaluated.
The policy position also calls for the wider sector to create international governance and explainability standards for veterinary AI tools, to develop active regulation of veterinary AI tools used in the UK by the country’s veterinary regulators and for AI tech developers to provide transparent validation data.
British Veterinary Association President Dr. Rob Williams MRCVS said: “The AI revolution is here to stay and brings with it both important opportunities as well as challenges for the veterinary profession.
"Having a positive and open-minded approach that views AI as a tool to support vets and the wider vet team is the best way forward to make sure that the profession is confident applying these technologies in their day-to-day work.
"The general principles developed in BVA’s new policy position offer a timely and helpful framework for all veterinary workplaces considering the safe and effective use of AI technologies.
“Vets must also be involved in the development process for AI tools as early and as frequently as possible so the profession can lead from the front when applying these emerging technologies, to ensure we continue to deliver on our number one priority of supporting the highest levels of animal health and welfare.”
Data from BVA’s Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey shows that 21% of vets working in clinical practice are already using AI tools, with the most commonly reported benefits being data interpretation, improved diagnostic testing and time saving.
However, vets also noted potential risks, most commonly the possibility that results are interpreted without context or follow up checks, an over-reliance on AI undermining human skills, and a lack of data protection.
To help tackle this, BVA has developed a risk pyramid that classifies the risks of some of the more common or considered AI use cases in different veterinary settings from ‘minimal’ to ‘unacceptable’.
The organisation has also published a set of questions that vets should ask software companies when undertaking risk assessments.
Rob added: “We know that the degree of risk in AI use exponentially increases with the degree of autonomy an AI tool has.
"This risk pyramid is a handy reference for vets looking to incorporate AI in their work, with tasks lower down the pyramid such as marketing or clerical tasks able to be undertaken with more confidence of safety than those closer to the top, such as automated diagnosis or clinical decision making.
"As use cases move closer to the top, the importance of following the principles set out in BVA’s policy position becomes more critical as the impacts on animal health and welfare, professional standards, and people will be more significant.
I’d urge all colleagues to take a look at this risk pyramid alongside the general principles.”
www.bva.co.uk/artificial-intelligence
However, many of the causes of above-inflation increases in the cost of veterinary care go well beyond the remit of the CMA and it therefore has limited scope to propose or enforce changes that will likely have any significant impact on costs.
The CMA concluded that the main barriers to healthy competition are: owners not being given enough information, barriers to owners being able to make appropriate choices and an out-of-date regulatory environment.
To correct these issues, the CMA has proposed that veterinary practices should be compelled to:
Given that treatment inflation, rather than a lack of competition, is likely the biggest contributory factor to rising veterinary costs, it seems unlikely that providing price lists, itemised bills or written estimates will do much more than increase the administrative burden on veterinary practices.
What's more, it is very hard to see how price lists and estimates can ever be truly representative in such a complex area as medicine.
So these proposed measures are no more than rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic.
To switch metaphors, the problem is less that pet owners don't know what they're buying and more that the veterinary profession is trying to sell caviar to people who only want or can afford a Big Mac and large fries.
Real change can only be driven by the veterinary profession - not just veterinary surgeons, but the regulator, universities, manufacturers and others, after reflecting on the real, rather than assumed needs of its clients and patients, together with the ethical issues in play.
A good starting point for that reflection is the new book Veterinary Controversies and Ethical Dilemmas, available now: https://www.routledge.com/Veterinary-Controversies-and-Ethical-Dilemmas-Provocative-Reflections-/Clutton-Murphy-Stephens-Taylor/p/book/9781032579863
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/understanding-the-cmas-provisional-decision-in-its-vets-market-investigation
The collection, which is free to read until 7th January 2026, explores:
Laura Nath said: “This collection highlights important and exciting work and improves our understanding of arrhythmogenic mechanisms, diagnosis of arrhythmias and recognition of cardiac pathology in both clinical and research settings.”
https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/toc/10.1001/(ISSN)2042-3306.current-progress-in-equine-cardiology
The app and desktop-based service connects practices directly with locum vets and nurses, allowing shifts to be posted instantly and applications handled without agency involvement.
The company says uptake reflects increasing pressure on practice teams, alongside rising costs and frustration with traditional recruitment models.
Ronda Vet includes a mutual review system designed to help both practices and locums make more informed decisions, and operates on a 24/7 basis to support last-minute cover.
Early adopter practices report faster turnaround when filling urgent shifts, including weekends and out-of-hours periods.
Founded by veterinary surgeon Ibra Hernando and Dimitra Sepou, the platform was developed in response to what the founders describe as inefficiencies and lack of transparency on both sides of the locum market.
The company says its focus for 2026 will be further growth and the introduction of additional features aimed at supporting workforce wellbeing and operational efficiency.
https://www.ronda.vet
The mixed-methods survey of 525 veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses found that while some employers offered thoughtful and effective support, more than one in five respondents had left — or wanted to leave — their role as a direct result of how their situation was managed.
Participants described experiences including being expected to continue clinical duties while actively miscarrying, limited or no time off for fertility treatment or bereavement, breaches of medical confidentiality, and dismissive comments from colleagues.
Concerns were also raised about exposure to anaesthetic gases, heavy lifting and workplace stress, particularly when trying to conceive or during pregnancy following a previous loss.
Some male veterinary professionals reported being unable to take time off to support hospitalised partners or to grieve.
Crucially, respondents who recalled receiving any form of workplace support were five times less likely to subsequently want to leave their job than those who reported no support at all.
Positive experiences were often linked to relatively small actions, such as kind words or a card, or workload adjustments and time away from work.
Study participants recommended improved education, clearer workplace policies, and increased paid leave for bereavement and fertility treatment.
The study was led by four vets under the umbrella of the VetMINDS Research Team and funded for open access by the British Veterinary Association.
Lead author Jenny Stavisky MRCVS said the findings highlighted how deeply the issue resonated with veterinary professionals, and expressed hope that more open discussion would help avoid compounding the pain experienced by those affected.
The study authors also note that whilst many veterinary employers offer discretionary accommodations, there is no current legislative requirement.
However, under proposed changes to the law there will be a statutory entitlement to bereavement leave following miscarriage, something which is subject to a Government consultation which can be accessed here: Make Work Pay: leave for bereavement including pregnancy loss - GOV.UK
The change marks an expansion of practice standards beyond physical workplace safety into psychological and suicide-risk governance.
The new requirement will oblige practices to assess suicide risk within their workplace and introduce measures to mitigate identified risks.
The requirement recognises that different practices will need different approaches, depending on factors such as access to lethal medicines, access to firearms, and the likelihood of lone working.
The move forms part of the RCVS Mind Matters Initiative’s preventative strategy and follows the College’s response to two coroner-issued Prevention of Future Death reports involving the use of veterinary medicines.
The requirement will apply to all accredited practice types and, through the Code of Professional Conduct, to practices outside the Practice Standards Scheme, which must maintain standards equivalent to the Core Standards.
The College points to three resources to help practices meet the new requirements: the RCVS Academy’s Suicide Awareness Fundamentals course, workplace suicide prevention guidance from the British Standards Institution, and safety planning resources from Samaritans.
Zara Kennedy MRCVS, chair of the RCVS Mind Matters mental health initiative, said: “Many veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and other colleagues in the veterinary team have been deeply affected by the suicide of their friends, colleagues and peers in the professions.
“While it may not be possible to prevent every death by suicide, we hope that by taking proactive measures such as the requirement for practices to have suicide prevention plans, we can prevent some.
"In doing so we can help those people who may be thinking about taking their own lives to get the treatment and help they need.”
https://academy.rcvs.org.uk
https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/insights-and-media/insights/brochures/bs-30480-suicide-and-the-workplace
https://www.samaritans.org