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Virtual congress to tackle pet obesity
The event will include sessions delivered by leading UK and international experts.
Event will explore how to approach conversations with owners. 

A free one-day virtual event is being offered to veterinary professionals to help them navigate the challenge of pet obesity.

Hosted by Royal Canin, the Weight Management Virtual Congress will include sessions delivered by leading UK and international experts on a range of topics, including:
  • obesity prevention - tools you can use in practice to help promote a healthy weight and practical advice you can pass to owners. 
  • risk factors – insights from recent studies 
  • how to approach conversations with owners of overweight pets who feed or prefer unconventional diets 
  • why tackling obesity makes business sense 
  • peri-anaesthetic management of obese patients. 
Among the speakers include Alex German, Professor of Small Animal Medicine at the University of Liverpool, who will discuss whether prevention is better than cure for obesity.  

Gwen Covey-Crump, senior clinician in anaesthesia at Langford Vets, will explore the impact of obesity on chronic pain, and award-winning US vet Ernie Ward will explain how to talk about pet food and obesity without sounding like a salesperson.

Delegates can then apply their knowledge to a real-life case in an interactive workshop run by weight-management specialists Georgia-Woods Lee and Lindsay Calcraft. 

Lindsay Calcraft, who is also organising the event, said: “We all know that obesity reduces pets’ life spans and puts them at risk of developing a number of health concerns. Together, we can battle this disease. We’ve organised this congress to help you to manage the weight and health of pets throughout their lives.”

The one-day event is being hosted on Royal Canin's new Virtual event centre, providing games, social networking and access to product displays and information during and after the event. 

A further 10 hours of on-demand sessions will be released during the event, focusing on the science of obesity, feline behaviour, obesity and osteoarthritis, approach to nutrients for obesity and the evolution of weight management diets.

For more details and to register for your place, click here.

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Vets launch new podcast for pet owners

News Story 1
 Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.

The venture, called Vets Talking Pets, provides advice and information on a range of topics, including how to select a suitable pet, where to obtain them and how to get the best out of your vet. Maggie and Vanessa will also discuss sensitive subjects, including end-of-life care, raw food diets and the cost of veterinary care.

The podcast can be found on all the usual podcast sites, including Podbean, Apple, Amazon Music and YouTube. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS Regional Question Time heads to Edinburgh

The RCVS is to bring its Regional Question Time (RQT) to Edinburgh for 2026.

The event will take place at Novotel Edinburgh Park in Edinburgh on Wednesday, 20 May 2026.

It will begin with supper and drinks at 6.30pm, with an evening programme from 7.30pm. This will start with an update on RCVS' activities, followed by questions and answers with representatives.

RCVS is encouraging an 'open dialogue', in which queries can be raised in a friendly, informal environment.

While discussions are expected to be audience-led, the RQT is expected address major issues including the VSA, the CMA's remedy package and the VN Vision project.

Tim Parkin, RCVS president, said: "It's an important time for the professions, and I'm looking forward to meeting colleagues in Scotland as we navigate this period of change together so we can come out stronger."

Tickets can be booked here.