Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

WSAVA vaccination project reaches halfway point
Members of the VGG visit a veterinary hospital in Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro.
Vets attend education events in Rio de Janeiro

A project to improve understanding of infectious diseases across Latin America and to advise vets on ‘best practice’ in vaccination has reached its halfway point.

In August, some 200 vets attended two half-day continuing education events hosted by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s (WSAVA) Vaccination Guidelines Group (VGG).

The event in Rio de Janeiro, which was live-streamed in Facebook, reached a further 400 vets on the day of broadcast and double that number during the days following.

Ahead of the visit, the VGG distributed an online questionnaire survey among vets in Brazil to collect data on infectious disease occurrence, veterinary demographics and vaccination protocols. Almost 600 vets completed the survey, which was presented during the events.

VGG chairman Professor Michael Day said: “The VGG was delighted by the success of this visit to Brazil; a country with an estimated 100,000 veterinarians with students graduating from approximately 200 public and private veterinary schools.
 
“Brazilian veterinarians are accustomed to the principle of annual revaccination of dogs and cats with multicomponent products, but those we spoke to were excited by the new concepts of less frequent and individualised vaccination, incorporated into a preventive healthcare package for pets.

“Vaccine-preventable infectious diseases remain highly prevalent in Brazil, with the additional importance of canine visceral leishmaniosis as a significant zoonotic disease.  Increasing herd immunity by improving vaccination coverage is clearly an important goal for the Brazilian veterinary community.”

The VGG develops globally relevant recommendations for best practice in the vaccination of dogs and cats. During 2016 the VGG ran a similar programme of activity in Argentina and, in 2018 it will visit Mexico will run the online survey in nine other WSAVA member countries in the region.

A final white paper on the findings of the project will be prepared for publication during 2019. 

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.