Veterinary News Headlines

    Locum vet given six month suspension for being dishonest over treatment

    Locum vet Stavros Paschalidis has been suspended by the RCVS Disciplinary Committee after it found he was dishonest in relation to his treatment of two patients. Mr Paschalidis faced three charges. The first was that he failed to carry out an examination...
  • Homeopathic vets claim new study demonstrates efficacy

    The British Association of Homeopathic Veterinary Surgeons is claiming that: "owners can now be confident homeopathic medicines can be effective for common canine and feline conditions in many animals, following a recently published clinical study...
  • HeartVets becomes first referral practice to become an Employee Owned Trust

    HeartVets, the UK’s largest cardiology referral practice has become an Employee Owned Trust (EOT). The practice, which has nine clinicians (including three RCVS Recognised Specialists), eleven RVNs, two human-trained cardiac physiologists and a dedicated...

    AHT DNA test stamps out disease which blinds Petit Basset Griffon Vendeens

    The Animal Health Trust reports that a DNA test it developed in 2015 for primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), a painful condition which eventually leads to blindness in the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, appears to have stamped out the disease. When...

    New RVC research shows certain dog breeds are more prone to keratoconjunctivitis sicca

    New research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has revealed that flat-faced dogs and spaniels, amongst others, are more prone to keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), aka ‘dry eye’. The study 1 was led by the RVC’s VetCompass Programme and is the...
  • London vet nurse struck off for dishonesty over veterinary drugs

    The RCVS Veterinary Nurse Disciplinary Committee has directed that London-based veterinary nurse Paul Chaney is removed from the Register after he was found guilty of a stealing, possessing and unlawfully administering various veterinary drugs, and that...
  • Equine vet's divorce makes legal history

    Leading equine veterinary surgeon Ian Wright has been setting a legal precedent this week, as the Court of Appeal ruled that his ex-wife could not expect him to continue to fund her lifestyle and that she should earn her own living. Ian, an RCVS Specialist...

    Doncaster vet struck off for drug use

    Stephen Prichard has been struck off by the RCVS Disciplinary Committee after he was found to have taken and used controlled drugs, reported for work while unfit to do so, and ignored requests from the College to respond to the concerns raised against...
  • New paper highlights errors in veterinary surgeons' thinking

    A new peer-reviewed paper which compares veterinary drugs with homeopathy should arguably be required reading for all veterinary professionals, not just because it provides a bulletproof case against a form of pseudo-science quack medicine, but because...

    Tim Harrison to launch new veterinary group

    Tim Harrison, who with his father Craig built White Cross Vets into a 20-practice group across the North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Midlands, has announced plans to launch a new independent practice group. Harrison Family Vets opened its first...

    Anaesthetic shortage: "Special" isoflurane on the way

    The BEVA, the BSAVA and The Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists (AVA) say that working with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, they've found a solution to the isoflurane shortage . Having investigated alternative sources of isoflurane, and...

    Boehringer launches Bovalto Respi Intranasal

    Boehringer Ingelheim has launched Bovalto Respi Intranasal, an intranasal pneumonia vaccine for calves. Bovalto Respi Intranasal protects against the two main respiratory viruses – RSV and PI3, using modified live viral strains that have been shown...
  • Vets told to 'grow a pair' and campaign on brachycephalic breeds

    Veterinary surgeons and nurses are being called on to 'grow a pair' and sign an online petition for urgent action on the issue of brachycephalic breeds. The petition was set up by veterinary surgeon and journalist Pete Wedderburn, after discussion...

    First ever commercial diagnostic test for New Equine Virus

    Portuguese equine biotech firm Equigerminal has launched what it says is the first-ever commercial diagnostic test for New Equine Virus (NEV), a potentially deadly virus. NEV was first identified in 2013 by veterinary surgeon Dr Isabel Fidalgo Carvalho...

    Genitrix reformulates RIP Fleas

    RIP Fleas, the environmental flea treatment from Genitrix, has been given a new formulation to ensure it acts more quickly in the killing of adult fleas and that it continues to kill fleas as they emerge from pupae for up to 12 months. Now known...

    Leeds vet struck off after conviction for animal welfare offences

    Leeds-based Gary James Cassius Samuel has been struck off by the RCVS Disciplinary Committee following his conviction for animal welfare offences in 2016. The Disciplinary Committee heard that Mr Samuel had been convicted of five animal welfare offences...

    New diet for feline nutrient intolerance

    Royal Canin has launched Feline Anallergenic, a new diet formulated to help in the nutritional management of adult cats with nutrient intolerance. The company says that Anallergenic can be used as the elimination diet of choice when working up dermatosis...

    Bayer launches microchip scanner that reads ALL chips

    Bayer has introduced a new microchip scanner which is capable of reading all chips, including encrypted ones. The company says the new Tracer Advance Isomax V scanner offers exceptional reading distances of more than twice those of other scanners...

    Vets now required to scan healthy dogs for a rescue backup prior to euthanasia

    The RCVS has updated its Code of Professional Conduct to require that before euthanasing an otherwise healthy dog, veterinary surgeons must first scan the animal for the presence of a 'rescue backup'. The updated guidance follows a public campaign...
  • ITV's 'Tonight' programme portrays vets as money-grabbing

    ITV's Tonight programme broadcast last night portrayed a veterinary profession in which overcharging is commonplace. Researchers for the programme took three healthy animals (a cat, a dog and a rabbit) to a number of different vets, telling them....
  • Texas vet provokes outrage after posting picture of cat she'd killed with a bow and arrow

    A vet from Texas hit the headlines this weekend after allegedly killing a feral cat with a bow and arrow and then posting photographs and bragging about it on Facebook. According to various news reports, Kristen Lindsey DVM's post quickly went viral...

    Competitions and Markets Authority investigates eight IVC acquisitions

    The Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced that it is investigating eight acquisitions by IVC Evidensia. 16 clinics are affected by the investigation, namely Penrose Veterinary Group Limited, Kevin Castle (Pet Care) Ltd, Swayne & Partners...

    RCVS launches new format for Statutory Membership Examination

    The RCVS Education Committee and Primary Qualifications Subcommittee have announced that there will be a new format for the Statutory Membership Examination from 2019. The Statutory Membership Examination must be taken by all individuals educated...

    Why the average Schnauzer may be the perfect pet

    Research published by the Royal Veterinary College in Canine Genetics and Epidemiology has found that the Miniature Schnauzer is one of the most average dog breeds in the UK 1 , an attribute which could make it an ideal choice for aspiring dog owners...
  • Fuciderm returns as Isaderm

    Dechra Veterinary Products has announced that it is to relaunch Fuciderm Gel, the topical skin product used to treat surface pyoderma in dogs, as Isaderm. Isaderm contains fusidic acid, which Dechra says is highly effective against the bacteria...