BSAVA Companion - 2025, 9, September

A PDF of the full September Companion

A calendar of forthcoming online and in-person events.

Exclusive partnership for the PetSavers Ageing Canine Toolkit; New Guide now available; Get involved with JSAP.

The Government has published its plan to address the presence of chemicals from pet flea and tick treatments in UK waterways.

BSAVA PetSavers has been funding clinical research into companion animal disease for over 50 years. In the last 10 years alone, we have awarded over £200,000 in funding for research into neurological disease and pain management in pets. But what’s the value of this clinically-based veterinary research? Several of our experienced neurologist researchers have shared their thoughts and helped us examine our impact in this important area.

The term ‘contextualised care’ may have gained traction over the last few years, but the principle is deeply embedded in the practice of veterinary medicine. At BSAVA Congress this year, panel discussions and workshops explored what is meant by contextualised care and how it can help not only in times of economic challenge but also to improve animal welfare and build better understanding between vets and clients.

  Professor Sheena Warman, Deputy Head of School at Bristol Veterinary School and Professor Deep Khosa, University of Guelph, examine the concepts of Spectrum of Care and Contextualised Care and explain what these approaches mean for veterinary education.

BSAVA Policy works with a range of government departments to support veterinary professionals in small animal practice. As part of our approach to ‘One Health: One Team’, we asked Dr David Edwards, Lead Consultant in Health Protection at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) how professionals in practice can engage with Health Professional Teams (HPT’s) to obtain information on how to manage any zoonoses encountered in practice.

Climate change and global warming, coupled with the growing volume of international travel for both people and pets, create ideal conditions for the introduction and spread of small animal parasites, many of which could pose zoonotic risks to pet-owning households. The increasing number of imported pets further exacerbates these challenges. In the final session of BSAVA Policy’s ‘One Health: One Team’ stream at BSAVA Congress, Ian Wright, Veterinary Surgeon and Chair of the European Scientific Council for Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP) outlined the diverse pathways and mechanisms by which parasitic incursions occur. He also addressed the potential ramifications for both animal and public health, as well as emerging innovations in parasite detection and surveillance.

As part of BSAVA Policy’s ‘One Health: One Team’ stream at BSAVA Congress 2025, Francine Fernadez from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and Dr Jonathan Newman from the Environment Agency (EA) spoke about the environmental risk and ongoing challenges associated with the use of parasiticides in companion animals.

  Veterinary professionals are often called upon to provide guidance on appropriate nutrition for animals under their care. Given the wealth of information available to owners, it is the responsibility of veterinary professionals to assist them in making decisions about what to feed their pet. The latest addition to the series of guides, the BSAVA Guide to Nutrition in Small Animal Practice, provides a comprehensive resource to help with this task.

  Most people taking on management roles in veterinary practice do not feel they have the skills necessary for the job, with 92% admitting that their managerial talents are ‘basic’. This was the worrying finding from a study by the Veterinary Management Group, presented at its annual congress in April 2025 in Stratford-upon-Avon. The VMG meeting explored ways the organization can support its members in ensuring that the future leaders of the veterinary industry are confident in taking on senior roles. Rebecca Robinson, the group’s incoming president said that the report “highlights the urgent need to equip both current and future leaders with the skills and support they need to thrive.” Siân Burwood spoke to Rebecca to find out more…

Article abstracts from the latest issue of JSAP.