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Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month competition winners revealed
Thrums Vets created a two-day course for school leavers interested in veterinary nursing.
The theme for this year’s VNAM was ‘Progression’.

The Donkey Sanctuary and Thrums Vets have won this year’s Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month (VNAM) competition.

Run by the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA), which organises the awareness month, the competition celebrates the different ways practices, nursing teams, and individuals join in with VNAM.

The brief for this year’s competition was ‘Your #VNAM2024, Your Way’ and the overall theme for VNAM was ‘Progression’.

During VNAM, the Donkey Sanctuary invited members of the public for a tour of the sanctuary. A talk was given by the veterinary nursing team and those attending were taught about what veterinary nurses do and the need to protect the title.

The veterinary nursing team also invited students from local veterinary nursing colleges to three talks about how to progress into equine nursing.

Thrums Vets, based in Scotland, put together a two-day course for children at school-leaving age who were considering a career in veterinary nursing.

The course included information about where and how to train to become a veterinary nurse, and introduced the students to some of the tasks veterinary nurses carry out, including bandaging, suturing, and conducting a clinical examination.

The runners up were Delaware Veterinary Group, based in Somerset, and Island VetCare, based on the Isle of Wight.

Lyndsay Hughes, BVNA president, said: “Our competition entries have been absolutely outstanding, and it has been wonderful to see how the theme has been interpreted.

“The variety of entries we have had, and the quality of these, has made it really very difficult to judge this year's competition and has made the team exceptionally proud to know we work alongside such excellent veterinary nursing teams.
 
“Thank you to everyone who entered for taking the time to be an integral part in sharing this year's VNAM theme. Your continued efforts help us raise awareness about the significant impact veterinary nurses have and the fundamental role you play in ensuring animal welfare is maintained.”

The full list of entries can be found on the BVNA website.

Image © BVNA

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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
UK's BSE risk status downgraded

The WOAH has downgraded the UK's international risk status for BSE to 'negligible'.

Defra says that the UK's improved risk status recognises the reputation for having the highest standards for biosecurity. It adds that it demonstrates decades of rigorous animal control.

Outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, have previously resulted in bans on Britain's beef exports.

The UK's new status could lead to expanded trade and better confidence in British beef.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "WOAH's recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK's strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.