The Vet Record Podcast

RUMA's Steve Howard and Kit Sturgess join editor in chief Suzanne Jarvis to talk about the new condition-specific toolkits released by RUMA. These cover canine acute diarrhoea and cat bite abscesses, and provide resources to help practitioners decrease their use of antimicrobials. They also discuss what the target reduction in use is and where we are on this. The toolkits can be accessed at: https://rumacae.org.uk/national-amu-reduction-targets

In this episode, Josh Loeb, Vet Record's senior news reporter, is joined by Michael Seals, chair of the Animal Sentience Committee, and committee member Richard Cooper, to discuss the origins of the committee and questions surrounding it. Set up in 2022, the committee has a remit to report to Parliament on the implications for the welfare of sentient animals arising from any area of policy. But how does it report to Parliament, and which of the many areas of policymaking does it consider most pertinent?

With record temperatures being recorded in the UK this summer, editor in chief Suzanne Jarvis talks to the RVC's Emily Hall, Jude Bradbury and Dan O'Neill about heat-related illness and heatstroke in companion animals. With the focus on dogs, we discuss this quintessential contextualised care condition. Mortality is high if body temperature exceeds 41.0°C, so the most important action is to cool the animal as soon as possible, with the overriding message being 'Wet then vet'. There is a companion In Practice article at https://bit.ly/4vwxVlB

Vet Record senior reporter Josh Loeb is joined by Ed Simmons from the British Cattle Veterinary Association and BVA junior vice president Gwen Rees to discuss the newly released bovine TB strategy for England and what it might mean for the future of bTB control. Ed and Gwen were both part of the bTB Partnership that produced this new strategy. Will it be implemented by Defra and what will the reaction be from farmers? These and other questions are discussed. Links to the published articles mentioned in the episode: https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/vetr.70328 https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/vetr.70358 https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/vetr.70484

In this episode, Josh Loeb is joined by Rowena Packer, senior lecturer in companion animal behaviour and welfare science at the Royal Veterinary College, to unpack the complex - and often confusing - realities of buying a puppy. She describes the growing influence of trends and social media, and why making the ‘right’ choice isn’t always straightforward.

In this episode, we are joined by Paul Reynolds, chair of the British Wildlife Rehabilitation Council. We discuss problems in the rehabilitation sector, such as overtreatment and delayed euthanasia, and efforts to produce standards that rehabilitators can sign up to in order to improve practice in this area.

Do you know what risk is and how to assess it to aid clinical decision making? In this episode, Rachel Dean and Caroline Scobie build on their recent In Practice article to explain what relative and absolute risk is, and how to put that knowledge into practice for the patient in front of you. They use canine neutering as an example – a very common consultation in general practice – to illustrate how to build confidence in your clinical advice to owners depending on what is important to them. And while published research can help inform the advice you give, by doing your own clinic audit you can also assess what works for you in your practice.

In this episode, equine vet Phoebe Putt chats to Alexandria Lipka and shares her honest reflections on returning to clinical work after maternity leave. Drawing on her own experience as a first-time mother, Phoebe discusses the concept of 'matrescence' and why it is often misunderstood or overlooked in the workplace. She explores the challenges and emotional realities of returning to work, the role of employers in providing meaningful support and how maternity leave can equip clinicians with valuable new skills rather than diminishing them.

With the CMA's final remedies now out, Suzanne and Josh are joined by BVA president Rob Williams to find out what vets and veterinary businesses serving clients with companion animals need to know. Remedies include a requirement to publish price lists, a cap on the price of prescriptions and an obligation for practices to make it clear if they are part of a chain.

With the CMA investigation shining a spotlight on veterinary pet services costs and consumer choice, Paul Higgs, chief veterinary officer for CVS, talks to Suzanne about the difference between value and price. We talk about what the tensions are for vet professionals in first-opinion practice, valuing veterinary expertise, and how contextualised care, if done well, can give owners reassurance as well as a sense of value. We also touch on how the proposed reform of the veterinary legislation has the potential to also show the value of veterinary services.

Vet Record recently published a paper on the experiences of vets and vet nurses around miscarriage, infertility and assisted fertility (MIAF) in veterinary workplaces. In this episode, Suzanne talks to two of the authors on the paper, Nat Scroggie and Zoe Belshaw, about the study, which found that nearly a quarter of people left or considered leaving their workplace due to their experiences at the time. Common issues centred around lack of policies or an awareness of them, insufficient leave being available and insensitive comments causing further distress.

Paul Manktelow, veterinary director at Blue Cross, talks about the transition from clinical to leadership roles and how undertaking an MBA gave him the knowledge from outside the sector to make a difference. He talks about how effective leadership makes way for more efficient and happier workplaces, and the need to understand commercial pressures. We also talk about the tensions in the current vet pet sector and how changes in clients' and veterinary graduates' expectations, resources and knowledge might influence what comes next for the profession.

Editor in chief Suzanne Jarvis and senior new reporter Josh Loeb chat about what's in Defra's legislative reform consultation, which is being described as a once in a lifetime opportunity to shape the future of the veterinary professions. This episode also includes an interview with UK deputy chief veterinary officer Ele Brown, who answers questions from Josh about some aspects of the proposals for how the UK veterinary profession

One of the UK's most prestigious vet schools is facing a threat of closure after the University of Cambridge's School of Biological Sciences recommended that this institution should cease to deliver veterinary teaching. What has caused this crisis and how might it affect other vet schools? In this episode, Suzanne Jarvis, the editor of Vet Record, and the journal's senior reporter, Josh Loeb, talk through the factors that have led up to this point, discuss feelings among students and staff, and ask if Cambridge can be saved.

January sees many people start on a resolution to get fitter and exercise more. However, many of these resolutions fail. In this episode, Nick Weston, a small animal vet, running coach and keen runner himself, gives tips on how to make the resolutions stick. We chat about the benefits of setting realistic goals beyond January, and how to fit it into the busy working life of being a vet. We also talk about the importance of wellbeing and how something as simple as 10 minutes of daylight a day can make a big difference to how you feel.

In this episode, Josh and Suzanne chat with BVA president Rob Williams about the big issues likely to come up for the vet profession in 2026. The long-term impact of the CMA investigation and movement on legislative reform receive a good airing, along with artificial intelligence use in practice - will it be a game changer or just another tool to use in practice? We also discuss the challenge of monitoring for notifiable diseases and the need for investment in government veterinary capability. We also include clips from members of the profession on what will be making the biggest impact on them in 2026 - these were recorded at London Vet Show in November 2025.

After realising his childhood ambition to become a zoo vet wasn't for him, Mark set out on the journey to specialise in neurology. He talks about the value of seeing general practice before specialising and how failure can be a positive if you seek to learn from it. He sets out his views on the problems with corporate practices focusing too much on spend per visit, and the value of experience adding to client satisfaction. He talks about how this experience can help with choosing the most valuable tests to run, and what to do with results - especially if they come back normal.

In this episode, we chat to Tom McNeilly, director of Moredun Research Institute. He talks about the challenges of a career in research, but how it can be fulfilling and lead to making an impact to animal health and welfare. He explains how interest has grown in incorporating environmental aspects into the research carried out at the institute, but that their primary focus continues to be advocating for the health of farmed animals.

In this special two-parter, we speak to the regulator (RCVS) and the BVA to get their take on the CMA's provisional findings. What is their understanding of what the CMA has said? Are they concerned about the watchdog's proposed remedies? Is this the end of the world as we know it? Do they feel the CMA has listened to previous comments? This comes after the CMA released a draft report of its final recommendations and launched a consultation. Recommendations include that vet practices should be forced to publish comprehensive price lists and prescription fees would be capped at £16.

In this special two-parter, we speak to vets working at independent and corporate practices about what the CMA's provisional findings could mean for them. What is their understanding of what the CMA has said? Are they concerned about the watchdog's proposed remedies? Is this the end of the world as we know it? This comes after the CMA released a draft report of its final recommendations and launched a consultation. Recommendations include that vet practices should be forced to publish comprehensive price lists and prescription fees would be capped at £16.