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RCVS launches new initiatives to mark 175th anniversary
Monday (15 April) marked the 175th anniversary of the first meeting of the RCVS Council.

College to follow cohort of veterinary students over 25 years

The RCVS has launched a series of exciting initiatives to mark its 175th anniversary.

Among them will be a digital project to preserve and showcase the original petition letters from practitioners that led to the creation of its first Royal Charter. This will be accompanied by an interactive digital timeline of key events from the veterinary profession over the past 175 years.

The RCVS has also announced plans to commence a longitudinal research project that will follow a group of veterinary students over the next 25 years. It is hoped this will lead to a better understanding of students’ initial hopes and aspirations and their following career choices and paths.

Monday (15 April) marked the 175th anniversary of the first meeting of the RCVS Council, which came about after the creation of its Royal Charter on 8 March 1844.

Frustrated with the quality of veterinary education at the time, two father and son veterinary surgeons from Staffordshire wrote a petition addressed to the Governors or the RVC, which was later distributed to other veterinary professionals to sign.

More than 250 veterinary surgeons responded with a letter agreeing for their signatures to be added to the petition. This then initiated the campaign for a Charter to create the RCVS.

RCVS CEO Lizzie Lockett said: “This first Royal Charter recognised the ‘veterinary art’ as a profession, established RCVS Council with elected members, and gave the College power to administer examinations, which students of the then veterinary colleges in London and Edinburgh had to pass if they wished to be styled veterinary surgeons and have the privileges of members of a profession.

“We are proud that, 175 years later, we are still fulfilling these original Charter functions, and considerably more besides. Take, for example, our Mind Matters and Leadership Initiatives, which may not have been envisaged at the time but ensure we continue to be relevant, and support a modern, forward-thinking profession.”
 
She continued: “It’s fitting that we are celebrating the 175th anniversary of when we were asked to address educational standards at the Royal Veterinary College in the year in which that establishment’s veterinary degree course was ranked number one globally in the QS rankings.”

Visit www.rcvs.org.uk/175 more information and regular updates about the College’s 175th-anniversary celebrations.

Image (C) RCVS.

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Webinar to explore AMR in vet dentistry

News Story 1
 The WSAVA has invited veterinary professionals to a webinar on responsible antibiotic usage in dentistry.

On 19 November 2025, at 1am, Dr J Scott Weese and Dr Brooke Niemiec will share the latest advice for antimicrobial use. They will present research on oral bacterology, and explain how attendees can choose appropriate antibiotics.

The session will cover pre-, intra- and post-operative guidelines, with recommendations for various pathologies.

The webinar is designed to support veterinary professionals to make informed decisions and tackle antimicrobial resistance.

Attendees can register here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue reaches Wales for first time in 2025

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has revealed that bluetongue has been confirmed in Wales for the first time in 2025.

In their latest statistics, APHA records a total of 109 cases of BTV-3 or BTV-8 in Great Britain in the 2025-2026 vector season.

The total number of BTV-3 cases in Great Britain this season is 107. This includes 103 cases within the England restricted zone and four cases in Wales.

There has also been two cases of BTV-8, which were both in Cornwall.

As a result of the cases in Wales, a Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) is enforced in Monmouthshire. Animals can move freely under general license within the England Restricted Zone, however animals with suspected bluetongue must stay on their holding.

All premises testing positive for blue tongue can be viewed on this map.