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Website offers ‘go-to’ resource for equine research
“The VetReact website presents the results of the most recent research as resources for vets."
VetReact is a source of evidence based research on clinical best practice

A new website has launched to provide equine vets and horse owners with access to the latest research and resources on common emergency conditions in horses.

VetReact was set up by an equine research group at the University of Nottingham’s vet school and launched officially on 31 March. It forms part of a national campaign by the university and the British Horse Society, REACT Now to Beat Colic, which helps owners to spot early colic signs and seek prompt diagnosis and treatment.

The site includes information on:
  • The most common clinical signs of colic
  • The essential components of history-taking and physical examination
  • When different diagnostic tests should and shouldn’t be used
  • How to differentiate critical cases on the first examination.


Launching the website, assistant professor in equine surgery Dr John Burford, said: “Colic in horses continues to be one of the most dangerous conditions in the animal. It accounts for a third of veterinary call-outs. At least one in ten of these cases may become critical and up 80% of these end in the death of the horse.

“The VetReact website presents the results of the most recent research as resources for vets, with links to the original sources of information. We have focused on the primary assessment of horses showing signs of colic and how to spot critical cases at this early stage. The website has been developed as a result of interviews and surveys of vets in practice on how they go about finding research-based evidence to help them in their work.”

VetReact was developed based on the work of research student Isabella Wild on how vets access evidence in practice. It strongly emphasises safety consideration and stresses that the information provides ‘recommendations not rules”, which should be considered and applied by vets in the context of each individual case.

The website will continue to grow and is to include videos and hard-copy resources to download and print. An app will be available in future.

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.