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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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We report across all areas of practice, including companion animal, referral and specialist settings, with a focus on issues affecting veterinary nurses in clinical and professional roles.
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The study was led by Ruby Chang, Associate Professor of Statistics at the RVC, and carried out by Dr Hanya Ahmed.
The team compiled a databank of images, including 100 equine fracture cases from two UK equine hospitals and published literature, alongside 70 feline cases from hospital databases and around 4,000 human fracture images from a public database.
Using these images, the researchers built a three-stage AI system that first identifies the scan type, then recognises the image angle, before detecting and precisely localising fractures.
The system used transfer learning, enabling it to be trained on the large human dataset before being adapted for equine cases.
Using this method, the system achieved a reported fracture localisation accuracy of between 71 and 84% without requiring an unrealistically large number of equine images.
The RVC said the findings demonstrate the potential for AI-assisted tools to strengthen fracture diagnosis across veterinary practice.
It said faster and more reliable detection could reduce uncertainty in clinical decision-making and enable earlier treatment for racehorses and companion animals.
Building on the work, the team has expanded its collaboration with the Hong Kong Jockey Club to investigate whether AI can identify early bone changes before fracture occurs.
The study has been shortlisted for the STEM for Britain 2026 award and was funded by the Horserace Betting Levy Board.
Reference
The programme includes lectures by recognised experts in exotic animal and aquatic medicine.
Topics include “Ferret Emergencies: A Practical Approach to the Critical Patient”, “Hoppy Rabbits – The Role of the Veterinary Nurse in Creating a Rabbit-Friendly Practice”, “That’s a Lot of Axolotl!” – Care and Common Conditions of Axolotls”, and “No Vein, No Gain: Catheters, Intubation and Minimising Blood Loss in Exotic Surgery”.
The conference includes live Q&A sessions with speakers.
All sessions will be recorded, with access provided to attendees after the event.
A Zoom link will be sent to registered delegates in the week before the event.
Ticket sales end 14 May 2026.
Tickets cost £200.
https://justexoticsevents.co.uk/product/16th-17th-may-2026-just-exotics-virtual-conference-2026
The sessions are aimed at vets, vet nurses, SQPs and RAMAs involved in anthelmintic prescribing, and are designed to support implementation of new sustainable equine parasite control guidelines from the BEVA and Canter.
The webinars will be presented by Professor Jacqui Matthews, an RCVS Recognised Specialist in Parasitology, and Dr Wendy Talbot, Zoetis RCVS and European Specialist in Internal Medicine.
Participants can submit real-world case scenarios for discussion by emailing details to wendy.talbot@zoetis.com at least four weeks before each webinar. There is no obligation for case submitters to speak during the webinar.
The remaining scheduled sessions are:
The webinar series can be recorded as self-reflective CPD.
https://canterforhorses.org.uk/guidelines/
https://www.beva.org.uk/Resources/Medicines/Anthelmintic-Toolkit
The study, led by Svenja Springer from the Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, used an online questionnaire in March 2022 to investigate dog and cat owners in Austria, Denmark and the UK, with a final sample of 2,117 owners.
The survey found that differences in insurance uptake across income groups were seen only in the UK, where 65.6% of owners in the high-income group (more than £44,800 a year) had insurance compared with only 35.1% in the low-income group (less than £22,400 a year).
Overall, 51.5% of UK households in the sample had insurance and 48.5% did not.
Among owners without insurance, UK respondents were much more likely to say policies were too expensive (48.9%) compared with 28.1% in Denmark and 29.9% in Austria.
However, when it comes to how much owners are prepared to spend on veterinary treatment, the paper concludes that emotional attachment to a pet was the most important factor, over and above income or insurance status.
Nevertheless, only around 20% of UK dog owners said they would spend over £3000 of their own money — that is, over and above any insured sum — on treatment.
Some 24.8% of the owners of uninsured dogs and 34.7% of the owners of insured dogs said they would spend £101 to £1000 of their own money.
Around 11% said they would spend £1001 - £3000 and 19.8% of insured vs 27.1% of uninsured said they didn't know.
The one-year fixed-term programme pays £26,208 and is designed for newly-qualified nurses to develop day one and referral nursing skills.
Langford Vets recommends the programme for nurses up to 3 years qualified who want more experience in a referral setting.
Interns will rotate through departments including theatre, emergency and critical care, wards nursing and anaesthesia.
The role includes exposure to specialist areas of veterinary nursing in a high-volume referral setting.
Each intern will have mentorship from the Nursing Intern Lead and a designated career mentor.
The programme includes participation in specialised procedures, patient care and diagnostics.
Interns can choose one rotation, including oncology, cardiology, dermatology and physiotherapy.
Chloe Pilgrim, Nurse Intern Lead said: "This internship offers a chance to grow both professionally and personally."
https://www.langfordvets.co.uk/work-with-us/nursing-rotating-internship-2026-2027
The room has calming colours, plants, soft furnishings, blankets and sensory resources.
Students have access to wellbeing packs containing sweets and stickers, a positive mindset board, wellbeing information and resources, and reflection and mindfulness materials.
It also includes fidget toys and sensory aids, colouring books, a book exchange, card and board games, and bracelet-making activities.
The college currently has 160 apprentices from a variety of practices studying on its Diploma in Veterinary Nursing and Veterinary Care Support Certificate courses.
Emma Eve-Raw, head of centre, said: "With streamed lessons, continuous screen use, and the pressures of balancing study alongside clinical work, many students found themselves remaining connected to technology throughout the day, with limited opportunities for reflection, rest, or meaningful peer interaction.
"The wellbeing room is a space where students are encouraged to pause, regulate, and reconnect - both with themselves and with their cohort.
"These skills are essential not only for academic success, but for long-term resilience within veterinary practice.
"Learning how to take protected time away from screens, emotionally reset and engage positively with colleagues is a vital professional skill within such a demanding sector."
gvnc.co.uk
Dignipets says that as well as supporting clients, referring this aspect of care to qualified counsellors can also reduce the emotional strain on veterinary teams.
Last year, Dignipets launched a free app for pet carers that offers quality of life scoring tools and a connection with the Dignipets hospice team.
Dignipets says that the app can strengthen the relationship between vet practices and their clients, in a partnership where the vet team provides the best care for the pet, Dignipets provides specialist hospice support and QOL guidance, and the APBC offers professional emotional support for clients, reflecting a more holistic model of veterinary care.
Merel Taal, Founder and Principal Director at Dignipets, said: "Coping with the loss of a pet can be extremely difficult and there is no shame in seeking professional support to get through such a challenging time.
"But what really excites me is that we can now reach pet carers so much sooner - before loss, during those incredibly hard weeks and months of anticipatory grief.
"This is an amazing extra feature that means we hopefully get more pet carers struggling with anticipatory grief the support that they need - sooner."
https://www.dignipets.co.uk
The company says the MiniTracker 4 has been designed to make microchip scanning faster, more reliable and less stressful for a wide range of animals.
The MiniTracker 4 reads ISO standard microchips up to 20cm.
A silent mode disables the audible beep to reduce stress for nervous animals.
Bluetooth connectivity pairs the scanner with mobile devices and apps, including the FEI Horse App.
On-board memory stores the last 20 scans with date and time stamps, with expandable memory via a card.
Power options are 4x AA batteries or USB-C, including use with a power bank.
The unit, which is chemical-resistant, reads all four current companion animal microchip standards.
Richard Cratchley, Sales Manager at AVID, said: "With the MiniTracker 4 we’ve created the ideal balance of portability, power and innovation.
"Features like silent mode, extended read range and Bluetooth integration help professionals scan animals quickly and reliably."
www.avidplc.com
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 decision followed a recommendation made by the School of Biological Sciences in December 2025 to close the programme, after the School said there was no “viable long-term solution” for the sustainable delivery of clinical services within the veterinary course.
Reporting in the Financial Times said the veterinary school had been operating at losses exceeding £1 million annually.
The course had also been granted only conditional RCVS accreditation in 2024 after a visitation found it met 27 of the College’s 77 accreditation standards, with further improvements required for full approval..
The recommendation to close the school was met with significant opposition, both externally from the wider profession and internally from academics and students at Cambridge.
Responding to the news, British Veterinary Association President Dr Rob Williams MRCVS said: “We’re pleased that Cambridge University’s governing body has listened to concerns raised by BVA and so many across the whole veterinary profession and has come to the decision not to close its veterinary school.
“A resilient veterinary workforce relies on a healthy pipeline of homegrown talent and the UK’s vet schools, including Cambridge, play a crucial role in this.
“In our open letter to the school last month, we underlined how its closure would not only have represented a ‘profound gamble with public health and scientific excellence’ but also would have had a significantly negative impact on the future supply of highly skilled veterinary professionals.
“However, whilst today’s decision is a step in the right direction, it’s essential the University commits to ensuring the school is appropriately resourced to preserve its vital role at the forefront of global health and scientific leadership, now and in the future.”
The survey of 2,000 UK consumers, which was carried out by OnePoll in March 2026, found that 40% of pet owners were very concerned about the rising cost of veterinary treatment and 42% were fairly concerned.
It also found that 43% of pet owners currently do not have pet insurance, a figure which is broadly consistent with findings from a recent peer-reviewed study published in the Veterinary Record, which found that 48.5% of UK pet owners surveyed did not have insurance and that affordability was a major factor affecting uptake.
The research also found that 23% of pet owners have cancelled a pet insurance policy within the last two years.
Among those, 11% said premiums had become too expensive and 7% said the policy no longer offered good value.
Insurance status differed by species, with 33% of dog owners uninsured compared with 44% of cat owners.
The findings also showed that 62% of policyholders said they had never made a claim, while 36% had claimed on their policy, including 22% who had made one claim and 13% who had made multiple claims.
The earlier study in the Veterinary Record also identified a strong link between household income and insurance uptake in the UK, with owners in lower-income households significantly less likely to insure their pets.
https://www.bestinsurance.co.uk
For the study1, which was led by Professor David Gardner and Dr Rebecca Brociek and published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, researchers analysed opportunistically collected kidney samples from 58 domestic cats, seven domestic dogs, 24 Scottish wildcats and three zoo wildcats.
Using chemical analyses, the team discovered that cats accumulate a rare group of modified triglycerides, some with unusual chemical bonds or branched structures, that are very rarely observed in other mammals.
Dogs did not show this pattern at all, and the feral Scottish Wildcats showed it only occasionally.
Dr Brociek said: "Why these types of unusual fats accumulate in domestic cat kidneys, even from an early age, may offer an important clue as to why domestic cats are particularly prone to chronic kidney disease, one of the most common and serious illnesses affecting older cats."
The researchers say that this distinctive lipid buildup inside kidney cells could be an early sign of long‑term stress within the kidney, potentially contributing to tissue damage over time.
Professor Gardner added: "We are hopeful that soon we will understand why these unusual fats accumulate in domestic cats - we just have to collect the evidence to find the proof.
"If true, we believe we could develop a supplement or modified diet to help prevent these unusual lipid structures from accumulating, ultimately benefitting the long-term health of our companion animals."
The discovery opens a new area of investigation into feline biology, suggesting that cats’ unique metabolism may predispose them to kidney problems. It could eventually lead to better diagnostic tools, improved diets, and new treatments for protecting cats' kidney health.
The company said that from April 6, 2026, umbrella companies, along with the agencies or end clients using them, will become liable for unpaid PAYE tax.
Ronda.vet said that if an umbrella company fails to pay HMRC, the liability can be passed directly to the end client, the veterinary practice.
The company also said HMRC could potentially pursue the end client for unpaid tax without first exhausting recovery options against the non-compliant umbrella company or agency.
The new rules apply to any payments made to workers employed by an umbrella company on or after April 6.
Ronda.vet said that for veterinary practices there are two scenarios.
If a practice is using an agency, the recruiters will generally be liable first.
If the practice is contracting directly with an umbrella company, the liability falls squarely at their door.
Ibra Hernando, co founder of Ronda Vet said: "Many practices use umbrella companies without fully understanding where liability sits.
"From April, ignorance won't protect a practice from a significant unexpected tax bill if a provider further up the chain fails to pay HMRC.
"These changes are a bit of a wake-up call for the entire profession to know exactly how their locum staff are being paid."
www.ronda.vet
Julia Albright, MA, DVM, DACVB, and Martha G. Cline, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition) will share the latest insights on how nutrition influences behaviour, cognition, and learning in dogs and cats.
https://events.purinainstitute.com/login/purinainstitute/CollaborativeCare-2026
Seats are available for both registered veterinary nurses and student veterinary nurses, with applications open until Friday 15th May 2026.
BVNA Council approved the move towards an Application and Selection Process last year.
It said the change was made "with the aims of promoting inclusivity, and the ability to select Council members with varying backgrounds, skills and experience, to represent a wider range of RVNs and SVNs".
Council members serve a three-year period, with terms of office staggered.
Council meets six times per year, twice at the BVNA Head Office in Harlow, once during BVNA Congress in Telford, and otherwise online.
There are three committees within BVNA Council: Congress and Events, Membership, and Policy.
Council members also represent BVNA at veterinary events, including BVNA Congress.
BVNA President Sarah Holliday said: "At a time when the veterinary profession as a whole is navigating both challenges but also significant opportunities, BVNA is committed to providing leadership and a clear voice for veterinary nurses.
"Our activities rely on having a strong Council team to guide the association, and we are delighted to invite applications from both RVN and SVN members."
https://bvna.org.uk
Sarah says that while some patients do benefit from seeing multidisciplinary hospital teams, many are easily managed in practice and benefit from local care.
Oncotails offers early intervention at the time of diagnosis, either with advice for the GP or an owner consultation to discuss treatment options and likely prognosis, and to answer those difficult questions.
This, says Sarah, frees up time for the local vet who keeps management of the case but with the expert guidance of a specialist.
https://www.oncotails.com
Richard completed his specialist training at the Royal Veterinary College and remained there for a further year as a clinician before spending seven years gaining referral experience at a multi-disciplinary referral hospital in Surrey.
From the Sevenoaks hospital he provides ophthalmology services including cataract surgery, corneal ulcer management, treatment of feline corneal sequestra, tear film disorders such as keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), and emergency ophthalmic cases.
South East Veterinary Referrals has installed a Zeiss operating microscope to support procedures including cataract removal, corneal ulcer repair and corneal transpositions.
Richard said: "Eye problems in dogs and cats can progress rapidly.
"Cataracts linked to diabetes, deep corneal ulcers, or trauma can threaten sight within days.
"Until now, many complex cases in Kent had to be referred many miles away.
"SEVR provides a seamless pathway for assessment and surgery, whilst ensuring pets return to their first referral vet for follow-up care when appropriate."
www.southeastvetreferrals.com
For the research, published in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, the team studied osteoarthritic tissues from dogs with osteoarthritis treated with total hip replacement surgery at the RVC's Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, using ultra-high-resolution micro-computed tomography to map the entire femoral head in three dimensions.
Using this technique, as opposed to more localised analysis previously conducted on human samples, researchers identified that different areas of the femoral head simultaneously responded differently.
In particular, the findings revealed that in the earliest stages of osteoarthritis, the inner regions predictably change their bone structure pattern, allowing early identification of osteoarthritis.
As the disease progresses, the dense layer of bone immediately below the joint surface becomes more porous in proportion to the increasing severity of osteoarthritis, distinguishing mild from severe changes.
The researchers say that the next step is to match these changes with clinical scans to develop improved non-invasive approaches to assessing joint health at much earlier stages of disease.
Professor Richard Meeson, Professor of Orthopaedics at the RVC, and senior author of the paper, said: "Osteoarthritis is a devastating disease affecting both people and our pets.
"Every day in our orthopaedic referral clinic, I see dogs suffering from its severe effects.
"What is truly exciting is that through our clinical work, we can transform the lives of dogs through hip replacement surgery, and we have also been able to drive forward pioneering research at the RVC.
"This research has provided new insights into the disease and, crucially, brings us closer to diagnosing osteoarthritis at a much earlier stage."
The CPD events, which are part of the College's Next Steps project, are aimed specifically at returning parents, those coming back from a career break, and individuals moving into management.
They offer a blend of practical guidance, peer support, professional networking, and careers expertise.
Tash Goodwin Roberts, RCVS Projects Implementation Manager, said: "Navigating change can be exciting, but it doesn’t come without challenges.
"Our Next Steps project is designed to make those transitions as smooth as possible, to make sure you feel confident in reconnecting with your professional identity."
The events will take place on 12 May, 21 May, and 18 June at the RCVS' offices in London.
Tickets cost £50 for those booking at least six weeks in advance.
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/rcvs-next-steps-4825743
Stacy has been leading the BSAVA’s Programme of Change and has worked with the Board and leadership team over the past year on the new business plan and strategy.
Amanda Stranack joined the BSAVA in 2012 as Head of Congress, became Director of Operations in 2016 and was appointed CEO in 2019.
The BSAVA said she helped strengthen its operational capability and long-term resilience, and that membership has grown to more than 10,000 during her time as CEO.
Amanda said: “I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together and grateful to the team, volunteers, partners and veterinary community who have supported our work.”
BSAVA president Dr Julian Hoad said: “Amanda’s contribution to the BSAVA over the past 14 years has been exceptional.
"She has led with professionalism, warmth and a deep commitment to the veterinary profession...And as we move into that next phase, we are delighted to welcome Stacy as our Interim CEO.”
Details of the BSAVA’s strategic plan and forward direction are due to be announced in mid-March.
The new library provides images of companion and farm animals with the purpose of helping animal health teams find the right images quickly, and with confidence in their clinical accuracy for appropriate use.
Toby Trimble, founder of Trimble Group, said: "We repeatedly saw a common issue in the veterinary sector of inadequate images and teams were having to spend significant amounts of time searching for usable images.
"To remedy this, we have created the Animal Health Image Library.
"Every image is clinically accurate, and features a mixture of breeds, signalments and scenarios.
"Furthermore we have clearly categorised images into categories which makes finding the right image a quick and easy process.
"We truly believe this resource will aid both those working in the industry creating content, and consumers who will benefit from seeing accurate imagery.”
www.vetimages.com
The programme centres on the theme “The future RVN: people, practice and technology”.
Sessions will examine how developments across veterinary healthcare may influence the training and role of veterinary nurses.
Topics include team-based healthcare and contextualised care, focusing on collaborative practice and the complexity of real-world clinical environments.
An update on legislation and regulation affecting veterinary nursing practice and education is also included.
A panel discussion will explore technology-enabled practice, including artificial intelligence, digital innovation, paperless practice and entrepreneurial developments within veterinary nursing.
Delegates can also attend one of two workshops covering practical assessment approaches or the future scope of veterinary nurse practice.
Shirley Gibbins, Veterinary Nursing Qualifications Lead at the RCVS, said: “The day itself is highly interactive and serves as a perfect opportunity for VN educators to come together, explore emerging trends, share perspectives and reflect on how education and training can respond to a changing professional landscape.
“Whether you’re involved in curriculum delivery, assessment, quality assurance or programme leadership we would love for you to join us.”
Tickets cost £60 per person and include lunch and refreshments.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/vn-educators-conference-the-future-rvn-people-practice-and-technology-tickets-1981441511901
Caroline uses the five domains framework — nutrition, physical environment, health, behavioural interactions and mental state — to provide welfare assessments to help owners navigate some of the increasingly difficult choices that modern veterinary medicine now offers.
In particular, Pet Lighthouse aims to bridge the gap between Dr. Google and clinical reality, to support informed decision-making, and to give clients the long consultations that they may need to process difficult news, which may be difficult to provide in general practice.
Caroline, who has over 15 years experience in first-opinion work and eight years as the RSPCA's Chief Vet, does not prescribe or treat, and clients are directed back to their local practice for clinical care.
She said: "I am here to ensure that when a family returns to your consulting room, they are informed, calm, and focused."
"My goal is to support the profession by providing the intensive advocacy and client support that a standard consultation window simply cannot accommodate."
Caroline is inviting practices to signpost clients directly to the Pet Lighthouse website or reach out for an initial discussion.
www.petlighthouse.co.uk
It replaces the College’s previous website, which dated back to 2011.
The main change is consolidation of content, with resources previously spread across separate webpages now brought into a single structure.
As part of that, the College says the number of pages has been reduced from more than 1,500 to 600, with content reviewed and rewritten in plain English.
The site has also been redesigned to align with the new RCVS brand and visual identity.
RCVS Council member Linda Ford, who chaired the Website Project Board, said: “This project has been a major undertaking for the College team over the past 18 months… and the 500 or so veterinary professionals and animal owners who have helped us with testing along the way, to ensure the new site works for them.”
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/