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PetSavers funds new well-being project aimed at senior dogs
Interviews and surveys will be carried out with pet owners and veterinary surgeons

New tool will enable early detection of age-related health problems

PetSavers has provided a Citizen Science research grant to fund a new project which aims to improve communication between veterinary professionals and dog owners, and guide on best practice discussions in consultations with senior dogs.

The project- entitled ‘Using citizen science to develop a canine ageing and wellbeing tool for use in veterinary practice’- has been developed by Dr Carri Westgarth, a lecturer in human-animal interaction at the University of Liverpool.

Commenting on her receipt of the grant, Dr Westgarth says: “We are extremely grateful to PetSavers for making this project a reality…We hope that the toolkit will improve discussions between owners and veterinary professionals about senior dog care. Increasing owner understanding and involvement will enable the early detection of health problems, resulting in significant improvements in the quality of life of senior pets and the dog-owner relationship.”

“Dogs are living up to twice as long as they did 40 years ago and there are implications for senior dogs’ healthcare and well-being…Many dog owners may not be aware of the signs of serious age-related diseases as they attribute them to normal age-related changes.”

A range of interviews and surveys will be carried out with veterinary professionals and dog owners as a part of the Citizen Science project. Pet owners will be invited to share their experiences, opinions and understanding of ageing in dogs, through submitting diaries, photos or videos of their life with an older dog. The study will also examine health records of senior dogs reported in the Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network (SAVSNET).

The findings will help to determine what preventative healthcare and treatment advice is currently offered for senior dogs in UK veterinary practices, and will also aid in the development of the PetSavers canine ageing and wellbeing tool, which will improve knowledge-sharing between veterinary professionals and pet owners, strengthening collaboration between the two in providing the best care to older dogs.

Image (c) Dr Carri Westgarth

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS members invited to question Council candidates

RCVS members have been invited to submit questions to candidates for this year's RCVS Council election.

With 15 candidates standing for three available positions, vets have been invited to submit a question of their choosing before voting starts. These questions will be collated, with each candidate answering one question of their choice.

It is recommended that members read the candidates' biographies and statements before submitting questions. One question per member can be submitted to vetvote26@rcvs.org.uk before Wednesday, 25 February 2026.

The RCVS Council election is due to start in March.

With only two candidates for two positions on the VN Council, there will be no VN Council elections this year. Meghan Conroy RVN and Lauren Hargrave RVN will begin their three year terms at RCVS' AGM in July.