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Guinea pig portrait causes a squeal
Three Unknown Elizabethan Children, Unkown Anglo-Netherlandish artist, c.1580 privately owned

Earliest known painting of species revealed for the first time

A painting has been unveiled in London's National Portrait Gallery, of what is believed to be the earliest portrait of a guinea pig.

The painting depicts three Elizabethan children, two boys aged five and six, with a girl aged seven who is cradling a beige, brown and white guinea pig.
 
The portrait was revealed during the making of the exhibition "Elizabeth I and her people", which is supported by the Weiss Gallery and due to open on October 10, 2013.

Guinea pigs were introduced from South America by Spanish traders and are said to have been popular pets during Queen Elizabeth I's time.

Due to the expensive and fashionable dress of the children in the portrait, it is suspected that they belonged to a wealthy family of nobility or gentry. Portraits of children became popular among the sixteenth century across Europe, as they allowed families to document lineage and fertility.

In the portrait, the youngest boy also clutches a small bird, which is thought to be a finch.

Guinea pigs are not the only animal to feature in the exhibition, as horses, stags and dogs also make appearances, as well as more exotic animals displayed on the subject's jewellery, purses and crests.
 
The exhibition will be open until the new year. Click here for more information.

Image courtesey of the National Portrait Gallery

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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
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."