VetNurse News

BSAVA appoints Stacy Woodman interim CEO as Amanda Stranack steps down

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association has appointed Stacy Woodman (pictured) as interim CEO while it recruits a permanent replacement, after confirming Amanda Stranack will leave on 30 April 2026.

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.

RCVS refuses restoration bid by former Scarborough-based vet removed after assault conviction

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 08:00:00 GMT

The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has refused an application for restoration to the Register from a former Scarborough-based veterinary surgeon, Mr Matthew Makepeace.

Mr Makepeace was removed from the Register in 2024 after being convicted of assaulting his ex-partner in 2022.

He then submitted a character reference to the RCVS which purported to come from his partner, stating they were “still happily together”, and forged her signature.

It also found he sent offensive, insulting, abusive and threatening WhatsApp messages to his ex-partner between December 2022 and January 2023.

The committee said removal was the only proportionate sanction, citing the public interest, deterrence, and maintaining confidence in the profession and regulatory process.

During the restoration hearing, the committee was also told that since removal Mr Makepeace had continued to hold himself out as a vet, including emailing a practice seeking work experience with the opening line: “I’m a vet”.

The committee found the email used deliberate and careful wording and was a calculated attempt to mislead, omitting his removal from the Register and creating a distorted impression of no disciplinary concerns.

It concluded the email and lack of transparency with potential employers were further examples of dishonesty alongside the earlier forgery, and found the conduct misleading and dishonest.

The committee accepted Mr Makepeace understood he had assaulted his ex-partner, but was not convinced he understood the impact of previous manipulative and coercive behaviour.

It found nothing to suggest he would be of harm to animals, but concluded he was more likely to put his own interests first, including through recent communications stating he was a vet.

Kathryn Peaty, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “While the Committee recognises Mr Makepeace’s desire to advance his career and that his prospects would be enhanced by restoration of his name to the Register, that is not a factor relevant to his application.

"The Committee’s obligations and duties are to ensure that the interests of animal welfare are properly protected by ensuring that those whose names are on the Register are properly trained, knowledgeable and experienced in the treatment of animals and that public confidence in the standards of the profession is maintained.

“The Committee cannot restore someone to the Register who is not fit by virtue of their repeated dishonest and unacceptable conduct, without insight into the impact of the lack of probity by a vet."

https://www.rcvs.org.uk/veterinary-professionals/conduct-and-guidance/concerns-for-veterinary-professionals/disciplinary-committee-hearings

RCVS urges vet nurses to back Option 1

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT

The RCVS has published its response to Defra’s consultation on reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, urging vet nurses to back Option 1 and retain a ‘Royal College that regulates’.

The College response welcomes Defra’s incorporation of many of the College’s longstanding recommendations for legislative change in its proposed reform of the VSA.

This includes giving the RCVS statutory powers to regulate veterinary businesses and protection of title for veterinary nurses, alongside reforms that could allow VNs to take on more roles and responsibilities.

It also supports enabling statutory regulation of the wider veterinary team, including allied professionals such as equine dental technicians and behaviourists, and a modernised registration and licensing system.

The response also backs an updated, forward-looking, fitness to practise regime with a greater range of sanctions available and interim powers of suspension.

In terms of the future governance structure for the RCVS, its response strongly favours Option 1 in Defra’s proposals - the ‘Royal College that regulates’ model – rather than Option 2, which would see the RCVS shorn of its broader public interest and professional leadership objectives and left with a purely regulatory remit.

RCVS President Professor Tim Parkin said: “It is our strong belief that the ‘Royal College that regulates’ model retains the best of both worlds, because it takes a proactive and holistic approach to regulation and fitness to practise.

“For example, professional leadership projects such as the Mind Matters Initiative and our reasonable adjustments campaign have opened up conversations around mental and physical health, and how we can better support our registrants to continue to meet professional standards in the public interest, while the RCVS Academy helps our registrants understand and navigate their professional responsibilities via innovative learning content.

“Furthermore, given the importance of supportive, preventative approaches to modern professional regulation, there can be no clear or fixed dividing line between the College’s regulatory and Royal College functions.

"Not only would Option 2 not create clarity, it would also risk undermining and leaving in limbo, without funding, much of the good work we have done with projects in mental health, workforce, environment and sustainability, and through our Fellowship.

“If you want a balanced and holistic approach to regulation for the benefit of animal health and welfare, public health and wider society, then please make sure you support Option 1 when you complete the consultation.”

https://www.rcvs.org.uk/veterinary-professionals/consultations/vsa-reform-time-for-change

New treatment for allergic dermatitis in dogs

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 08:00:00 GMT

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate has authorised Numelvi (atinvicitinib) tablets for the treatment of pruritus associated with allergic dermatitis in dogs.

The maker, MSD Animal Health, says Numelvi is "the first and only “second-generation” Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor indicated from six months of age (and 3kg) for the treatment of pruritus associated with allergic dermatitis, including atopic dermatitis, as well as the clinical manifestations of atopic dermatitis in dogs. .

It is given once daily and MSD says it is clinically effective after the first dose.

The company says itch relief begins within 2–4 hours and dosing is one tablet a day from day one.

MSD claims Numelvi is at least 10 times more selective for JAK1 compared with other JAK family members (JAK2, JAK3 and TYK2).

Numelvi can be used concurrently with vaccines (including rabies) and other common treatments such as ectoparasiticides, with no requirement for routine blood and urine monitoring.

Dermatology specialist Dr Debbie Gow said: “Second-generation JAK inhibitors are selective — specifically, in this case, more selective for JAK1 than other JAK enzymes.

“The high selectivity for JAK 1 contributes to the favourable safety profile of Numelvi.”

Dr Sue Paterson MA VetMB DVD DipECVD FRCVS added: “Treating canine allergic dermatitis means offering treatment which relieves itch and inflammation, whilst managing any unwanted side effects.

"We want to inhibit JAK 1 to reduce itch and inflammation, whilst having little to no effect on other JAK family members.”

MSD Animal Health will host a lunch-and-learn digital launch event with The Webinar Vet on Thursday 26 March, aiming to set a Guinness World Record for a veterinary educational launch event.

Vet reprimanded after drink-driving conviction

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Dr Tudor Herlea MRCVS has been reprimanded by the RCVS Disciplinary Committee following a conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol and driving while his licence was suspended.

Dr Herlea MRCVS was convicted on 15 January 2025 at the Cluj Court of Appeal.

He was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years and made subject to probation/supervision during the period of the suspended sentence.

The Committee heard he was stopped shortly after midnight on 5 February 2023 during a routine police stop and tested over the alcohol limit.

His licence had previously been suspended for three months following a speeding offence in December 2022, ending on 27 February 2023.

The Committee took account of his statement that he had been drinking at home when his father became unwell and he drove to a nearby pharmacy because his father did not have his medication.

The Committee found the conviction was incompatible with paragraph 6.5 of the profession’s governing code and found him unfit to practise as a veterinary surgeon.

Aggravating factors included disregarding the prohibition on driving, the extent his blood alcohol exceeded the limit, and the risk of injury to others.

Mitigation included early admissions and notification to the RCVS, a favourable probation report, remorse and insight, and positive colleague references, with no actual harm and an otherwise unblemished record.

Hilary Lloyd, chairing the Committee, said: “The misconduct of Dr Herlea is serious but, considering the mitigating factors present in this case, the Committee concluded that a period of suspension was neither necessary nor proportionate.

"The consequence of a period of suspension is that the Registrar removes the veterinary surgeon’s name from the Register during the period ordered. It is then automatically restored to the Register at the conclusion of the period of suspension.

"Dr Herlea would be obliged to inform the Home Office that he was no longer able to comply with the terms of his work permit, as would his sponsor practice.

"It is not therefore unreasonable to assume that under current Home Office guidance, even a short period of suspension would result in Dr Herlea being unable to practise in the UK, with permanent effect, which would be disproportionate.

“The Committee concluded that a reprimand and warning as to Dr Herlea’s future conduct was the appropriate sanction.”

https://www.rcvs.org.uk/veterinary-professionals/conduct-and-guidance/concerns-for-veterinary-professionals/disciplinary-committee-hearings

Webinar to look at creating a hormone-friendly veterinary practice

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 08:00:00 GMT

Vet Empowered and Covetrus are running a free two-part webinar series on how veterinary workplaces can better support people affected by hormonal changes.

The two 90-minute sessions, led by clinical psychologist Dr Helena Tucker, will cover how menstrual hormones affect stress, performance and emotional regulation, what realistic workplace adjustments can look like, how to advocate for yourself and others and how to engage colleagues and leadership in creating sustainable, stigma-free change.

They will also look at the workplace impact of PMS, PMDD, perimenopause, menopause, fertility challenges, pregnancy loss, hormonal treatment and other “significant hormonal transitions”.

The organisers said the content is designed to be “realistic about the demands of veterinary environments” and aimed at individuals and leaders having meaningful conversations about support and adjustments.

Katie Ford, co-founder of Vet Empowered, said: “You may never personally experience menstrual hormones, but you almost certainly live with someone who does, or have someone in your team who does.

"Understanding our biology as human beings, and how we can thoughtfully adapt our workplaces to honour that, benefits everyone.

"This is not about resilience or weakness.

"It is about biology, and what we can do with that knowledge.”

Session 1, Creating a Hormone-Friendly Veterinary Workplace, runs on Sunday 29 March 2026 at 10:00am BST for 90 minutes.

Session 2, From Awareness to Action - Advocacy and Sustainable Support in Veterinary Teams, runs on Saturday 11 April 2026 at 10:00am BST for 90 minutes.

The organisers said both sessions will be recorded and are open to vets, nurses, practice managers, leaders, and anyone who wants to better support colleagues and teams.

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/1gjSl4osQkKnihbgUVRpQQ#/registration

Cambridge governing body votes to keep vet school open

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMT

The University of Cambridge will continue its undergraduate veterinary medicine degree after the university’s governing body voted against proposals to discontinue the course.

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.”

Prednisolone and clopidogrel linked to three-month survival in Pugs with protein-losing enteropathy

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 08:00:00 GMT

Royal Veterinary College researchers have published a study in the Journal of Small Animal Practice which shows the potential for treatment to improve short-term survival rates for Pugs with protein-losing enteropathy (PLE)¹.

The study first set out to address whether the higher proportional mortality previously reported for Pugs with PLE in referral care is also seen in dogs managed only in primary care by looking at 51 cases from VetCompass data.

In the study, 43% of Pugs died presumed due to PLE, with over half of these deaths occurring within three months of diagnosis.

Most deaths were recorded as euthanasia (64%), with the remainder recorded as unassisted deaths.

The underlying cause for the PLE diagnosis in most Pugs in the study was not identified.

Clinical signs at diagnosis commonly included diarrhoea, vomiting, inappetence, lethargy, weight loss and increased drinking.

At the time of death, additional signs reported included pale mucous membranes, seizures and anaemia, which the authors noted have not been reported in the literature previously.

Treatments prescribed were variable and included dietary therapy, prednisolone, clopidogrel, chlorambucil, cyclosporin and/or cobalamin supplementation.

Pugs treated with prednisolone or clopidogrel were significantly more likely to be alive after three months, but this effect did not persist at one or two years after diagnosis.

Dr Aarti Kathrani, lead author of the study, said: “The results of our study will help to increase awareness and highlight the outcome and various causes of death in Pugs with protein-losing enteropathy.

"We hope the results will also help drive much-needed further research into the mechanism, pathophysiology and consequence of this disease, which is needed to help discover effective therapeutic targets that could help improve the prognosis of this guarded condition.”

Reference

Kathrani, A., Brodbelt, D.C., Church, D.B. and O’Neill, D.G. (2026), Clinical management and outcomes for 51 Pugs reportedly diagnosed with protein-losing enteropathy using VetCompass primary care veterinary data. J Small Anim Pract. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsap.70094

New HR platform for independent and small veterinary practices

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Agilio Veterinary has launched iTeam, an HR platform for independent and small veterinary practices.

The platform is designed to help practices manage HR and compliance requirements without dedicated HR support, in the face of increasing inspections.

Agilio said iTeam centralises HR tasks, automates compliance, and can include optional access to HR advisers for more complex people issues.

iTeam includes built-in veterinary-specific compliance checks, plus workflows and integrated learning tools that do not require specialist HR expertise.

The company says the software can also handle automated reminders and workflows, leave and absence management, and staff records and policies.

iTeam can also support CPD tracking via iLearn Vet integration.

Agilio says rota management is planned next via iRota, described as a dedicated workforce planning solution for visibility of shifts, cover and capacity.

Emma Barnes, Managing Director – Emerging Markets at Agilio Software, said: “iTeam was designed to make HR compliance simple and manageable, without adding unnecessary complexity.”

https://agiliosoftware.com/veterinary

Ferrets, rabbits and axolotls on the agenda at May exotics CPD conference

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 08:00:00 GMT

Just Exotics is hosting its Virtual Conference 2026 online (via Zoom), on 16–17 May 2026, offering 16 hours of exotic CPD for veterinary surgeons.

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

Zoetis to host Equine Parasite Control Masterclass for vet nurses

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Zoetis is hosting an Equine Parasite Control Masterclass webinar series online, with the remaining live sessions running from 25 March to 28 October 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:

25 March 2026 (Spring Action Plan: Laying the Foundations for a Healthy Year),
20 May 2026 (Summer Strategies: Monitoring, Testing, and Pasture Management),
26 August 2026 (Seasonal Shift: Preparing for Autumn and Winter Parasite Challenges),
28 October 2026 (Mastering the Cycle: Confronting Parasite Risks of the Season).

The webinar series can be recorded as self-reflective CPD.

https://canterforhorses.org.uk/guidelines/

https://www.beva.org.uk/Resources/Medicines/Anthelmintic-Toolkit

Royal Veterinary College study shows how AI could transform fracture detection in animals

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 08:00:00 GMT

Researchers from the Royal Veterinary College have published a study reporting that an AI system achieved up to 84% fracture localisation accuracy in horses, with potential for wider application in companion animal practice.

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

Ahmed, H. T., Berner, D., Zhang, Q., Verheyen, K., Llabres-Diaz, F., Peter, V. G., & Chang, Y.-M. Bridging Species with AI: A Cross-Species Deep Learning Model for Fracture Detection and Beyond. Bioengineering. 2026, 13(2), 213. https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/13/2/213

National SQP Week to drive better awareness and understanding

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMT

AMTRA, Vetpol and VetSkill have jointly announced the first National SQP Week, which will take place across the UK from 5–12 June 2026.

The week is intended to raise awareness and understanding of the role of Suitably Qualified Persons (SQPs), also known as Animal Medicines Advisors.

The organisers are encouraging retailers, pharmaceutical companies, animal owners, veterinary practice teams, government and SQPs to take part.

A campaign toolkit is being developed and will be launched ahead of the week.

The toolkit will include downloadable resources such as logos, posters, FAQs and activation ideas, and will be accessible to anyone wishing to participate.

The organisers said the campaign follows an industry survey indicating limited awareness of SQP expertise among animal owners and parts of the veterinary and animal medicines professions.

AMTRA CEO Stephen Dawson said: “SQPs are highly qualified professionals, yet many people who interact with them don’t fully understand their expertise—or the benefits they can bring.

“This campaign is here to change that.”

Stakeholders are being asked to mark their calendars, promote the week and plan activities in advance of the toolkit release.

Bella Moss Foundation refreshes infection control guidance for vet practices

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 08:00:00 GMT

The Bella Moss Foundation has updated its free infection control guidelines for veterinary practices and refreshed its online hygiene self-audit tool.

The updated resources include sanitation protocols for clinical and non-clinical areas, plus staff training materials to standardise hygiene across teams.

They also includes guidance on positive surveillance for nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections, and an online self-audit tool designed to help practices review current procedures and identify gaps.

The update is intended to support infection prevention and responsible antimicrobial use, and to reduce the risk of resistant infections affecting animals and their owners.

The Foundation said it is expanding educational materials for veterinary professionals and pet owners, supported by a new board of trustees, veterinary student educators and clinical advisors.

https://www.thebellamossfoundation.com/veterinary-professionals

London CPD meeting to examine how referral care fits into the contextualised model

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMT

The Veterinary Specialist Association is holding a one-day CPD meeting: “Referral Contextualised Care in a Changing Veterinary Landscape – Exploring Barriers and Finding Solutions” at The Royal Kennel Club in London on 26 March 2026.

The event will explore how referral and second-opinion care fit within the contextualised care model and how the profession can strengthen delivery of compassionate and sustainable specialist care.

The meeting is aimed at veterinary specialists, general practitioners, veterinary nurses, practice managers and others interested in referral practice, ethics, patient welfare and professional wellbeing.

Sessions include a presentation by Dr Rachel Dean FRCVS of VetPartners examining whether the concept of a veterinary “gold standard” can act as a barrier to contextualised care.

Other talks will explore how market structures influence veterinary care, the impact of changing ownership models on client relationships, and ethical dilemmas in practice.

Additional sessions will cover story-based approaches to contextualised care, collaborative contextualised care, clinical communication tools, and whether contextualised care differs within corporate practice settings.

The programme will also include discussion of RCVS Knowledge research alongside workshops and networking opportunities.

https://www.vsavet.org/events/contextualised-care-in-a-changing-veterinary-landscape