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Young jackdaw swallows tweezers
xray
The vets believe that someone may have been hand-feeding the little jackdaw.

Little bird overzealously bit off more than he could chew.

The RSPCA has dealt with one of the most bizarre cases involving a juvenile Jackdaw and a pair of tweezers.

The wildlife vets present when the jackdaw was presented have described the case as “the most incredible recovery”.

Wildlife vet Dr Bev Panto said: “When I saw the X-rays and the size of the tweezers he had swallowed, I thought there was absolutely no chance this poor jackdaw could survive.

"The tweezers stretched the whole length of his digestive system - right from his crop to his intestines and the sharp ends were piercing through his skin.”

The vets believe that someone may have been hand-feeding the little jackdaw and that he may have overzealously bitten off more than he could chew.

Following a complex and delicate surgery to remove the tweezers through his stomach, vets spent a tense period waiting to see whether he would recover, and recover he did. Vets say he is “right as rain” and feeding well.

Dr Panto said: “How such a small bird can survive such a traumatic incident, and then undergo major surgery and appear fighting fit the next day, is quite incredible.”

The team at the RSPCA say he has a long way to go but hope to see him through to release.

Image (C) RSPCA

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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."