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Updated recommendations on equine metabolic syndrome
"These updated guidelines are designed to help equine veterinarians correctly identify animals with equine metabolic syndrome".
Equine Endocrinology Group provides new guidance on diagnosis and treatment.

The Equine Endocrinology Group (EEG) has released updated recommendations for veterinary surgeons on the diagnosis and treatment of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS).

EMS is associated with a reduction in the normal insulin response, placing horses at high risk of developing laminitis. Under the new guidance, the implications for horse health are that accurate diagnosis should be made more quickly, and that every animal should receive optimum treatment based on the latest scientific knowledge.

EEG group member Dr Nicola Menzies-Gow, a reader in equine medicine at the RVC, said: “These updated guidelines are designed to help equine veterinarians correctly identify animals with equine metabolic syndrome and then recommend the optimum management for an individual animal, based on cutting-edge research.”

The EEG is an international group of clinicians and researchers that work together to advance understanding of endocrine disorders in horses. The group contains key opinion leaders in the field who meet every two years to review diagnosis and treatment recommendations based on new research findings.

Dr Menzies-Gow, who has been a member of the EEG since 2016, added: “It was a pleasure to work with clinicians and researchers from across the globe to synergise our research on this common condition, which causes great distress to horses and their owners alike. The RVC has a long history of researching laminitis, and I am proud to be continuing this work."

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS members invited to question Council candidates

RCVS members have been invited to submit questions to candidates for this year's RCVS Council election.

With 15 candidates standing for three available positions, vets have been invited to submit a question of their choosing before voting starts. These questions will be collated, with each candidate answering one question of their choice.

It is recommended that members read the candidates' biographies and statements before submitting questions. One question per member can be submitted to vetvote26@rcvs.org.uk before Wednesday, 25 February 2026.

The RCVS Council election is due to start in March.

With only two candidates for two positions on the VN Council, there will be no VN Council elections this year. Meghan Conroy RVN and Lauren Hargrave RVN will begin their three year terms at RCVS' AGM in July.