CharcoPet is a ready-to-use oral gel formulated with 50% activated charcoal and marine-derived polysaccharides.
Forte says Charcopet has a high concentration of activated charcoal per ml, which reduces the volume needed and minimises handling stress.
It's supplied in a 2 x 30ml dial-dose syringes, with each syringe suitable for up to 15 kg bodyweight, used at 2 ml/kg bodyweight orally, repeatable every 4–6 hours if clinically required.
Dr Lucy Chadwick MVB ACIM CMktr MRCVS, Global Partnerships Manager & Head of Technical Services at Forte Healthcare said: “CharcoPet represents a major step forward in veterinary care, offering practitioners a fast, precise, and reliable solution when faced with suspected or confirmed cases of toxin or medication ingestion."
https://fortehealthcare.com/product/charcopet
Ms Hickman was charged with leaving three dogs, two of which had undergone surgery the day before and one of which was in for monitoring, unattended for more than three hours on 8th November 2022, after falling asleep.
She was then charged with falsifying clinical records to suggest she had made the relevant clinical checks and offered them water when in fact, she'd been asleep.
The final charge was that her actions in falsifying the records were dishonest and misleading.
At the start of the hearing, Ms Hickman admitted all of the charges.
As the charges had been admitted, the Committee considered whether they amounted to serious professional misconduct.
In doing so it noted sections of the Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses that relate to making animal health and welfare a veterinary nurse’s primary concern, the need to provide veterinary nursing care that is appropriate and adequate, and the need to keep clear, accurate and detailed clinical and client records.
Dr Kathryn Peaty MRCVS, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee was in no doubt that the respondent’s failure to monitor properly three patients in an overnight ward in a hospital and the subsequent creation of false records to suggest that appropriate monitoring had taken place amounts to disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.”
Having found serious professional misconduct, the Committee then went on to consider the most appropriate sanction, taking into account both aggravating and mitigating factors.
The Committee found that an adverse health condition had influenced the conduct that had led to the disciplinary hearing – including that she had unintentionally fallen asleep while she should have been monitoring the animals – and so considered this a mitigating factor.
Also, by way of mitigation, the Committee considered that Miss Hickman had fully appreciated the implications of her conduct and expressed remorse at the impact it could have on the public’s trust for the veterinary nursing profession.
It also took into account positive testimonials from current and previous employers, her hitherto unblemished career, and the fact that there was no longer any risk of repetition.
However, in terms of aggravating factors, the Committee took into account that it was a case involving dishonesty, and dishonesty which had not been admitted to the RCVS at an early stage.
In addition, it noted that the conduct involved a risk of injury to animals and a breach of trust towards the owners of those animals.
Dr Peaty added: “The Committee was satisfied that a significant period of suspension would properly reflect the gravity of the respondent’s disgraceful conduct, serve to maintain the reputation of the profession and promote and maintain proper standards of conduct.
"The Committee considered that a period of suspension of six months was sufficient to satisfy this public interest.”
Miss Hickman has 28 days from the sanction being announced to appeal the Committee’s decision.
www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary
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.
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
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/
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.
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
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/
The authors say that measuring the severity of pterygoid bone medialisation before surgery may therefore be useful as a guide to the likely prognosis.
The study, funded by BSAVA PetSavers, is the first to investigate the effect of pterygoid bone medialisation and nasopharyngeal narrowing on BOAS surgical outcomes in brachycephalic and non-brachycephalic dogs.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge Department of Veterinary Medicine analysed computed tomography (CT) images of the head and neck of 144 brachycephalic dogs (French Bulldogs, Pugs and English Bulldogs) and compared with 30 non-brachycephalic control dogs.
A BOAS index was determined both pre-operatively and post-operatively.
Medialisation of the pterygoid bones was more severe in brachycephalic breeds compared to non-brachycephalic breeds and was associated with nasopharyngeal narrowing.
French Bulldogs were particularly affected, and those with more severe pterygoid bone medialisation were far more likely to have a poor BOAS surgical outcome.
There are currently no effective surgical interventions to correct the deformities of the pterygoid bones in BOAS-affected dogs.
The authors say medialisation of the pterygoid bones can be easily identified via CT scans, or alternatively, simple palpation of the pterygoid bone during surgery from the oral cavity can give an indication of how medialised the pterygoid bones are.
Dr. Sze Lynn Yuen, lead author of the study, said: “BOAS is a complex disease which encompasses breed-specific anatomical lesions.
"The medialisation index will be useful for vets in practice to guide them on the likely prognosis prior to surgery.
"It would be beneficial to identify the significance of the medialisation index on a larger dataset of BOAS-affected patients as the next step.”
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsap.70028
The awards are to celebrate outstanding veterinary practices that have demonstrated exceptional performance and innovation in various areas crucial to the future success of the profession.
There are three award categories, one to recognise leadership and management skills, one to celebrate practices that have excellent morale and a culture of collaborative teamworking, and one for practices that have started up in the last 2.5 years and achieved a profitable and sustainable business model.
The category winners will each win full day and evening tickets to SPVS Congress 2026 on Thursday 26th February at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole (3 team members per practice), plus overnight accommodation.
Five shortlisted practices in each category will win a book of their choice, provided by 5M Books.
The deadline for initial submissions is Friday 17th October 2025.
https://spvs.org.uk/business-excellence-awards/.
Kate Blakeman has become President Elect and James Crabtree, Junior Vice President.
Imogen (pictured) graduated from the RVC in 2000 and became a first opinion equine vet.
She was awarded RCVS Equine Medicine Advanced Practitioner status in 2014 and gained her Post Graduate Certificate in Veterinary Professional Studies and Stud Medicine Certificate in 2023.
Whilst working full-time in first opinion equine practice, she performs several other roles: VetGDP advisor, veterinary undergraduate teaching and examining, and RCVS Advanced Practitioner assessor.
Imogen is currently Chair of BEVA’s Ethics and Welfare Committee and a member of BEVA’s Education Committee.
Imogen said: “I have loved my experience on BEVA Council over the past few years, not least as Ethics and Welfare Committee chair.
"I have strong opinions and am brave enough to pop my head above the parapet to encourage conversation around topics I am passionate about.
"As a first opinion equine practitioner I hope I can bring a practical perspective to the table.
"I honestly never thought I would have the opportunity for the prestigious role of President - I hope it will inspire others to put themselves forwards.”
www.beva.org.uk.
Photo: @JasSansi
The company conducted the survey of 404 owners after news that the bio-pharma company Okava plans to trial a weight-loss drug for dogs that mimics the effects of weight-loss drugs like Wegovy, tapping into a potential $10 billion market.
Of the pet owners who responded, it was the younger group aged 25-34 who were most receptive to the idea of a weight-loss drug for their pet (56%).
That figure fell to 21% of 45–54-year-olds and 20% among those aged 55 and above, most of whom were probably holding up their hands in horror: "Whatever next".
Alicia Hempsted, pet insurance spokeswoman from MoneySuperMarket, said: “If GLP-1 style treatments for obesity become available for dogs in the future, it’s likely that owners will have to pay out of pocket for them, which may affect their availability."
https://www.moneysupermarket.com/pet-insurance/
Photo: www.depositphotos.com
The new guidelines have been spearheaded by BEVA Council member Angela Jones (pictured), an equine vet, a mum, and co-founder of Petscribers.
Angela works flexibly and has found this so positively career changing that she wanted to make flexible working opportunities made more readily available to other veterinary professionals.
She said: “Sustainable veterinary care relies on healthier, more balanced teams, and flexibility is key.
"There’s no one-size-fits-all approach.
"Flexible working allows individuals to find balance and prioritise what matters most to them, supporting wellbeing, job satisfaction, and ultimately the quality of care we can provide to our patients and clients.”
“It’s not just beneficial for individuals.
"Practices that embrace flexibility are more likely to attract and retain great people, strengthen their teams, and build sustainable workplaces.”
The Flexible Working Guidelines are designed to give employees the language, tools, and confidence to make a request and help employers deal with requests fairly and see the value of flexibility in improving retention and reducing recruitment costs.
The guidelines include explanations of what flexible working can look like in equine practice, an update on the new Flexible Working Act (April 2024), including the right to request flexibility from day one, and how employers are expected to handle requests, and templates to help both employees and employers start the conversation.
Angela was motivated to produce the flexible working guidelines when she realised her traditional equine role wasn’t giving her the flexibility or professional fulfilment she needed after the birth of her second child.
She said: "I’d often said that on-call was the aspect of the job I found toughest, especially after having children, so I was hesitant about taking on an out-of-hours only role.
“But by turning the problem on its head, decoupling daytime work from on call with Equicall, I truly found balance.
“Flexible working looks different for everyone, and it evolves as life changes.
"What matters is making work, work for you. In equine practice, flexibility isn’t just possible, it’s essential.”
The new Flexible Working Guidelines will be discussed at BEVA Congress during Saturday’s session entitled “Making your veterinary career work” chaired by Mark Tabachnik with Rosie Allister, Carolyne Crowe and Kirstie Pickles on the panel.
http://www.bevacongress.org
The BVA is calling on the UK Government to urgently develop a coherent, risk-based national strategy to close the gaps in border biosecurity and protect the UK from devastating diseases like African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease.
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee report makes for sobering reading.
It reveals a lack of adequate border control enforcement when it comes to personal imports of meat and other products of animal origin, weak intelligence networks, poor Government interdepartmental working and an absence of a national strategy to manage the significant animal disease and public health risks posed by potentially contaminated products.
The report raises particular concerns about funding cuts for Official Vets at Dover, alongside ministerial comments that appear to dismiss the role of vets in protecting biosecurity.
British Veterinary Association Junior Vice President Rob Williams said: “This report is deeply concerning, exposing serious gaps in border enforcement and warning that large amounts of illegal and potentially contaminated meat continue to enter the UK and make their way on to our plates.
"We cannot know where this meat has come from or if it meets the UK’s high animal welfare and biosecurity standards, and without appropriate checks, we can’t stop illegal meat imports at the border.
"This could have catastrophic and costly impacts on the UK’s food security, public health, and animal health and welfare through the import of exotic animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease.
"The findings from this report, coupled with the recent National Audit Office report on animal disease resilience, should act as a wake-up call to Government to urgently deliver a coherent and properly resourced national strategy to tackle illegal meat imports and safeguard the UK’s biosecurity.
“Government vets play a critical role in protecting the nation’s biosecurity but can only do their jobs effectively if they are supported by effective systems.
"Currently, veterinary capacity required to perform checks remains a concern.
"As part of a national action plan, we would like to see better support for vets through a data-driven and risk-based system that is fit for purpose.
"This should also include adequate resources for Official Vets and the agencies tasked with keeping borders secure, which is why we want to see the proposed 70% cuts to Dover Port's budget for spot checks on animal products reversed.”
committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/135824/html/
Joint Care contains glucosamine, rosehip, echinacea, and vitamin C, and Supreme Petfoods says it's been developed in response to growing awareness of osteoarthritis (OA) as a significant yet under-diagnosed condition in small mammals.
Supreme points to a retrospective study which identified osteoarthritic lesions in 40% of domestic rabbits, with prevalence strongly correlated with age and body weight.¹
The company says that while definitive prevalence data in guinea pigs is lacking, OA is considered to be common in this species as well.²
Molly Varga, RCVS recognised exotics specialist, said: “Signs of joint pain are often subtle or masked in prey species.
"Proactive use of nutritional supplements like Science Selective Joint Care can help maintain mobility and may delay progression.
"Nutritional support, combined with appropriate husbandry and veterinary care, can make a real difference to long-term quality of life.”
As well as glucosamine, Science Selective Joint Care also contains rosehip, a botanical with claimed anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective properties and echinacea, which has claimed anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulatory activity.3,4
Supreme says Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for guinea pigs and beneficial for rabbits, and contributes to normal collagen formation and may help protect joint tissues from oxidative stress.
Claire Hamblion, Marketing Director at Supreme Petfoods, said: “With 45% of pet owners now regularly purchasing supplements for their animals,5 the demand for clinically relevant, species-appropriate products is growing.
"We work closely with veterinary and nutrition experts to ensure our formulations meet emerging needs and Joint Care reflects that commitment.”
Available in 100g packs, Joint Care has a recommended retail price (RRP) of £6.99 and is suitable for rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchillas.
https://supremepetfoods.com/products/science-selective-care-supplements
References
Designed to help veterinary teams make clearer, more confident clinical decisions, the flowchart provides a step-by-step approach to diagnosing and managing ear disease in dogs and cats.
Renzo Di Florio, Technical Veterinary Adviser at Krka UK, said: “It takes you through each step, from diagnosis to treatment and long-term management, including identifying cases that might benefit from referral.
"It can also help practices to develop an otitis externa management plan protocol that’s useful for the whole team, and that’s practical and easy to integrate into existing workflows.”
One of the main messages in the flowchart is the central role of cytology in otitis management.
Tim said: “Cytology is essential to assess the level of inflammation and detect the presence of bacteria or Malassezia.
"This helps clinicians make informed decisions about whether antibiotics are truly needed.
"In contrast, culture and sensitivity testing can be misleading when used to guide topical therapy.”
https://www.krka.co.uk/veterinary-knowledge-hub
The DC heard how, in December 2022, a labrador called Bella had been stolen from its owner.
That same month, someone who was involved in the theft presented Bella to Dr Kashiv, according to news reports telling him they'd taken the animal because it had been abused.
Dr Kashiv performed surgery to remove her microchip, so she could be re-homed without being traced.
Although there was no suggestion that Dr Khashiv had been involved in the theft, it was alleged that he knew the animal had been stolen.
In January 2024, after pleading guilty, Dr Kashiv was convicted of removing the microchip, contrary to section 5(3) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, at Stevenage Magistrates’ Court.
He was sentenced to a community order with an unpaid work requirement of 50 hours to be completed within 12 months, and ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £114 and costs of £85.
Dr Khashiv faced four charges at the RCVS disciplinary hearing, the first being that his conviction rendered him unfit to practise as a veterinary surgeon.
The second charge was that in July 2024, at Stevenage Magistrates’ Court, Dr Kashiv had been made subject to a 5-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) for failing to keep dogs he owned under control and failing to comply with previous orders.
The third charge was that Dr Kashiv’s conduct with regard to the microchip was dishonest, in that he removed it to conceal the labrador’s identity.
The final charge was that Dr Kashiv failed to keep adequate clinical records for the labrador and his conduct was thereby i) misleading and/or ii) dishonest.
From the outset, Dr Kashiv admitted charges one and two and some aspects of charge four.
However, he initially denied that his conduct was at any stage misleading or dishonest and did not accept that his conviction rendered him unfit to practise as a veterinary surgeon or that the admitted charges amount to serious professional misconduct.
In a later submission, Dr Kashiv no longer disputed that his conviction rendered him unfit to practise, or that his behaviour in charges two, three and four amounted to serious professional misconduct.
The Committee considered that in respect of his conviction, Dr Kashiv had breached paragraphs 1.1, 1.3, 6.1, 6.4 and 6.5 of the Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons.
It then took into account mitigating and aggravating factors.
The Committee found no mitigating factors but found the following aggravating factors:
The Committee was satisfied that this conduct fell far below the standard expected of a registered veterinary surgeon and that this rendered him unfit to practise.
In deciding on whether his conduct amounted to serious professional misconduct, the Committee again took into account submissions made both by representatives for the College and for Dr Kashiv, as well as the fact that Dr Kashiv no longer disputed the assertion that his conduct amounted to serious professional misconduct.
The Committee found that Dr Kashiv had breached paragraphs 2.4, 2.5, 6.1, 6.4 and 6.5 of the Code in relation to charges two, three and four.
The Committee again did not find any mitigating factors but found the following aggravating factors:
With regards to charges three and four, Dr Kashiv performed a prohibited procedure on a labrador which was unjustified and resulted in a criminal conviction.
The Committee found that in carrying out the procedure he had acted dishonestly – he had removed the chip in order to conceal the identity of a pet that he knew had been taken from its home.
The dishonesty with regards to not completing any formal clinical records also related directly to his practice as a veterinary surgeon, as part of a cover-up so that nobody would know what had happened to the labrador at the practice.
The Committee was satisfied that Dr Kashiv’s conduct in relation to the labrador amounted to serious professional misconduct.
On deciding on a sanction, the Committee took into account all evidence and documents provided as well as testimonials together with submissions made on behalf of Dr Kashiv and matters of personal mitigation.
In terms of aggravating factors, it found all those already listed in findings for fitness to practise and serious professional misconduct, as well as previous convictions and adverse findings of the College and the fact that Dr Kashiv showed limited insight into his actions.
In terms of mitigating factors, it considered:
Paul Morris, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee was of the view that the nature and seriousness of Dr Kashiv’s behaviour, which led to the conviction, was fundamentally incompatible with being registered as a veterinary surgeon.”
He added: “In light of these conclusions, the Committee decided that the only appropriate and proportionate sanction in this case was removal from the Register.
"This would not be the case if the Committee were considering the CBO matter alone, when a lesser sanction would have been appropriate.
"However, his actions with regard to the labrador, his limited insight and the fear that he could repeat such behaviour meant that removal was necessary in this case.
“In reaching this decision the Committee recognised the negative impact this would have on Dr Kashiv.
"The Committee had considered with great care all the mitigating factors and the positive statements made about him in the testimonials provided.
"However, the need to protect animal welfare, the reputation of the profession and thus the wider public interest, outweighed Dr Kashiv’s interests and the Committee concluded that removal was the only appropriate and proportionate sanction in this case.”
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15069309/Vegan-vet-Animal-Rebellion-activist-steal-pet-dog.html
In a survey conducted for the company last year, 31% of pet owners said they would wait 3 days or more before going to a vet if their pet's eye condition hadn’t improved.
The awareness week is designed to make owners more aware of their animals’ eye health, to help understand the signs and when to take action.
The campaign also offers support for veterinary practices to engage with their communities with educational displays and digital outreach.
Dr Emma Hancox, Technical Vet at Dômes Pharma said: “We know that pets often suffer in silence when it comes to eye issues, and it’s often hard for owners to recognise the signs.
“Through this campaign, we aim to equip veterinary professionals with the tools they need to educate pet owners and ultimately help to improve pet eye health across the country.”
Participating clinics can request display materials and shareable content for social media to drive engagement throughout the awareness week.
There is also a prize draw to win an ophthalmoscope for your practice.
https://domespharma.co.uk/national-pet-eye-health-awareness-week
The guide covers the importance of nutrition and nutritional assessment, diet types, feeding for different life stages, feeding for specific situations and feeding for specific diseases.
There are a number of online resources to accompany the guide, including client handouts and videos, available in the BSAVA Library.
Julian Hoad, BSAVA President, said: “The guide has been put together by a panel who are very competent in their field and wish for the reader to become confident and competent as well.
"What really stands out to me is the level of detail included in the guide.
"There is ample explanation of the underlying principles of nutrition, as well as formulae for specific nutritional plans.
"Where there may be confusion, or potential errors in calculating nutritional requirements, there are practical hints and tips for avoiding those pitfalls.”
The BSAVA Guide to Nutrition in Small Animal Practice costs £32.50 for BSAVA members and £50 for everyone else.
www.bsava.com/store
ParaProtect offers bitesize interactive learning modules, each taking 20 to 30 minutes to complete.
The programme is open to all practice staff, from vets and nurses to client care teams, and aims to advance parasitology expertise and build further confidence in risk-based parasite protection.
Elanco says each module includes expert insights, real-world case studies and practical advice that can be applied immediately in practice.
The first module: ‘Parasite Control in a One Health World’, explores the wider implications of parasite control, including risks to public health from parasites, and consideration for the environment when selecting and using parasiticides.
Later modules will cover topics such as the impact of climate and travel on parasite spread, myth-busting, emerging risks, and how to improve client communication and compliance.
Jacqui Skelly, Head of Veterinary Technical Services, UK & Ireland at Elanco, said: “Parasitology is a field of medicine that most vets are practicing many times a day, yet it’s easy to neglect when it comes to CPD.
“As parasite risks evolve alongside climate and behavioural change, there’s growing demand for CPD that reflects current science and supports evidence-based decision making in practice.
"With ParaProtect, we aim to service that need with a different kind of programme.
"It’s short, practical, relevant and designed to be used straight away in the consulting room.
"It has principles of responsible use of parasiticides built into the core of the learning, and helps teams move beyond routine treatment to deliver advice that protects pets and their families, especially as summer travel increases parasite risks.”
https://my.elanco.com/en_gb/campaign/pet/paraprotect
The College says the course breaks down the supporting guidance to the Code of Professional Conduct into clear, practical advice that can be easily applied in daily practice.
It covers areas such as advertising, endorsing products and services, and using social media in a way that upholds professional standards, including:
The course begins with a short test to assess your current understanding of the topic, followed by three bite-sized modules and a final reflection section.
The course takes about an hour to complete and counts towards your CPD requirements.
academy.rcvs.org.uk
Once again, there are awards for both individual receptionists and reception teams
The winners will receive trophies and Amazon vouchers.
Emma Coole, Account Manager for the South West of the UK at KRKA UK said: "Reception teams are the glue that holds a busy practice together.
"They’re juggling phone calls, managing appointments, supporting worried pet owners at the front desk - and doing it all with empathy and professionalism.
"I regularly see and hear first-hand how much the wider vet practice depends on their calm, capable presence.
"These awards are a chance to recognise the people who make that happen every single day.”
Practices are encouraged to nominate receptionists or teams who make a real difference – whether through kindness, a cool head under pressure or simply keeping everything running smoothly.
Nominations are now open and will close on Friday 26th September 2025.
Winners and runners-up will be announced on Wednesday 1st October 2025.
To submit a nomination or learn more about the awards, visit https://bit.ly/receptionist-team-hero-awards-2025
The review will consider whether the UK Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013, which were were originally derived from EU legislation, protect animal and public health without adding unnecessary regulatory burden.
Anyone is able to share their views and experiences of the regulations, but the VMD is especially interested in hearing from vets, vet nurses, SQPs, marketing authorisation holders, farmers and pet owners.
Responses must be submitted before 23:59 on 26th September 2025
https://consult.defra.gov.uk/vmd-policy-development-and-delivery-office/mmd-act-2021-stakeholder-survey
The 4D heart model, which can be viewed at: https://static.imascono.com/heartViewer, was designed in conjunction with Alejandro Suarez Bonnet, senior lecturer in comparative pathology at the RVC and consultant pathologist at The Francis Crick Institute.
The model demonstrates the structural changes in the mitral valve and associated heart chambers across stages A to D — from dogs at risk (stage A), through preclinical disease (stages B1 & B2), to symptomatic heart failure (stages C & D).
It has been designed to help pet owners understand the condition’s progression and support clearer communication of monitoring and treatment options.
Callum Watkins, brand manager at Dechra, said: “MMVD often catches dog owners unawares due to the silent early signs and the slow progressive nature of the condition.
“Our new 4D heart model will enable vets to clearly demonstrate the different stages of the disease, including the structural changes in the mitral valve and associated heart chambers, to aid discussions on the monitoring and treatment options.”
https://www.dechra.co.uk/companion-animal/internal-medicine/cardiovascular-disease.
The book covers things like the functions of various nutrients, nutrition for different life stages, proactive nutrition strategies and effective communication techniques for discussing nutrition with pet owners.
Natalia Wagemans, the global head of the Purina Institute, said: “Nutritional science has evolved significantly, and there are many facets to consider in a well-pet diet, not just from the pet’s perspective, such as life stage, activity level and body condition, but also the owner’s perspective – their lifestyle, budget and preferences.
“This resource simplifies the process of making informed recommendations and can be a vital tool for veterinary professionals to both facilitate nutrition conversations with their clients and provide informed responses to questions.”
https://www.purinainstitute.com