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
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 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
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
Photo: www.depositphotos.com
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
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 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.”
www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15069309/Vegan-vet-Animal-Rebellion-activist-steal-pet-dog.html
This takes total investment to £21 million, following a £6 million Seed round in August 2023.
Hello Vet was founded in 2022 by healthcare entrepreneurs, James Lighton and Alessandro Guazzi, and veterinary surgeon Oli Viner.
They opened their first site in London Fields in July 2024.
VetSurgeon.org spoke to Oli, who explained some of the things Hello Vet is doing to offer greater transparency and tangible value whilst remaining affordable:
Oli said: "We're using technology to reduce the amount of time we spend on admin and mundane stuff, so we can concentrate more on those things which deliver better value for our clients.
"For example, our clinicians make clinical notes as normal, but they are translated by AI into treatments plans which, after a once-over by our nursing team, we give to clients both as an aide-memoire and as a tangible presentation of the advice they've bought from us.
"When we used to do this manually, it would take 10 minutes. With AI, that's down to 90 seconds.
"We also use WhatsApp to foster a better connection between clinicians and clients, and to triage cases.
"We don't charge for interactions on WhatsApp, so it saves clients time and money whilst allowing us to focus our efforts where they are most needed and offer greater value.
Hello Vet reckons its WhatApp triage service has saved clients more than £75K in fees alone in the last year.
Another novel side to the practice is that it allows clients into its procedure rooms to hold their pets’ paws as anaesthesia is administered and to be present when their pets wake up.
Oli said: "This reduces stress for both pets and people and there are studies1 which have shown it improves outcomes and speeds recovery.
"As importantly, it shows tangible value to the client when they can see all the equipment we've invested in.
"Allowing clients to be there at the start of a procedure strengthens relationships with the team and builds trust."
Hello Vet now plans to launch clinics across the UK and hire a team of 200 vets and vet nurses over the next two years.
James Lighton, co-founder and CEO, said: “We know that most veterinary professionals come into this industry because they love working with animals.
"But too many good people are leaving this vocation.
"We want to become Britain’s best place to work, to ensure working in a vet clinic feels like the dream job it should be.
https://www.hellovet.co.uk
Reference
The new online resources have been compiled by BEVA in collaboration with the RSPCA, World Horse Welfare, the SSPCA and the National Equine Crime Group, together with national Police and Local Authority representatives.
BEVA President Imogen Burrows said: “It can be an intimidating process when visiting an equid without an owner, but our new resources aim to address the potential stress factor and make the rules around the provision of care very clearcut.
“We have produced all the documents the attending vet should need, no matter their location or circumstances.
"Most importantly, if they are attending alone, they will know how to access the right help at the right time, secure in the knowledge that they are following appropriate, validated procedures.”
The resources include a decision tree for quick checking correct procedures, an overview of stakeholder roles and responsibilities, a ‘what if’ section for troubleshooting and an essential contacts registry.
There are also examination and treatment worksheets, and euthanasia certification forms.
Imogen added: “We have put significant thought and effort into producing these new resources, especially from an ambulatory veterinary perspective.
“It should make all the difference for vets, knowing that they have the all the information they need, to hand, In the unlikely event of a callout to an equid of unknown ownership.”
https://www.beva.org.uk/Resources/Clinical-resources/Welfare-toolkit/Managing-equids-of-unknown-ownership
The new consumer products, which include surface disinfectants, a stain and odour remover, a urine eliminator, a laundry sanitiser and a carpet cleaner, are being rolled out first on Amazon.
Broadly speaking, they contain the same active ingredients as the professional range used in practice, but formulated for consumer use.
The company says that whilst e-commerce is its initial priority, traditional retail remains an important part its long-term strategy, and it is interested to hear from any veterinary practices that would like to retail the range.
https://anigene.co.uk
https://byotrol.com
https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Byotrol/page/85CD32DA-4253-4A04-AB24-D6F9ECC9BCD3
Season 2 has been launched after a staggering 50,000 people completed the first series, which was launched in 2018.
Ceva says the benefits of completing the course, beyond it counting towards your annual CPD requirement, include:
Season 2 is available on demand at: https://gbr.ceva.vet/index
Providing an opportunity to present new research to the veterinary community, the Clinical Research Abstracts can be on any veterinary subject, whether it’s the preliminary results of a new study, a discussion of a new technique or a description of an interesting case.
Each application should be based on high-quality clinical research undertaken in industry, practice or academia, and summarised in 250 words
Applications are welcome from vets, veterinary nurses, practice managers and students, with applications from those working in general practice especially encouraged.
Researchers with research of direct relevance to veterinary practice may also submit an abstract for consideration.
Those who are selected to present will receive a free complimentary ticket to BVA Live.
The Clinical Research Abstract awards will also give researchers the opportunity to present their winning abstract at London Vet Show 2026.
Julian Hoad, BSAVA President said: "We’re delighted to invite veterinary professionals to share their latest research with the wider community.
"The Clinical Research Abstracts offer a unique platform to showcase innovation, spark discussion, and contribute to the advancement of veterinary medicine. We look forward to seeing fresh ideas and emerging techniques that can shape the future of clinical practice. It’s an opportunity not to be missed!"
Submissions are open until 6th March 2025.
https://www.bsavaclinicalabstracts.com
The course, which starts on the 26th March 2026, will be delivered through the association's e-learning hub and combines small group face-to-face coaching, online learning and digital content.
The programme has been developed help both new leaders and those looking to strengthen their confidence, self-awareness, and practical leadership capabilities.
Topics include:
Pete Orpin, SPVS JVP and Course Facilitator said: “Veterinary leadership can be a daunting place, without appropriate support and training.
"Leaders do not automatically have all the answers.
"The course aims to provide delegates with peer-to-peer support and practical tools to take back to practice and implement.”
The course costs £2695+VAT for SPVS members and £3,465+VAT for non members.
Price includes one full day SPVS Congress delegate pass where the group will meet at the end of the course
https://spvs.org.uk/spvs-elevate
The snappily titled "Veterinary Educator Training in Mental Health Integration and Nurse Development (VET-MIND) project" is led by Dr Faye Didymus, Reader in Sport and Performance Psychology, and Dr Jackie Hargreaves, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology, both of whom are based at the Carnegie School of Sport at Leeds Beckett University.
VET-MIND builds on a previous Mind Matters-funded research project from Dr Didymus and Dr Hargreaves in 2023 that explored how mental health and wellbeing is integrated into the Student Veterinary Nurse curriculum, in order to produce a set of evidence-based recommendations for how mental health education could be improved.
The new three-year project takes the recommendations from the previous research with the aim of upskilling veterinary nurse educators in further and higher education on how to integrate mental health principles into their curricula.
The £40,000 funding will be used to design mental health training webinars, deliver interactive training to VN educators in higher and further education and evaluate the impact of learning over time.
Julie Dugmore, RCVS Director of Veterinary Nursing, said: “By equipping educators with practical tools and the confidence to integrate mental health principles into everyday teaching, the project supports more responsive, reflective, and psychologically informed learning environments.
“This benefits not only educators, but also students, who gain vital self-efficacy and wellbeing skills that strengthen their readiness for professional practice.
"The project provides evidence-based guidance that enhances curriculum design, supports learner welfare, and contributes to developing a future workforce that is both clinically competent and mentally resilient.”
www.vetmindmatters.org/research
Marketed since 2016, Thyronorm is an award-winning liquid formulation that simplifies administration compared to tablets and enables precise dosing for both veterinary surgeons and pet owners.
During the product handover veterinary practices can continue to buy Thyronorm from their usual wholesaler, and all practice support activities and retrospective commercial rebates remain unchanged.
Virbac says it is working closely with Norbrook to make sure all practice support activities are smoothly handed over from Norbrook Account Managers to Virbac Territory Managers.
https://uk.virbac.com
The awards are an opportunity to acknowledged unsung heroes within the veterinary profession, celebrating those who have made significant contributions to veterinary science, research, clinical practice, education and the welfare of small animals.
The award categories are:
Nominations are welcome from both BSAVA members and non-members.
Nominations will close on 9th January 2026 and the winners will be announced in February 2026.
Adam Gow, BSAVA Honorary Secretary said: “Each year, we’re proud to shine a spotlight on individuals who have truly made a difference in our profession.
"Nominating a colleague is a meaningful way to show appreciation and celebrate the impact they’ve had, so we encourage everyone to get involved and put forward those who inspire them.”
https://www.bsava.com/awards
The installation is a collaboration between Vet Sustain and IVC Evidensia, supported by MSD Animal Health.
Laura Gelder-Robertson, CEO of Vet Sustain, said: “We want to show the best of what already exists within veterinary sustainability, to bring to life the business benefits for veterinary teams in a really hands-on, practical way that people can touch and feel and relate back to their everyday practice.
"This is a really positive news story where by sharing knowledge and collaborating across the profession, we can continually improve the health and wellbeing of animals, people, the environment and business.”
https://vetsustain.org/
Liberty (pictured) was nominated for her calm and reassuring presence and her ability to make every client feel heard and cared for.
One of her nominators said, “Liberty is the heartbeat of Poplar Vets.
"Her professionalism and empathy set the standard for our whole practice, and her calm, reassuring presence makes every client feel heard, understood and cared for.
"She has an unwavering willingness to go above and beyond, often stepping in without hesitation to keep the practice running smoothly no matter how busy or challenging the day.
"Liberty is the glue that holds our team together and a true hero in every sense of the word.”
Galedin Vets in Galashiels was awarded Reception Team of the Year.
Victoria Cuthbert nominated the reception team at Galedin, describing them as “just phenomenal.”
She explained how, despite some tough times, the team has remained dependable, positive and supportive, always looking after clients and colleagues with a smile.
One team member even gave up her own time to create a beautiful garden space outside the practice where staff can relax and unwind.
Victoria added “They keep everything running smoothly day after day and we’d be lost without them.”
Runners-up for the team award went to the Graylands Cat Clinic team in Horsham and Vets for Pets Chester Caldy.
Runners up for the individual award went to Alicia Armstrong of Vets for Pets Leeds Colton and Sue Gear of Tamar Vets, Bude.
Linda Buckle, Country Brand Manager at KRKA UK said: “Receptionists really are the hub of every practice
“They’re the friendly face clients come to know and trust and the vital link that keeps the whole practice running smoothly. It’s a demanding role that deserves more recognition and these awards are our way of saying thank you for everything they do.”
The winning entries received a trophy for their reception areas and gift vouchers to celebrate their success and hard work.
The new guidelines are freely available in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (JFMS), along with new consensus guidelines for vets and a guide for caregivers.
Samantha Taylor, iCatCare Veterinary Specialist Consultant and co-author and panel chair for the guidelines said: “There have been significant developments in the treatment of feline diabetes mellitus since the publication of the 2015 ISFM diabetes guidelines.
"Experts in the disease from the USA, Netherlands, UK, Australia and Italy have collaborated on a much-needed update and the resulting 2025 iCatCare consensus guidelines are an essential information resource for vets diagnosing and treating diabetes mellitus in cats.”
https://internationalcatcare.cmail20.com/t/i-l-znwll-tykyklax-k/
The CMA proposed that veterinary practices should be compelled to:
Most of these, along with the CMA's support for reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act, have been welcomed not just by the BVA, but by the RCVS and the BVNA which also issued their responses on Friday.
The big sticking points, however, are the proposal that veterinary practices should cap prescription fees at £16, and that all practices should inform clients that they may buy medicines cheaper online.
The BVA argued that the proposed prescription price cap would be unlikely to reduce costs, and that 65% of vets who took part in its Voice of the Profession Survey said it would risk practice viability.
The proposal that vets should tell clients they can buy medicines cheaper online was more controversial, because of course two of the largest veterinary pharmacies are owned by corporate groups, and it is hard to think of any other area of business where small companies are legally required to direct customers to their corporate competitors.
BVA President Dr. Rob Williams MRCVS (pictured) said: “The measures outlined in the CMA’s provisional decision report are much more measured and proportionate compared to earlier proposals and that clearly shows they have listened to our concerns.
"As vets, we welcome the measures that increase transparency and help us to better support our clients.
"However, it’s vital that the CMA gets the detail right or it risks unintended negative consequences.
“BVA particularly welcomes the CMA backing our calls for reform of the outdated Veterinary Surgeons Act, including the need for practice regulation.
"Vets have been pressing for reform of this woefully outdated legislation for many years, and reform will go a long way to addressing many of the concerns raised throughout the CMA investigation and will help build trust with our clients.
“We do, however, have serious concerns about the medicines proposals – it is simply unreasonable to expect vet practices to actively promote online pharmacies, which are in direct competition for customers and some of which are run by large veterinary groups.
"In addition, the proposed £16 price cap for prescriptions will be ineffective and is unlikely to lead to lower vet bills for consumers.”
https://www.bva.co.uk/media/6641/bva-bsava-bvna-spvs-vmg-joint-response-to-cma-provisional-decision-report-final.pdf
Animalcare says that failing to attend to dental care at home results in 9 out of 10 dogs needing advanced dental treatment or procedures at the vets.
Plaqtiv dental sticks are designed to complement dental care by helping reduce plaque and tartar build-up and freshen breath in a tasty, once-daily treat.
Animalcare says the five-point star shape helps target hard-to-reach areas and the length and width of each stick means that teeth can be reached front to back and top to bottom during chewing.
In addition, the active algae ingredient contained within each stick is scientifically proven to help prevent plaque and the inclusion of zinc helps freshen breath.
Rachel Smithson, Country Manager at Animalcare, said: "The addition of the Dental Sticks to the Plaqtiv+ range gives practices and pet owners another option for maintaining oral health.
"With multiple formats now available, the Plaqtiv+ range caters to individual pet needs and owner preferences while supporting long-term home dental healthcare."
https://dental.pet
The research took the form of a voluntary survey asking those voluntarily leaving their registers to explain why.
202 veterinary nurses took part.
The vast majority were white females under the age of 50.
34% had been registered for between 15 and 19 years.
31% had been registered for between five and nine years.
54% said they were leaving to work in an altogether different field.
12% planned to retire.
The College says the free text responses were dominated by comments about financial stress.
Vicki Bolton, RCVS Research Manager, said: “Thank you to all those veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who responded to these exit surveys.
"This data is invaluable to us in understanding the reasons why people choose to leave the RCVS Registers.
“The reasons given don’t always make for easy reading, especially when they are to do with dissatisfaction over the direction the professions are taking, physical and mental health and wellbeing, financial pressures and concerns about regulation and its costs.
“However, it is important to remember that, overall, relatively few veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses leave the professions each year.
"There is no mass exodus from the professions and the numbers joining the UK Register annually well exceed those leaving, as demonstrated by consistent year-on-year increases in the number of veterinary surgeon and veterinary nurse registrants.
“That being said, these results will form an invaluable part of our ongoing work on veterinary workforce and gives the RCVS food for thought about how and where we can better support veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses to stay in the professions rather than leave prematurely.”
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/our-consultations/exit-survey-2022-2024
The research surveyed 647 UK-based employees of CVS’ companion animal practices between December 2022 and March 2023.
Participants included veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, patient care assistants, receptionists and administrative staff.
The survey explored injury prevalence, the context in which injuries occurred, and the behaviours of injured persons.
Over 77% of respondents reported experiencing a work-related injury at any point during their career.
Injury rates were highest among veterinary nurses (60.2% injured in the last year), followed by veterinary surgeons (58.3%).
Most injuries occurred in clinical areas such as consulting rooms, prep areas, and wards.
Unsurprisingly, animal-related injuries were the most common, particularly involving cats and dogs during restraint or clinical procedures.
However, a significant number of injuries to receptionists and administrators also involved restraining animals, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of these roles.
Clinical examinations were the most common activity occurring at the point of injury for vets.
Another common situation for vet and nurse injuries were when animals were recovering from anaesthesia.
Nearly 10% of all injuries in the study were needlestick-related, often linked to handling practices.
The study also uncovered a strong culture of presenteeism, where staff continue to work despite injury, often due to fear of letting colleagues down or their dedication to their patients.
Between 16 and 23% of staff attended hospital for their most recent injury and more than 25% needed more than seven days to recover from their injury.
Despite this fewer than 14% of respondents took more than seven days off work.
When outlining reasons for the injury occurring, particularly during animal restraint, participants attributed their injury on a colleague’s actions or a miscommunication.
Around half of respondents said they would not change their behaviour if faced with the same situation again, even after being injured.
Thematic analysis revealed a weak safety culture, particularly among veterinary surgeons, who were the least likely to report injuries.
Many viewed injuries as inevitable or not worth reporting.
Dr. Tulloch said: “This research highlights the everyday risks faced by veterinary professionals, particularly those in companion animal practice.
"While many injuries are accepted as part of the job, our findings show that many are preventable with the right training, equipment, and safety culture.
“Our study calls for a shift toward a positive safety culture, built on open reporting, shared responsibility, and reflective learning.
"It highlights the need for targeted interventions in high-risk areas such as animal restraint, anaesthetic recovery, and sharps handling.
“Achieving this safety culture shift requires strong organisational leadership across the profession and a commitment to fostering a work environment where all staff feel they speak openly and take accountability for workplace safety.”
Imogen Schofield, Director of Clinical Research at CVS, said: "As a result of the research, CVS has set up a working group looking at how we can reduce the top causes of accidents and improve the under-reporting figure.
"We are also looking at how we can use information held within our practice management system to understand more fully rates of accident per consult numbers or numbers of needlestick injuries per injections given.”
CVS says the full findings of the research will be shared with the wider veterinary community in due course, to support industry-wide improvements in occupational health and safety.
Camilla, who was shortlisted as a finalist for Innovator of the Year at the 2025 Digital Women Awards, says her mission has always been to give first-opinion vets the tools and confidence to get the most from ultrasound in everyday practice – and the new tool is a big step forward in that vision.
The tool:
Camilla says the final report is fully editable, but much of the “heavy lifting” is done — saving time, reducing second-guessing, and producing reports that are more useful for colleagues, clients, and patient care.
https://www.fovu.co.uk/
https://www.fovu.co.uk/fovu-report-video
The new study will examine the genetic changes that occur in osteosarcoma tumours.
By understanding which genes drive the disease, researchers hope to identify biomarkers – genetic clues that could help diagnose the cancer earlier, predict prognosis for individual patients, and ultimately lead to new treatment options.
The study is looking for dogs with a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of osteosarcoma, whose treatment plan includes surgical removal of the tumour at the QVSH.
With the owner’s permission, tissue samples will be collected from the amputated limb after surgery, as well as from nearby healthy tissue for comparison.
The researchers say participation involves no additional procedures, discomfort, or hospital visits for dogs, and there is no cost to owners for the research elements of the study.
Dr Louise Van Der Weyden, study co-lead at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: “Our new study aims to apply genomic sequencing techniques, which have benefited humans, to canine osteosarcoma to uncover what drives these bone tumours and gain a deeper understanding of why they happen.
"We hope that by doing so, we can pave the way for the development of potential biomarkers to help early diagnosis and possibly provide future treatment options for dogs who currently have no cure.”
https://www.hospital.vet.cam.ac.uk/news/new-research-improve-diagnosis-and-treatment-canine-osteosarcoma
oncology@vet.cam.ac.uk