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RSPCA reminds vets of dedicated resources
Veterinary professionals do not have to wait on the RSPCA's busy cruelty line to report an animal welfare issue.
Vets can access specific Vetline to report welfare issues.

The RSPCA has released new advice for veterinary professionals on how to access RSPCA support and information.

With the RSPCA expecting an unprecedented summer of animal welfare work, it is reminding veterinary professionals of the dedicated resources that the charity has set up to support them.

A dedicated Vetline is available for veterinary professionals to call, so that they do not have to wait on the charity's busy cruelty line to report a welfare issue. 

Operational between 8am and 8pm, the Vetline can be reached on 0300 123 8022. The Vetline number has previously been staffed until 11pm, but as the charity's working hours have been consolidated to when they are most necessary, the RSPCA is making veterinary professionals aware of the change.

Alongside the Vetline, the RSPCA veterinary team has an email address, veterinary@rspca.org.uk, specifically to support and advise veterinary professionals.

Chief veterinary officer at the RSPCA, Caroline Allen, said: “It is hoped these changes will ensure that we focus our resources to deal with the animals most in need of our help at peak times when more animals need us.”

She explained that the charity is continuing to ask the public to take injured stray animals or wildlife to local veterinary practices or wildlife centres in order to receive the urgent care required. Caroline said: “We appreciate this may put extra pressure on already stretched vet teams, but we have to be open about our capacity and that we may not always be best placed to help an animal in urgent need. 

“We want to ensure we can focus our resources on the most serious cases of cruelty and neglect where others cannot help. Sadly, we are already seeing an increase in this work.

“We always advise the public to phone ahead, rather than just turning up at a vet practice, and will be reiterating this point which we hope will go some way to helping.

“We remain extremely grateful for the vet profession's help and understanding during this challenging time across the animal welfare and care sector.”

Information on what veterinary surgeons should do in cruelty or neglect situations, and how to write a prosecution statement, is available on this dedicated website – the username to access the material is vet.practice@rspca.org.uk and the password is RSPCA1824. 

If any veterinary surgeons have trouble accessing the materials, please contact the RSPCA for help.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.