Written by Robyn Lowe BSc Hons, Dip AVN (Surgery, Medicine, Anaesthesia) DipHE CVN, RVN Director: Veterinary Voices UK As part of our SPVS Congress Special with Paul Horwood - Podcast (due to be published on Sunday the 22nd February) and SPVS Congress Talk (Friday 27th February) We are in the era now of veterinary professionals who have started out their veterinary journey because of the deep love of James Herriot and the idealistic views of his adventures, anecdotes, and tra

Christmas can be an exciting time for all the family, so it’s not surprising that people want to include their four-legged family members in the festivities. This may include feeding a few yuletide treats, but be warned, some of our favourite seasonal foods could spoil your dog’s day very quickly! Common Christmas foods can cause anything from digestive upset to serious, life-threatening toxicity. Firstly, there’s absolutely no need to feed your dog anything in addition to th

Summary: Key Statistics on Antibiotic Resistance and Use (UK, 2024) 17% increase  in deaths linked to antibiotic-resistant superbugs in England (2024). 22%  of antibiotics dispensed through private (human) prescriptions  in 2024. 30%  of all UK antibiotic use attributed to farm animals  (2017 data). 96% reduction  in injectable Highest Priority Critically Important Antibiotics (HPCIAs)  on UK dairy farms (2017–2020). 55% reduction  in total antibiotic sales for livestock sinc

INTRODUCTION Mobility can be defined as the ability to move without restriction or pain. 1 Animals may alter the way they move to avoid pain or discomfort. Owners may notice that their pet has been struggling to climb stairs, is unable to climb into the car, showing occasional stiffness, reluctant to exercise or is taking longer to get up when lying down. Changes to an animal’s mobility capabilities may be an indication of injury or disease. 2 Diseases affecting the mechanica

In an episode of Vet Voices On Air , Robyn talks with Professor Dan O’Neill  (RVC; co-lead, VetCompass ) about a powerful idea reshaping small-animal welfare: innate health . Instead of asking, “Does this dog have a disease today?”, innate health asks, “Does this dog have the capacity to live the full life a dog should?”  That means breathing, blinking, sleeping, running, communicating, and self-care without compromise—across a normal lifespan. Listen Here: https://open.spoti

Dog breeding has always been a topic of passionate debate. For some, it represents the preservation of heritage and the careful refinement of canine traits. For others, it highlights the dangers of prioritising aesthetics over welfare. While opinions differ, one fact remains clear: breeding practices can either support or seriously compromise canine health and welfare . The Changing Landscape of Dog Breeding Kennel clubs and pedigree registration systems once defined the bree

Today the CMA has released more information on their provisional decision. You have until 12th November to respond. Many of the suggestions are things many practices have already been doing, although there are certainly some suggestions that centralise information. Some of the suggestions have wider implications that perhaps the CMA has not considered; this is your chance to let them know more about the realities of working in veterinary practice, and how some of these change

The Veterinary Voices Hiking Group  laced up their boots this month to take part in a special two-day charity challenge in the beautiful...

Pet owners have to navigate many decisions when choosing a pet food - however, care should be taken when deciding how much to feed. A...

What causes itching (pruritus) in dogs? Skin problems are one of the most common reasons for dogs to be presented at the vets, and...

Much like in humans, our dogs’ brains develop metabolic, functional and physical changes with age. Many of these are unwanted and can...

Is being overweight a problem for dogs and cats? The increasing number of overweight and obese pets is an area of concern for veterinary...

The Veterinary Voices Hiking Group had another successful trip into the beautiful countryside with their Eryri (Snowdonia) Navigation...