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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 2018-02-02
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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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Nominations for 2019 RSPCA Honours Awards now open

News Story 1
 People across the UK are being urged to nominate a standout animal champion for the 2019 RSPCA Honours Awards.

The awards recognise those who have worked tirelessly to improve animal welfare, campaigned on behalf of animals, or shown true bravery. Previous winners include comedian John Bishop, who was awarded Celebrity Animal Champion of the Year, and 11-year-old Lobby Cantwell, who raised more than £1,000 for the charity through mountain climbs and bike rides.

To submit a nomination or find out more about the awards visit the RSPCA website. Nominations will remain open until 4 pm on Friday, March 15.  

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New £1m project to investigate dairy cow lameness

Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) is leading a new £1 million research project to investigate the causes of lameness in dairy cows.

One in three dairy cows are affected by lameness every day in the UK, costing the industry an estimated £250 milion annually.

The project will take three years to complete and is due to finish by November 2021.

Professor Georgios Banos of SRUC commented: “In addition to pain and discomfort to the animal, lameness is associated with decreased milk production and inflated farm costs.

“Among cows raised in the same environment, some become lame while others do not. Understanding the reasons behind this will help us develop targeted preventive practices contributing to enhanced animal welfare and farm profitability.”