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Poultry diagnostics guide for vets launched
The guide includes photographs and videos.
It’s hoped the guide will help improve hen health and welfare.

A new digital guide for veterinary surgeons treating poultry has been launched following a transatlantic collaboration between the British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT) and US-based PoultryDVM.

The Poultry Vet Guide has been designed to provide veterinary surgeons with access to detailed information about common poultry diseases and health problems, including photographs, videos, factsheets, and peer-reviewed articles.

Although there is an annual subscription fee of £240 (or the dollar equivalent) to access the guide, the creators say they have kept the costs low to allow it to be accessible for veterinary professionals around the world.

The guide began as a Masters project by PoultryDVM’s Kelly Rutkowski, as she saw a gap in the advice about poultry available to veterinary professionals.

The BHWT had been considering creating a similar guide to help improve poultry welfare and when the charity heard about the project, they got in touch with Ms Rutkowski.

The two organisations worked together on the guide, with specialist input from Sharon Evans MRCVS and Rebecca Gounaris DVM.

Jane Howorth MBE, founder of the BHWT, said: “This online guide is the result of a wonderful team effort, including vets with years of poultry experience, resulting in an outcome that will support veterinary professionals by making it easier to treat pet poultry.

“Spreading knowledge is the key priority to better equip vets everywhere to diagnose and treat the growing numbers of pet poultry, which is why we’ve made this information as affordable and accessible as possible. I’d like to encourage vets to sign up to access the guide, I have no doubt it will become an invaluable tool when faced with a poorly bird.”

The Poultry Vet Guide is available online.

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BSAVA partners with BVA Live 2026

News Story 1
 BSAVA is to partner with BVA Live (11-12 June 2026) to champion clinical research.

The organisation will be supporting BVA Live's Clinical Abstracts programme, showcasing selected abstracts of veterinary research throughout the event.

The clinical abstracts can be on any small animal veterinary subject, and must be based on research undertaken in industry, practice or academia. Abstracts can be presented in poster or oral formats.

Submissions will open on 15th December 2025, and close on 6th March 2026. You can register interest here

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Nominations open for RCVS and VN Council elections

The nomination period for the 2026 RCVS Council and VN Council elections is now open, with three veterinary surgeon seats and two veterinary nurse seats available.

Prospective candidates can download an information pack and nomination form from the RCVS website. Individuals can nominate themselves for the elections, with the results to be announced in the spring.

Clare Paget, the recently appointed RCVS Registrar and elections returning officer, said: "If you want to play your part in influencing and moulding how the professions are regulated, and making key decisions on matters of great importance to your peers, the public and animal health and welfare, please consider standing for RCVS Council or VN Council next year."

Nominations close at 5pm on Saturday, 31 January 2026.