The survey, which takes about three minutes, will assess horse owners’ experiences of strangles and includes questions on the disease including preventative measures and vaccination.
There will be a prize draw from completed entries and the winner will get two VIP tickets to Your Horse Live 2025.
Rachel Harrison-Osborne MRCVS, equine field manager at Dechra said: “The strangles survey will provide us with a valuable insight into horse owners’ experiences of the disease and will enable us to identify any trends that may exist to help us support owners who wish to put in place preventative measures to help prevent strangles.”
https://forms.office.com/e/85gzEd7J7A
Photo: Redwings Horse Sanctuary
The materials include pet owner guides, reception posters and slides to display on waiting room TV.
They complement the Krka veterinary professional guide on responsible risk-based parasiticide use for cats and dogs that was developed in conjunction with Ian Wright BVMS MSc MRCVS and launched last year.
Renzo Di Florio, Krka’s Technical Veterinary Adviser said: “In first opinion veterinary practice, where the majority of consultations last 15 minutes or less, time is short and in-depth discussions are not always possible.
"The guides provide comprehensive information on common parasites, practical advice on prevention and treatment and information on risk assessment.
"And by aligning with ESCCAP guidelines, the guides help address the delicate balance between animal health, human health and environmental protection – a true One Health issue.”
https://www.krka.co.uk/veterinary-knowledge-hub/articles/risk-based-parasiticide-use-for-cats-and-dogs
The Bella Moss Foundation and the Royal Society of Medicine have announced 'One Health', a conference which will bring together experts from the veterinary and medical sectors to collaborate on infectious disease.
Subjects under discussion will include infection control, antimicrobial resistance and the threats posed by emerging zoonotic diseases. Amongst the speakers will be Professor Peter Borriello, Chief Executive of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and Professor Anthony Kessel, Director of Public Health England. The audience will include policy makers and clinicians together with researchers and academics from both human and veterinary medicine.
Jill Moss, President of the Bella Moss Foundation, said: "With antimicrobial resistance and updated protocols hitting the headlines regularly, our speakers will discuss the key issues. For instance, what exactly is the current status of antimicrobial resistance? How is it affecting our lives? What are the veterinary, medical and research professions doing to resolve the challenges we face - and how can they persuade policy makers to take a united stand on the issue?"
Tom Keith - Welsh president of comparative medicine network, Royal Society of Medicine, said: "Antimicrobial resistance is a global issue requiring education, information and action. The conference programme will provide anyone with an interest in antimicrobial resistance a current and rounded perspective on this important and pressing issue."
For more information, visit: www.onehealthbmf.com.
They include a webinar from In Communication, a company which specialises in veterinary client communications, which covers things like how to broach costs with clients, communicating treatment options succinctly and time-blind shared decision-making.
The Society has also published eight questions which the public may ask about the investigation, with model responses.
The resources also include a summary of the five concerns raised by the CMA, and advice about how to discuss them with practice staff.
Finally, you can download SPVS' presentation to the CMA which talks about the drivers for fee increases.
https://spvs.org.uk/cma-spvs-response
The company says farmers should be vaccinating their flocks to help protect the cohort of ewes that missed last year’s vaccination.
Flock replacements should also be vaccinated this summer ahead of tupping.
Shearlings (one year plus) and older can be vaccinated with Cevac Chlamydia within four months before tupping and no later than four weeks before the rams go in, while ewe lambs can be vaccinated from five months of age.
The vaccine should not be used in pregnant ewes.
Fiona Lovatt BVSc PhD FHEA DSHP DipECSRHM FRCVS from Flock Health Ltd said: “It is really good news to hear that there will be good availability of EAE vaccine this year.
"The lambing season started off with some disappointing news for some farmers who were not able to vaccinate last year as they faced EAE abortions.
"We are emphasising to these farmers and others that it is essential that the youngest two years of the ewes are vaccinated before next tupping to ensure that the cohort that missed last year’s vaccination are fully covered.”
https://ruminants.ceva.co.uk.
BBC Entertainment is looking for fresh veterinary talent to be part of an exciting new show that it is developing.
If you're passionate about pet health and would jump at the chance to help animals on screen, please call 0161 244 3718 as soon as possible or alternatively email alexis.price@bbc.co.uk
CPD Solutions and Onswitch have announced that they have joined forces to offer a new online training course for veterinary receptionists called a Mini Series.
Dr Susie Coughlan, Managing Director of CPD-Solutions, said: "Today's competitive pricing between practices means that securing a client's return spending can depend largely on the quality of their early interactions. However, with such a busy schedule, it's almost impossible for most vets and practice managers to provide dedicated in-house training for frontline staff, even though many appreciate how crucial it is. The mini-series allows receptionists to perfect their skills in their own time and in the comfort of their own surroundings, saving the practice valuable time and resources while enhancing the initial customer experience. At the end of the day, this is what every veterinary practice is striving for - contented clients."
The first course commences on the 19th of February 2014 with a full programme planned for the future. More information is available at www.receptionistwebinars.com, or call CPD Solutions on 0151 328 0444.
Session submissions should fit within one of the five strands of SPVS's over-arching theme of Thriving in Practice: leadership skills, team dynamics, self-development, management and business development).
Full details can be found SPVS Congress 2026 Call to Participate: https://spvs-congress.co.uk/spvs-congress-2026-call-to-participate
Anyone who would like to contribute should complete the following form by Friday 16 May 2025: https://spvs-congress.co.uk/congress-2026-session-submission
Early bird tickets for the event can be booked now: https://spvs.org.uk/congress-tickets
The award categories are:
Nominations are welcome from both BSAVA members and non-members.
Nominations close on 30th October 2024 and the winners will be announced on 16th January 2025.
The BSAVA awards ceremony will take place at the reinvented Congress and Expo 2025, taking place at Manchester Central in March.
https://www.bsava.com/awards.
The London Vet Show has announced it will be offering delegates the chance to win a £12,000 trip to Thailand with Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS) at this year’s event (Olympia Grand, 19th & 20th November).
Delegates will be able to enter the competition by collecting a stamp in their LVS passport from each of the participating sponsors’ stands in the exhibition.
The 13-day working holiday kicks off by flying to Chang Mai in Thailand via Bangkok. The winners will then travel to the Narittaya Resort and Spa where they'll be staying in a private villa with its own pool. Working over the next six days with the WVS team in Chang Mai, they will be supporting an ongoing neutering and vaccination campaign while also training local vets in best practice surgical techniques.
The winners will get the opportunity to explore the temples in the ancient city of Chang Mai and a highlight of the trip will be an overnight visit to the Elephant Nature Park, which is dedicated to providing care and assistance to Thailand’s captive elephant population. The overnight stay will include a full orientation of the park and the elephants and a chance to bathe and swim with the herd in the river and communicate with them.
The winners will also have a chance to go either white water rafting or bamboo rafting.
For further information on the London Vet Show or to register to attend the event visit londonvetshow.co.uk.
The modules are 20 minutes long each.
The first: "The Key Components of Successful Anaesthesia", covers the basics of companion animal anaesthesia and analgesia.
The second module: "The Benefits of Zoletil", looks at Zoletil as an anaesthetic and explains the advantages it offers.
Licensed for cats and dogs, Zoletil comprises a coactive balance between Tiletamine & Zolazepam.
Virbac says it is ideal for short and medium duration anaesthesia with multiple administration routes including IV or IM administration, making it a versatile choice of anaesthetic.
https://vet-uk.virbac.com/home/products/dogs/anaesthetics--analgesics/zoletil-100.html
Teeside veterinary nurses Debbie Rowley and Karen Taylor from Wilton Vets made history yesterday when they were called out to catch a 6ft, 18lb python spotted by the side of the road by a motorist in Guisborough.
Talking to the Guisborough Gazette, Debbie said: "We were shocked it was so big."
The snake is apparently in good shape, and now in the care of Kirkleatham Owl Centre.
Anyone missing a 6ft ft python is asked to contact Cleveland Police on 101.
Research published online in the Veterinary Record has revealed that one in four dogs competing in Crufts is overweight, despite the perception that entrants are supposed to represent ideal specimens of their breed1.
The researchers based their findings on 1120 online images of dogs from 28 breeds —- half of which are prone to obesity — that had appeared at Crufts, the largest dog show of its kind in the world.
Only adult dogs that had been placed between first and fifth in their class between 2001 and 2013 were included in the study.
The images were coded and anonymised, and 960 were deemed suitable for assessment. A second person then graded the body condition of each dog in one sitting, using a previously validated method. One in four (252; 26%) was found to be overweight.
Pugs, basset hounds, and Labrador retrievers were the breeds most likely to be assessed as being overweight. Dogs were overweight in 80% of the pug images, 68% of the Basset Hound and 63% of the Labrador images.
The researchers said that the three breeds with the highest prevalence of being overweight among the online images are prone to excess weight. Nevertheless, since pugs were originally bred to be a companion dog, while hounds and Labradors were bred for hunting and fieldwork respectively, being overweight would not be advantageous.
Standard poodles, border terriers, Rhodesian ridgebacks, Hungarian vizlas and Dobermanns were the least likely breeds to be overweight.
The prevalence of being overweight among the show dogs was less than that reported generally for pet dogs in the UK. Nevertheless, the researchers say the fact that a quarter were above ideal weight is still a cause for concern: “These dogs showcase the ideal characteristics of the pedigree breed, and there is a danger that widespread media exposure might adversely influence owner perception of optimal body shape.”
The Kennel Club has recently introduced changes in policy for judging criteria, to emphasise characteristics that promote good health in dogs. However, the researchers say that breed standards of optimal condition should be reinforced for competition, to ensure consistency: “Further effort is now required to educate owners, breeders and show judges so that they can all better recognise overweight condition, thus helping to prevent the development of obesity.”
Reference
Best in show but not best in shape: a photographic assessment of show dog body condition doi 10.1136/vr.103093
The films, which include information and practical advice based on the pillars of lifestyle medicine and the neuropsychology of hormones, are aimed both at individuals who are directly affected and those who want to support them.
Wellvet co-founder Liz Barton said: “We now know that nearly half of veterinary team members experience a moderate-severe impact of perimenopause symptoms on their mental health, and a third report a significant impact on their working life and career."
Dr. Claire Gillvray, GP, Lifestyle Medicine specialist and psychiatrist with a special interest in women’s health, who introduces the films, said: “While we tend to focus on the individual, we all have friends, family, colleagues and clients who will experience symptoms impacting their mental and physical health and relationships.
"Although some women transition through the menopause with no problems, many women suffer a multiplicity of debilitating symptoms.
"These symptoms can be devastating and the medical advice they receive can be extremely variable, with some doctors dismissing perimenopause.
"Though onset can be earlier, symptoms typically occur between the ages of 40-60 years and can last for a decade or more, and there can be severe health impacts including cardiovascular, neurological and orthopaedic disease."
“These videos will empower individuals to take control of their symptom monitoring, have meaningful conversations with medical professionals, and trial lifestyle adjustments that may improve their health and wellbeing.”
The first instalment of nine 5-30 minute bitesize videos are accessible now on the WellVet website: https://www.wellvet.co.uk/resources/menopause-resources-for-veterinary-teams/.
The VetCompass database now holds millions of anonymised veterinary clinical records collected from primary practices and referral centres across the UK.
The records allow researchers to investigate a range and frequency of companion animal health problems and identify important risk factors for the most common disorders.
This research can then be used by veterinary professionals in clinical practice to help improve education and outcomes related to animal welfare.
Dan’s nomination included recognition for VetCompass operating under non-profit and open-access principles and embedding mandatory welfare pathways into all studies.
VetCompass was also recognised for having supported more than 140 research papers supporting broad welfare initiatives spanning breed-related health, extreme conformations, welfare scoring, specific disorders, oncology, disease surveillance, prescribing practices, and more.
Dan said: “I am truly humbled to receive this recognition from the RCVS.
"When I moved from clinical practice to the RVC 15 years ago to develop VetCompass as my PhD project, I could only dream of the untapped potential for practising veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses to contribute to cutting edge science and welfare.
"And now the amazing VetCompass team at the RVC have made that aspiration to redefine the clinical evidence base on companion animal welfare a reality.
"I now need to reset even higher animal welfare dreams for the next 15 years.”
https://www.rvc.ac.uk/vetcompass/about/overview
The extension, which does not collect any data, interrupts searches related to a broad range of mental health and life challenges, including substance misuse, financial struggles, eating disorders, domestic abuse and more, with a positive message of hope and signposts to a variety of different mental health services.
According to R;ipple, its extension has now interrupted over 100,000 harmful online searches and 32 people so far say they are still alive today because the software intervened at a moment of crisis.
Nick Berryman from Agilio said: “Our commitment aligns with R;pple's mission to combat the stigma surrounding mental health and provide essential resources for those at risk.
"As part of this, we have implemented the tool across our own organisation to safeguard the wellbeing of our staff.
"In parallel, by supporting R;pple’s wider initiatives, we are helping to raise awareness and empower healthcare communities to take proactive steps in supporting those in need.”
R;ipple will be holding a live webinar on Tuesday 7th May at 1pm: Supporting workplace mental health and suicide prevention: my brother’s legacy.
In the webinar, R;ipple founder Alice Hendy MBE will draw on her experience of having lost her brother, Josh, to suicide in 2020 at the age of 21, and explain how healthcare organisations can create safer, more supportive environments through practical steps and awareness.
To register to attend, visit https://tinyurl.com/my-brother-s-legacy.
https://www.ripplesuicideprevention.com
https://agiliosoftware.com/