Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the RCVS have agreed that UK-practising veterinary surgeons can spread the cost of their annual renewal fees over three instalments with 50% of the full cost being due to by 30th April, 25% by 30th September and the remaining 25% by 31st December. Direct debits have been temporarily deferred by…

Urinary incontinence affects around 3% of bitches in the UK. The link between urinary incontinence and neutering in bitches has previously been suspected, but a new study from the RVC now provides further evidence on the extent of this relationship. In particular, the new research indicates that bitches of certain breeds including Irish setters, Dalmatians,…

at owners who fail to have their pets microchipped could be prosecuted and fined under plans being considered by the Government and due to be outlined at the Conservative Party conference. Under the plans, part of a package on animal welfare, the Government will consult on introducing compulsory microchipping for pet cats to subject them to…

Following the success of 2018’s inaugural event, the second WellVet weekend is set to go ahead in just two weeks’ time. Tickets and information about the event available here.  

The RCVS is calling for veterinary surgeons and nurses to volunteer to take part in a testing group for the College’s new CPD recording platform, which is currently in development. The new platform – which has the working title of ‘One CPD’, will integrate current applications into a new, unified, experience featuring both mobile and…

Scientists at the veterinary charity, the Animal Health Trust, in collaboration with the University of Cambridge, will undertake new research which ultimately hopes to enable the creation of a simple blood test to identify Flatcoated Retrievers with early-stage histiocytic sarcoma. They propose that an early diagnosis would enable earlier investigation and treatment, improving the chances…

Following extensive public consultation, third-party sales of puppies and kittens are set to be banned in Wales, the country’s minister for environment, energy and rural affairs Lesley Griffiths has confirmed. It is hoped the ban will improve animal welfare conditions and help the public to make more informed choices when buying a pet. Read the…

Vets4Pets and charity Pet Blood Bank have launched a campaign to raise owner awareness of dog blood donation. Recent research carried out revealed that only 40% of pet owners in the UK know their dog can give blood. Read more about the campaign here.

Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service, based in Solihull, is introducing a new clinic to provide a bespoke pain management plan for pets referred both by external first opinion practices or internally by colleagues in other disciplines, such as soft tissue and orthopaedics. Read the Vet Times story here.

The BVA has launched a vision for the future of the profession, where vets sit at the centre of a treatment “hub” and direct patients to “allied professionals” such as RVNs, official auxiliaries/meat hygiene inspectors, embryo transfer technicians, equine dental technicians, foot trimmers, farriers, hydrotherapists, animal behaviourists and veterinary physiotherapists. The association says the vet-led…

A new study has revealed that dogs carrying copies of the mutated ADAMTS3 gene may be at higher risk of airway disease. Previous studies have linked mutations in this gene to fluid retention and oedema but this new study involving Norwich Terriers found a link between upper airway syndrome and the mutation in ADAMTS3 gene.…

Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) and the Doctors’ Support Network (DSN) have published the first blog by a veterinary nurse as part of the joint mental health anti-stigma campaign, &me. &me encourages people within healthcare professions to come forward with their personal mental health stories, to demonstrate that mental health issues do not preclude people from…

The rules, which will apply to England, are designed to deter smugglers who abuse the Pet Travel Scheme to bring young animals into the UK to be sold. Known as Lucy’s Law, it will ban the sale of kittens and puppies from third parties from 6th April 2020, making buyers deal with breeders directly. Environment…

The use of wild animals in travelling circuses will be banned in England from January 2020. The Wild Animals in Circuses Bill, which was revealed by Environment Secretary Michael Gove will mean that the remaining animals used for performances, which include reindeer, zebra and camels, will no longer be allowed to be used as part…

Two of the UK’s largest veterinary groups have defended their positions after being identified by the BBC as having the largest gender pay gaps among all UK companies with 5,000 or more employees. Under the headline “Gender pay: fewer than half of UK firms narrow gap”, the BBC report, compiled from government figures and published online…

Research conducted by scientists at the Animal Health Trust in collaboration with groups in The Netherlands, Sweden and the USA, and funded by The Kennel Club Charitable Trust, has revealed that 70% of Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers carry a genetic factor which increases their risk of developing mast cell tumours. Dr Mike Starkey, Head…

EU Member States have agreed the UK’s listed status application after it met the animal health and biosecurity assurances required for a third country to export live animals and animal products. Securing listed status will mean the UK will be able to export animal products and most live animals to the EU in the event…

The Dogs Trust is appealing to veterinary professionals to fill in a 10-minute survey to help tackle illegal imports and improve animal welfare. They have joined forces with Veterinary Times to establish both the true scale of illegal imports and, for the first time, attempt to identify the barriers vets are allegedly encountering in terms of reporting…

Vets are being urged to participate in a new survey aimed at evaluating their confidence when it comes to treating exotic patients. It is hoped the survey, which is open to all first opinion RCVS-registered vets in the UK who work in small animal or mixed practice, will further scientific understanding of the way professionals…

StreetVet, the registered charity dedicated to helping homeless people and their pets, has appealed for the backing of the profession to help create a national “StreetVet directory”. The aim of the project is to establish a listing of practices willing to help care for animals of the homeless in every major city in the UK.…

Insurance provider Legal and General has revealed survey data showing 1 in 4 dog owners (27%) – proposed to be equivalent to 2.4 million people – said they worried their vet personally judged how well they looked after their animals. This concern was shared by 1 in 5 cat owners – extrapolated to around 1.8…

Sunday night’s episode of Countryfile included a segment on the recruiting crisis in farm animal practice, as well as mental health issues in the profession and the rise of corporate practices.

The BVA and RSPCA have called on the Government to repeal a legal exemption currently permitting sentient animals to be slaughtered without pre-stunning for religious purposes. In a joint letter to environment secretary Michael Gove, they said: “Scientific evidence clearly indicates slaughter without pre-stunning can cause unnecessary suffering. The level of restraint required to hold…

Following an audit of 1,016 veterinary nurses, which showed a 28% non-compliance rate, members of the council decided that any veterinary nurse who was audited and found to be non-compliant in three consecutive years should have their records sent to the CPD Referral Group, a subcommittee comprising members of RCVS and VN Council who review cases of…

The BVA has launched its first questionnaire to gather experiences of discrimination in the veterinary professions. It is seeking anonymous feedback from vets, VNs, students and other veterinary professionals regarding incidents where they have witnessed discrimination or felt discriminated against. The questionnaire is open until 2 March and takes around 10 minutes to complete. Read the full…

The Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) is currently running VetSurvey2018, its second Europe-wide survey of the veterinary profession and is calling on UK-practising veterinary surgeons to respond with their views. The purpose of the FVE survey is to provide information about a number of different aspects of the veterinary profession, for example, in terms of demographics,…

The Government has published a 20-year vision and 5-year national action plan for how the UK will contribute to containing and controlling antimicrobial resistance by 2040. The plans cover animals and the environment, as well as human health. The Government has committed to working with vets and farmers to further reduce antibiotic use in animals by 25% between 2016…

When, where, what and how to administer intra-articular injections for the treatment and management of osteoarthritis and stifle disease. Theory session and practical training from the VOA: just £75 for 3 hours of CPD. **Dinner included** Click here to find out more.

Former RCVS president Bradley Viner said more could be done to raise awareness of the importance of clinical governance in relation to enhanced animal care. Following the release of data from vetAUDIT – a sub-brand of RCVS Knowledge, which conducted the first major audit of routine neutering of dogs and cats in the UK (VT48.48) – Bradley…

The RCVS has sought to reassure vets with the following statement: “In light of the shortages of the product, as recently reported by the manufacturer Zoetis, we would like to reassure members of the profession that any problems that may arise from a shortage of the anaesthetic agent are very unlikely to be considered as…

The RCVS is reminding all RVNs that their fees must be paid on or before Monday 31 December 2018. Those who do not pay will be removed from the Register. The annual renewal fee for veterinary nurses is currently set at £67 and payments can be made by debit or credit card via the ‘My Account’ area…

Woman make up over 60% of the veterinary profession but a recent study has found that woman still face discrimination and they are actually more likely to be discriminated against by the people who think it does not exist in our profession. The BVA in collaboration with the University of Exeter have published a report…

The UK’s first national neutering audit of cats and dogs has revealed almost 1-in-10 cases involved one or more abnormalities requiring medical treatment or surgical intervention – and in both species, spays suffered more complications than castrates. The audit data, comprising more than 30,000 individual cases from veterinary practices across the country and released by…

We are excited to announce the launch of their new programme of equine CPD courses for 2019. Delivered by Liphook Equine Hospital directors Prof Andy Durham and Dr Jane Boswell, the programme includes both theory and cadaver-based practical courses across a range of topics relevant to the first-opinion practitioner. The programme has been designed to…

The aim of the proposed trial is to assess the benefits and risks of the remote prescription of POM-Vs where no physical examination of the animal has taken place. A more detailed proposal will come back to a future meeting of the council for discussion. Issues raised at the meeting included how this would affect…

The series of case studies have been developed by the Standards Committee to aid veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses regarding the important issue of gaining informed consent from clients for procedures and treatments, as well as advice on communication. They use a variety of examples of where miscommunication between a client and the veterinary practice…

We will be hosting a two-day programme of bitesize lectures for vets and VNs in the comfort of our “Great Outdoors” stand (K30). Check out the timetable in the brochure, grab a coffee and join us for the mini-lecture of your choice.  

Now that autumn is here, the AHT has once again published advice urging owners and vets to be aware of the signs of SCI. To download a copy of their poster for your practice click here.

The latest RCVS statistics revealed 97.62 per cent of RVNs are female compared with 2.36 per cent male (0.02 per cent were unidentified). Chairman of VN council Racheal Marshall said: “Our aim to increase diversity does not sit solely with the focus on bringing more male VNs into the profession, but diversity in the wider…

With stronger animal licensing and breeding regulations coming into effect in England as of 1 October, the BVA and AWF have relaunched a new-look website and a step-by-step guide to the dos and don’ts of buying a puppy The aim is to empower prospective buyers with all the information they need in order to avoid puppy farms and…