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BEVA launches 'Don’t Break Your Vet’ campaign
The majority of equine vets will, at some point in their career end up unconscious or hospitalised as the result of a work-related injury.
Videos help owners prepare horses for veterinary treatment

A campaign to encourage horse owners to help reduce the risks faced by equine vets has been launched by the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA).

The ‘Don’t Break Your Vet’ campaign comprises a series of seven video tutorials featuring vet and equine behaviourist Gemma Pearson. The videos provide quick and simple ways of teaching horses to be quiet, safe and relaxed for veterinary treatment, clipping and giving oral medications.

“Many accidents reportedly occur when vets are trying to work with horses who have learnt to avoid examination or treatment and where handlers are not in full control” says David Mountford, CEO at BEVA. “Gemma’s work at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and her amazing videos show how a little preparation can have a big impact on horse, owner and vet safety.”

Research shows that a significant proportion of equine vets will, at some point in their career end up unconscious or hospitalised as the result of a work-related injury. A study published in the Equine Veterinary Journal shows that an equine vet may sustain between seven and eight work-related injures that may prevent them from working during a 30-year career.

Fracture, bruising and laceration to the leg or head were the most common injuries cited by participants to the study. The main cause of injury was a kick with a hind limb. Almost a quarter of reported injuries resulted in hospital admission and seven per cent led to loss of consciousness.

The seven practical videos contain advice on how clients can prepare their horses for easy injections, learning to stand still, calm clipping and leading and trotting up. The videos also cover happy heads, clicker training and worry-free worming.

A BEVA spokesperson said: “These videos make interesting viewing for vets as well as horse owners and build on Gemma’s eBEVA webinar “Practical Equine Behaviour” and the Guidance on Managing Equine Risks that BEVA has produced.”

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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.