Vet Times Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Ten years on from the introduction of compulsory dog microchipping in the UK – how much has really changed for pets, vets, charities and owners? As one of the UK’s leading pet microchip providers, Identichip brings together leading veterinarian Steve Leonard and Fiona Cooke, associate director of policy and impact at Woodgreen Pets Charity, for this Vet Times podcast. Together, they explore the impact of the legislation, ongoing challenges, registration compliance, success stories from practice and charity work and the importance of keeping details up to date. SPONSORED This Vet Times Extra podcast is sponsored by Identicare – the suppliers of Identichip microchips and the Defra-compliant pet database Identibase. Identicare supports vets and animal charities with high-quality microchips, scanners and a dedicated team to help with the full pet protection journey, from implantation and registration to keeping owner details up-to-date. For microchipping support and resources, contact Identichip or visit https://identichip.co.uk/ Steve Leonard qualified from the University of Bristol in 1996. His final year at university was filmed by the BBC for a documentary called “Vet School”. He went on to make many wildlife and veterinary documentaries taking him all over the globe and working alongside some of the planet’s most iconic species. Steve has remained a passionate small animal vet and passed his BSAVA Certificate in Small Animal Medicine with distinction in 2017. He is the co-founder of Phoenix Vet Practice, a new independent practice in Nantwich, Cheshire that opened in May 2026. Fiona Cooke is associate director of policy and impact at Woodgreen Pets Charity, where she leads the campaigns, policy, research and insights teams. With a background in animal welfare law and policy, she works on issues including pet identification, responsible ownership, and improving outcomes for pets and their owners. Fiona is also a registered clinical animal behaviourist, bringing practical and scientific expertise to her role. She’s passionate about animal welfare and keeping pets and people together and has published widely on animal welfare and issues affecting pet owners.

Amid falling Royal Kennel Club registrations of key brachycephalic dog breeds, RVC academics Dan O’Neill and Rowena Packer join Chris Simpson to discuss the efforts of the UK’s Brachycephalic Working Group. Prof O’Neill and Dr Packer provide updates on their latest research, the launch of the Innate Health Assessment tool [https://www.innatehealthassessment.org/] and discuss the role vets have to play in bringing an end to animals with extreme conformation. Podcast music: “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

As the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion in Ukraine approaches, vets in the country – many of whom are fighting or serving as combat medics on the front lines as well as managing their clinics – are facing shortages of vital medicines and equipment. At the same time, rabies cases in wild and stray animals are on the rise, putting vets in further danger during the conflict. Ukrainian vet Daria Ponomarenko and ProSalus Foundation vice-president Mark Johnston, who visited the country last year, join Chris Simpson to discuss the issues facing vets as the war rages on and appeal for vital donations. Veterinary professionals can donate medicines, equipment and supplies, or make a financial donation, at the ProSalus website [https://prosalusfoundation.org/our-projects/#ukraine-section] or by emailing Dr Johnston at vice-president@prosalusfoundation.org. ProSalus is also holding a silent auction [https://www.vettimes.com/news/vets/wellbeing-at-work/art-sale-aims-to-boost-ukrainian-veterinary-work] of Ukrainian art [https://prosalusfoundation.org/product-category/different-together-series-by-anna-khomchyk/], raising funds for the Ukrainian Small Animal Veterinary Association. Podcast music: “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Osteoarthritis (OA) affects a fifth of all dogs aged one year or older, and treatment and ongoing management must be carefully planned and reviewed by vets. To delve into this topic, Ross Allan – clinical director of referrals at Pets'n'Vets Glasgow – joins the Vet Times Podcast. _______________________________ 𝗥𝗢𝗦𝗦 𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗔𝗡 𝗕𝗩𝗠𝗦, 𝗣𝗚𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗦𝗔𝗦, 𝗠𝗥𝗖𝗩𝗦 Having graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2001, Ross went on to gain a BSAVA Certificate in Small Animal Surgery in 2014 and RCVS Advanced Practitioner status in 2015. Ross is a partner in The Pets’n’Vets Family in Glasgow, where he leads Roundhouse Referrals surgical team, widening access to advanced veterinary surgery in the west of Scotland through innovative services such as ‘Fixed Price Fix’ TPLO+ surgery. Working within the Roundhouse Veterinary Hospital, Ross is familiar with the challenges and reward in effectively supporting owners and treating pets with osteoarthritis.

Linnaeus chief nursing officer Andrea Jeffery and RVN Sue Badger, who has been in the profession for more than 50 years, join VN Times editor Rachael Buzzel to discuss their new book Professionalism and Reflection in Veterinary Nursing. A project more than 10 years in the making, Andrea and Sue hope the book will support the evolution of the professional RVN and equip vet nurses to contribute to the ongoing development of a professional identity. For further details of the book, or to order a copy, visit bit.ly/3zih9Mj ________________________ 𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗔 𝗝𝗘𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗬 𝗘𝗱.𝗗, 𝗠𝗦𝗰, 𝗙𝗛𝗘𝗔, 𝗗𝗶𝗽𝗔𝗩𝗡 (𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗴), 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗘𝗱, 𝗥𝗩𝗡 Andrea is chief nursing officer at Linnaeus – a unique role within the veterinary sector that ensures the nursing team is represented at executive board level – and was at the forefront of the creation of its central support veterinary nursing team, formed to further support and develop its vet nurses. Andrea began her career as an NHS nurse before training as an RVN. She soon discovered a passion for educating the next generation of veterinary nurses and has played a key part in passing the baton of knowledge on to future nurses by spearheading various undergraduate programmes for the University of Bristol – latterly, helping develop the first graduate training programme and a Masters by Research for RVNs. Andrea gained her doctorate in 2021 in the area of veterinary nurse retention, she has a Master’s degree in e-learning, and co-developed the Orpet and Jeffery Ability Model 2007 – the first model of care for veterinary patients of its kind, aimed at ensuring VN teams deliver consistent patient care. Andrea has served on RCVS VN council and is a member of the RCVS VN disciplinary committee. ________________________ 𝗦𝗨𝗘 𝗕𝗔𝗗𝗚𝗘𝗥 𝗠𝗲𝗱, 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗘𝗱, 𝗥𝗩𝗡 Sue has been a veterinary nurse for more than 50 years, qualifying as a registered animal nursing auxiliary in 1976 and working in many clinical environments over the years. Sue has seen many significant changes in the role of the RVN and was instrumental in setting up both the original veterinary nursing course at the University of Bristol and the university’s first four-year degree. Sue is a past-president of the BVNA and was the second recipient of the RCVS Golden Jubilee Award in 2012. Having retired from practice, she remains on the RCVS VN register.

A sub-speciality of interventional radiology, interventional oncology is common in human medicine, but is also gaining traction on the veterinary side. To outline this topic, Daniela Murgia, European Board of Veterinary Specialisation (EBVS)-recognised specialist in small animal surgery, joins the Vet Times Podcast. _____________________________ 𝗗𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗘𝗟𝗔 𝗠𝗨𝗥𝗚𝗜𝗔 𝗗𝗩𝗠, 𝗚𝗣𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁(𝗦𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗔), 𝗚𝗣𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁(𝗢𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆), 𝗗𝗶𝗽𝗘𝗖𝗩𝗦, 𝗠𝗥𝗖𝗩𝗦 Daniela has been an EEBVS-recognised specialist in small animal surgery since 2006. She achieved RCVS specialist status in 2014 and, more recently, GP certificates in small animal soft tissue surgery and oncology status. Since 2010, Daniela has held positions as soft tissue surgery senior clinician, senior lecturer and head of soft tissue surgery within private and academic referral institutions in the UK. Since 2018, she has been a consultant in small animal soft tissue surgery at Dick White Referrals. She is an active member of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS) and has been chairperson of the ECVS credentials committee. Daniela contributes on a regular basis to national and international conferences, and soft tissue surgery courses. She has undertaken advanced training in interventional radiology, which is one of her main interests, together with oncological surgery, surgery of the respiratory tract and management of urinary incontinence. Her article in Vet Times (Volume 53, Issue 10, Pages 4-6) to accompany this podcast is entitled “Advances in companion animal cancer: interventional oncology”. It is online as part of Vet Times’ CPD+ Oncology collection. Read it online at https://www.vettimes.co.uk/article/advances-in-companion-animal-cancer-interventional-oncology-cpdoncology/

A common canine presentation in vet practice, many skin diseases can cause pruritus, and differentials include infection, ectoparasites and hypersensitivity – increasingly to food. Discussing some of this, RCVS and European Board of Veterinary Specialisation-recognised specialist in veterinary dermatology Carly Mason joins this Vet Times Podcast. _________________________________ 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗬 𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝗕𝗩𝗦𝗰, 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗩𝗗, 𝗗𝗶𝗽𝗘𝗖𝗩𝗗, 𝗠𝗥𝗖𝗩𝗦 Carly graduated from the University of Bristol Veterinary School in 2003. She spent seven years in general practice before completing a European College of Veterinary Dermatology (ECVD) veterinary dermatology residency at Rutland House Referrals in 2014. Carly achieved an ECVD Veterinary Dermatology Diploma in 2014 and is an RCVS and European-recognised specialist in veterinary dermatology. She works as a UKVetDerm veterinary dermatology consultant in the south-east for Guide Dogs and three private referral centres (Chiltern Referral Services, Pennard Vets and Veterinary Referral Centre). Carly is also an assessor and examiner for the University of Liverpool postgraduate CertAVP in Dermatology qualification. She enjoys all aspects of being a veterinary dermatologist and has a particular interest in autoimmune skin diseases, allergic skin disease and otitis. She wrote an article in Vet Times (Volume 53, Issue 7, Pages 4-8) called “Working up pruritic dogs – practical tips for diet trials”. This content is now online as part of our CPD+ Dermatology collection at www.vettimes.co.uk/article/working-up-pruritic-dogs-practical-tips-for-diet-trials-cpddermatology/ _________________________________ 𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗗 This podcast is sponsored by Zoetis, makers of Apoquel Chewable. Apoquel Chewable provides the same benefits as original Apoquel, in a treat-like formulation¹. The highly palatable tablets offer fast, effective relief from canine allergic dermatitis, in a convenient, pet-friendly form²,³ . For more information on Apoquel Chewable, speak to your Zoetis Account Manager or visit www2.zoetis.co.uk/apoquelchewable 𝖱𝖾𝖿𝖾𝗋𝖾𝗇𝖼𝖾𝗌 1. Apoquel Chewable SPC. 2. Visser M et al (2022). Acceptance of oclacitinib maleate (Apoquel) chewable tablets in client-owned dogs with allergic and atopic dermatitis, BMC Vet Res 18: 103. 3. Fleck T et al (2022). Speed of onset of a new chewable formulation of oclacitinib maleate (Apoquel) in a canine model of IL-31-induced pruritus, J Vet Pharmacol Ther 45(4): 380-384.

BSAVA president Alison Speakman and vice-president Carl Gorman join the Vet Times Podcast to look forward to BSAVA Congress 2023, being held from 23-25 March in Manchester. Dr Speakman provides an update on some of the association’s recent activities, and looks forward to what will be the first BSAVA Congress since 2019 to be held as a fully face-to-face event. She also looks at key discussions taking place at congress – including the neurodiversity stream on Friday 24 March – and discusses the expansion of the Wellbeing Zone, which debuted last year. Mr Gorman will become BSAVA president in the summer, and in this podcast discusses some of his priorities and ambitions for the year ahead. He also explains how the BSAVA is aspiring for congress to be a carbon-neutral event, as part of the association’s ongoing sustainability initiatives. _________________________________ 𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗕𝗩𝗠𝗦(𝗛𝗼𝗻𝘀), 𝗣𝗵𝗗, 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗔𝗩𝗣, 𝗠𝗥𝗖𝗩𝗦 Dr Speakman qualified from the University of Glasgow in 1991 and, after a year in mixed practice in Lancashire, completed a residency in feline medicine followed by a PhD on Bordetella bronchiseptica infection. Following a short period of post-doctoral research, she returned to small animal practice in Lancashire. Apart from a two-year spell as a veterinary technical director in industry and a year in Australia, Dr Speakman has remained with her roots in the north-west for most of her working life. She currently works in a small animal practice in Lancashire and has recently completed her CertAVP. Dr Speakman first joined the BSAVA as a new graduate and has been a member ever since, joining her local regional committee in 1995 followed by spells on the education committee, congress committee and PetSavers committee, and as honorary secretary. She is BSAVA president for 2022-23 and sits on the association’s north west regional committee. 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗟 𝗚𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗕𝗩𝗦𝗰, 𝗠𝗥𝗖𝗩𝗦 Mr Gorman graduated from the University of Bristol in 1985, and after working in Swindon, Portsmouth and Cheshire, took on Falkland Veterinary Clinic in Newbury, Berkshire, in 1989, where he is now clinical director. He has a wide range of clinical interests, including surgery, avian and exotic medicine, and geriatrics. Since 2000, Mr Gorman has been small animal editor, and now consultant editor of UK-Vet Companion Animal. He is the author of Clients, Pets and Vets: Communication and Management, about communication and non-clinical aspects of practice; and The Ageing Dog, which advises clients on the care of geriatric dogs. He is also writing the palliative care chapter for the new edition of the BSAVA Manual of Advanced Veterinary Nursing. Mr Gorman will be BSAVA president for 2023-24 and will take over from Alison Speakman at the association’s annual meeting, taking place in June.

More than 20 modules make up the lecture programme for BSAVA Congress 2023, which takes place in Manchester from 23-25 March. Ahead of the event, congress committee chairperson Paul Higgs joins the Vet Times Podcast to discuss how the sessions have evolved from last year’s initial event in Manchester and shares his anticipation for the event – including picking out some highlights from the lecture programme. Mr Higgs also discusses the “Day in the Life of” stream, which returns following its debut at last year’s congress. This year, it features two live case work-ups, which will bring an element of jeopardy to the drama-based sessions – and it’s Mr Higgs who will be putting his reputation on the line as he works up each case in front of a live audience. _____________________________________ 𝗣𝗔𝗨𝗟 𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗦 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗠𝗕, 𝗕𝗔, 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗦𝗔𝗠, 𝗗𝗶𝗽𝗘𝗖𝗩𝗜𝗠, 𝗠𝗥𝗖𝗩𝗦 An RCVS and European specialist in small animal internal medicine, Paul became a diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 2014. He is CVO at CVS Group, where he oversees all clinical quality improvement work in farm, equine and small animal, first opinion and referral divisions. He joined CVS in 2018 and, prior to his current role, was clinical director at Highcroft Referrals Hospital in Bristol, where he still practises. Paul is highly focused on supporting the development of the profession and chairs the BSAVA Congress programme committee, a role he has held since 2020.

VN Happy Hour welcomed three of the biggest names in UK veterinary nursing when the hugely successful live event returned on 23 February 2023. The online event saw a lively discussion around the theme of “Protect the title”, during which our panel explained why it’s so important to protect the “veterinary nurse” title and what this would mean for you as a VN, as well as the profession. More than 1,200 delegates have attended VN Happy Hour events since the concept was first launched during the pandemic, and we experienced one of our biggest turnout to date when BVNA president Charlotte Pace, Linnaeus chief nursing officer Andrea Jefferey and RCVS VN council chair Matt Rendle, tackled the hot topic of vet nurse title protection. Answering questions sent in by delegates, our all-star panel provided insights and discussed developments on this key issue, as well as offering tips and advice on all things veterinary nursing.