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Study to explore airway inflammation in racehorses
"Previous studies have reported a detrimental effect of exercise on the functional capacity of airway-derived immune cells" - Dr Anna Eleonora Karagianna.
Researchers hope to establish the details of the condition.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh are investigating why racehorses commonly develop airway inflammation during intense training.

It is hoped that the findings will inform ways to help racehorses to alleviate these respiratory illnesses and improve athletic performance. 

The research team will pinpoint the effects of training on activity in immune cells from horses' airways and lungs using advanced analytical methods, and will search for biological indicators of susceptibility to disease. 

Dr Anna Eleonora Karagianni, research fellow at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, explained: “Racehorses commonly develop airway inflammation, especially during early season training, which can significantly impair athletic performance. 

“Previous studies have reported a detrimental effect of exercise on the functional capacity of airway-derived immune cells. 

“We hope to establish the detail of this, to inform management and training of equine athletes, and advance understanding of similar conditions in humans.” 

Alongside developing understanding of mild to moderate equine asthma (MMEA), the research team is also hoping to explore exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH), where horses experience bleeding into the airways. 

EIPH is also commonly developed by training horses, and researchers will seek to determine whether the two conditions are linked.

It is thought that the outcomes from this two-year study may also have significance for advancing understanding of the link between high intensity training and respiratory systems in human athletes.

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."