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The report presents the full dataset collected over two decades and contains post-operative complication data from 90,363 neutering cases in dogs, cats and rabbits carried out between 2005 and 2025 in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Among the results published for the first time are pan-UK complication rates by species and procedure for the last two decades.
For spay procedures where no abnormality was present, the benchmark outcomes were 76% in dogs, 86% in cats and 81% in rabbits.
For castrate procedures where no abnormality was present, the benchmark outcomes were 75% in dogs, 95% in cats and 78% in rabbits.
The benchmarks exclude patients lost to follow-up and are representative of 76,222 cases across all species.
The rabbit dataset is much smaller than the data for cats and dogs, so RCVS Knowledge said the rabbit benchmarks are less robust.
RCVS Knowledge said the report can be used by practices as a reference point to understand their own audit data, highlight strengths and work towards improvements in the quality of care.
Katie Mantell, Chief Executive Officer at RCVS Knowledge, said: "Over the last 20 years, the NASAN has become a respected data set that provides veterinary professionals with reliable data to help them benchmark and audit complications associated with neutering in their own practices.
"The NASAN can only exist because veterinary professionals across the UK and Ireland willingly contribute their data for the betterment of surgical outcomes for dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs.
"Thank you to everyone who has submitted their data over the last two decades.
"Once you've finished reading the benchmarking report, I hope you'll be inspired to start contributing your own practice's data to the NASAN."
https://www.rcvsknowledge.org/subject/audits-and-benchmarks/national-audit-for-small-animal-neutering-nasan/nasan-benchmark-reports/
www.rcvsknowledge.org/NASAN-submit
As part of the arrangement, I am stepping down as Editor, with Veterinary Edge editor and VetEdge Congress organiser Chris Ritchie taking over day-to-day editorial responsibility for VetSurgeon.org and VetNurse.co.uk.
The collaboration is designed to broaden editorial reach, strengthen the range of services offered to veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses, and create additional value for advertisers.
David Kimberley will become the main point of contact for advertising across VetSurgeon.org, VetNurse.co.uk, Veterinary Edge, VetIndex and VetEdge Congress.
After more than 25 years running the communities, I will remain publisher of the sites, working behind the scenes to support Chris and his team.
Alongside that, I’ll be focusing my attention on a new journalism venture, reviewing and explaining consumer technology, AI and gadgets for mainstream audiences: www.arlo-guthrie.com
My resignation letter in full: https://www.vetsurgeon.org/p/announce
Photo: It's bye bye from me.