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SCOPS warns about closantel overdosing
An overdose of closantel can cause blindness in sheep.
The advice follows recent reports of overdoses in sheep.

Sheep farmers need to be careful when using flukicides and wormers which contain closantel, the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) group has warned.

Closantel, an active ingredient in a range of antiparasitic products, is safe to use when the label instructions are followed and animals are dosed according to their weight.

However, SCOPS has reported that it has been made aware of a few recent cases in which sheep have received an overdose of the drug, causing blindness for the animals involved.

SCOPS spokesperson Lesley Stubbings said: “Because of the risks posed by overdosing with closantel, SCOPS urges sheep farmers to split a group if the weight variation is large, grouping sheep into weight bands and altering the dose rate accordingly. That is safer than dosing to the heaviest animal and administering too much closantel to small animals.

“Closantel is an important active in the control of internal parasites. This isn’t a recommendation to avoid the product – just a reminder of the risks of not weighing animals and giving them too much.”

Any farmers or veterinary professionals who see an adverse reaction to closantel in sheep are urged by SCOPS to report it to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.

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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."