View all veterinary jobs
VetSurgeon.org publishes a curated feed of veterinary news for practising veterinary surgeons, with a primary focus on the UK profession.
We select stories based on their practical relevance, clinical interest, or professional significance — filtering out noise so busy vets can stay informed quickly.
Our coverage includes:
We report across all areas of practice, including companion animal, farm, equine and exotic species.
Our editorial approach is deliberately selective and concise. We prioritise clarity and relevance over volume, aiming to make each story worth your time.
You can follow VetSurgeon News by subscribing to the daily, weekly or monthly email digest, or via our channels on Facebook and LinkedIn.
Researchers and practitioners working in any field of academia, industry and/or clinical practice are invited to apply for an award of up to £2,000 to fund a research project relevant to the aims of the VMG, which represents veterinary professionals working in leadership and management roles.
The VMG says it has launched the scheme to help veterinary leaders embrace the challenges and opportunities faced by the sector and to help them to continue to meet patient needs effectively while remaining profitable.
VMG Junior Vice President Mr Richard Casey said: "Business landscapes are changing and the veterinary world is no exception. The VMG is ideally placed not only to support our members but also to help the wider profession. We hope that our grant scheme will support research that enhances our understanding of contemporary veterinary business, leadership and management and helps us to develop a solid evidence base for best practice. We are looking forward to receiving some exciting proposals."
Further information, including the Stage 1 application form and guidance notes, are available here: https://www.vetmg.com/vmg-research-awards/
The deadline for applications is 19 July 2019.
In his new role, Ian will guide the development of interventions, strategies, process changes and campaigns to improve responsible pharmaceutical usage across Mars Veterinary Health’s 2,500+ global veterinary clinics.
Ian was previously Head of Internal Medicine at Hertfordshire-based Davies Veterinary Specialists and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) subject matter expert on the clinical board of Linnaeus.
Mars says that this new role is one of several actions it is taking to promote pharmaceutical stewardship and combat antimicrobial resistance, include the implementation of a formal responsible pharmaceutical stewardship programme across all its veterinary clinics globally during the next several years.
Ian said: “As one of the leading providers of veterinary care in the world, we have a unique opportunity – and responsibility – to lead the way toward a more sustainable profession.
“Antimicrobial resistance is a critical One Health issue, and I look forward to continue working with colleagues across more than 2,500 clinics to support responsible antibiotic prescribing.
"Energy and interest in this area is growing profession-wide, demonstrating a reassuring recognition of how we can make meaningful improvements for people, pets, and the planet long into the future.”
Members of Parliament have recognised the British Veterinary Association's contribution to the promotion of microchipping dogs and the campaign for compulsory microchipping through an Early Day Motion (EDM) tabled by Andrew Rosindell MP (Conservative, Romford).
The EDM is gaining signatures from across all political parties as MPs show their support for a compulsory microchipping scheme that would have a significant and positive welfare impact on dogs by:
The EDM is also supported by Dogs Trust (who coordinated the EDM), Cats Protection, Blue Cross, and NOAH (National Office for Animal Health).
Earlier this week Welsh Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones AM announced proposals for the compulsory microchipping of all dogs and puppies sold or homed by licensed breeders, to improve traceability.
Professor Bill Reilly, President of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), said: "Microchipping is part of responsible pet ownership and the BVA believes that all dogs should be permanently identified by microchip before the first change of ownership or at the first veterinary examination.
"Compulsory microchipping allows stray dogs to be reunited with their owners and would help the authorities to crack down on shameful puppy farms, where the health and welfare of both puppies and bitches is compromised, by improving the traceability of the animals.
"It could also assist with the reporting of hereditary health problems and surgical procedures to help us gain as much knowledge and research as we can to improve the health of all dogs.
"I would urge all Members of Parliament to show their support for dogs and their owners by signing this EDM."
The final deadline for paying the fee was 31 May 2019, with the 346 who did not pay being removed on 1 June 2019, compared to 308 last year.
Those who were removed from the Register but have subsequently paid to be restored are not named on the list.
The RCVS says it sent reminders to all MsRCVS, including emails and text messages, reminding them that the fee was due. Letters were sent to those members that the College does not have an email address or mobile telephone number for.
A list of those who have not paid their fee has now been published. Practices are encouraged to check the list to ensure that no employees are named.
The College also wants to remind veterinary surgeons that, although paying the fee is required to remain on the Register, to complete their registration in full they need to confirm they are compliant with the continuing professional development (CPD) requirement and complete the criminal disclosures form. Both of these are required by the Code of Professional Conduct and can be completed on the ‘My Account’ area.
Anyone with queries about completing the registration process should contact the Registration Department on 020 7202 0707 or registration@rcvs.org.uk.
The Prime Minister's website has received a petition for a new law making it compulsory to microchip pets in the UK.
If you wish to support this petition, please click here and add your name: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/MicrochipPets/
The full petition reads:
"I am a responsible pet owner and have both my parrots and dog microchipped. I genuinely believe that all pets (where possible) should be microchipped.
I feel that it should be mandatory and is part of being a responsible pet owner. This should act as a "licence". I strongly beleive that this course of action will protect many discarded, stolen and mistreated pets every year as there will be no escape for the owners as the pet can be traced back to them.
I appreciated that due to size and temperament some pets may not be able to be microchipped, but certainly dogs, cats, horses, valuable / larger birds, rabbits etc should be.
I hope you agree that £30 for a microchip is good value, if owners cannot afford this then they shouldnt be considering a pet in the first place.
Please can you give this idea serious consideration as I feel we must do something to protect the pets that do not have a voice in our society."
Fabtek Solutions has announced the launch of Meditek, an activated carbon wound dressing which has been impregnated with silver to enhance its antibacterial qualities.
Joy Coutts from Fabtek Solutions said: "Meditek uses Zorflex which is a 100% pure activated carbon fibre. It has a huge surface area due to its microporous structure, and a permanent electrostatic charge that attracts bacteria towards it, where they are immobilised and retained. When removed from the substrate, the bacteria die, but the microscopic particulates of metallic silver accelerate the bacteria kill.
"Better still, Meditek carries no risk phases as it's non toxic and non invasive."
Joy added: "We are commercial members of the Vet Wound Library, an initiative designed to help promote modern wound care to veterinary professionals, it also means members can try our dressings for free."
According to Fabtek, Meditek has been tried and tested by vets and produced excellent results. The company's website also features some case studies which show the wound before and after the use of Meditek.
Dressings are available in 10cm x 10cm, and 15cm x 25cm sizes, which can be cut to fit. Prices start from £35 for a box of five.
For more information, see http://www.fabteksolutions.com/, email admin@fabteksolutions.com or call 07794094011.
Norbrook Laboratories Ltd has announced the launch of Pestigon, a fipronil spot-on solution for cats and dogs.
Rebekah Dudek, Norbrook Veterinary Advisor said: "Pestigon offers a fast-acting and long-lasting treatment for cats and dogs suffering from flea and tick irritations. The new product will have an immediate effect against flea infestations and will kill ticks within the first 24 - 48 hours of application. Fipronil is a tried and tested ingredient with proven efficacy against fleas and ticks. Pestigon provides a fast-acting treatment whose effectiveness will continue against new infestations of fleas for up to 58 days on dogs and 37 days in cats and against ticks for up to 30 days in dogs and 21 days in cats."
To coincide with the launch of Pestigon, Norbrook has rebranded its Permaguard household spray which is now available with 12 month protection.
Rebekah said: "The total life cycle of a flea can last from a couple of weeks to several months. Only adult fleas live on cats or dogs while the eggs, larvae and pupae can be found around the house in carpet, furniture, bedding etc for up to a year or more. It is therefore crucial that pet owners treat the household to break the life cycle and ensure effective and lasting flea control. Pestigon and Permaguard together will give pet owners a complete treatment."
Pestigon range offers 5 alternatives for cats and dogs depending on size and comes with colour co-ordinated pipettes available in packs of 3, 6 and 24 to allow for single or multiple pipette dispensing.
Norbrook's Small Animal Brand Manager, Michelle Jones said: "Pestigon is licensed as a POM-V product and will be sold exclusively through veterinary practices. We have produced a range of marketing materials for veterinary practices to help them offer support on flea and tick control in the home to their customers."
Orders for Pestigon and Permaguard can be placed through your Norbrook representative now.
Kruuse has launched a range of seven specialized sterile surgical disposable drapes and gowns developed for the surgery team working in equine clinics or hospitals.
The company says its new surgical sets have been designed so they include a comprehensive set of sterile drapes, towels, instrument covers and adhesive tapes needed to perform particular procedures:
Andrew Groom, Managing Director, Kruuse UK Ltd. said: "This exciting new range of products increase the Kruuse's equine product portfolio and develop further our commitment to provide specialist species available products to support the veterinary practitioner."
Presented by Sam Taylor BVetMed(Hons) CertSAM DipECVIM-CA MANZCVS FRCVS, the webinar will also be available to watch on demand later, for those who miss it.
Sam is an Internal Medicine and Feline Specialist and current ISFM Academy lead.
She recently chaired and co-authored the ISFM guidelines on the management of the inappetent hospitalised cat.
The webinar, which counts for one hour’s CPD, will cover:
Sarah Musgrave, Brand Manager at Dechra, said: “Inappetence is a common reason cats present to veterinary practices and it can be caused by multiple conditions.
"Management needs to look beyond just treating the underlying disease as factors such as stress, nausea and pain can play a significant role.
"Untreated inappetence has a substantial negative effect on recovery from illness and surgery, makes medicating cats difficult and may even hasten euthanasia decisions.
"The ‘Feline pawsative about feline inappetence?’ webinar will help educate on feline weight loss, why intervention to improve nutrition is important and the practical steps to treating inappetence.”
https://thewebinarvet.com/webinars/feline-pawsative-about-feline-inappetence.
Equine vets at the Animal Health Trust are appealing to horse riders to help with a research project, to assess the interaction between horse, saddle and rider.
Dr Sue Dyson, Head of Clinical Orthopaedics at the Centre for Equine Studies at the Animal Health Trust and Line Greve, PhD student, are conducting the study to find out how the horse, rider and saddle can influence each other. They are trying to understand better why a saddle may persistently slip to one side in some horses.
Line said: "Saddle slip is a problem seen in all sorts of horses and ponies and can contribute to back pain and thus impaired performance. Research suggests that 25% of British dressage horses have a history of back-related problems and subsequent reduced performance. Our preliminary studies involve just over 700 riders but for a more accurate picture we would like to bump this figure up to 1000 plus. We are urging all riders, whatever their level or ability, to help by completing the questionnaire."
The online questionnaire should take no more than 15 minutes to complete and all answers remain anonymous. The questions cover saddle types, fitting, use and maintenance; rider experience, training and 'handedness'; as well as horse type, use and any previous lameness or back-related problems.
To take part in the study, complete the questionnaire here: http://www.aht.org.uk/cms-display/premise_questionnaire.html. The AHT says that by doing so, you'll be helping to protect and improve the future health, welfare and longevity of the ridden horse.
The results will be presented at the Saddle Research Trust Conference in 2014.
The 3D dental model, which was produced with the help of veterinary dentist John Robinson, demonstrates the recommended method for sectioning and extracting teeth in cats and dogs.
An accurate representation of the animal’s mouth, the teeth are pre-sectioned, indicating how tooth crowns should be divided and where to cut the crown to achieve single root pieces.
Royal Canin's Veterinary Marketing Manager, Marianne Lomberg, said: "We are delighted to offer this new learning tool. These high quality and accurate models will be a valuable addition to the education resources available to veterinary schools and professionals – ultimately helping contribute to a higher standard of dental care available to cats and dogs."
Orders of £300 will receive one free model, orders of £500 will receive two free models.
For more information, contact your Royal Canin Veterinary Business Manager or visit www.vetportal.royalcanin.co.uk.
Elanco Companion Animal Health has announced that its Duvaxyn IE and IE-T Plus vaccines have been licensed for active immunisation against OIE recommended clade 1 and clade 2 equine influenza strains, the first vaccines to be so licensed.
The company says the updated license is a result of a recent challenge study which demonstrated the ability of Duvaxyn IE-T Plus equine influenza vaccine to induce cross protection against clade 2 strain A/equi-2/Richmond/1/07 (H3N8) two weeks after two doses of the primary course1 were given. Cross-protection was further supported by another study2 measuring serum antibody response to the Richmond '07 strain 52 weeks after the three dose primary vaccination course.
The OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) updated its equine influenza vaccine recommendations in 2010 to reflect the fact that all field strains characterised through 2008 and 2009 were of clade 1 or 2 of the Florida sub-lineage. The antigenic difference between viruses of these clades could potentially compromise the effectiveness of vaccines containing a representative of a single clade3.
Anna Jackson, national veterinary manager for Elanco Companion Animal Health UK, said: "Whilst no vaccine has been updated to match the current OIE recommendations, the results of our challenge study and subsequent licence update provide reassurance that horses vaccinated with Duvaxyn will be protected against clinical signs of disease caused by currently circulating strains of equine influenza, including those the OIE has identified as being of concern.
"Further reassurance is also given with the confirmation in our study that Duvaxyn IE-T Plus elicits a cell mediated immune response, recognised to play an important role to aid in viral clearance and further enhances protection against strains circulating in the field." 4
The live virus challenge study, conducted by the Animal Health Trust, involved two groups of EIV seronegative horses. The first group, consisting of seven vaccinates, were given two doses of Duvaxyn IE-T Plus, 28 days apart, and challenged with A/equi-2/Richmond/1/07 (H3N8) virus strain 14 days after the second vaccination. The second group of unvaccinated horses was challenged at the same time. Duvaxyn IE-T Plus caused a statistically significant reduction in both clinical signs of the disease and in viral shedding.
Duvaxyn IE-T Plus is the only inactivated whole virus carbomer adjuvanted equine influenza vaccine in the UK. According to Elanco, experts in the field of human vaccination have expressed the view that whole virus vaccines have the potential to induce a stronger and more broadly based response to circulating influenza strains than those contained in sub-unit vaccines because of the presence of the full set of virus proteins including the conserved nucleoprotein, which shows no antigenic drift, in the vaccine5.
References
Virbac Animal Health has launched a twitter-based early warning system to alert vets and dog owners of cases of canine parvovirus (CPV) in their area. It is to go live on 1 November 2012.
@parvoalert is a twitter feed that updates followers on the geographic location of cases of the disease using the first half of the relevant postcode. The company is asking vets and owners learning of a case to tweet the first half of the postcode where it occurs to @parvoalert. Virbac will then retweet it to everyone else following @parvoalert. The company is also advising vets and owners to check the feed regularly for news of cases. The service is free.
Virbac says that when it hears of a case, it will also provide practices in 'at-risk' areas with a 'Parvo-alert' Pack, containing a range of tools and support materials to help them alert dog owners. These include waiting room posters, leaflets, stickers and template text for newsletters.
The Veterinary Director of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Shaun Opperman, said: "As recent viewers of ITV1's 'Paul O Grady: For the Love of Dogs' may have seen, parvovirus causes dreadful suffering to dogs. Unfortunately many people still aren't vaccinating their dogs, so we see cases on a regular basis and it's vital that owners vaccinate their dogs, are aware of the disease and remain vigilant for the early signs."
Simon Boulton MRCVS, Product Manager at Virbac, said: "One of the problems in tackling canine parvovirus is that little information is shared on the frequency and location of cases so, in some ways, it's a hidden problem. While it's not as common as some other infectious diseases, when outbreaks occur, as they did earlier this year in South Wales and Oxford, the disease proves fatal in around half of diagnosed dogs."
Once @parvoalert is established, Virbac says it aims to build it into a comprehensive web-based CPV resource, featuring background on the prevention and treatment of the disease; comment from veterinary experts and downloadable practice support materials.
Simon continued: "It's heart-breaking for owners to lose their pets in this way and to see them suffer from a disease that could easily have been prevented. We hope @parvoalert will help to raise awareness of the fact that CPV continues to represent a significant threat to unvaccinated dogs. It will benefit all practices in areas affected as they will receive a Parvo-alert Pack, which they can use to encourage their clients to get their dogs vaccinated and look out for signs of the disease."
Loseley, the ice-cream maker, has announced that it has developed a new way of making flavoured ice-cream by adapting the diet fed to its cows.
The first variety to be made using the new technique is 'Eton Mess', for which the company's herd is being fed a diet of strawberries and meringues.
Loseley says its cattle - which are housed at the Beechdean Dairies farm in Buckinghamshire - have already been feeding on the ingredients found in the much loved pudding for over a year, to ensure their milk supply is infused with the strawberry and meringue flavours. Apparently, huge amounts of strawberries are having to be air-freighted into the UK in order to ensure an uninterrupted supply through the seasons.Andrew Howard Managing Director of Beechdean Dairies said: "We have been perfecting the quantities in the cattle feed for over 18 months to perfect the Eton Mess flavour. The cows need to be fed just the right quantities of meringues, strawberries, fat and hay to make the perfect Eton Mess ice cream. We believe ice cream should be great quality, tasty and interesting. Our products will always deliver against these criteria."Vince Bamford, Fast Moving Consumer Goods Editor at The Grocer, the UK's leading grocery trade magazine said: "Loseley's flavour development process is cutting edge - I have tasted the product and it is delicious. It is an exciting innovation for the ice cream category."
The case studies were developed by the RCVS Standards Committee and use a variety of examples of where miscommunication between a client and the veterinary practice can lead to an inadequate level of consent being gained for procedures and treatment, including euthanasia.
Examples include damaged teeth being removed during a clean and polish dental procedure without the owner’s express permission and not giving the full range of options available in the case of a dog with an osteosarcoma.
The case studies follow the Standards Committee approving changes to chapter 11 (‘Communication and consent’) of the supporting guidance to the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct in January 2018 to give further advice on how to discuss informed consent with clients, who can be responsible for gaining consent for a procedure and additional guidance on consent forms.
Dr Kate Richards MRCVS, Chair of the RCVS Standards Committee, said: "We hope these case studies will prove useful to practitioners who are having to deal with the complexities around making sure that procedures are fully explained to ensure informed consent is gained.
"We understand the difficulties that are encountered and so these case studies, based on real-life scenarios, highlight where things may go wrong and how these incidents can be avoided by being thorough and ensuring that good communication is at the heart of all we do."
To view the case studies, visit www.rcvs.org.uk/informed-consent.
Chapter 11 of the RCVS supporting guidance on communication and consent is available to view at www.rcvs.org.uk/consent
Muriel joined Pennard Vets as an office junior on 7th January 1950, when she was 15 years old
She earned a weekly wage of £1 10 shillings, equivalent to £1.50 in today’s money.
Andy Green, a Director at Pennard Vets, said: “Few people in this country have achieved what Muriel has.
"Pennard Vets has been around for over 125 years and Muriel’s journey with us has encompassed a staggering 70 years of that, making her one of only a handful of people in the UK who have completed 70 years with a single employer.
“Muriel is ever-present, reliable, caring, dependable and she makes the best biscuits around.
"She started work at our Sevenoaks practice as a 16-year-old in 1950, when it was just as likely a client would be bringing in a sheep, goat or horse as a dog or cat, and we used loose boxes outside for examinations, treatments isolation and even post-mortems.
“During the subsequent 70 years she was part of the growth in the practice from a single site to multiple sites.
"She was also fantastic at embracing the latest technology as the practice went from handwritten ledgers, double entry bookkeeping and dealing with the terribly difficult to decipher handwritten notes of the vets, to digitalisation, computers, online systems, email, mobile phones and a host of other technological advances.
“Throughout the years her role changed dramatically, and she learned new skills, adapted, and moved with the times, demonstrating our core values of continuous improvement, client focus, compassion and clarity every step of the way.
“When Muriel retired in 2020, sadly lockdown rules denied us the chance for a proper celebration, so we are very pleased to have been able to celebrate together with such a fabulous party.”
Muriel said: “When I started at Pennard Vets, the practice cared for large animals including horses, sheep and cattle on the local farms, but we also had some more unusual clients.
"A special highlight was fielding telephone calls from former Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill, who lived at Chartwell country house, near Westerham, in Kent and employed the practice to look after the health of the black swans living on the estate’s lake.
“Two of the biggest changes I saw during my seven decades at the practice were the business giving up farm work to focus on small animal work as dogs and cats became a bigger part of our families, and the transition from my handwritten notes in ledgers to modern computer systems, but I have always embraced change and enjoyed learning new skills.
"I miss everyone at Pennard Vets but will keep in touch and keep baking for them!”
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has announced that Nick Stace has been appointed its Chief Executive and Secretary, and will take up his post on 3 September 2012.
Mr Stace leaves CHOICE, Australia's equivalent of consumer group Which?, after three and a half years as Chief Executive Officer. At CHOICE, Nick led the modernisation of the organisation, this year taking it to the number one spot as the most trusted media entity in Australia. A long-standing consumer champion, Nick also held the post of Deputy CEO at Which?, he was a director at Consumers' International and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Director of Strategic Communications.
RCVS President Jerry Davies said: "I am delighted that Nick Stace will be joining the College. With his impressive track-record, I believe that we have a Chief Executive who will lead the College into a new phase of modernisation and development. I am grateful to the Interview Panel, led by Council member Dr Barry Johnson, for all their hard work in securing this excellent appointment."
Nick Stace said: "It is an enormous privilege to be leading an organisation that seeks to ensure Britain has the best vets in the world. The College has a special place in the lives of every vet in the country, it also has a responsibility to animals and consumers to set high standards and ensure they are met. I look forward to helping the College continue to improve veterinary standards across the country and to lead the College through its next stage of development."
The role of Chief Executive and Secretary is a new one - previously the Registrar led the executive of the College. One of Nick Stace's first tasks will be to assist in recruitment of the Head of Legal Services/Registrar, a new role.
Burgess reminds everyone that RVHD2 is a highly infectious strain of RVHD with few or no visible symptoms. It is fatal and can kill within hours. RVHD2 poses a significant threat to Britain’s rabbit population and outbreaks have been reported all over the UK and Ireland meaning no area is safe.
According to the company, the most recent sales figures show that only 137,405 RVHD2 vaccinations have been distributed in the last year1. This, says the company, shows a concerning number of practices are still not stocking the necessary vaccines to protect rabbits against RVHD2 and other fatal diseases.
Rabbits who have received the combined vaccination for RVHD and myxomatosis need a separate vaccination for RVHD2.
BSAVA President Sue Paterson said: "The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) supports the Rabbit Awareness Week 'Protect and Prevent' approach to saving the lives of rabbits in the UK. The BSAVA urges all rabbit owners to get their rabbits vaccinated against this disease and encourages all practices to remind their clients of the importance of doing this."
Richard Saunders BVSc DZooMed MRCVS said: "It's important for vets to be aware of the importance of vaccinating rabbits against all 3 viral diseases: Myxomatosis, RVHD1 and RVHD2.
"We certainly don't want rabbits to go without their annual myxomatosis vaccine: this horrible disease is very much still around. RVHD1 appears to have been overtaken by the new variant, RVHD2, but should still be vaccinated against.
"RVHD2 is a recent strain of the RVHD virus, which the Nobivac Myxo-RHD vaccine does not cover, and it is, quite literally, everywhere. Transported by inanimate objects as well as animals, it can affect both indoor and outdoor rabbits anywhere in the UK.
"If you wait until you see the first case in your area before recommending vaccination, rabbits will die, when this could be avoided.
"Remember that rabbit owners are much more likely to bury their dead pets at home than cat and especially dog owners, who generally bring their pets to a vet for cremation, and so we, as a profession, are under-aware of the incidence of the disease out there.
"RVHD2 is a core vaccination requirement, being endemic in the UK. Additionally, it’s not just a fatal disease, it’s a fatal disease with a reservoir in the wild. We strongly recommend vaccination of rabbits with either Filavac or Eravac in addition to Nobivac Myxo-RHD."
For more information on this year’s campaign and to request your RAW veterinary pack with marketing materials and free samples, visit www.rabbitawarenessweek.co.uk
Reference
The practice will offer 24/7 care with the same team managing both daytime and out-of-hours emergencies to offer continuity and familiarity for clients and their pets.
Facilities at the practice include heated hospital cages for small mammals such as rabbits and rodents, custom-built vivaria with species-appropriate UV lighting tailored to different reptile requirements and advanced diagnostic and surgical equipment specifically designed for exotic animal care.
Molly said: "We know that exotic pets require highly specialised care and our mission is to provide that expertise with compassion.
"Our entire team is trained and experienced in handling, treating, and advising on a diverse range of exotic species.
"We are committed to providing the highest standard of care for every animal that comes through our doors.”
The practice is now open for new client registrations.
www.theexoticanimalvets.co.uk
During the course, which counts as 7 CPD hours, some of the best-known veterinary experts in equine nutrition will be sharing their knowledge with the speaker panel comprising Caroline Argo, Andy Durham, Pat Harris, Nicky Jarvis and Sarah Stoneham.
Course organiser Nicky Jarvis said: "Whether it's a conversation with an owner about their overweight horse, examining a geriatric pony with weight loss or formulating nutrition for an orphan foal, tailored nutrition is the cornerstone of every equine case we see in veterinary practice.
"We regularly treat a variety of conditions such laminitis and colic, but are we always confident about the best feeding advice to give our clients? And how often do we walk into a tack room full of the ‘latest’ supplements and wonder if any of them actually work?"
The course will look at a range of clinical conditions to enable vets to build evidence-based feeding advice into their treatment plans, formulate diets for any age of horse and see which supplements are worth the internet hype. The speakers will provide practical tips for everything from the anorexic pony to the stubborn weight loss case.
The course will cover how to:
BEVA President Lucy Grieve said: "Following the National Equine Forum’s Great Weight Debate (Equine) last month, appropriate equine nutrition has never been more topical.
"Equine obesity is a growing problem and this debate has highlighted how teamwork, communication and trust will help to tackle it to best effect. Veterinary professionals are in a unique and privileged position to support owners on all matters of nutrition and this course will give you the knowledge you need to provide practical, constructive help."
From superfoods to supplements: How to know more than the owner will cost £80.00 for members and £160.00 for non-members. To find out more and to book visit https://www.beva.org.uk/Education/CPD/Event-Details/eventDateId/555
"Advances in Imaging of the Equine Distal Limb 2017–2022" comprises a total of 20 papers which have been selected by Mathieu Spriet, Ann Carstens and Tim Mair.
It also includes an editorial from the EVJ summarising the major historical technological developments in imaging of the foot and fetlock.
The publication looks at the evolution of computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), which has opened a whole new field of possibilities for bone and soft tissue imaging in racehorses and sport horses, MRI and how it has been improved by optimising scanning techniques, ultrasound radiography and scintigraphy.
Mathieu Spriet said: “The content of this virtual issue represents an amazing amount of new knowledge that with no doubt will contribute to improve equine welfare and safety.
“With the increase availability and versatility of all the imaging modalities, the knowledge base appears to increase exponentially.
"We are very excited to see what the next five years will bring. We hope the readers will enjoy consulting this collection as much as we enjoyed putting it together.”
The virtual issue is free for 12 weeks and can be found at https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/toc/10.1001/(ISSN)2042-3306.equine-distal-limb
Photo: 18F-NaF PET, CT and MRI images from a horse with navicular and middle phalanx lesions. Adapted from EVJ 2018;50: 125-132
The 2-day course, which includes both theory and practical sessions, will be taught by Ingrid Tundo, lecturer and head of the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Department at the University of Edinburgh (pictured right), at IM3's Advanced Centre for Education near Dublin on the 10th and 11th August 2021.
The course will cover all the basic aspects of veterinary dentistry including oral examination and charting, dental radiography, local anaesthetic techniques and basic oral surgery including extractions.
The cost of the course is £600 and there's a 15% discount for BVDA members (so if you're interested in the course, then joining the BVDA is a bit of a no-brainer).
To register, visit: https://www.bvda.co.uk/education/courses/essential-dentistry-for-vets, or email Rob Davis (BVDA Education Officer) at davis4ginger@yahoo.co.uk for further information.
Launched in 2023 to address the growing need for skilled farm vets, the VetPartners Farm Academy was created to provide more opportunities for future vets to gain hands-on experience.
VetPartners Farm Director Ian Cure said: “By opening up on-farm and simulated farm experiences to students, the academy aims to bridge the gap between veterinary education and practical farm work – ensuring a strong pipeline of talent into the industry.
“Designed by farm vets, for vets of the future, our three-day academy complements university education by providing veterinary students with a structured on-farm experience that builds confidence and prepares them for a career in farm practice.
“By welcoming students into the Farm Academy, we’re helping them develop the practical skills, confidence and knowledge needed to thrive in farm animal practice from day one.
"The academy also offers those students who haven’t had previous farm exposure the chance to try farm vetting for the first time.
“With the agricultural sector facing increasing pressures, from sustainability targets to animal health challenges, ensuring the next generation of farm vets is well-prepared is more important than ever.”
This year’s academy will take place at a VetPartners practice in Cornwall, from 14th to 16th June.
Students will receive training from experienced farm vets, and gain valuable skills in herd health, disease management, and sustainable livestock production.
The Farm Academy programme in 2025 will offer students:
To apply, send a CV and covering letter to farmsupport@vetpartners.co.uk
Applications close 25th April.
For the study, the team at the RVC conducted an online survey of the owners of 9,402 UK dogs to investigate the behaviour of three popular designer Doodle breeds – Cockapoo, Labradoodle and Cavapoo.
Behaviours were compared between the Doodles and their purebred parent breeds, including Cocker Spaniels; Cavalier King Charles Spaniels; Labrador Retrievers; and Toy, Miniature, and Standard Poodles.
Behaviour was assessed using the validated Canine Behavioural Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) which quantifies diverse behavioural challenges including aggression, fear and anxiety, separation-related behaviour and attention-seeking.
The results show that designer Doodles differed from their purebred parents in approximately 54% of behavioural comparisons.
Where differences were identified, Doodles showed more undesirable behaviours in 82% of comparisons.
Some of these common undesirable behaviours included non-social fear (e.g. fear of traffic, loud noises); separation-related problems (e.g. vocalisation and destructiveness when left alone); and excitability (e.g. strong reactions to exciting events such as walks and doorbells).
Doodles showed less undesirable behaviours in only 18% of the comparisons where a difference was identified, for example Labradoodles scored lower for dog rivalry (e.g., conflict with dogs they live with) compared to Poodles.
Considerable variation between the three individual Doodle breeds was also identified, demonstrating that designer crossbreeds should not be treated as a single, uniform group in terms of behaviour.
For example, Cockapoos displayed a higher level of undesirable behaviours compared to their purebred parent breeds, exceeding that seen in Cavapoos and Labradoodles.
In particular, Cockapoos showed higher levels of aggressive behaviours, such as owner-directed aggression and dog rivalry, than their purebred parents.
Dr Rowena Packer, Senior Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science at the RVC and senior author of the paper, said: “Realistic expectations are key to happy dog ownership.
"When expectations and reality don’t align, both dogs and owners can struggle.
"Preconceived beliefs, such as the idea that designer-crossbreeds are naturally easy to train or are safe with children, can have serious consequences if they aren’t supported by evidence.
"Our research shows that many designer-crossbreeds do not always behave as expected, particularly regarding training, anxiety and aggression, which were more common than in their parent breeds.
"We also found that not all ‘Doodles’ are alike, with Cockapoos tending to display more undesirable behaviour compared to Labradoodles and Cavapoos, highlighting that each breed is unique.
"By providing reliable scientific data, we can help puppy buyers to make better-informed choices that support both human wellbeing and canine welfare.”
The findings of a Canine Vector Borne Disease (CVBD) prevention field study, published in Veterinary Parasitology today, have demonstrated the efficacy of Advantix in repelling ticks and sandflies, thus reducing the risk of potentially deadly diseases.
The study, conducted over two years by a team headed by Professor Domenico Otranto of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (Universitá degli Studi di Bari) Italy, with diagnostic support from a team led by Dr. Edward Breitschwerdt at the North Carolina State University, USA, found that dogs treated regularly with Advantix spot-on had a greater than 90% reduction in CVBD cases, including a 100% reduction in new cases of potentially deadly leishmaniosis and a 94.6% decrease in ehrlichiosis.
The study also found that Advantix provided 97.9% protection against tick infestation, compared to untreated dogs, where 100% were infested at the peak of the season. The level of protection offered by Advantix was apparently all the more notable because of particularly large numbers of ticks and sand flies and high prevalence of associated diseases like leishmaniosis or babesiosis in the area of the study.
Prof. Otranto said: "Our study shows the importance of protecting dogs with an effective treatment that repels as well as kills parasites like ticks and sand flies. Despite the high challenge faced by the dogs in our study, nearly all our treated dogs remained free from ticks throughout most of the study, and more than 90% remained free from CVBDs for the whole study time.
"Because we included naïve sentinel beagles in the study, we were also able to model what would happen to dogs travelling to areas where CVBDs are present. We found that by the end of the study, only the Advantix-treated beagles remained protected from infection, while 80% of the untreated beagles were infected with a CVBD. This demonstrates the very real need to protect dogs that are travelling to endemic areas."
According to Bayer, the study showed some interesting results with dogs that were positive with CVBDs when they entered the study. Of these, half of those treated with Advantix were negative for CVBDs at the end of treatment, compared with only 13% of untreated dogs. This suggests the potential for natural clearance of CVBDs if a repellent treatment is used to prevent new transmissions.
Bayer says the study was extremely comprehensive, studying both indigenous and introduced naïve puppies, monitoring for several CVBDs and working with Dr. Breitschwerdt's team in the USA to use highly sensitive molecular testing techniques to ensure optimal diagnostic accuracy. Dr. Breitschwerdt said: "This is the most comprehensive study, to my knowledge, ever conducted testing the efficacy of a repellent ectoparasiticide to prevent the transmission of a spectrum of CVBDs in young dogs."
Leading parasitologist Dr. Luis Cardoso of the University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal said: "Thanks to this study we can see just how effective a treatment that repels as well as kills can be."