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New standards for equine dental technicians
Tooth care standards to come into force next month

New standards coming into force in February aim to transfer some tooth care from the vet to equine dental technicians (EDTs).

Currently all dental work except basic tooth rasping should only be carried out by vets according to the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966. In reality however, EDTs undertake a large amount of dental work with the agreement of the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA).

The new standards will help horse owners decide who to contact in order to care for their horses' teeth. Gemma Lilly, chairman of the British Association of Equine Dental Technicians (BAEDT) said: "It's good news for EDTs, owners and horses."

The national occupation standards have been drawn up with training organisation Lantra, and will clarify those procedures that can be carried out by a qualified EDT, and those that must be carried out only by a vet. The standards will also define the qualifications required by EDTs.

BEVA president Keith Chandler said: “There is a misconception that vets want to stop dental technicians from undertaking tooth care, but this could not be further from the truth.

“We and the British Association of Equine Dental Technicians [BAEDT] have been working for a number of years with Defra to create an exemption from the Act for suitably qualified EDTs.”

Mr Chandler concluded that he believes the exemption will be achieved within two years.

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Strangles survey seeks views of horse owners

News Story 1
 With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.

The survey, which has been designed by Dechra, aims to raise awareness of Strangles and promote best practices to prevent its transmission. It includes questions about horse owners' experiences of strangles, together with preventative measures and vaccination.

Respondents to the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win two VIP tickets to Your Horse Live 2025. To access the survey, click here 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
DAERA to reduce BVD 'grace period'

DAERA has reminded herd keepers of an upcoming reduction to the 'grace period' to avoid BVD herd restrictions.

From 1 May 2025, herd keepers will have seven days to cull any BVD positive or inconclusive animals to avoid restrictions being applied to their herd.

It follows legislation introduced on 1 February, as DAERA introduces herd movement restrictions through a phased approach. Herd keepers originally had 28 days to cull BVD positive or inconclusive animals.

DAERA says that, providing herd keepers use the seven-day grace period, no herds should be restricted within the first year of these measures.

Additional measures, which will target herds with animals over 30 days old that haven't been tested for BVD, will be introduced from 1 June 2025.

More information is available on the DAERA website.