Poultry diagnostics guide for vets launched
The guide includes photographs and videos.
A new digital guide for veterinary surgeons treating poultry has been launched following a transatlantic collaboration between the British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT) and US-based PoultryDVM.
The Poultry Vet Guide has been designed to provide veterinary surgeons with access to detailed information about common poultry diseases and health problems, including photographs, videos, factsheets, and peer-reviewed articles.
Although there is an annual subscription fee of £240 (or the dollar equivalent) to access the guide, the creators say they have kept the costs low to allow it to be accessible for veterinary professionals around the world.
The guide began as a Masters project by PoultryDVM’s Kelly Rutkowski, as she saw a gap in the advice about poultry available to veterinary professionals.
The BHWT had been considering creating a similar guide to help improve poultry welfare and when the charity heard about the project, they got in touch with Ms Rutkowski.
The two organisations worked together on the guide, with specialist input from Sharon Evans MRCVS and Rebecca Gounaris DVM.
Jane Howorth MBE, founder of the BHWT, said: “This online guide is the result of a wonderful team effort, including vets with years of poultry experience, resulting in an outcome that will support veterinary professionals by making it easier to treat pet poultry.
“Spreading knowledge is the key priority to better equip vets everywhere to diagnose and treat the growing numbers of pet poultry, which is why we’ve made this information as affordable and accessible as possible. I’d like to encourage vets to sign up to access the guide, I have no doubt it will become an invaluable tool when faced with a poorly bird.”
The Poultry Vet Guide is available online.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
