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
Pete Wedderburn MRCVS is reporting on the latest veterinary developments in the USA, with a daily blog from the Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas.
You can read / subscribe to Pete's engaging blog here.
A study is underway to evaluate the efficacy of Protexin Pro-Kolin Enterogenic in conjunction with ronidazole in the treatment of T.foetus in cats with diarrhoea. Referring vets who have diagnosed T.foetus by PCR are asked to contact Professor Danielle Gunn-Moore or Stephanie Lalor at University of Edinburgh Hospital for Small Animals using the contact details below to discuss enrolment of cats into the study.Tel. 0131 650 7650Email. slalor@staffmail.ed.ac.uk
The survey seeks to assess GP vets' confidence and experience in feline dentistry and their access to feline dentistry equipment.
Rachel said: "Dental and oral disorders are amongst the most diagnosed diseases in UK’s feline population under first opinion practice, with reported annual prevalence of 20-21%.
"Despite this, relatively little is known about vets’ confidence, experience and access to appropriate resources when diagnosing and treating feline dental conditions.
"Access to dental radiography is considered vital for optimal diagnosis and treatment planning, yet its availability, use and training may vary considerably between clinics.
"Understanding how vets perceive their own competence, and identifying potential barriers is important in improving standard of dental care provided to felines in first opinion practice."
Everyone who takes part in the survey will entered into a draw for a £100 John Lewis voucher, and for every entry completed, Rachel and Joanna will donate £1 to International Cat Care.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XMZMXMK
Early bird registration deadline is 3 March for the SAMSoc pre-BSAVA meet. Please register soon!
Visit www.samsoc.org for details.
Entries for our case report competition are invited before Friday 1 March 2019.
The new library provides images of companion and farm animals with the purpose of helping animal health teams find the right images quickly, and with confidence in their clinical accuracy for appropriate use.
Toby Trimble, founder of Trimble Group, said: "We repeatedly saw a common issue in the veterinary sector of inadequate images and teams were having to spend significant amounts of time searching for usable images.
"To remedy this, we have created the Animal Health Image Library.
"Every image is clinically accurate, and features a mixture of breeds, signalments and scenarios.
"Furthermore we have clearly categorised images into categories which makes finding the right image a quick and easy process.
"We truly believe this resource will aid both those working in the industry creating content, and consumers who will benefit from seeing accurate imagery.”
www.vetimages.com
Mr Makepeace was removed from the Register in 2024 after being convicted of assaulting his ex-partner in 2022.
He then submitted a character reference to the RCVS which purported to come from his partner, stating they were “still happily together”, and forged her signature.
It also found he sent offensive, insulting, abusive and threatening WhatsApp messages to his ex-partner between December 2022 and January 2023.
The committee said removal was the only proportionate sanction, citing the public interest, deterrence, and maintaining confidence in the profession and regulatory process.
During the restoration hearing, the committee was also told that since removal Mr Makepeace had continued to hold himself out as a vet, including emailing a practice seeking work experience with the opening line: “I’m a vet”.
The committee found the email used deliberate and careful wording and was a calculated attempt to mislead, omitting his removal from the Register and creating a distorted impression of no disciplinary concerns.
It concluded the email and lack of transparency with potential employers were further examples of dishonesty alongside the earlier forgery, and found the conduct misleading and dishonest.
The committee accepted Mr Makepeace understood he had assaulted his ex-partner, but was not convinced he understood the impact of previous manipulative and coercive behaviour.
It found nothing to suggest he would be of harm to animals, but concluded he was more likely to put his own interests first, including through recent communications stating he was a vet.
Kathryn Peaty, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “While the Committee recognises Mr Makepeace’s desire to advance his career and that his prospects would be enhanced by restoration of his name to the Register, that is not a factor relevant to his application.
"The Committee’s obligations and duties are to ensure that the interests of animal welfare are properly protected by ensuring that those whose names are on the Register are properly trained, knowledgeable and experienced in the treatment of animals and that public confidence in the standards of the profession is maintained.
“The Committee cannot restore someone to the Register who is not fit by virtue of their repeated dishonest and unacceptable conduct, without insight into the impact of the lack of probity by a vet."
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/veterinary-professionals/conduct-and-guidance/concerns-for-veterinary-professionals/disciplinary-committee-hearings
Practice Performance Diagnostic is a structured investigation tool which combines leadership analysis, operational performance data, team feedback and financial analysis into a single integrated report.
The process includes a leadership systems assessment, operational dashboard creation and analysis, financial performance review, employee feedback analysis, a comprehensive written report, and a one-to-one debrief session with the founder of the Veterinary Leadership Academy, Dave Nicol MRCVS.
The resulting report identifies where operational pressure accumulates, where ownership breaks down, where financial performance is leaking, where leadership dependency remains too high, and where the business is relying too heavily on owner intervention to remain stable.
Dave said: "What I keep seeing are practices that are delivering excellent care for clients and patients, but the owner is carrying far too much of the business personally.
"Decisions continue to route back to them. Standards rely heavily on their direct involvement. Team issues escalate upward. Problems accumulate quietly until the owner steps back in to stabilise things again. Over time, that creates a level of pressure that simply isn't sustainable."
www.drdavenicol.com/diagnostic
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
The platform is designed to help practices manage HR and compliance requirements without dedicated HR support, in the face of increasing inspections.
Agilio said iTeam centralises HR tasks, automates compliance, and can include optional access to HR advisers for more complex people issues.
iTeam includes built-in veterinary-specific compliance checks, plus workflows and integrated learning tools that do not require specialist HR expertise.
The company says the software can also handle automated reminders and workflows, leave and absence management, and staff records and policies.
iTeam can also support CPD tracking via iLearn Vet integration.
Agilio says rota management is planned next via iRota, described as a dedicated workforce planning solution for visibility of shifts, cover and capacity.
Emma Barnes, Managing Director – Emerging Markets at Agilio Software, said: “iTeam was designed to make HR compliance simple and manageable, without adding unnecessary complexity.”
https://agiliosoftware.com/veterinary
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
The awards celebrate talented veterinary professionals who are going above and beyond for their patients and clients, supporting wellbeing and positive workplace culture, driving positive change across sustainability, delivering inspirational leadership and mentoring, and pushing the boundaries of veterinary science.
The winners will be announced at a special awards dinner at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on Thursday 11 June 2026, as part of BVA Live.
BVA President Dr Rob Williams MRCVS said: "Our new BVA Awards event is a fantastic opportunity to shine a light on our outstanding vets and veterinary teams.
"If you know an inspirational vet or vet team who always goes the extra mile, this is your chance to nominate them and give them the recognition they deserve.”
The Awards:
The nomination deadline is 16 March 2026.
https://www.bva.co.uk/membership/bva-awards-2026/
The sessions are aimed at vets, vet nurses, SQPs and RAMAs involved in anthelmintic prescribing, and are designed to support implementation of new sustainable equine parasite control guidelines from the BEVA and Canter.
The webinars will be presented by Professor Jacqui Matthews, an RCVS Recognised Specialist in Parasitology, and Dr Wendy Talbot, Zoetis RCVS and European Specialist in Internal Medicine.
Participants can submit real-world case scenarios for discussion by emailing details to wendy.talbot@zoetis.com at least four weeks before each webinar. There is no obligation for case submitters to speak during the webinar.
The remaining scheduled sessions are:
The webinar series can be recorded as self-reflective CPD.
https://canterforhorses.org.uk/guidelines/
https://www.beva.org.uk/Resources/Medicines/Anthelmintic-Toolkit
BBC Entertainment is looking for fresh veterinary talent to be part of an exciting new show that it is developing.
If you're passionate about pet health and would jump at the chance to help animals on screen, please call 0161 244 3718 as soon as possible or alternatively email alexis.price@bbc.co.uk
Dear Members,
The 2011 SAMSOC satellite meeting programme is soon to be completed.
Please do yourself a favour and keep your diaries free on:
WEDNESDAY 30th MARCH 2011.
Controversy will be at the very heart of this exhilerating day. Join us and be consumed by one of the talks called:
"Pathologists are from Mars and Clinicians are from Venus – will they ever really understand one another?"
More programme information to follow; one guarantee we can give you at this stage: you will feel seriously left out if you miss it.
SAMSoc Programme Committee 2011
A three-year study, leading to a PhD, is being funded by the Petplan Charitable Trust and is available to commence on 1st February 2011 in the School of Veterinary Sciences, Langford at the University of Bristol. The aim of the project is to define nucleotide sequence motifs in feline coronaviruses (FCoVs) associated with feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) and to then develop a diagnostic test for the confirmation of FIP. The applicant will gain extensive experience in molecular-based techniques and bioinformatic analysis. Furthermore, the applicant will receive training in the design, conduct and presentation of research. Practical work will be done in the School of Veterinary Sciences, Langford and the School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Bristol. The work will be jointly supervised by Professor Stuart Siddell and Drs Chris Helps and Séverine Tasker, supported by collaborators both within the University of Bristol and in other Universities. Good computer skills are essential, and some experience of molecular research and feline medicine is desirable. The successful applicant will have a high level of literacy and numeracy, good organisation skills and a willingness to learn and develop research skills to a high standard. The successful applicant will also have excellent communication skills and confidence in making contact with cat owners and veterinary surgeons.
Applicants must possess, or expect to obtain, a first class, or good upper second class, degree in a biological related subject, or a degree in a veterinary science, and be able to demonstrate a clear interest in FIP. This project is available to citizens of a number of European countries (including the UK) who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more.
Informal enquiries about the project are encouraged and can be made to Dr Séverine Tasker (email: s.tasker@bristol.ac.uk).
To apply, please send a CV, cover letter, and the names and addresses of two referees to Alison Foxwell, Head of Department’s Office, School of Veterinary Sciences, Langford House, Langford, North Somerset, BS40 5DU (email: cvs-hod-office@bristol.ac.uk), quoting reference SCH/10/09, by December 15th 2010
"Supporting Successful Recovery - Practical Strategies for Post-Operative Care and Wound Healing" will be available from 09:00 July 13th 2026 through The Webinar Vet.
The webinar, which is aimed at the whole veterinary team but has a particular relevance for nurses involved in post-operative patient care, wound management and client support, is part of a new educational Recovery campaign delivered by Select from NVS and offering further resources via a dedicated online Recovery hub.
The session will provide a practical overview of post-operative wound healing and help veterinary professionals distinguish between surgical site infections (SSIs) and other common causes of wound breakdown.
Georgie, the founder of Bandaging Angels and a well-known veterinary nurse educator, will discuss factors that influence healing, illustrate common post-operative complications and share best-practice approaches to wound protection, including dressings, bandaging, collars and recovery garments.
The session will also include practical guidance on home wound management and how to encourage owner engagement to support successful recovery outcomes.
The Recovery hub will also feature articles, blogs and a podcast focused on recovery and wound care.
The campaign will also highlight complementary recovery products including Select from NVS bandages, bandage removal spray and recovery collars, designed to help practices create a comprehensive approach to post-operative care.
https://thewebinarvet.com/webinars/supporting-successful-recovery-practical-strategies-for-post-operative-care-and-wound-healing
https://www.nvsweb.co.uk/products/recovery/
The College says the findings address evidence gaps from previous research and highlight the importance of routine veterinary otoscopic ear checks.
Although previous research has suggested that lop-eared rabbits may be more susceptible, the researchers say it relied on small samples and retrospective clinical records or owner reports.
For this study, RVC Rabbit Welfare Research Assistants, Maria Jackson RVN and Michaela Betts MRCVS, examined 435 pedigree rabbits volunteered by British Rabbit Council (BRC) breeders.
Between October 2023 and February 2024, the team travelled to BRC shows and breeding studs to record each rabbit’s ear type, head shape, estimated adult bodyweight, age and other features before performing a structured otoscopic examination in which the outer ear, the diverticulum and the full length of the external ear canal were checked for signs of inflammation, narrowing, discharge or crusting.
By combining these observations with multivariable statistics, the team was able to compare ear health across 49 breeds and identify which conformations were most strongly associated with specific ear abnormalities.
The results showed that ear shape plays a central role in predisposing rabbits to hidden ear disease.
Lop-eared rabbits were more likely to show 9 of the 11 abnormalities assessed, including ear canal narrowing, abnormal colour, flaky and wet discharge, behavioural reactivity to ear examination, dermatological changes to the pinna and crusts in the diverticulum.
The shape of a rabbit’s head was also associated with the types of ear problems they were likely to develop, but not in a consistent manner.
Brachycephalic rabbits had narrower ear canals, while dolichocephalic rabbits were more likely to have crusts in the diverticulum.
Body size mattered too, with heavier rabbits more likely to show problems such as redness, narrowing, flaky discharge and traumatic pinna changes, as well as stronger behavioural reactions during examination.
Other physical and signalment factors showed mixed results, highlighting the complexity of ear health across breeds.
Maria said: “Our findings have once again shown that rabbits with lop ears are more likely to develop ear problems – specifically, signs of otitis externa – than rabbits with upright ears."
Dr Charlotte Burn, Associate Professor in Animal Welfare and Behaviour Science at the RVC, and senior author on the paper, said: “This is the first study to have directly and systematically examined rabbit ears outside a clinical context, and it confirms that the seemingly endearing shape of lop rabbits’ ears really do risk deeper ear disorders.
"Alongside the physical changes we observed, we documented rabbit behaviour, such as avoidance, shaking their heads and scratching at their ears, and found that the lop-eared rabbits reacted significantly more to having their ears examined than rabbits with ‘up’ ears.
"To me, this indicates that their ears were not only physically affected, but they also hurt more, highlighting the animal welfare burden of this hidden problem.”
Dear Colleagues,
We are conducting a survey of veterinary surgeons to try and establish some baseline facts about the treatment of canine lymphoma. We would be most grateful if you would complete the following questionnaire.
The questionnaire is short and simple and should take you no more than 10 minutes to complete. Needing no specific case details, it does not require you refer to clinical records. Furthermore it requires no case follow up at all. If you prefer you can save your responses and return to the survey later, though it is very short.
http://www.smart-survey.co.uk/v.asp?i=37382vpylk
Many thanks indeed in anticipation of your help
Yours faithfully
Christopher Saul, BVetMed CertSAM MRCVS, Cranmore Veterinary Services and Chestergates Referral Hospital
The study was led by Ruby Chang, Associate Professor of Statistics at the RVC, and carried out by Dr Hanya Ahmed.
The team compiled a databank of images, including 100 equine fracture cases from two UK equine hospitals and published literature, alongside 70 feline cases from hospital databases and around 4,000 human fracture images from a public database.
Using these images, the researchers built a three-stage AI system that first identifies the scan type, then recognises the image angle, before detecting and precisely localising fractures.
The system used transfer learning, enabling it to be trained on the large human dataset before being adapted for equine cases.
Using this method, the system achieved a reported fracture localisation accuracy of between 71 and 84% without requiring an unrealistically large number of equine images.
The RVC said the findings demonstrate the potential for AI-assisted tools to strengthen fracture diagnosis across veterinary practice.
It said faster and more reliable detection could reduce uncertainty in clinical decision-making and enable earlier treatment for racehorses and companion animals.
Building on the work, the team has expanded its collaboration with the Hong Kong Jockey Club to investigate whether AI can identify early bone changes before fracture occurs.
The study has been shortlisted for the STEM for Britain 2026 award and was funded by the Horserace Betting Levy Board.
Reference
The webinar will be presented by Jenny Helm Cert SAM Dip ECVIM-CA FHEA MRCVS EBVS and RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Medicine.
Jenny will explain the latest knowledge about lungworm in dogs, including an update on prevalence, clinical case management and treatment and prevention options.
Louise Longstaff, National Veterinary Manager at Zoetis said: “Jenny will not only cover some of the challenges with diagnosing lungworm but will also discuss the latest prevention strategies including the use of Simparica Trio."
https://cloud.mc.zoetis.com/LungWormWebinar2025
The films, which include information and practical advice based on the pillars of lifestyle medicine and the neuropsychology of hormones, are aimed both at individuals who are directly affected and those who want to support them.
Wellvet co-founder Liz Barton said: “We now know that nearly half of veterinary team members experience a moderate-severe impact of perimenopause symptoms on their mental health, and a third report a significant impact on their working life and career."
Dr. Claire Gillvray, GP, Lifestyle Medicine specialist and psychiatrist with a special interest in women’s health, who introduces the films, said: “While we tend to focus on the individual, we all have friends, family, colleagues and clients who will experience symptoms impacting their mental and physical health and relationships.
"Although some women transition through the menopause with no problems, many women suffer a multiplicity of debilitating symptoms.
"These symptoms can be devastating and the medical advice they receive can be extremely variable, with some doctors dismissing perimenopause.
"Though onset can be earlier, symptoms typically occur between the ages of 40-60 years and can last for a decade or more, and there can be severe health impacts including cardiovascular, neurological and orthopaedic disease."
“These videos will empower individuals to take control of their symptom monitoring, have meaningful conversations with medical professionals, and trial lifestyle adjustments that may improve their health and wellbeing.”
The first instalment of nine 5-30 minute bitesize videos are accessible now on the WellVet website: https://www.wellvet.co.uk/resources/menopause-resources-for-veterinary-teams/.
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
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 nine-month course, which starts on 15th October, is designed to address the non-clinical challenges faced by vets in general practice — many of which SPVS says are still underrepresented in traditional CPD, including:
The course includes a two-day in-person launch in Solihull, monthly online group sessions till July 2026 and a mix of in-person, virtual and self-paced learning.
The course costs £1250 for SPVS members, £1,500 for non members.
https://spvs.org.uk/gp-mastery/