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SRUC launches new rural animal health course
Students on the Rural Animal Health course will perform permitted procedures and provide advice on multiple farm and rural animal species.
The HND in Rural Animal Health is the first of its kind in the UK.

As it works towards growing Scotland’s first tertiary model of veterinary teaching and learning, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) has announced an array of new courses, including a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Rural Animal Health.

Designed to support veterinary teams working in rural animal practice, the Rural Animal Health course is the first of its kind in the UK and comes amid growing demand for veterinary technicians to support rural veterinary teams. 

Other courses to be offered by the College in September include the BSc (Hons) course focusing on Animal Welfare Science and the first BSc (Hons) Equine Science and Management course in Scotland. A postgraduate Master of Research (MRes) in Zoonoses and Epidemiology will also be delivered from Inverness, mainly via distance learning.

Students on the Rural Animal Health course, taught at SRUC's Craibstone campus, will work both within a team and independently, performing permitted procedures and providing advice on multiple farm and rural animal species. 

The only degree programme of its kind in the UK, the Animal Welfare Science course at SRUC's Edinburgh campus draws on the expertise of one of the largest animal welfare research teams in the world. 

Students on the Equine Science and Management course will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to make an effective contribution to the equine industry. The degree is the first to be offered at SRUC’s Oatridge campus in West Lothian and the first of its kind in Scotland.

Focusing on developing research skills in the epidemiology of animal diseases and the transmission of zoonoses, the one-year Zoonoses and Epidemiology course can also be studied part-time.

SRUC academic director, Jamie Newbold, said: “These new courses add to SRUC’s strength and depth of provision in animal welfare and veterinary science as we move towards becoming an enterprise university at the heart of our sustainable natural economy.” 

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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. 

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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."