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BSAVA publishes new end-of-life collection
"This new collection provides a handy resource for this important area of veterinary practice" - Julian Hoad.
Resources cover euthanasia decision-making and how to support clients.

The BSAVA has published a new collection of resources focusing on end-of-life care and decision-making, designed to help support both clients and the veterinary practice team.

Using information gathered from BSAVA manuals, articles from Companion, webinars and congress lectures, the collection is split into four key areas: general information, client communication, client support and practitioner support. 

Some highlights include:
  • euthanasia decision-making: a case-based discussion
  • how to discuss euthanasia with your client
  • quality of life and decision-making around end of life care
  • the client journey: supporting the client before and after the last appointment
  • euthanasia and how it affects veterinary nurses’ mental health
  • euthanasia support in practice.

Julian Hoad, chair of the BSAVA Publications Committee, commented: “Death and taxes are the only two certainties of life, according to Benjamin Franklin. 

“Our pets don’t have the worry of taxation, but managing the end of life for them is something that all owners must face. It is probably the most challenging part of our veterinary work also – managing the emotional, sometimes highly charged, aspect of the situation whilst maintaining an objective focus on the patient. 

“This new collection provides a handy resource for this important area of veterinary practice. The collection will enable the recent graduate to gain confidence in dealing with these cases; tips for improvement that even the more experienced clinician will find useful are also included.”

The collection is £20.00 for BSAVA members and £45.00 for non-members and is available via the BSAVA Library.

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Annual submission deadline small pet animal exemptions

News Story 1
 Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.

Submitting this annual return ensures continued compliance with regulatory requirements for products marketed without a full Marketing Authorisation. The exemption specifically applies to products intended for animals, cage birds, terrarium animals, small rodents, ferrets and rabbits.

For further details and submission guidelines, visit the gov.uk website.  

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue RZ extended across Scotland

The Scottish Government has announced an extension to a Bluetongue Restricted Zone that is in place in south-west Scotland.

From 3 October, the Restricted Zone will be extended to cover the whole of Scotland. The Animal, Plant and Health Agency (APHA) says this is in response to further disease spread, as well as simplify trading conditions ahead of the autumn.

Since the whole country will share a disease status, it will no longer be necessary to have a movement license to move susceptible livestock around the country. Restrictions on germinal products remain.

As of 1 October 2026, there were 1,979 cases of BTV-3 in England, 389 cases in Wales and 40 cases in Scotland.