The company says the battery-operated, dual-speed clipper has been specifically designed for a close cut to improve hygiene and make treatments easier.
Hefin Rowlands from Heiniger said: “The Opal Xtend will help vets with accurate hair removal for everyday tasks such as TB testing.
"It has been developed to be quieter, which will reduce stress, and has an interchangeable battery system to enable uninterrupted operation during periods of extensive use.
“An LED battery indicator provides forewarning to operators and additional batteries can be swapped out quickly and easily.
"Each battery will last up to 4 hours and the second battery only takes just over an hour to recharge.”
Heiniger claims that at 415 grams, the clipper is one of the lightest cordless models available.
Hefin added: “It is particularly well suited to preparing animals for skin testing, wound treatments and scans including ultrasounds.”
Heiniger says the clipper is also a good fit for agricultural and equine users looking for a reliable and dependable machine that can stand up to demanding use.
https://www.heiniger.co.uk/product/opal-xtend/
This season, the podcast will explore:
Listeners can also access free, downloadable support resources from the Dômes Pharma Vet Vault—including client handouts, treatment guidelines, and clinical checklists that align with podcast content.
Emma Hancox MRCVS, Technical Vet Advisor at Dômes Pharma said: “Epilepsy cases can be intimidating and challenging for many first-opinion vets.
“Our goal is to make it more approachable, practical, and even enjoyable—by combining expert discussion with down-to-earth advice you can use the next day in practice.”
https://domespharma.co.uk/synaptic-tails-our-neurology-podcast
A graduate of the University of Córdoba, Spain, Sonya trained and worked across Europe and the United States, including at the Animal Health Trust, The Royal Veterinary College, Colorado State University and Nottingham University.
Her clinical interests span neurology, ophthalmology, muscular disorders, and infectious diseases, and she is widely recognised for her contributions to equine research.
She continues to contribute to ongoing studies in exercise biomarkers, toxicology, and infectious disease management, and regularly presents her findings at national and international veterinary conferences.
Andrew Jones, Clinical Director and Specialist Surgeon at CVS Endell Equine Hospital said: “Internal medicine specialists such as Dr. Gonzalez-Medina, with her comprehensive expertise spanning multiple body systems, will be instrumental in enhancing Endell’s existing services."
The new service will cover a broad spectrum of equine medical conditions, including:
Andrew added: “Our area has lacked this type of service for patients in the past, meaning horses can now access advanced internal medicine care without traveling great distances.”
The Equine Internal Medicine Service is now accepting referrals and direct cases.
https://www.endellequinehospital.co.uk.
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/
The advice includes buying healthier breeds, not overfeeding, and reducing the amount of toys and accessories people buy for their pet.
BVA members can download other resources to help start conversations with clients, including a poster, which can be displayed in practice, and social media graphics.
British Veterinary Association Senior Vice President Dr Anna Judson said: “We know many vets are concerned about the role the veterinary profession has in protecting the planet, with our Voice of the Veterinary Profession statistics showing 68% of vets feel that vets are either very responsible or quite responsible for prioritising and leading on environmental issues.
"It’s also clear that many pet owners are becoming more interested in being more sustainable and the impact of their pets on the world.
"This new resource aims to support vets to have those conversations with clients and inspire them to become more sustainable pet owners, right from the moment of choosing what pet to welcome into their family.”
https://www.bva.co.uk/resources-support/client-guides/pet-sustainability
Phacoemulsification uses ultrasonic energy to emulsify and remove the cataract through small incisions on the eye, instead of requiring ophthalmologists to open 180 degrees of the eye.
It also allows for the placement of an artificial intraocular lens for the best possible visual outcome for patients.
This, says Chestergates, significantly reduces recovery time and complication rates compared to traditional methods.
Chestergates has invested over £130,000 in human-grade ophthalmic technology for its phacoemulsification patients, including an Alcon Centurion Vision System with Active Sentry Handpiece, a next-generation operating microscope, portable electroretinography (ReteVet), a Chromatic Pupillary Light Reflex (CPLR) tester and high-frequency ultrasound probes for ocular imaging.
Endika said: “Chestergates is one of the few specialist veterinary hospitals in the region to offer this new technique.
"It allows for safer, more precise removal of cataracts and placement of artificial intraocular lenses - restoring vision with minimal recovery time.
"We hope it will be of great benefit to pets suffering from cataracts across the region.”
Chestergates is offering fixed pricing for its new cataract surgery service using phacoemulsification.
The cost is £4,550 for one eye and £5,550 for both eyes, including all preoperative tests (electroretinography, gonioscopy, ultrasound, blood work), surgery, 24-hour hospitalisation, take-home medications, and 8 weeks of postoperative care.