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Internal medicine specialist joins WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines Group
Nat Whitley (pictured) is an internal medicine specialist with Davies Veterinary Specialists.

Global group provides expertise on small animal vaccinations

Nat Whitley, a European specialist in small animal internal medicine has joined the team of renowned professionals that make up the WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines Group, after having his application accepted earlier this month.

According to WSAVA, the Vaccination Guidelines Group (VGG) provides evidence-based scientific advice to the global veterinary profession on best practice when vaccinating dogs and cats. The group is chaired by Dr Richard Squires, associate professor in companion animal medicine at James Cook University.

Since being assembled in 2006, the VGG has produced:

  • Three editions of the WSAVA Global Guidelines on Vaccination for Veterinarians
  • Two editions of the WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines for Pet Owners and Breeders
  • Regional Guidelines for veterinarians in Asia and Latin America.

Nat Whitley joined Davies Veterinary Specialists in 2005 as an internal medicine and cardiology clinician. He became director in 2007, head of medicine in 2010 and eventually took on the role of clinical director in 2018.

In 2017, he was awarded an RCVS fellowship for Meritorious Contributions to Clinical Practice (MCCP). He has also been a part of multiple committees for the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ECVIM) and BSAVA.

He has authored multiple journal articles and contributed to the recent consensus statement from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine on the treatment of immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia in dogs.

Dr Whitley said: “I feel honoured to have been accepted as a member of this highly respected team, which the late Emeritus Professor Michael Day led with such distinction. I have referenced the WSAVA Vaccination guidelines for many years in my CPD talks and webinars and now look forward to working with Dr Richard Squires and my fellow members to develop and share worldwide the latest evidence-based knowledge on vaccination.”

For more information on the VGG please visit the WSAVA website.

Image (c) Davies Veterinary Specialists.

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.