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Agony Aunt Digs for Charity
Denise was joined by veterinary staff from the current Sunderland PDSA animal hospital to celebrate the start of this exciting project.
The PDSA have welcomed the nation’s favourite agony aunt, Denise Robertson, to the site of its forthcoming £1.6million Sunderland animal hospital to kick-off building work.

Denise was joined by veterinary staff from the current Sunderland PDSA animal hospital, PDSA Senior Vet, Ian McClive, Head Nurse, Lindsay Atkinson and Manager, Michael Laing, to celebrate the start of this exciting project, which will benefit thousands of pets in the area.
 
Denise said: “PDSA does incredible work and is a vital service for local pet owners, especially in the current climate. I’m delighted to be invited to dig the first hole and I cannot wait to see the new hospital up and running later this year.”
 
The hospital fundraising appeal is now in full swing and PDSA is calling for people to help raise funds.
 
PDSA unveiled plans for the state-of-the-art animal hospital in October 2009 and launched an appeal to raise the £1.6million needed to build and equip it. The new hospital, located on North Hylton Road, Castletown, will replace the current premises on Kings Road, Southwick, and will give PDSA the capacity to treat the ever-increasing number of pets desperately needing its help.
 
The new hospital will be PDSA’s most advanced and eco-friendly facility to date. It will contain six consulting rooms, two operating theatres, a dental theatre, a digital X-ray room, a diagnostic laboratory, canine, feline and small furry pet recovery wards and a critical care unit for infectious cases.
 
Ian continues: “We’re hoping local animal lovers will support us by fundraising or donating whatever they can to help us reach our target.”

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS annual renewal fee for vets due

RCVS' annual renewal fee for veterinary surgeons is now due. Vets must pay their renewal fee before Wednesday, 1 April 2026.

This year's standard annual fee has increased to 431 from last year's 418. This is an approximately three per cent increase, as approved by RCVS Council and the Privy Council.

Tshidi Gardner, RCVS treasurer, said: "The small fee increase will be used to help deliver both our everyday activities and our new ambitious Strategic Plan, which includes aims such as achieving new legislation, reviewing the Codes of Professional Conduct and supporting guidance, and continuing to support the professions through activities such as the Mind Matters Initiative, RCVS Academy and career development."

A full breakdown of the new fees is on the RCVS website. Information about tax relief is available on the UK government website.