Research from Carus Animal Health and the University of Bristol has won the top poster prize at the Veterinary Osteoarthritis Alliance Conference (VOACON) 2026 for work suggesting faecal calprotectin testing could help veterinary teams identify gastrointestinal inflammation in dogs receiving long-term NSAID therapy.

The poster, by Lucy Williams BVSc MRCVS, Marketing and Veterinary Technical Services Manager at Carus Animal Health, Tristan Cogan BSc (Hons) PhD FHEA FRSBHE, Christina Maunder BVM&S CertSAM DipECVIM-CA FRCVS FHEA, Helen Howell PhD DSc (Hons) from Bristol Veterinary School, was based on a study from Carus Animal Health and the University of Bristol.

Data presented at VOACON demonstrated that faecal calprotectin was elevated in some dogs receiving oral NSAIDs, even in the absence of obvious GI signs.

The findings build on previous validation work from the University of Bristol.

The research was conducted using GIQuest, Carus Animal Health's patient-side faecal calprotectin test.

Lucy said: "Veterinary teams are becoming increasingly proactive in how they manage osteoarthritis patients.

"We know NSAIDs can have a hugely positive impact on quality of life, but clinicians are also looking for ways to monitor patients more closely and identify potential issues before they become clinically significant.

"The response to this research at VOACON reflects the profession's growing interest in objective biomarkers that can support more informed treatment decisions and enhance patient care."

Jolian Howell, Chief Business Officer and Director of Carus Animal Health, said: "This award is a significant achievement, not only for Carus but also for the wider field of gastrointestinal biomarker research. It recognises the value of building an evidence base around earlier detection, patient monitoring and preventive healthcare. 

https://carusanimalhealth.com/giquest