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Welfare focus for exotic pets
BVA and BVZS produce exotics trade position statement

Members of the British Veterinary Zoological Society's (BVZS) have agreed to a "discussion document" on the wild-caught exotics trade, and the future of public and veterinary exotic pet education.

The agreement came at the society's annual meeting, with the document suggesting risk assessments for individual species, judging welfare and public and environmental health considerations, and the creation of a list of species appropriate for being kept as pets.

BVZS has said it wants of a full-scale evidence review to gauge the situation of exotic pet-keeping in the UK, tighter regulation of the exotics trade across Europe and greater public education drives on exotics, with targeted species-specific education programmes for those working in the pet trade.

The society are working with the British Veterinary Association (BVA) to produce a joint position statement on the exotics trade.

BVZS President Matt Brash said: "Channels are now being created so BVZS and BVA can move forward on these really difficult ares and I want us all working together on this."

The statement recommends that BVA and BVZS should cooperate with the RCVS and the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education to evaluate the benefits and encourage the inclusion of an exotic animal clinical service in all veterinary teaching colleges/universities.

Also at the meeting, the society set up working groups to look at incorporating welfare recommendations into the Dangerous Wild Animal (DWA) Act and pet shop inspections. As a result, BVZS is currently developing a standardised documentation.

Mr Brash added: "These are really important areas that need sorting out - there are big ethical issues here and we all agree the health of individual animals is what we care about."

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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."