CVS reports that it is upskilling its nurses in diagnostic imaging techniques - so that they can take X-rays and perform CT scans, MRI and ultrasound.

To date most of these imaging procedures have been performed by vets within the group’s small animal first opinion veterinary practices.

The company says its Foundations in Diagnostic Imaging for Nurses training is designed to give its nurses more clinical stature in first opinion practice.

The programme will teach nurses the workings of an x-ray machine, common X-ray positions and contrast material.

It will also cover the principles of CT and MRI, showing how to set up and operate each piece of equipment, and how to support patients through these imaging procedures.

Finally, the course will provide the training nurses need to be able to perform ultrasounds within the current RCVS legal frameworks.

CVS says it believes this is a first in the veterinary profession

Tara Ryan, Chief Veterinary Nursing Officer at CVS said: “Imaging is a brand new area that we are starting to delegate to our nurses.

"Having heavily invested in our small animal first opinion practices over the last decade, we have a wide range of imaging equipment at many of our sites.

“Excitingly, this programme will open up the ability for nurses to start to contribute more information - to help vets identify and diagnose conditions and diseases in patients.

"It is another big step that we are taking to empower our brilliant nurses and to enable them to make a great clinical contribution towards the care of our patients – and to be the nurses they want to be.”

CVS is prioritising the consulting room and Schedule 3 delegated tasks as important areas for improving what it calls 'nurse optimisation'.

The company recognises that 'buy in' from veterinary surgeons is vital to the success of its efforts to optimise the role of its nurses, and the group has also published guidelines to provide clarity around effective delegation under Schedule 3. 

Boehringer Ingelheim has launched Frontpro (afoxolaner), the first over-the-counter flea and tick treatment for dogs.

The new product is being sold through e-retailers including Pet Drugs Online, Animed and Pets at Home.

Frontpro is claimed to kill fleas within 8 hours and protect dogs from fleas and ticks for one month. 

It is suitable for all breeds aged eight weeks or older (weighing two kilograms or more) and can be given with or without food.

A company spokesperson said: "Boehringer Ingelheim is committed to expanding access to high-quality parasite prevention for dogs, which is why we’re proud to introduce an effective new option.

"Frontpro chewable tablets provide effective protection from fleas and ticks, while complementing the regular care and advice pet owners receive from their veterinarians."

www.uk.frontline.com

Hannah Tombs MRCVS, who runs a hedgehog rescue as well as working at VetPartners' Ashworth Vets in Farnborough, has published a guide to help other vets who treat hedgehogs.

Hedgehogs: A Practical Guide for Vets aims to help vets assess sick hedgehogs and administer emergency treatment to stabilise them so they can be transferred to a wildlife rescue centre for specialist care.

Hannah, who has examined and treated more than 1,500 hedgehogs since setting up her sanctuary four years ago, said she also wants to create more awareness that hedgehogs seen during the daytime need urgent help.

She said: “As soon as a hedgehog comes out in the day it is usually a cry for help and they should be taken to the vets or a rescue centre as a matter of urgency.

“I wrote the book to help vets who are more familiar with treating small pets like dogs and cats know what to do if a sick hedgehog is brought to them, and to increase their confidence when treating wildlife.

"There are three simple things that every sick hedgehog needs, which are warmth, fluid and pain relief.”

https://www.facebook.com/p/Hannahs-Hedgehog-Rehabilitation-100070882987122 

The RCVS has launched a consultation on its Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Nursing (CertAVN) framework and is asking vets, employers and vet nurse educators to take part.

The CertAVN was launched in May 2019 as a modular, advanced professional qualification allowing veterinary nurses at all stages of their careers to develop their professional skills and knowledge.

The CertAVN framework sets out the professional values, skills and behaviours required of the higher education institutions responsible for providing the training and support for CertAVN students.

There are currently five accredited course providers in the UK:

• Harper Adams University
• University of Glasgow
• Royal Veterinary College
• Hartpury University and Hartpury College
• University of Central Lancashire

The proposed standards for accreditation are set under three areas: curricula and assessment, educators and assessors, and learning culture.

Julie Dugmore, RCVS Director of Veterinary Nursing, said: “In order to make sure that the CertAVN remains up to date and fit for purpose, it is important that we consult on the accreditation standards at regular intervals.

"We welcome constructive and specific feedback from veterinary nurses at all stages of their careers – whether you have already undertaken the CertAVN or are perhaps considering doing so in the future – as well as the wider veterinary team, educators, and employers of current and potential CertAVN holders.

“Your insights will help us ensure that the standards continue to enable veterinary nurse educators to deliver the best training and support possible for CertAVN students."

The consultation runs until 5pm on Monday 3 March 2025.

https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/our-consultations/review-of-the-certavn-framework 

The RCVS has appointed Clare Paget as its new Registrar and Director of Legal Services.

Clare (pictured) who is currently the General Dental Council’s Interim Executive Director for Legal and Governance, will be joining the RCVS as its most senior legal officer at the end of March 2025.

A qualified solicitor, Clare started her practice as a Solicitor Advocate in criminal law, before undertaking roles in regulatory bodies in the healthcare and financial sector.

She joined the General Dental Council in March 2023 and has been in her current role there since March last year.

When she joins the College, Clare will have a dual role.

As Registrar she will be responsible for keeping, maintaining and publishing Registers of veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses, including oversight of the various mechanisms via which veterinary professionals can join the Register, what they need to do to stay on the Registers, how they may leave or be removed and registration appeals.

As Director of Legal Services, she'll provide leadership and guidance on legal matters within the organisation, including guiding RCVS Council through the development of oral and written legal advice, as well as sitting on committees and working groups in order to ensure the College’s activity is within its legal remit and represents best practice.  

RCVS Chief Executive Officer Lizzie Lockett said: “I am sure the RCVS, the professions and the public will benefit from her very relevant experience from senior roles within the General Dental Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, and Financial Conduct Authority, as well as her private sector legal experience.

“She joins the College at a time of change, with our continued push for new veterinary legislation, the ongoing Competition and Markets Authority investigation of the sector, and a new strategic plan for the College due to be approved this spring.

“The Registrar is the senior legal figure within the organisation, and I am looking forward to Clare contributing her legal expertise on these significant areas of work.

"She joins our very capable legal team, who I am sure will benefit from her leadership, as she will benefit from their sector expertise.”

Clare said: “I am delighted to join the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to contribute to the valuable work of safeguarding the interests of the public and animals by supporting veterinary professionals to provide the highest standards of care.”

VetSurgeon.org extends a warm welcome to Clare and wishes her all the very best in her new position.

One small but nevertheless important point is that perhaps a better aim would be to support veterinary professionals in providing just a 'high' standard of care, rather than the 'highest' standards.

It's this constant striving for the 'highest' standards from both a regulatory and clinical perspective that is driving up the cost of veterinary care and making it unaffordable. 

Jessica Lewis MRCVS and her husband James have set up VetSetters, a travel company specifically for veterinary surgeons. 

Jess, who works as an ECC locum in the North of England, launched the new service to provide sustainable travel options, with a particular focus on creating holidays for time-poor professionals and their families, organising combined leisure and volunteering trips, eco and adventure holidays off the beaten track, and business travel around conferences and events.

The company operates through Not Just Travel to offer holiday deals and discounts exclusively to veterinary professionals.

Jess said: “Having worked in the industry myself, I know the demands staff are under.

"They are incredibly busy but desperately need a well-earned break.

"We take the stress out of the booking process for them, by offering them specifically tailored options to meet their needs and allow them to reset and recharge.”

In addition, VetSetters have partnered with the charity VetLife, donating £5 from each booking in order to support the charity’s work in protecting the mental wellbeing of staff in the industry.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/384018824510499/ 

The BSAVA has announced the return of its 'Big Issues' module at Congress this year, and the first subject up for discussion on Thursday 20th March at Manchester Central is that of veterinary costs and 'contextual care'.

Veterinary advice and care has, of course, always been contextual, but the term has gained greater traction due to the cost of living crisis and the Competition and Markets Authority investigation. 

At Congress, there will be several "Big Issue" panel discussions on this subject, with speakers exploring how the profession can play a role in building a better understanding between vets and clients on the topic of vet fees.

On the afternoon of day two, delegates will be able to hear an update on the CMA review and what to expect from it over the next few months from Martin Coleman, Panel Chair and Panel Inquiry Chair of the CMA.

On the final day (Saturday 22nd), the Big Issues module will bring discussions from the RCVS on the latest under care guidelines, an update on Schedule 3, and a look at the future of the regulation changes.

The day will end with a panel discussion on the ethical challenges that professionals face in practice, and the impact that they can have on individuals within the practice team

Advance tickets available at: https://www.bsavacongress.com until 5th February.

A study conducted by the University of Sussex and published in Science of the Total Environment, has found high levels of veterinary insecticides in the nests of British songbirds and associated it with increased mortality in their offspring¹.

For the study, which was funded by the charity Songbird Survival, researchers collected the nests of 103 blue and great tits, and tested them for the presence of 20 insecticides.

Fipronil, imidacloprid and permethrin were the main culprits, detected in 100%, 89.1% and 89.1% of the samples respectively.

Overall, a higher number of either dead offspring or unhatched eggs was found in nests containing a higher number of insecticides, higher total concentration of insecticides or a higher concentration of fipronil, imidacloprid or permethrin, which the authors say suggests contact exposure of eggs to insecticides in nest lining may lead to mortality and lower reproductive success. 

The BVA responded by calling for more research and encouraging vets to work with clients to ensure responsible use of parasiticides.

BVA President Elizabeth Mullineaux said: “Parasiticides play an important role in preventing and treating parasites in animals, which if left unaddressed can lead to bigger health and welfare issues in both animals and people.

"But it’s important they are used responsibly, and this work from the University of Sussex and SongBird Survival highlights the need for more research into how parasiticides affect the environment and wildlife and the associated risks.

“Rather than blanket use, we strongly encourage vets and owners to take a risk-based approach to prescribing or recommending these medicines, reflecting an animal’s exposure to parasites."

Reference

• Cannelle Tassin de Montaigu, Gaetan Glauser, Sylvie Guinchard, Dave Goulson, High prevalence of veterinary drugs in bird's nests, Science of The Total Environment, 2025, 178439, ISSN 0048-9697, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178439. 

Ian Jennings MRCVS from IVC's Rowe Referrals in Bristol has become the first practitioner in the UK to be awarded AVP status in veterinary neurology. 

Ian, who qualified from Melbourne University in 2004 after completing a neuroscience degree at Edinburgh University, first joined Rowe as a general practitioner in 2007.

He said: “Personally this achievement is incredibly rewarding, but I also see it as an important step for veterinary neurology in the UK.

"It’s a fast-growing field with an increasing need for expert treatment and care so it’s exciting to see it recognised at this level.”

https://www.rowereferrals.co.uk 

Surrey-based Fitzpatrick Referrals has launched a dental service, led by Hannah van Velzen BSc MSc CSAVP (Dentistry) MRCVS

The practice is now accepting dental referrals, including for dental, oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Hannah said: “I am proud to join the Fitzpatrick Referrals team to extend their referral offering to include this very important aspect of small animal veterinary treatment.

"Working alongside a world-class team with state-of-the-art facilities is a fantastic opportunity.”

https://www.fitzpatrickreferrals.co.uk/services/dentistry/ 

Southern Counties Veterinary Specialists has announced the first of its mostly free CPD events for vets and nurses in 2025.

There are a mix of online and in-person events.

On the 27th February at 7:00pm, Derek Flaherty, Professor in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia will cover common complications with veterinary anaesthesia and how you can deal with them during this in person event. 

On the 29th April and 30th September, Tobi Wagner, Head of Cardiology at Southern Counties (pictured), will test your echo interpretation skills in an interactive online webinar.

On the 11th March, 1st July and 11th November, Tobi will be hosting Echo Clinics: small-group four-hour practical sessions which will look at how to obtain the necessary echocardiography views that can aid decision making in day-to-day clinical practice. Echo Clinics cost £375.

For nurses, Katie Foley and Tom Chapman will be hosting an in-person session looking at suture techniques on Thursday 6th February.

https://www.scvetspecialists.co.uk/vet-professionals/cpd

RCVS Knowledge has launched a new initiative to support the veterinary sector in delivering contextualised care.

The initiative seeks to understand the barriers and enablers to delivering contextualised care in companion animal practices, and to set out what contextualised care looks like when done well.

As part of the initiative, RCVS Knowledge is gathering perspectives from across the veterinary community and from pet owners to design a roadmap for the profession.

The work started last week at the National Forum for Contextualised Care in London, which brought together more than 60 people from across the veterinary sector, including leaders from veterinary associations, veterinary educators, students, practice staff, veterinary charities and rescues, pet insurers, regulators, representatives from corporate and independent practices and animal owners.

RCVS Knowledge will now be working with an independent research partner to conduct focus groups, surveys and interviews to gather a representative range of views from across the sector and pet owners.

The work will culminate in a summit in the summer that will use the findings of the research to design recommendations on:

• How veterinary professionals’ and pet owners’ perspectives and circumstances can be better brought together in reaching decisions about the most appropriate care for the individual animal.
• The barriers and enablers to implementing contextualised care in practice. 
• What needs to be done, and by whom, to support veterinary teams to deliver contextualised care and shared decision-making as part of good-quality veterinary care.

Sally Everitt, Clinical Lead – Evidence at RCVS Knowledge said: “Contextualised care is the way of delivering veterinary care that acknowledges that there are different ways to approach the diagnosis and treatment of an animal, depending on the circumstances of the individual animal and their caregivers and the context in which the care is delivered.

"The term has been used increasingly over the past year, and is now the subject of much debate, alongside other aligned terms such as ‘spectrum of care’ and ‘pragmatic medicine’.

"However, we need to better understand what constitutes good-quality contextualised care, and the barriers and enablers to its delivery in practice.”

Katie Mantell, Chief Executive of RCVS Knowledge, said: “As an independent charity with a mission to advance the quality of veterinary care, we believe RCVS Knowledge is well-placed to bring together all parts of the veterinary community to seek consensus on what good-quality contextualised care looks like and how it can be delivered in practice.

"Our aim is to take a collaborative, robust approach to co-producing a roadmap for contextualised care that will support its widespread delivery for the benefit of animals, the veterinary professions and animal owners.”

To be updated about the progress of this work, and to hear about opportunities to take part in the focus groups, interviews and surveys to follow, sign up to receive RCVS Knowledge’s monthly email newsletter intheKNOW.

NVS has shared the results of a survey in which veterinary professionals shared their most common strategies for improving staff wellbeing. 

The survey of 76 vets and nurses, which was conducted by the company in September and October 2024, found that 43% believe that staff wellbeing could be improved within their practice.

It also found that 93% agreed it is important for staff wellbeing to be taken seriously (Ed's note: one wonders what the other 7% think). 

The most common strategies were:

• Regular breaks
• Maintaining a manageable workload
• Fostering a supportive environment and positive team culture
• Engaging in out of work team activities
• Personal self-care, such as fitness and hobbies
• Expressing gratitude and recognising others' hard work

NVS, which also sells a range of natural calming products for animals including NVS Select Calming Chews, also asked veterinary professionals how often they encounter nervous or stressed animals.

The answer from 92% of respondents was, perhaps a little unsurprisingly, daily.

82% said they use medications and supplements to support nervous animals.

https://www.nvsweb.co.uk/products/big-chill/ 

https://www.nvsweb.co.uk/our-brands/select-from-nvs