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VetNurse.co.uk publishes a curated feed of veterinary nursing news for registered veterinary nurses (RVNs), students (SVNs) and veterinary nursing assistants, with a primary focus on the UK profession.
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Bravecto Triuno is approved for the treatment of tick and flea infestations in dogs (Ctenocephalides felis, C. canis, Dermacentor reticulatus, Ixodes hexagonus, Ixodes ricinus, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus).
It is also approved for the treatment of infections with roundworms (adult stages of Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina) and hookworms (L4, immature adult (L5), and adult stages of Ancylostoma caninum and Uncinaria stenocephala), for the prevention of heartworm disease (caused by Dirofilaria immitis), and for the prevention of angiostrongylosis (by reduction of the level of infection with immature adult (L5) and adult stages of Angiostrongylus vasorum).
Victoria Miles, UK Companion Animal Director, MSD Animal Health, said: “With this latest formulation of Bravecto, MSD Animal Health is giving veterinarians and dog owners a greater range of convenient options for protecting their dog year-round from parasites, and all from the same trusted Bravecto portfolio.”
She added: “We see Bravecto Triuno as a great option for puppies that require a monthly wormer on top of protection against fleas and ticks.
"This also gives flexibility later on for the dog to remain with the Bravecto brand but be swapped onto a longer-duration flea and tick product with a wormer administered according to a veterinarian’s risk-based assessment.”
Bravecto Triuno is available as a flavoured chewable tablet indicated for dogs and puppies from 8 weeks of age and at least 1.27 Kg body weight and can be administered monthly to dogs at risk of infestation by multiple types of internal and external parasites.
It contains three anti-parasitic ingredients including fluralaner, which provides activity against ticks and fleas, moxidectin, which provides systemic activity against non-intestinal worms, and pyrantel, which provides activity against intestinal worms.
https://www.noahcompendium.co.uk/?id=-488423
The study is being conducted with pet owners and veterinary professionals to develop a greater understanding about how flea and tick treatments are used on cats and dogs.
It will involve two depth surveys to explore the type and format of treatments used, the frequency of application, where treatments are bought, what influences the choice of product, whether there is an awareness of ectoparasiticides’ environmental effect and what preventative steps the public and clinicians would take when using the treatments on animals in the future.
At a later stage, the research project will also include lab assessments of ectoparasiticide residues collected from companion animals to provide more information on their potential environmental impact.
It is hoped the research findings will help the veterinary profession develop the most appropriate approaches to ectoparasiticides in the future, and inform educational strategies to support owners with ‘responsible use’.
Project leader Professor Richard Wall from the University of Bristol, said: “This is an issue of considerable concern.
"Citizen science and laboratory research evidence is urgently needed so that risk-based assessments of the impact of and requirements for ectoparasite treatment can be made.
"Whilst we can make some assumptions around the impact of routine ectoparasite treatments, these findings are essential for us to truly understand them - and to be able to balance the needs of veterinary patients with their wider environmental impacts.”
https://forms.office.com/e/mbztbYf4Ru.
The award, which is sponsored by Zoetis, celebrates vets in the first eight years of their career who have shown outstanding care, dedication or success.
Nominees may have delivered exceptional care to a patient, made a positive contribution to their community or the wider veterinary profession, or shown their dedication to a cause.
Early career vets who are keen to demonstrate their ambition and dedication to the profession can also self-nominate for the award.
British Veterinary Association President Elizabeth Mullineaux said: “We know how hard all vets work to care for the UK’s animals and to protect both human and animal health and welfare.
"Our young and early career vets deserve to have their incredible work recognised and this award is an opportunity to highlight their compassion, skills and positive contribution to the profession.”
The winner will be announced on Thursday 16th October 2025 at the BVA Awards in London, where they will be awarded a prize package which includes £1,000, a year of free BVA membership and mentoring/engagement opportunity with Zoetis.
The deadline for entries is 9am on Monday 4th August 2025.
www.bva.co.uk/YVOTY
Photo: Last year's winner, David Charles.
Conducted as a multicentric international study involving board-certified veterinary dermatologists, the trial included 35 dogs with CIF in at least two paws.
Each dog acted as its own control, and was treated with systemic antibiotics, with one paw being treated with FLE and the other paw without.
Paws were allocated based on a coin toss, and the study was single blinded: the principal investigator was responsible for the assessment of lesions, and the co-investigator was responsible for administration of FLE treatment.
The dogs were assessed over an 8-week period with check-ups every 14 days.
At every check-up the paws treated with FLE showed a greater improvement than paws without FLE treatment.
The lesions were assessed and scored with the global lesion score, the pruritic visual analogue scale, a cytological scoring, and photographic documentation.
The results of the study demonstrated that FLE combined with systemic antibiotics significantly reduced the time to clinical resolution compared to antibiotics alone.
By week four, 50% of paws in the FLE group had reached clinical resolution compared to 17% in the control group.
By week eight, 88% of paws in the FLE group had healed compared to 54% in the control group.
Dr Anja Lange, DVM, Department of Dermatology, AniCura Kleintierspezialisten Augsburg GmbH, Augsburg, Germany, said: “Canine interdigital furunculosis is a challenging condition to treat that can be prolonged and frustrating.
"Having FLE as an additional management tool is very exciting, not least because it speeds up time to healing, but it also requires us to use less antibiotics.
"The use of FLE was well accepted by all of the dog owners from the study and the dogs themselves tolerated it well, showing it can be a very useful adjunct to cases in clinical practice.”
Reference
The map gives an overview of the regulation applying to virtual care in different countries and it shows how virtual veterinary care is regulated predominantly in Western European countries only.
For the countries where veterinary virtual care is subject to regulation, the new map shows which countries:
https://vvca.org/resources/europe
Bethany said: “I have always wanted to provide the best care for my patients and support my team in their work too.
This qualification was the next step in that and thinking of my patients and peers was really the inspiration for me.
“At work I received invaluable help to get my VTS and was able to access Linnaeus’ enhanced support package for my studying.
"It included mentors and help from nurses in the central support team along with study time, extra CPD allowances and networking.
“It was great to work alongside others aiming for the same thing, and to have the support from my employer.”
She added: “Having a better understanding of anaesthesia allowed me to better support patients through procedures and nurse them.”
The qualification took around two years to complete, with hours of training, work and exams.
Bethany added: “To even begin the application process, you must have worked in the discipline for five years, have 40 hours of CPD in the speciality and had two letters of recommendation from a specialist.
“The qualification is two years, with a casebook to complete, four case reports and two exams.
"It’s been hard work but it’s definitely worth it.”
To mark the end of his presidential year at BSAVA, Julian will be strapped to the top of a vintage biplane while dressed in a full feline (Cheshire Cat) costume, to support the research that BSAVA PetSavers funds, to improve the health and wellbeing of pets across the UK.
BSAVA PetSavers is one of the UK’s few funding bodies focused solely on clinical research into diseases affecting companion animals.
To date, it has invested more than £2.7 million in vital studies addressing conditions such as cancer, heart disease, neurological and joint disorders, gastrointestinal issues.
Julian said: "Every day, vets face the heart-wrenching task of managing the distress and pain our pets suffer due to disease or poor health.
"With your support, we can ensure that they have access to the latest knowledge and resources needed to provide the best care possible.
“The need for advanced research is more pressing than ever and our pets deserve every chance at a healthy life.
"If dressing up as a cat and flying on the wing of a plane makes people take notice of the vital need for pet health research, then it will be worth it.”
Alison Selby, Fundraising Manager for BSAVA PetSavers said: “No one has ever been quite so daring in their fundraising efforts for us, so we are thrilled that Julian has decided to take this on to raise awareness and funds for BSAVA PetSavers.
“For every grant application that we fund, at least two or more are declined due to lack of funds. Fundraising events like this helps to land more funding in the hands of researchers who make a real difference in the veterinary community and directly impact the lives of countless pets and their families.”
Julian’s wing walk is on the 29th May and his target is to fundraise £1,000.
https://www.justgiving.com/page/julian-hoad-2
The guide is aimed at established practices, new start-ups and those who may be thinking about setting up a practice.
It includes practical information, videos and first hand advice from independent practice leaders who are members of Vetsure and who've successfully navigated the challenges of practice ownership and management.
In the book, Diane Storer of Cockburn Vets offers tips for recruiting and building a collaborative team, whilst Julie Hutton of Hilltop Vets shares her thoughts on leadership and addressing practice challenges.
Other contributors to the guide include Vicki Farbon of Scott Veterinary Clinic, Kate Hornby of Wild Side Vets, Emily Nightingale of Nightingale Vets and Simon Hayes of Creature Comforts, who draw from their diverse experiences of founding and operating independent practices.
Ashley Gray, Managing Director of Vetsure said: “The insights from successful independent practice owners and Vetsure network members included in the guide offer lessons from real experiences beyond generic business courses."
He added: “The Vetsure network aims to support and champion independent veterinary practices by sharing knowledge and expertise, facilitating learning from fresh perspectives and ideas, and fostering genuine collaboration,”
https://www.vetsurevet.com/guide-to-success
The model for the forecast was developed by the College with the Institute of Employment Studies using data from the RCVS Registers, the 2019 and 2024 Surveys of the Professions, Office for National Statistics data for projected economic growth and the PDSA’s Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Reports.
However, the model does not take account of the impact of the increasing costs of veterinary care on pet ownership trends, the full effect of which may not yet have been felt.
The main predictions of the model are:
Lizzie Lockett, RCVS Chief Executive Officer, said: “In 2021, there were clear concerns about there being a workforce crisis within the veterinary professions, and while that certainly seemed to be the case, and is likely to continue to be so in the short-term, according to this model the future picture for the professions looks much better in most areas of veterinary practice.
“We are aware that there may be some concerns about the implications of the model, particularly concerning the potential oversupply of veterinary nurses.
"While we stand by the robustness of the data, demography is not destiny, and with the planned enhancement of the veterinary nurse role, and the likelihood of suppressed demand due to prior shortages, it is likely that the number of veterinary nursing roles will expand to encompass the number of veterinary nurses available to work in it.
“Finally, we are aware that there are also some limitations to the model in its current form, for example, in terms of regional data.
"This is a work in progress, and we will continue to update and improve the model as and when new data allows.”
The workforce modelling report is available to download from www.rcvs.org.uk/publications
It is the first time BVRA has recognised an external veterinary group’s own receptionist training programme as adequate enough to award AVR status.
The AVR status is normally only awarded after the completion of the BVRA’s Level 3 Certificate for Veterinary Receptionists and other approved BVRA training - usually completed over a 1-2 year training period.
CVS’ Level 4 Endorsed Certificate in Veterinary Client Care is for its experienced receptionists with at least one year’s experience.
The training covers a wide range of skills and knowledge including; client care, finance, preventative healthcare, bereavement support, self-leadership and working with others.
Philip Webb, Learning Partner at CVS who helped to design its Level 4 Endorsed Certificate in Veterinary Client Care, said: “We value our receptionists highly.
"Being eligible for Associate Veterinary Receptionist will be of huge benefit to them. It will give them the status and recognition they deserve and will give them access to many AVR benefits - including ongoing access to additional CPD and professional and industry developments."
The Elekta Infinity linear accelerator is the only one of its kind for pets in England.
CVS says it allowing the centre to offer “cutting edge” image-guided radiation treatments for cancer in cats and dogs – meaning fewer, shorter sessions, fewer side effects and the best possible chance of improved outcomes for the animal.
Delphine Holopherne-Doran, Clinical Director at Bristol Vet Specialists, said: “Our new hospital is now at the forefront of cancer care in animals.
"We have invested in this state-of-the-art technology to bring cancer treatment in pets to the next level.
“Our unique linear accelerator allows us to offer advanced image-guided treatments - for example intensity-modulated or stereotactic radiation therapy.
"The advantage of these treatments is that high dose rates of focused beams are delivered with high precision over a shortened treatment course, with greater safety for the patient’s healthy tissue.
“It has now drawn many tumours into the realm of treatability, it is improving the quality of life for patients, and it is making it easier for owners to manage their pet’s treatment and aftercare.”
Still, the installation of the linear accelerator will probably have cost the same again, and then you've got the running costs.
That's not an inconsiderable cost per patient.
Megan beat more than 100 nominees to win the Land-based and Environment Learner (LBEL) prize and achieve an overall distinction in her qualification towards becoming a registered veterinary nurse.
Megan joined the referral hospital in 2021 as a patient care assistant before deciding to train as a veterinary nurse.
She now aspires to complete the International Society of Feline Medicine Diploma and to become a clinical coach and help future student vet nurses through their qualifications.
Megan said: “I felt honoured to be nominated for the award so to win and be recognised by the wider veterinary profession is amazing."
The research, conducted with the Blue Cross, analysed data from over 2,000 UK dog owners and identified perceptual barriers to welfare reforms.
The study revealed that many owners normalise health issues associated with brachycephalic conformations, including breathing difficulties, eye conditions, and skin infections.
One in seven owners of extreme brachycephalic dogs said that 'nothing' could dissuade them from owning these breeds, particularly those with a strong preference for flat faces and those that did not believe brachycephaly reduced a dog’s lifespan.
Owners of extreme brachycephalic dogs, such as French Bulldogs, found the perceived trait of 'laziness' to be highly desirable, despite the fact that an inability to exercise is often a symptom of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS).
The researchers propose a series of interventions to overcome these barriers and make campaigning more effective, including:
Dr. Rowena Packer, lead researcher, said: "Future strategies to tackle the brachycephalic crisis must do more than presenting purely health-based data in generic public locations, and instead, positively offering possible alternate breeds, myth-busting false beliefs and leveraging human stories of brachycephalic owners to have greater impact.
"Additionally, specifically targeting these messages on social media and puppy-selling platforms may increase their efficacy.”
The procedure has already been performed in the US and Germany, where it is reported to have had a success rate of 70-80% in around 250 cases, many of which were show jumpers, eventers and dressage horses.
The team at Liphook, led by European Specialist Rachel Tucker (pictured), has now performed the procedure on six horses.
Rachel said: “Enlargement of the articular process joints of the lower neck is a relatively common finding in horses, but occasionally this can cause compression and irritation of the spinal nerves.
"The foraminotomy procedure means horses experiencing nerve pain can be made comfortable and have a good chance of returning to ridden work and a competition career.
“The surgery is minimally invasive but it is a very delicate procedure to perform because you are working very close to the spinal cord.
"Due to the location, the surgery is performed down a single portal under direct visualisation using a camera, guided by ultrasound and X-ray.
"What has been remarkable so far has been the rapid recovery of the horses, who have been home and out in a small paddock within a few days of surgery with some showing rapid signs of improved comfort and movement.
“We are very pleased with how the procedures at Liphook went.
"Our patients are continuing to recover well and we are looking forward to following their progress in the future.
The theme for the 2025 conference is how to make veterinary work sustainable, creating teams that can reliably work at their best, feel positive about work, and feel supported and valued by their team.
Keynote speaker, Amanda Oates BA (hons), MSc Strategic HRD, C.C.I.P.D. (pictured) will be talking about the concept of restorative veterinary practice, and how it relies on establishing a restorative workplace culture.
There will be three streams at the conference.
In the first stream, VetLed founder and Training Director, Dan Tipney will be joined by guest speakers to help delegates understand how they can make a difference to the way they work using human factors tools and techniques proven in human medicine and other safety-critical professions.
In the second stream, VetLed’s Community Lead, Hannah Godfrey, will be joined by human behaviour expert Katie Ford to help delegates understand themselves as humans, to acknowledge and accommodate their own needs and the needs of others, and to work better as a team.
The third stream will be hosted by VetLed Managing Director, Cat Auden, and a Chartered Psychologist, Ergonomist, and Human Factors Specialist. In this stream, delegates who are already familiar with human factors concepts will be encouraged to think big, share ideas, and shape the veterinary profession.
Tickets: £190.80
https://www.vetled.co.uk/conference
The company has updated its waiting room board kit for veterinary staff to create a visual reminder of the importance of prompt diagnosis and management of dental disease and a tailored dental home care regime.
There is also a Pet Dental Health Month social media pack which includes imagery, videos and copy to use on your practice social media channels and client-facing waiting room screens.
Dental charts are also available to help explain dental aftercare in post-op appointments.
Will Peel, Marketing Manager at Animalcare said: "We know that veterinary staff recognise the importance of oral health, so we’ve created this range of materials specifically to support veterinary practices and to help people better understand how they can maintain good dental health in their pets.’
www.animalcare.co.uk/dentalhealthmonth
The new materials include a downloadable guide to each CMA remedy and short videos on providing information about ownership, prices, services and treatments, on prescribing veterinary medicines, managing complaints and offering cremation services.
Whilst the CMA's detailed Orders have not yet been released, with more information expected over the summer, the BVA said its information will continue to be updated.
BVA President Dr Rob Williams MRCVS said: "Given the CMA's starting point, following significant pushback from BVA, the final remedies now better balance the needs of the pet-owning public, with practical delivery of vet services."
He added: "However, we understand that the next steps may still feel a bit daunting.
"The first thing to say is that most of you will already be undertaking many, if not most of the measures required by the CMA in your day-to-day work and this next step will be about formalising these processes.
"We're here to support the profession as it gets ready for change later in the year with practical resources to help you comply."
Further discussion of the changes is also planned at BVA Live at the NEC Birmingham on 11 and 12 June, including sessions on complaints handling after the CMA outcome and what the remedies mean in practice.
https://www.bva.co.uk/resources-support/misc-resources/competition-and-markets-authority-measures-for-vet-businesses-get-ready-get-compliant
The Yumivet VH2500 measures 57 parameters including Complete Blood Count (CBC) with a 9-part differential, reticulocyte analysis, and dual platelet measurement methods.
The analyser enables open tube or continuous sample loading and includes pre-configured species profiles with automatic selection or easy switching between species.
It also has an intuitive touchscreen interface, a simplified reagent system, and automated quality control features.
The Yumivet VH2500 is compatible with a slide maker and stainer called Yumivet SPS, a track system called Yumizen T6000, and middleware called Yumizen P8000, and offers connection to laboratory and practice management systems (LIS/PMS).
The Yumivet VH2500 is built on a hybrid analytical platform combining electrical impedance, fluorescence, flow cytometry and spectrophotometry, which Horiba says delivers robust and reliable performance across a wide range of sample types, including challenging or low-volume samples.
https://www.horiba.com/int/veterinary/products/detail/action/show/Product/yumivet-vh2500-7004/
Kirsty, who is the Acting Registrar at Scotland's Rural College, will take up the three-year post from the RCVS Annual General Meeting on Friday 3 July 2026.
She has been an elected member of VN Council since 2024 and qualified as a veterinary nurse in 1999.
She has worked in veterinary nursing education for over 20 years in areas including curriculum development and programme validation and accreditation, including chairing veterinary nursing accreditation panels for the RCVS.
She replaces Belinda Andrews-Jones RVN, who has been elected Vice-Chair of VN Council for three years.
Kirsty said: "It's an honour to have been elected by my fellow Council members as Chair of the RCVS Veterinary Nurses Council.
"After more than 25 years in veterinary nursing across clinical practice, education and governance, I'm very proud to take on this role at such an important time for the profession.
"My time on VN Council has been both rewarding and inspiring, and I have valued the opportunity to work alongside dedicated colleagues committed to supporting veterinary nurses and advancing the profession.
"These experiences have reinforced the importance of collaboration, inclusivity and strengthening the veterinary nursing voice.
"As Chair, I look forward to supporting the continued development, recognition and wellbeing of veterinary nurses, while helping to shape the future of the profession through ongoing legislative reform.
"I am committed to driving positive progress and championing the vital contribution veterinary nurses make to animal health and welfare every day."
The feature is live on Ronda.vet and calculates a reliability score for every practice and every locum based solely on confirmed shift cancellations and the notice period given.
The score appears publicly on each profile, and practices and locums can view each other's reliability rates before confirming a booking.
The system allows practices to see how often a locum has cancelled shifts and with how much notice, while locums can see which practices have cancelled confirmed shifts at short notice.
The reliability rate is calculated using a standardised penalty points model.
Cancellations made 14 days or more before a shift incur 0.5 penalty points, while cancellations with less than 24 hours' notice, or no-shows, incur five points.
For practices, the same logic applies, and a practice which cancels a confirmed shift with less than 24 hours' notice accrues the same penalty points as a locum doing so.
New practices and locums with no confirmed shifts display "N/A", while those with penalty points but no offsetting completions may show 0 per cent.
The system applies automatically to every confirmed shift on the platform.
Ibra Hernando, co-founder, Ronda.vet, and veterinary surgeon, said: "Reliability is the foundation of trust in locum work but, until now, it has largely been invisible until something went wrong."
"By making reliability rates visible and reciprocal, we are giving both practices and locums the same tool to assess each other."
Ronda.vet has also confirmed that exceptional circumstances such as illness or emergency can be reviewed by the support team, and the score is not intended to permanently penalise anyone for isolated incidents.
The nurse wrote to the College prior to the hearing to say that she would not be attending and she was not represented.
The College asked the Committee to proceed with the hearing, which it agreed to do.
The charge against her was that in 2025 she had been convicted, following a guilty plea, of burglary, contrary to section 9(1)(b) of the Theft Act 1968.
She was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months and to an order to carry out unpaid work for 140 hours within the next 12 months; and to pay compensation of £761.20; and made subject to a restraining order.
The particulars of the offence, to which the nurse originally pleaded not guilty before changing her plea to guilty, were that in 2024, she had entered the practice premises as a trespasser and stole veterinary medication of an unknown value, including ketamine.
The Committee found the charge proved on the basis of her admission to the College that she entered a guilty plea at court.
The Committee noted that although she admitted entering a guilty plea, she had continued to deny taking ketamine, but the Committee accepted the court’s version of events and saw no need to investigate further.
Other drugs taken, as listed in the police summary, included methadone, fentanyl patches, buprenorphine, and medetomidine.
In determining the nurse's fitness to practise, the Committee considered the submissions of the College and noted that the defendant didn’t dispute the nature and circumstances of the offence leading to her conviction beyond claiming that she never took ketamine.
It also found that she breached parts 1.5 and 6.5 of the Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses relating to the responsible administering of medicines and the fact that veterinary nurses must not engage in any activities that would likely bring the profession into disrepute.
It also took into account the following aggravating factors:
It was found that her conduct fell far below the standard expected of a registered veterinary nurse and that her conviction was serious enough to render her unfit to practise.
In deciding upon a sanction, the Committee took into account all written evidence before it.
In addition to the aggravating factors, it also considered the nurse's "complete lack of insight", her lack of apology or remorse, her denials and the fact there was no evidence of remediation.
The only mitigating factor was that the nurse had no previous adverse disciplinary findings against her.
Paul Morris, chairing the committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee was of the view that the nature and seriousness of [the veterinary nurse]'s behaviour, which led to the conviction, was fundamentally incompatible with being registered as a veterinary nurse.
"The conduct represented a serious departure from professional standards, in that this was a serious offence of dishonesty.
"[The veterinary nurse] has not demonstrated any remorse for her behaviour and instead has sought to blame others; she has demonstrated a complete lack of insight, especially in regard to the impact of her behaviour on public confidence and trust in the profession.
"In light of these conclusions, the Committee decided that the only appropriate and proportionate sanction in this case was removal from the Register."
“The Committee determined that it was important that a clear message be sent that this sort of behaviour is wholly inappropriate and not to be tolerated.
"It brought discredit upon [the veterinary nurse] and discredit upon the profession.”
The programme has been designed to support early-career nurses looking to build confidence, as well as experienced and head nurses seeking progression or new challenges.
Sessions will combine clinical and non-clinical skill development.
They will also encourage nurses to strengthen their voice within practice, particularly around patient advocacy and welfare.
Content throughout the day will support nurses in identifying and responding to pain and stress more effectively.
It will also cover advocating confidently for patient welfare, translating observations into action within the clinical team, and applying welfare-focused nursing approaches in real-world scenarios.
Topics include pain recognition and management, reducing stress during clinical procedures, ethical decision-making in practice, opportunities within ambulatory nursing, and the future direction of the veterinary nursing profession.
Kassie Hill, VN programme stream guardian at BEVA Congress, said: "I really wanted to create a stream that covers all bases."
"From newer nurses who are building confidence, to experienced head nurses asking 'what's next?' - everyone should come away with tools they can actually use back in practice."
The session "Nursing: Prioritising welfare in our patients and team", chaired by Kassie Hill, is scheduled for Hall 10 on Friday at 11am.
It includes "Keep the bloody thing still!" Taking the stress out of procedures and handling for calm, presented by Jenny Hindmarsh.
It also includes "See what horses can't say: The vital role of nurses in equine pain care", presented by Ruth Morgan.
A later session, "Equine veterinary nursing profession", chaired by Marie Rippingale, will take place in Hall 10 on Friday at 15:40.
It includes "The VN Vision Project - RCVS", presented by Julie Dugmore.
It also includes "On the road with responsibility: Ethics in ambulatory nursing", presented by Cassie Woods.
Super early bird tickets are now available.
They include access to all lecture theatres and exhibition halls, full access to the virtual Congress hub, and on-demand access to Congress content for six months after the event.
BEVA members receive 50% off ticket prices.
An additional 15% discount is available until Wednesday 1 July 2026.
Nurse members can attend all three days for £188.37, or a single day for £89.70.
www.bevacongress.org
Practice Performance Diagnostic is a structured investigation tool which combines leadership analysis, operational performance data, team feedback and financial analysis into a single integrated report.
The process includes a leadership systems assessment, operational dashboard creation and analysis, financial performance review, employee feedback analysis, a comprehensive written report, and a one-to-one debrief session with the founder of the Veterinary Leadership Academy, Dave Nicol MRCVS.
The resulting report identifies where operational pressure accumulates, where ownership breaks down, where financial performance is leaking, where leadership dependency remains too high, and where the business is relying too heavily on owner intervention to remain stable.
Dave said: "What I keep seeing are practices that are delivering excellent care for clients and patients, but the owner is carrying far too much of the business personally.
"Decisions continue to route back to them. Standards rely heavily on their direct involvement. Team issues escalate upward. Problems accumulate quietly until the owner steps back in to stabilise things again. Over time, that creates a level of pressure that simply isn't sustainable."
www.drdavenicol.com/diagnostic
The awards will be presented at BVNA Congress 2026 and finalists from each category will be invited to attend the Dinner Dance and Awards Ceremony on Friday 9th October 2026.
The 2026 BVNA Awards are being presented in memory of individuals from the association's history.
Categories are The Jean Turner Award - RVN of the Year, The Des Thompson Award - Veterinary Team Member of the Year, The Jennifer Townson Award - SVN of the Year, and the VNJ Writer of the Year Award.
The RVN, SVN and veterinary team member categories are open to nominations from registered veterinary nurses, student veterinary nurses, other members of the veterinary team, and family and friends of the nominee.
The VNJ Writer of the Year Award is open to nominations from BVNA members only and covers articles published in the VNJ between September 2025 and July 2026.
BVNA President Sarah Holliday said: "We are delighted to launch this year's BVNA Award nominations, to recognise and celebrate the exceptional individuals that make up the veterinary nursing and wider veterinary professions.
"The BVNA Awards recognise the skilled care that individual RVNs and SVNs provide, and the unwavering compassion and empathy that they demonstrate every day.
"We know that veterinary nurses are not only powerful advocates for animal welfare, but also the wellbeing of the people around them.
"We're also thrilled to include an awards category for members of the wider veterinary team, who provide such valuable support to their veterinary nursing colleagues."
She added: "Simply being put forwards for an award also provides much-deserved recognition to all of our nominees, so we would really encourage colleagues, friends and family to nominate an individual you feel should be celebrated.
"We're looking forward to showcasing the special individuals within the veterinary profession and welcoming the worthy finalists and winners to BVNA Congress."
The deadline for nominations is 31 July 2026.
https://bvna.org.uk/bvna-awards-2026/
Specialist-led veterinary ophthalmology care is now available at The Pet Vet's Waltham Forest surgery, saving London-based pet owners the need to travel to Optivet's specialist hospital in Hampshire for advanced ophthalmology treatment.
The Pet Vet and Optivet will remain fully independent organisations, with Optivet delivering specialist ophthalmology services within The Pet Vet surgery.
Optivet London will be led by Dr Gemma Turner BSc DVM MANZCVS FANZCVS MRCVS, Specialist in Veterinary Ophthalmology, working in collaboration with The Pet Vet Waltham Forest Head Vet, Dr Katarina Krasna MVDr CertAVP MRCVS.
Optivet's services will cover a wide range of ocular conditions including distichia and ectopic cilia correction, entropion surgery, medial canthoplasty, superficial keratectomy, corneal crosslinking, cataract surgery, retinal reattachment surgery, enucleation and evisceration, orbitotomy procedures, and retrobulbar abscess management.
Optivet.com