The conversation explores how evidence-based strategies are transforming clinical standards and advancing animal welfare. The team shares their focus for the year on responsible parasiticide usage, a crucial area for both animal health and environmental sustainability.

They also introduce the Care Frameworks—a practical tool designed to turn research findings into actionable insights for clinicians. By bridging science with practice, these frameworks aim to strengthen collaboration with pet owners and ultimately improve the standard of care for animals everywhere.

Our Guests:

Rachel Malkani 

Rachel is IVC Evidensia’s Group Clinical Research Lead. She leads on the annual research strategy, research support, and research training, and is also involved with the care frameworks and other evidence-based requests. 

Marie Erwood  

Marie a data scientist who started her career working in academic research for human health. She uses data to help measure the impact of research at IVC Evidensia and collaborate on internal and external research projects. 

David Singleton 

Davis is Group Director of Research at IVC Evidensia. He is a veterinary surgeon with a master's degree and a PhD in epidemiology and health informatics from the University of Liverpool. Collectively, he has first or co-authored over 40 publications.  

Our Host: Daniella dos Santos BSc BVetMed FRCVS  

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College. She has since worked in first opinion, small animal and exotic pet practices across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient on the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the animal welfare charity SPANA and the PetPlan Charitable Trust. 

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links

For IVC Evidensia colleagues visit the Research Hub on the Intranet

To contact the research team email: research@ivcevidensia.com 

Our Guest: Petra Agthe CertVDI DipECVDI MRCVS  

Petra spent several years in general practice before completing a residency at the University of Cambridge, gaining the European Diploma in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging in 2009. She has led the imaging team at a private multidisciplinary referral centre many years before starting her position at Southern Counties in November 2024. 

In addition to her clinical experience, she has also developed a strong interest in Human Factors, the non-clinical aspects that are important for high quality patient care. She is Chair of the Welfare Committee of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic imaging, an associate trainer for VetLed and host and co-founder of the Vet Mind Works Podcast. 

Our Host: Daniella dos Santos BSc BVetMed FRCVS 

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College. She has since worked in first opinion, small animal and exotic pet practices across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient on the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the animal welfare charity SPANA and the PetPlan Charitable Trust. 

Powered by IVC Evidensia 

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners. 

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media. 

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia. 

Links: 

Vet Mind Works podcast: https://vetmindworks.buzzsprout.com/ 

Petra Agthe LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petra-agthe-562bb65b/  

'Keeping It Civil' Guide by the Incivility Toolkit from the University of Aberdeen https://research.abdn.ac.uk/applied-psych-hf/vit/ 

Leadership development resources: https://www.leaderfactor.com/resources 

Psych Safety newsletter, training and toolkits: https://psychsafety.com/newsletter/ 

Book recommendations: 

The Fearless Organisation by Amy Edmondson 

The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety by Timothy R Clark 

Speak Up: Say What Needs to Be Said and Hear What Needs to Be Heard by Megan Reitz and John Higgins 

Our Guest: Lisa Tolfree NCert (Anaesthesia and Critical Care) Cert Ed RVN Senior Referral Nurse

Following a decade as a primary school teacher, Lisa qualified as a Registered veterinary nurse in 2008, working in a busy referrals practice in Bristol. She attained her Anaesthesia and Critical Care nursing certificate in 2010 and, following further studies into wound management and infection control, moved to Rowe Veterinary Referrals in 2012 as a Senior Veterinary Nurse. She began working centrally for IVC Evidensia in 2020 as Infection Prevention & Control Manager UK & Ireland and continue to work part time at Rowe Referrals to keep in touch with the daily challenges of practice life. 

Our Host: Daniella Dos Santos BSc BVetMed FRCVS 

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College. She has since worked in first opinion, small animal and exotic pet practices across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient of the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the PetPlan Charitable Trust. 

Powered by IVC Evidensia 

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners. 

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media. 

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia. 

Links:

Development and implementation of a structured, quantitative approach to infection prevention and control within small animal veterinary care across four different European countries: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167587725001795?via%3Dihub 

 Revolution Zero: https://store.revolution-zero.com/ 

For general practitioners, auscultation serves as a primary diagnostic tool, but echocardiography remains definitive. The episode explores practical strategies for diagnosis and highlights the significance of appropriately timing interventions to enhance canine health outcomes and improve longevity.

Our Guest: Ela Mederska DVM CertAVP(VC) PgCert VPS AFHEA DipECVIM-CA(Cardiology) MRCVS RCVS and EBVS Veterinary Specialist in Small Animal Cardiology 

Ela graduated in 2013 and spent six years in general practice, during which she completed a Certificate in Cardiology. She then undertook a rotating internship and a cardiology residency at the University of Liverpool. Ela has a strong interest in interventional cardiology and currently works as a referral cardiologist at Blaise Veterinary Referrals.  

Our Host: Daniella dos Santos BSc BVetMed FRCVS 

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College. She has since worked in first opinion, small animal and exotic pet practices across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient on the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the animal welfare charity SPANA and the PetPlan Charitable Trust. 

Powered by IVC Evidensia 

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners. 

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media. 

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links:

Useful cardiology resources: https://www.iconsultvet.co.uk/resources

For clinical advice and further information about cardiology referral services at Blaise: Cardiology - Blaise Referrals

ACVIM consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs - Keene - 2019 - Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine - Wiley Online Library

Our Guests: 

Emma Shipman BVetMed MSc DACVIM-LAIM DipECEIM CertVA FHEA MRCVS RCVS and EBVS Recognised Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine 

Emma graduated from the RVC in 1999 and completed a residency in equine medicine at the Marion duPont Scott equine Medical Centre, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine obtaining a masters in veterinary biomedical sciences and Diplomate status of the American College of Veterinary Internal medicine. Since then she has worked in both private practice and academia, being associate professor in equine medicine at the university of Nottingham since 2021.

Sarah Voss BVMedSci (Hons) BVM BVS MVM DipECEIM FHEA MRCVS RCVS and European Equine Internal Medicine Specialist

Sarah graduated from Nottingham in 2012. She completed an internship at Oakham then spent time in equine ambulatory practice before undertaking an Equine Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Glasgow. Sarah is a European and RCVS Equine Internal Medicine specialist and has also completed a Masters by research investigating the gastric microbiota associated with gastric disease in racehorses. Sarah currently works at Oakham and is also a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Nottingham. 

Our Host: Adam Redpath BVMS DipECEIM MRCVS Veterinary Surgeon

Adam is a EBVS and RCVS Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine having successfully becoming an ECEIM Diplomat in 2021. He has spent the majority of his early career in clinical academic practice, having several roles at the University of Nottingham. More recently Adam has ventured into private practice having worked at both Donnington Grove and Oakham Veterinary Hospital as an equine internal medicine clinician over the past 18 months. Adam currently splits his time between his clinical role at Oakham Veterinary Hospital and as Equine Development Lead within the L&D team at IVC Evidensia. 

Powered by IVC Evidensia 

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners. 

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media. 

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia. 

Links:

Oakham Veterinary hospital pages: www.oakhamvethospital.co.uk/referral/equine-referrals/referral-information4

European College of Equine Internal Medicine Consensus Statement—Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome in Adult Horses https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4858038/

Our Guest: Sarah Heath  

Sarah is Sustainability & ESG Director at IVC Evidensia and leads the development and implementation of the sustainability strategy across IVC Evidensia’s global business. Sarah joined the group in June 2021. In prior roles she was responsible for sustainability, corporate responsibility and communication strategies in international FTSE public companies including SSP Group and WH Smith. 

Our Host: Daniella dos Santos BSc BVetMed FRCVS 

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College. She has since worked in first opinion, small animal and exotic pet practices across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient on the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the animal welfare charity SPANA and the PetPlan Charitable Trust. 

Powered by IVC Evidensia 

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners. 

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media. 

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia. 

Links:  

Positive Pawprint - Our Sustainability Strategy 

Our Guest: Nicola Lakeman MSc BSc(Hons) RVN VTS(Nutrition)

Nicola graduated with an honours degree in Equine Science then went on to qualify as a veterinary nurse in 2002. She gained her master’s degree in advanced veterinary nursing with Glasgow University and is a board-certified Veterinary Technician Specialist in nutrition. Nicola has written for numerous veterinary publications and textbooks and has an additional role as an editor within the veterinary sector.  Nicola has been awarded the prestigious BVNA Blue Cross Veterinary Nurse of the Year award and was this year recognised by the BSAVA for her outstanding contribution to veterinary nursing. Nicola currently works as the Nutrition Manager for IVC Evidensia.  

Our Host: Liz Cox CertSAN DipILM CertAVN (TCM) RVN

Liz is the Group Veterinary Nursing Advisor, a critical part of the delivery of a modern veterinary service and the development of our professional nursing team and complementary care providers such as our teams providing physio and hydrotherapy. Liz is a founding member of the IVC Evidensia Nurse Committee, has presented at major Veterinary Congresses and holds senior office on the RCVS Nurse Council. She has a passion for Nurse Development and training and has worked in a full range of practices from single-site to hospital practices and as a locum for Bristol Veterinary School.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links:

Email Nicola at: nutrition@ivcevidensia.com 

Our Guest: Emma Suiter BSc (Hons) BVetMed PGDip(VCP) MRCVS Referral Clinician in Neurology 

Emma graduated from the RVC in 2016, after which she spent 2 years in first opinion practice before undertaking a rotating internship at the University of Bristol. She completed a neurology internship, followed by a residency at Pride Veterinary Referrals. She has recently moved to Blaise Referrals in Birmingham. Her clinical interests are neurosurgery, in particular, decompressive spinal surgery and spinal stabilisation 

Our Host: Daniella Dos Santos BSc BVetMed FRCVS 

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College. She has since worked in first opinion, small animal and exotic pet practices across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient of the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the PetPlan Charitable Trust. 

Powered by IVC Evidensia 

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners. 

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media. 

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia. 

Links: 

For clinical advice and further information about neurology referral services at Blaise:https://www.blaise-referrals.com/vet-hub/our-services/neurology 

Contact Emma and the team at Blaise Referrals: birmingham.neurology@blaise-referrals.com 

Our guests:

Owain Jenkins BSc BVSc DBR MRCVS 

Owain graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2000 and began his career in mixed practice in his hometown of Dolgellau. In 2006 he moved to Delaware Veterinary Group in Somerset to focus on 100% farm work. In 2012 he gained a Diploma in Bovine Reproduction from the University of Liverpool, and became a partner at Delaware which then joined IVC in 2017. Owain was until recently Chair of our Farm Animal Clinical Board. He now focuses on his role as Clinical Director, providing a proactive service to his top-quality dairy clients. 

Rebecca Nelson BVM BVS MRCVS Veterinary Surgeon 

Rebecca graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2016 and has since worked around the UK and in New Zealand. She has completed a residency program in Bovine Health and Management at the Nottingham Dairy Herd Health Group. Rebecca’s interests lie in progressive herd health. She is currently involved in developing a new veterinary consultancy service in the Midlands, Fosse Veterinary Consultancy. 

Our Host:

Paul Horwood BVetMed DBR MRCVS MBA

Paul has had a varied career so far, initially an Officer in the military, Paul left and trained as a vet, but kept his links with the military, returning to the front line in Afghanistan in 2012 with the Grenadier Guards. Paul is currently the Group Veterinary advisor for farm at IVC Evidensia. He qualified from Royal Veterinary College in 2000, and after an internship, joined Westpoint Farm Vets, becoming partner, owner and director along the way, as it grew to 25 practices across the UK. In 2015 the business was sold to Private Equity and Paul remained as Managing Director of the fam animal side of the business until 2017. Paul has a Diploma in Bovine Reproduction from Liverpool University, is a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer of Vetlife, is on BVA council, is a mental health first aider, is a founder of VetYou, a financial advice platform for the veterinary profession.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links

Vet Vision AI: https://www.vetvisionai.com/ 

Delaware CPD resources: Training & Resources - Delaware Farm Vets 

Our Guest: Ashton Hollwarth BSc BVMS CertAVP (Zoo Med) MANZCVS (Avian Medicine & Surgery) DipECZM (Avian) MRCVS

Ashton graduated from Murdoch University in Western Australia. She moved to the UK and worked in small animal and exotic practice before joining the team at Great Western Exotics in 2018. She holds a CertAVP in Zoological Medicine and is an Advanced Practitioner in Zoological Medicine. She gained membership by examination to the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Surgeons chapter of Avian Medicine and Surgery in 2022 and is a diplomat of the European College of Zoological Medicine as a specialist in avian medicine and surgery.

Our Host: Daniella Dos Santos

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College. She has since worked in first opinion, small animal and exotic pet practices across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient of the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the PetPlan Charitable Trust.

Powered by IVC Evidensia:

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links:

Great Western Exotics: https://www.gwexotics.com/for-vet-professionals

Rabbit Awareness Action Group: RAW Reminder | Rabbit Awareness Week

Vet Times review of Maropitant use in rabbits: https://www.vettimes.com/clinical/exotics/use-of-maropitant-in-rabbits-a-literature-review-cpdrabbits

Use of maropitant for pain management in domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) undergoing elective orchiectomy or ovariohysterectomy - ScienceDirect

Comparison of 0.2 Mg/kg Vs. 1.0 Mg/kg of Oral Meloxicam for Safe and Effective Analgesia in Domestic Rabbits https://knowledge.rcvs.org.uk/document-library/comparison-of-02-mgkg-vs-10-mgkg-of-oral-meloxicam-for-safe-and/

Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam in rabbits after oral administration of single and multiple doses: https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/ajvr/74/4/ajvr.74.4.636.xml

Effects of oral Cisapride administration in chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera) with experimentally induced fecal output reduction: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1557506321000355

Our Guest: Neus Elias LMV PgCert CertAVP(ECC) DECVECC MRCVS European  and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Veterinary ECC 

Neus graduated from the Universitat Autònoma of Barcelona in 2009 where she then completed a rotating internship.  On moving to the UK she worked in a first opinion practice for two years before beginning an ECC internship at the Vets Now Hospital in Glasgow. Neus completed her residency and became a European Diplomate in Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care in 2020.  She continues to work in Glasgow as a co-lead of the ECC referral team and residency mentor. Her interests include CPR, POCUS, all things transfusion related, and treatment of any critically ill dog or cat. 

 Our Host: Daniella dos Santos BSc BVetMed FRCVS 

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College. She has since worked in first opinion, small animal and exotic pet practices across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient on the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the animal welfare charity SPANA and the PetPlan Charitable Trust. 

Links: 

RECOVER Guidelines: https://recoverinitiative.org/2024-guidelines/ 

For IVC Evidensia teams only the CPR learning pathway is now available on the Learning Hub with bite-sized presentations covering Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) that are relevant to all clinical team members involved in CPR.

We will also be hosting free face-to-face practical CPR training workshops at our training centres which will cover practical basic and advanced life support. The link to book a place can be found on the Learning Hub. 

Our guest: Andy Kent:

Andy graduated from Bristol and spent time in mixed practice and then small animal practice before deciding to specialise in Small Animal Internal Medicine. He completed a residency at University of Cambridge and became a European Specialist in 2016. He joined IVC Evidensia at the start of 2023 as the Clinical Director of Blaise Veterinary Referral Hospital which opened in November.

Our host: Daniella Dos Santos

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College. She has since worked in first opinion, small animal and exotic pet practices across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient of the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the PetPlan Charitable Trust.

Powered by IVC Evidensia:

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links:

Blaise Referrals: https://www.blaise-referrals.com/

For clinical advice and further information about medicine referral services at Blaise: https://www.blaise-referrals.com/vet-hub/our-services/internal-medicine

Our guests:

Emily Murray: RVN

Emily is an RVN with experience in both first opinion and referral settings. She is currently working as the Head of Vet Nurse Development for IVC Evidensia and is committed to supporting newly qualified and general practice veterinary nurses.

Rachel Marshall: RVN

Racheal has worked in general practice, in OOH and as a Lecturer in Veterinary Nursing & Animal Management. She is now Head of Clinical Nursing at Vets Now responsible for the clinical and professional standards of their veterinary nurses. 

Stacey Galliford: Head RVN

Stacey is Head Nurse at Highfield Vets and holds an ISFM Certificate in Feline Nursing. She is part of the team of VN Supports at IVCE and is passionate about supporting RVN and SVN in there roles.

Becky Pritchard: Deputy Head RVN

Becky studied Animal Health and Welfare at University at Harper Adams then worked in numerous roles as a groom, assistant yard supervisor, instructor and lecturer. She later trained on the job to become an RVN at Fyrnwy Equine Hospital where she now works as Deputy Head Nurse.

Our Host: Liz Cox

CertSAN DipILM CertAVN (TCM) RVN

Liz is the Group Veterinary Nursing Advisor, a critical part of the delivery of a modern veterinary service and the development of our professional nursing team and complementary care providers such as our teams providing physio and hydrotherapy. Liz is a founding member of the IVC Evidensia Nurse Committee, has presented at major Veterinary Congresses and holds senior office on the RCVS Nurse Council. She has a passion for Nurse Development and training and has worked in a full range of practices from single-site to hospital practices and as a locum for Bristol Veterinary School.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links:

BVNA pages: https://bvna.org.uk/

In this special episode, Daniella Dos Santos and Gudrun Ravetz explore the 2025 World Veterinary Day theme: "Animal Health Takes a Team." They delve into the critical role of teamwork and collaboration, not only within veterinary teams but also with pet owners, farmers, and other stakeholders. Highlighting the importance of communication, leadership, workplace culture, and valuing individual strengths, this conversation underscores that effective animal care is truly a team effort. Join us as we celebrate the power of collective action in promoting animal health and welfare.

Our Guest: Gudrun Ravetz BVSc MRCVs

Gudrun is very grateful for the opportunities that her veterinary degree has led to. While being a complete generalist Gudrun has had the privilege to be heavily involved in supporting the profession throughout her career including as SPVS President, BVA President and Director and Chair of Vet Sustain. She has had a variety of jobs in the industry both clinically and within leadership and is delighted to have found her professional home with IVCE.

Our Host: Daniella dos Santos BSc BVetMed FRCVS

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College. She has since worked in first opinion, small animal and exotic pet practices across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient on the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the animal welfare charity SPANA and the PetPlan Charitable Trust.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links:

WVA web pages: Home - World Veterinary Association

FAO web pages: Animal Production and Health Division (NSA)

They dive into diagnostic testing, highlighting the timing and limitations of the different tests. Finally, they discuss control strategies, focusing on isolation, quarantine, and the potential role of vaccination. This episode provides essential insights for managing and preventing strangles in equine practice.

Our Guest: Rose Tallon VetMB BA MVetMed DipACVIM MRCVS

Rose graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2014 and completed an internal medicine residency at the Royal Veterinary College in London following a stint in ambulatory practice. Rose is a diplomate of the ACVIM and ECEIM and is an RCVS recognised specialist in Equine Internal Medicine. She is based at Donnington Grove Vets in Newbury, where, alongside a busy clinical caseload, she is involved in providing laboratory services to the wider IVCE group, including Strangles testing. 

Our Host: Adam Redpath BVMS PGCert(VetMed) DipECEIM FHEA MRCVS

Adam is a EBVS and RCVS Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine having successfully becoming an ECEIM Diplomat in 2021. He has spent the majority of his early career in clinical academic practice, having several roles at the University of Nottingham. More recently Adam has ventured into private practice having worked at both Donnington Grove and Oakham Veterinary Hospital as an equine internal medicine clinician over the past 18 months. Adam currently splits his time between his clinical role at Oakham Veterinary Hospital and as Equine Development Lead within the L&D team at IVC Evidensia. 

Links:

Donnington Grove Laboratory: https://www.dgvglab.com/

Strangles vaccination: A current European perspective, by D Rendle, August 2024 https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/eve.14032

HBLB guidelines: Code Of Practice : Strangles

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At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Helen explains the qualities that make a suitable donor dog, including temperament and health requirements, and walks listeners through the stringent processes involved in both the donation and the care of the collected blood products. She also emphasizes the unique challenges that pet blood banks face, particularly when compared to human blood donation systems, noting the specialized regulations and considerations that apply to the care and handling of canine blood donations.

This episode sheds light on an essential yet often overlooked aspect of veterinary care and the life-saving role that dog blood donors play.

Our Guest: Helen Rooney

BSc (Hons) CVN, Cert Ed, Dip AVN (Medical), Cert ECCVN, NCert Transfusion Medicine,

Helen qualified in 1996 and after a brief spell in a general, mixed practice moved into referral nursing. She then became a Senior Veterinary Nursing Lecturer at Myerscough College specialising in patient care, medical nursing and ECC. In 2016 Helen joined Vets Now as the Head Nurse at their new Manchester hospital before joining IVC where she is now the IVC Referral Nurse Training and Development Lead.Alongside this role Helen works for the Pet Blood Bank delivering transfusion training to practices. It is in this role she developed the first and only accredited course for veterinary nurses in Transfusion Medicine. 

Our Host: Liz Cox

CertSAN DipILM CertAVN (TCM) RVN

Liz is the Group Veterinary Nursing Advisor, a critical part of the delivery of a modern veterinary service and the development of our professional nursing team and complementary care providers such as our teams providing physio and hydrotherapy. Liz is a founding member of the IVC Evidensia Nurse Committee, has presented at major Veterinary Congresses and holds senior office on the RCVS Nurse Council. She has a passion for Nurse Development and training and has worked in a full range of practices from single-site to hospital practices and as a locum for Bristol Veterinary School.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links:

Pet Blood Bank UK website for guidance and step-by-step advice documents: https://www.petbloodbankuk.org/vet-professionals/i-need-advice/

NCert in Transfusion Medicine: https://improveinternational.com/uk/coursedate/ncert-vppcert-transfusion-medicine-online/

Our Guest: Natasha Jocelyn MA, VetMB, MVetMed, Dip ECEIM, MRCVS

Natasha qualified from Cambridge University in 2011 the spent four years in equine ambulatory practice in Gloucestershire with a large emphasis on polo and performance horse work. In 2015 she undertook a residency in Equine Internal Medicine at the RVC during which she published research into endocrine disease diagnosis and lower airway analysis. She joined Sussex Equine Hospital in 2018, founding the internal medicine department. In 2019 she passed the European College of Equine Internal Medicine board exams. She enjoys all aspects of internal medicine but is particularly interested in critical care, neurology, gastroenterology and respiratory disease.

Our Host: Adam Redpath BVMS PGCert(VetMed) DipECEIM FHEA MRCVS

Adam is a EBVS and RCVS Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine having successfully becoming an ECEIM Diplomat in 2021. He has spent the majority of his early career in clinical academic practice, having several roles at the University of Nottingham. More recently Adam has ventured into private practice having worked at both Donnington Grove and Oakham Veterinary Hospital as an equine internal medicine clinician over the past 18 months. Adam currently splits his time between his clinical role at Oakham Veterinary Hospital and as Equine Development Lead within the L&D team at IVC Evidensia. 

Links:

Sussex equine referrals pages: www.sussexequinehospital.co.uk/referral-cases/ 

Equine endocrinology group website: https://equineendocrinologygroup.org/

Equine metabolic syndrome: Role of the enteroinsular axis in the insulin response to oral carbohydrate: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090023323000187

BEVA primary care guidelines on the diagnosis and managements of equine PPID: https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/evj.14009

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At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

In this episode, Liz Cox talks dermatology with RVNs Jennifer and Laurie from the Dermatology Referral Service. They discuss the range of procedures they support with every day and share tips for getting more involved in these consultations in your practice such as in performing earing and interpreting ear cytology.

Jennifer Grant

Jenni qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2019. She worked in general practice and OOH before becoming part of the Dermatology Referral team in 2022 where she is now Head Nurse. Jenni has a Merit award in Dermatology Veterinary Nursing.

Laurie Adams

Laurie qualified as an RVN in 2015 and has worked in a variety of settings before settling at Derm Vet Referral where she is currently Practice Director.  As well as her keen interest in dermatology, she is passionate about developing future generations of nurses.

Liz Cox

Liz is the Group Veterinary Nursing Advisor, a critical part of the delivery of a modern veterinary service and the development of our professional nursing team and complementary care providers such as our teams providing physio and hydrotherapy. Liz is a founding member of the IVC Evidensia Nurse Committee, has presented at major Veterinary Congresses and holds senior office on the RCVS Nurse Council. She has a passion for Nurse Development and training and has worked in a full range of practices from single-site to hospital practices and as a locum for Bristol Veterinary School.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links

Dermatology Referral Service CPD: https://www.vetdermreferrals.co.uk/for-veterinary-surgeons/cpd

Simon Allistone

Simon Allistone is an instructional designer with over 17 years’ experience of delivering leadership development, organisational change, and teambuilding solutions to a wide array of industry sectors. Simon believes that whatever the audience, putting the learner and their specific workplace context first is key, and that experiential learning (learning by doing) will help learners deepen their understanding and retain knowledge more effectively. 

Daniella Dos Santos

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College. She has since worked in first opinion, small animal and exotic pet practices across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient of the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the PetPlan Charitable Trust.

Powered by IVC Evidensia 

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners. 

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media. 

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia. 

Links:

Article explaining the SBI model: https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/closing-the-gap-between-intent-vs-impact-sbii/

The Vet Times article on civility: https://www.vettimes.co.uk/news/incivility-guide-aims-to-tackle-lack-of-respect/

The Vet Times article with Gudrun Ravetz CMO at IVC Evidensia: https://www.vettimes.co.uk/news/dont-lose-sight-of-what-you-can-do-ivc-boss-urges-sector/

This episode is a must-listen for veterinary professionals looking to deepen their understanding of corneal ulcers and their management in canine patients.

David Nutbrown-Hughes

David qualified from Bristol vet school in 1995 and gained his RCVS certificate in Veterinary Ophthalmology in 2004. He is currently on the committee of the British Association of Veterinary Ophthalmologists and a member of IVC Evidensia UK referrals board. David is a recognised clinical teacher in Veterinary Ophthalmology at Bristol University and is working towards his Fellowship. Clinically his areas of interest are the assessment and maintenance of tear film health and corneal surgery, in particular the management of corneal disease in brachycephalic dogs.

Daniella Dos Santos

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College. She has since worked in first opinion, small animal and exotic pet practices across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient of the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the PetPlan Charitable Trust.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links:

Rowe Ophthalmology Referrals: https://www.rowereferrals.co.uk/about-us#ophthalmology

Rowe referral clinicians are happy to offer advice and guidance in the management of small animal cases and can be contacted by email on: eyes@rowevetgroup.com

Nicola Falder

Nicola graduated from the RVC in 2008 and has worked at Glenthorne Vets ever since. Initially working in mixed practice, Nicola focused her attention to farm animal practice in 2016. In 2020 she gained a Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice. Whilst she enjoys all aspects of farm practice, she has a particular interest in sheep medicine.  

Paul Horwood

Paul has had a varied career so far, initially an Officer in the military, Paul left and trained as a vet, but kept his links with the military, returning to the front line in Afghanistan in 2012 with the Grenadier Guards.  Paul is currently the Group Veterinary advisor for farm at IVC Evidensia. He qualified from Royal Veterinary College in 2000, and after an internship, joined Westpoint Farm Vets, becoming partner, owner and director along the way, as it grew to 25 practices across the UK. In 2015 the business was sold to Private Equity and Paul remained as Managing Director of the fam animal side of the business until 2017. Paul has a Diploma in Bovine Reproduction from Liverpool University, is a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer of Vetlife, is on BVA council, is a mental health first aider, is a founder of VetYou, a financial advice platform for the veterinary profession.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links

TB Advisory Service website: https://www.tbas.org.uk/

Bovine TB map in England and Wales: https://ibtb.co.uk/

TB Hub website: https://tbhub.co.uk/

Glenthorne Farm Vets Website: https://www.glenthornefarmvets.co.uk

Our Guest: Richard Hooker

Richard qualified as a Veterinary Surgeon in 1994 and then worked in a range of clinical roles before becoming Director of Vet Services at the PDSA. In his role as Country Medical Director at IVCE his main areas of work include setting clinical standards, business support and development, and managing IVC Evidensia’s relationship with the RCVS and other Professional bodies. As part of the Operations team, he is also involved in the wider group strategy bringing our Veterinary Team clinical inputs and insights into the direction and decision-making of the group.

Our Host: Liz Cox

Liz is the Group Veterinary Nursing Advisor, a critical part of the delivery of modern veterinary service and the development of our professional nursing team and complementary care providers such as our teams providing physio and hydrotherapy. Liz is a founding member of the IVC Evidensia Nurse Committee, has presented at major Veterinary Congresses and holds senior office on the RCVS Nurse Council. She has a passion for Nurse Development and training and has worked in a full range of practices from single-site to hospital practices and as a locum for Bristol Veterinary School.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Our Guest: Rebecca Draper

Rebecca qualified as an RVN in 2016, then went on to complete a certificate in dentistry in 2021. She is currently a head nurse at Abington Park, an IVC Evidensia multi-discipline, 1st opinion and referral hospital. This year she joined the IVCE Referral Clinical board. Rebecca has been instrumental in providing training for vet and nurse teams within IVCE and has been a contributor to our periodontal disease care framework.

Our Host: Liz Cox

Liz is the Group Veterinary Nursing Advisor, a critical part of the delivery of a modern veterinary service and the development of our professional nursing team and complementary care providers such as our teams providing physio and hydrotherapy. Liz is a founding member of the IVC Evidensia Nurse Committee, has presented at major Veterinary Congresses and holds senior office on the RCVS Nurse Council. She has a passion for Nurse Development and training and has worked in a full range of practices from single-site to hospital practices and as a locum for Bristol Veterinary School.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Host Daniella and ECC expert Shannon Thorrell discuss the most common emergencies seen during the festive period. From chocolate and mince pies to button batteries, they explore effective strategies for diagnosing, treating, and preventing these risks.

Shannon shares her expert approach to managing toxicities, as well as practical advice for veterinary teams to stay prepared for the busy season ahead.

Shannon Thorrell:

Since 2017 Shannon has been a Veterinary Surgeon at Vets Now, becoming Principal Veterinary Surgeon in 2019. In 2022 she became an RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care. She is currently undertaking the BSAVA PgCert in Diagnostic Imaging.

Daniella Dos Santos

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College. She has since worked in first opinion, small animal and exotic pet practices across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient of the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the PetPlan Charitable Trust.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links:

Vets Now chocolate calculator: https://dog-chocolate-calculator.vets-now.com/ 

The Animal Poisons Line: https://www.animalpoisonline.co.uk

Our Host

Adam is a EBVS and RCVS Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine having successfully becoming an ECEIM Diplomat in 2021. He has spent the majority of his early career in clinical academic practice, having several roles at the University of Nottingham. More recently Adam has ventured into private practice having worked at both Donnington Grove and Oakham Veterinary Hospital as an equine internal medicine clinician over the past 18 months. Adam currently splits his time between his clinical role at Oakham Veterinary Hospital and as Equine Development Lead within the L&D team at IVC Evidensia. 

Our Guests

James Bailey

James graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, staying on to work with their musculoskeletal research group, further developing his expertise in objective gait analysis for the accurate and quantifiable assessment of lameness in horses. He has worked in 100% equine practice locally developing expertise in sports medicine and rehabilitation. He has worked with competition horses of all levels and regularly provided veterinary care at the regions FEI competitions.

James has numerous clinical publications and has presented his work at the International Conference in Equine Locomotion. He is currently working on a Horse Trust funded research project to improve management of acute and chronic pain in horses as part of The University of Nottingham’s Equine Pain Research Group.

Federica Cantatore

Federica graduated from the University of Veterinary Medicine of Turin (Italy) in 2014. Immediately after, she moved to United Kingdom to perform a rotational internship at Pool House Equine Clinic. After completing the internship, she remained in the hospital as junior clinician with particular interest in lameness cases. Federica has passed her Diploma examinations and is now a boarded diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (ACVSMR).

In 2017 she started an alternate residency pathway between University of Veterinary Medicine of Turin and Pool House Equine Clinic. In 2022, she obtained a Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Equine Lameness Diagnosis and Therapeutics) with University of Liverpool and the following year, the Diploma on the American College of Sport Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Links:

Pool House Equine Clinic pages: https://www.poolhouseequine.co.uk/referrals

Oakham Veterinary hospital pages: www.oakhamvethospital.co.uk/referral/equine-referrals/referral-information

Equine Gait Analysis Society: https://www.egas.academy/egas-course

BEVA: https://www.beva.org.uk/CPD-and-careers

These evidence-based resources target specific clinical conditions to address gaps in care, making use of recent research and expert opinion to boost the veterinary team's confidence in treating complex conditions.

Laura Playforth

Laura is IVC Evidensia’s Group Quality Improvement Director and is responsible for driving our culture of continually improving the care we deliver across the company.

Stuart Garde

Stuart is UK Head of Vet Development for IVCE and chairs the QI Steering Committee. 

Lesley Moore

Lesley is our Quality Improvement Co-ordinator and has been heavily involved in creating the care frameworks.

Rebecca Draper

Rebecca is a Head nurse at Abington Park and has been developing the periodontal disease care framework.

Sarah Cooper

Sarah is the Clinical Director at a first opinion IVCE practice Highcliffe vets who has already been using care frame works in the clinical setting.

Daniella Dos Santos

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College. She has since worked in first opinion, small animal and exotic pet practices across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient of the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the PetPlan Charitable Trust.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

IVCE Colleagues can access the Care Frameworks via the QI Hub on the Intranet.

Arlene Connor

Arlene qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2003 and subsequently worked in a small animal practice in central Scotland. She joined Vets Now 24/7 Emergency and Specialty Hospital in Glasgow in 2013 as a surgery nurse, before becoming Clinical Nursing Manager in 2014. In 2017, Arlene took on the role of Head of Clinical Operations for Vets Now’s Referral Hospital sites across the UK, which saw her represent Referrals within VetsNow as a member of the Veterinary and Nursing Standards group and at the company’s Clinical Strategy Board. In 2021 Arlene moved over to IVC Evidensia as the National Lead of Referral Nursing, within the newly created Referral Division, taking the lead on the UK’s Referral Nurse Strategy. In addition, with the rest of the National Clinical Lead team, Arlene is responsible for the clinical and professional standards within the hospital and is part of the team responsible for opening new IVC Evidensia Referral Hospitals in the U.K. At home, Arlene lives with her husband, and two small children, Harris the dog and George the cat.

Andrew Whitfield-Roberts

Andrew started nursing in 2008 in Shropshire, He studied at Rodbaston College and after passing his VCA and ANA awards he qualified in 2015 as an RVN. He moved to the Liverpool area and 7 years became a Head Nurse and Practice Manager. He has a passion for sharing and teaching about nursing skills and pushing the promotion of Male veterinary nurses. Areas of interest included neonatal care, wound management and consulting. Currently, he is the Head Nurse at White Cross Vets - St Helens. Andrew holds a BSVA Merit Award in wound management, Cert NCS(RVN Cons) and is currently studying for CertNCS(VPM)

Lucie Goodwin

Lucie graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2004 and spent the following two years working in a busy small animal hospital in Bristol. Having developed a love of internal medicine, she returned to the RVC in 2006 to undertake an internship and subsequently a residency in small animal medicine. Following the completion of her residency, Lucie returned to the West Country to work for the University of Bristol and Langford Veterinary Services as a teaching fellow and internal medicine clinician. She worked as an Internal Medicine Consultant for Axiom Veterinary Laboratories before joining the BSAVA as Head of Education in June 2018. Lucie joined Vale Referrals as an Internal Medicine clinician in September 2021 and became the IVC Evidensia National Lead for Medicine in June 2022. Lucie is also a trustee of RCVS Knowledge, a charity dedicated to the advancement of the quality of veterinary care for the benefit of animals, the public, and society. 

Lucie enjoys all aspects of internal medicine but has a particular interest in renal and urinary tract medicine and immune-mediated diseases.

Daniella Dos Santos

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College. She has since worked in first opinion, small animal and exotic pet practices across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient on the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the animal welfare charity SPANA and the PetPlan Charitable Trust.

Powered by IVC Evidensia:

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links:

Vet Compass Cushing's Predictor Tool: https://www.rvc.ac.uk/vetcompass/news/new-vetcompass-tool-aids-diagnosis-of-cushing-s-syndrome-in-dogs

Diagnosis of Spontaneous Canine Hyperadrenocorticism: 2012 ACVIM Consensus Statement (Small Animal): https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jvim.12192

Medicine referrals at Vale Referrals Dursley: https://www.valereferrals.co.uk/for-vets/disciplines#internal-medicine

Host Daniella Dos Santos and guests Sadie and Scott discuss these questions. Menopause symptoms such as anxiety, brain fog, and low mood can have a huge impact. Sadie shares her personal experiences with perimenopause, highlighting the importance of open communication and support from colleagues and leadership. Scott highlights the need for understanding individual needs and making reasonable adjustments. We focus on the importance of increasing awareness and support, offering resources and strategies to help create a more inclusive and supportive workplace.

Sadie Ashbee 

Sadie is Head of People Operations for the UK at IVC Evidensia and has over 25 years of experience within HR. She loves to see people grow & develop as well as delivering a best-in-class experience through the work of our team. 

 Scott Stowell 

Scott is responsible for our people policies and processes at IVC Evidensia, setting our strategy to improve the colleague experience.  He and his team also work on our wellbeing, diversity and inclusion agenda. 

Daniella Dos Santos

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College. She has since worked in first opinion, small animal and exotic pet practices across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient of the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the PetPlan Charitable Trust.

Powered by IVC Evidensia 

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners. 

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media. 

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia. 

Links:

BVNA Menopause toolkit: https://bvna.org.uk/project/menopause-toolkit/

BVA Menopause Hub: https://www.bva.co.uk/take-action/good-veterinary-workplaces/menopause-hub/

Paul Horwood

Paul has had a varied career so far, initially an Officer in the military, Paul left and trained as a vet, but kept his links with the military, returning to the front line in Afghanistan in 2012 with the Grenadier Guards.

Paul is currently the Group Veterinary advisor for farm at IVC Evidensia. He qualified from Royal Veterinary College in 2000, and after an internship, joined Westpoint Farm Vets, becoming partner, owner and director along the way, as it grew to 25 practices across the UK. He has a Diploma in Bovine Reproduction from Liverpool University. He's a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer for Vetlife, a member of the BVA council, mental health first aider, and the founder of VetYou, a financial advice platform for the veterinary profession.

Gill Whitehurst

Gill graduated from Liverpool University in 1998 to begin a career in mixed practice. She started working for Glenthorne Vets in 2000 as a mixed practice vet, and now specialises in Farm Animal Medicine and Preventative Healthcare with a keen interest in Lameness and Infectious disease management on farm. Glenthorne Vets became part of IVC Evidensia in 2018 and she took on the exciting challenge of Clinical Director in 2019.

Since joining IVC Evidensia she has been a proud and enthusiastic member of the IVC Farm Clinical Board and has also supported the Graduate Academy, teaching and mentoring students during the farm animal practical sessions. Gill has now joined the Central IVC Farm team as Regional Head of Farm for the Midlands and North of England. Outside of work she loves to watch England Rugby and Cricket and enjoy walking in our beautiful countryside.

Dave Martin

David Martin serves as the group animal welfare advisor at IVC Evidensia and clinical director at Brownlow Vet Group. With over three decades experience, he's well-known in the UK welfare community. David is a leading voice in animal wellbeing and spearheads several key welfare initiatives.

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At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links

IVC Evidensia Welfare contact email: welfare@ivcevidensia.com

The Farming Community Network (previously The Farming Crisis Network): https://fcn.org.uk/ 

DPJ Foundation mental health awareness training: https://www.thedpjfoundation.co.uk/training/ 

Arlene Connor

Arlene qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2003 and subsequently worked in a small animal practice in central Scotland. She joined Vets Now 24/7 Emergency and Specialty Hospital in Glasgow in 2013 as a surgery nurse, before becoming Clinical Nursing Manager in 2014. In 2017, Arlene took on the role of Head of Clinical Operations for Vets Now’s Referral Hospital sites across the UK, which saw her represent Referrals within VetsNow as a member of the Veterinary and Nursing Standards group and at the company’s Clinical Strategy Board. In 2021 Arlene moved over to IVC Evidensia as National Lead of Referral Nursing, within the newly created Referral Division, taking the lead on the UK’s Referral Nurse Strategy. In addition, with the rest of the National Clinical Lead team, Arlene is responsible for the clinical and professional standards within the hospital and is part of the team responsible for opening new IVC Evidensia Referral Hospitals in the U.K. At home, Arlene lives with her husband, two small children, Harris the dog and George the cat.

Liz Cox

Liz is IVC Evidensia's Group Veterinary Nursing Advisor, this is a critical part of the delivery of a modern veterinary service and the development of our professional nursing team and complementary care providers such as our teams providing physio and hydrotherapy. Liz is a founder member of the IVC Evidensia Nurse Committee, has presented at major Veterinary Congresses and holds senior office on the RCVS Nurse Council. She has a passion for Nurse Development and training and has worked in a full range of practices from single-site to hospital practices and as a locum for Bristol Veterinary School. Liz is a huge asset to the group and brings a depth of understanding of the Veterinary Nurse profession that is unparalleled in the industry as a whole.

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At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links:

RCVS Advice on Schedule 3: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/advice-and-guidance/advice-on-schedule-3/#:~:text=Under%20Schedule%203%20to%20the,employed%20in%20the%20same%20practice.

SUPERB Acronym poster: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/news/superb-checklist-poster-to-assist-schedule-3-delegation/

RCVS Schedule 3 Case studies: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/features/case-studies-for-navigating-schedule-3-delegation-in-practice/

Padraig Egan

Padraig is a European Diplomat in Small Animal Surgery. He currently works at East Neuk Vet Clinic, an orthopaedic referral clinic in rural Fife, which receives cases from all over Scotland. Padraig’s career pathway has been varied with time spent in the charity sector, as a mixed vet, and as a dedicated OOH vet followed by the specialist training pathway of internship and residency. To contact Padraig Egan regarding cases and referrals: padraig.egan@envc.co.uk. To find out more about East Neuk Vet Clinic https://www.eastneukvetclinic.co.uk/.

Jamie McClement

Jamie graduated from Liverpool University in 2001, and joined Abington Park Vet Group in 2008 as a first opinion clinician with a surgical interest. He completed the CertSAS in 2009, and moved into full-time referral work in 2011. The practice joined IVC Evidensia in May 2012, and he attended the IVC Clinical Board that year, and has been a member ever since, serving on both the welfare and clinical excellence committees.  Jamie has contributed to documents including neutering and chronic pain management guidelines in that time. He works full-time as a referral surgeon (becoming an Advanced Practitioner in 2015) and Clinical Director. His clinical interests are in osteoarthritis management and joint surgery. To contact Jamie McClement regarding cases and referrals: referrals@abingtonvets.co.uk . To find out more about Abington Park Vet Group: https://www.abingtonparkvetreferrals.co.uk/referring-vets.

Daniella Dos Santos

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College. She has since worked in first opinion, small animal and exotic pet practices across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient of the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the PetPlan Charitable Trust.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

We've got orthopaedic specialists Padraig Egan and Jamie McClement discussing forelimb lameness, while Liz Cox clarifies the schedule three legislation's relevance for RVNs. Andy Kent critically examines the use of antibiotics in gastrointestinal diseases, and Laura Playforth emphasises the role of quality improvement across the veterinary team.

Emma Suiter

Emma graduated from the RVC in 2016, after which she spent 2 years in first opinion practice before undertaking a rotating internship at the University of Bristol. She completed a neurology internship, followed by a residency at Pride Veterinary Referrals. She has recently moved to Blaise Referrals in Birmingham. Her clinical interests are neurosurgery, in particular, decompressive spinal surgery and spinal stabilisation

Daniella Dos Santos

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College. She has since worked in first opinion, small animal and exotic pet practices across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient of the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the PetPlan Charitable Trust.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links:

For clinical advice and further information about neurology referral services at Blaise:https://www.blaise-referrals.com/vet-hub/our-services/neurology

Contact Emma and the team at Blaise Referrals: birmingham.neurology@blaise-referrals.com

7 steps of the neurological examination: https://www.vin.com/apputil/content/defaultadv1.aspx?pId=19840&catId=105891&id=8249840&ind=464&objTypeID=17#:~:text=The%20neurological%20examination%20can%20be%20further%20divided%20into%20the%20following,%2C%20and%20(7)%20Nociception. 

The grading system for IVDD: https://www.dachshund-ivdd.uk/research/grading-scale-references/ 

BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Neurology Chapter 1 for the Neurological Examination

Jim Hopkins

Jim has been at Steffan Vets since he qualified in 2005, becoming a director in 2015. He is a mixed Vet but primarily works with livestock. Having a keen interest in sheep he regularly runs farmer meetings and workshops for dairy, beef and sheep. He is passionate about teaching and supporting his younger colleagues as well as clients. He peer-reviews papers for the Livestock Journal and is on the BVA Wales committee.

Paul Horwood

Paul has had a varied career so far, initially an Officer in the military, Paul left and trained as a vet, but kept his links with the military, returning to the front line in Afghanistan in 2012 with the Grenadier Guards.

Paul is currently the Group Veterinary advisor for farm at IVC Evidensia. He qualified from Royal Veterinary College in 2000, and after an internship, joined Westpoint Farm Vets, becoming partner, owner and director along the way, as it grew to 25 practices across the UK. He has a Diploma in Bovine Reproduction from Liverpool University. He's a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer for Vetlife, a member of the BVA council, mental health first aider, and the founder of VetYou, a financial advice platform for the veterinary profession.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

External Links:

Vet Sustain: https://vetsustain.org

Vet Sustain Carbon Calculator: https://vetsustain.org/shop/carbon-calculator

Vet Sustain 6 Sustainability Goals: https://vetsustain.org/veterinary-sustainability-goals

Carrie Sidden

Carrie is currently Head Nurse at Rowe Vets, a busy first-opinion, IVC Evidensia practice in Bristol. She holds a Graduate Diploma in clinical and professional nursing and a Postgraduate Certificate in Pain management. She is currently embarking on the final year of her Master's in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia at Edinburgh University. Carrie enjoys all aspects of Nursing but has a particular interest in anaesthesia and acute and chronic pain management of our patients.

Arlene Connor

Arlene qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2003 and subsequently worked in a small animal practice in central Scotland. She joined Vets Now 24/7 Emergency and Specialty Hospital in Glasgow in 2013 as a surgery nurse, before becoming Clinical Nursing Manager in 2014. In 2017, Arlene took on the role of Head of Clinical Operations for Vets Now’s Referral Hospital sites across the UK, which saw her represent Referrals within VetsNow as a member of the Veterinary and Nursing Standards group and at the company’s Clinical Strategy Board. In 2021 Arlene moved over to IVC Evidensia as the National Lead of Referral Nursing, within the newly created Referral Division, taking the lead on the UK’s Referral Nurse Strategy. In addition, with the rest of the National Clinical Lead team, Arlene is responsible for the clinical and professional standards within the hospital and is part of the team responsible for opening new IVC Evidensia Referral Hospitals in the UK.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links:

Zero Pain Philosophy website: https://www.zeropainphilosophy.com/vet-professionals

American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) latest pain management guidelines: https://www.aaha.org/resources/2022-aaha-pain-management-guidelines-for-dogs-and-cats/

RCVS Knowledge: https://knowledge.rcvs.org.uk/quality-improvement/

Daniel Lewis 

Dan is an American, European and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Emergency and Critical Care.  He has worked at the Vets Now 24/7 Emergency and Specialty Hospital in Glasgow since 2015 and is the National ECC Lead for IVC Evidensia. Dan is interested in all aspects of critical care, but particularly in septic patients and poorly cats, as well as being a keen advocate of the development of non-technical skills in ECC teams, as he believes that these ultimately have the greatest impact on ourselves, our colleagues, and therefore our patients. 

Daniella Dos Santos

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College. She has since worked in first opinion, small animal and exotic pet practices across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient of the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the PetPlan Charitable Trust.

Powered by IVC Evidensia 

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners. 

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media. 

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia. 

Links

Vets Now Specialist Referrals: https://www.vets-now.com/professionals/hospitals/ 

Proposing the VetCompass clinical grading tool for heat related illness: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7994647/ 

Cooling methods used to manage heat related illness: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10385239/ 

Epidemiology of heat-related illness in dogs under UK emergency veterinary care in 2022: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38783549/ 

Judith Findlay:

 Judith is a recognised European Specialist in Equine Surgery with RCVS certificates in Equine Orthopaedics and Soft Tissue Surgery, as well as a master’s degree. She currently works at Donnington Grove, a large IVC Evidensia equine hospital in Berkshire.

Maty Looijen:

Maty Looijen is IVC Evidensia’s Group Head Equine Diagnostic Imaging. She completed a residency in Large Animal Diagnostic Imaging at the RVC and has remained as a Staff Clinician in Equine Diagnostic Imaging.

Gayle Hallowell 

Gayle graduated from the University of Cambridge and then completed a rotating large animal internship and residency at the Royal Veterinary College. She then moved to the University of Nottingham to complete a PhD on the equine aortic valve and worked there until 2022 when she joined IVC Evidensia as Director of Veterinary Professional Development. She still loves working as an internal medicine and ECC specialist at Pool House Equine Hospital a day a week.  

Powered by IVC Evidensia 

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners. 

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media. 

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia. 

Links: 

Donnington Grove Equine Hospital Referrals: https://www.dgequinevets.com/referrals

IVC Evidensia equine diagnostic imaging contact email: EDI@ivcevidensia.com 

Research paper from Maty: Should radiographs of the thoracolumbar spine remain part of the pre-purchase exam: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/373792375_Should_radiographs_of_the_thoracolumbar_spine_remain_part_of_the_pre-purchase_examination 

Research paper discussed in this episode: Substantial variability exists in the interpretation of survey radiographs among equine veterinarians: https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14045

Research paper discussed in this episode: Career outcome of Thoroughbred racehorses with metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joint dorsal chip fracture managed non surgically and surgically: A retrospective cohort study: https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13253

Laura Playforth:

Laura, IVC Evidensia’s Group Quality Improvement Director, is responsible for driving our culture of continually improving the care we deliver across the company. After graduating from the University of Edinburgh in 1999, she worked in small animal practices until 2007 before joining Vets Now where she held several roles, the most recent being Professional Standards Director. Laura attained her MSc in Advancing Healthcare Practice in 2019 and is the current Vice Chair of the RCVS Knowledge Quality Improvement Advisory Board. She has particular interests in improvement culture, client communication and how QI improves team wellbeing. 

Daniella Dos Santos

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College. She has since worked in first opinion, small animal and exotic pet practices across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient of the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the PetPlan Charitable Trust.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links:

VDS Vetsafe: www.vds-vetsafe.co.uk

RCVS Knowledge: https://knowledge.rcvs.org.uk/quality-improvement/

RCVS Guidelines: https://knowledge.rcvs.org.uk/quality-improvement/tools-and-resources/guidelines/

RCVS Checklists: https://knowledge.rcvs.org.uk/quality-improvement/tools-and-resources/checklists/

Canine Cruciate Registry: https://ccr.rcvsknowledge.org/

Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network (SAVSNET): https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/savsnet/about/

Vet Compass: https://www.rvc.ac.uk/vetcompass/about

Katherine Howie

Kath qualified in 2000 and worked in primary care practice before moving to referral practice and settling in ECC.  She is a certified Veterinary Technician Specialist in Emergency medicine and Critical Care.  She is a tutor for the Vets Now certificate in ECC nursing and spends a lot of time mentoring and developing RVNS both in and outside of the workplace. Kath is currently the clinical nursing manager at Vets-Now Glasgow.

Arlene Connor

Arlene qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2003 and subsequently worked in a small animal practice in central Scotland. She joined Vets Now 24/7 Emergency and Specialty Hospital in Glasgow in 2013 as a surgery nurse, before becoming Clinical Nursing Manager in 2014. In 2017, Arlene took on the role of Head of Clinical Operations for Vets Now’s Referral Hospital sites across the UK, which saw her represent Referrals within VetsNow as a member of the Veterinary and Nursing Standards group and at the company’s Clinical Strategy Board. In 2021 Arlene moved over to IVC Evidensia as the National Lead of Referral Nursing, within the newly created Referral Division, taking the lead on the UK’s Referral Nurse Strategy. In addition, with the rest of the National Clinical Lead team, Arlene is responsible for the clinical and professional standards within the hospital and is part of the team responsible for opening new IVC Evidensia Referral Hospitals in the UK.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links:

Information on Vets Now ECC Cert: https://www.vets-now.com/professionals/vet-cpd-events-courses/cert-vn-ecc-3/

Free access ECC articles in Today’s Veterinary Practice: https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/clinical_topics/emergency-medicine-critical-care/page/3/

Journal article from Kath Howie on triage assessment: www.fecava.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/autumn-2016.pdf

Andy and Daniella explore the barriers faced by clinicians in reducing antibiotic use, including client expectations and a lack of understanding about the potential harm caused by these medications. Andy suggests approaches to improve client education and communication and alternative interventions.

Andy Kent:

Andy graduated from Bristol and spent time in mixed practice and then small animal practice before deciding to specialise in Small Animal Internal Medicine. He completed a residency at University of Cambridge and became a European Specialist in 2016. He joined IVC Evidensia at the start of 2023 as the Clinical Director of Blaise Veterinary Referral Hospital which opened in November.

Daniella Dos Santos

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College. She has since worked in first opinion, small animal and exotic pet practices across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient of the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the PetPlan Charitable Trust.

Powered by IVC Evidensia:

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links:

Blaise Referrals: https://www.blaise-referrals.com/

For clinical advice and further information about medicine referral services at Blaise: https://www.blaise-referrals.com/vet-hub/our-services/internal-medicine

Paper referenced in this episode: Do antimicrobials or gastrointestinal nutraceuticals prescribed at first presentation for acute diarrhoea cause a better clinical outcome in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK? https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0291057

European Network for Optimisation of Veterinary Antimicrobial Treatment (ENOVAT) Guidelines: https://enovat.eu/link-1-wg4/

Responsible Use of Medicines Alliance (RUMA) Companion animal and equine annual progress report: https://rumacae.org.uk/first-ruma-companion-animal-and-equine-annual-progress-report-released-detailing-new-national-metrics-for-measuring-antibiotic-use-in-dogs-and-cats/

BSAVA ProtectME Poster: https://www.bsava.com/resources/veterinary-resources/protect-me/

Rachel highlights the importance of minimizing the use of High-Priority Critically Important Antibiotics (HPCIA). She shares results from the IVC Evidensia audit, noting a significant decrease in category C antibiotic use.

Looking ahead, they discuss reducing antibiotic use in mastitis and drying-off periods and emphasise the role of vaccination and other preventative measures. Rachel underscores the importance of ongoing communication, education, and support for farmers to continue this progress.

Rachel Forster:

Rachel qualified from RVC in 1997. She joined Market Vets, a mixed practice in North Devon, now part of the IVC Evidensia group. Her current role is as a senior farm vet with a strong interest in the education and training of both clients and vets within her practice and our Graduate Academy.

Rachel is a member of the Sheep Antibiotic Guardian Group (SAGG) and in 2023 was awarded the RCVS Knowledge Award for antimicrobial stewardship.

Paul Horwood:

Paul has had a varied career so far, initially an Officer in the military, Paul left and trained as a vet, but kept his links with the military, returning to the front line in Afghanistan in 2012 with the Grenadier Guards.

Paul is currently the Group Veterinary advisor for farm at IVC Evidensia. He qualified from Royal Veterinary College in 2000, and after an internship, joined Westpoint Farm Vets, becoming partner, owner and director along the way, as it grew to 25 practices across the UK.

Paul has a Diploma in Bovine Reproduction from Liverpool University. He's a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer for Vetlife, a member of the BVA council, mental health first aider, and the founder of VetYou, a financial advice platform for the veterinary profession. 

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links:

The Medicines Hub: https://ahdb.org.uk/medicine-hub

Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA): https://www.ruma.org.uk

Vet IMPRESS: https://www.vetimpress.com

Published paper on the 2021/22 lambing and caesarean audit: https://knowledge.rcvs.org.uk/document-library/knowledge-award-quality-improvement-2023-champion-ovine/

Their conversation highlights the significance of emotional intelligence and self-awareness in managing these situations. Sharon also discusses the impact of values and emotions on these interactions and suggests strategies for reframing and learning from negative outcomes.

This episode offers insightful advice and strategies for engaging in challenging conversations that foster better relationships and create positive outcomes.

Sharon Clack

Sharon is an experienced leader and group Head of Leadership Development at IVC Evidensia. She is passionate about creative and innovative ways that grow, inspire and build people's capabilities. Sharon has over 20 years of extensive experience operating in global organisations building and developing strategic leadership development solutions and supporting organisational change efforts and culture transformation.

Daniella dos Santos

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College and has since worked in first opinion small animal and exotic pet practice across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient on the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the animal welfare charity SPANA and the PetPlan Charitable Trust.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Vet nurses play a key part in monitoring patients undergoing transfusions. Helen highlights the importance of vigilance post-transfusion, as delayed reactions can occur 24 hours or even days later.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links:

Pet Blood Bank UK website for guidance and step-by-step advice documents: https://www.petbloodbankuk.org/vet-professionals/i-need-advice/

NCert in Transfusion Medicine: https://improveinternational.com/uk/coursedate/ncert-vppcert-transfusion-medicine-online/

Our experts discuss managing a dog’s orthopaedic health from a vet professional’s perspective throughout the dog's life. They address weight management, diet recommendations, breed-specific health considerations, exercise guidelines, and the importance of seeking early diagnosis for lame dogs.

Padraig Egan

Padraig is a European Diplomat in Small Animal Surgery. He currently works at East Neuk Vet Clinic, an orthopaedic referral clinic in rural Fife, which receives cases from all over Scotland. Padraig’s career pathway has been varied with time spent in the charity sector, as a mixed vet, and as a dedicated OOH vet followed by the specialist training pathway of internship and residency. To contact Padraig Egan regarding cases and referrals: padraig.egan@envc.co.uk. To find out more about East Neuk Vet Clinic https://www.eastneukvetclinic.co.uk/.

Scott Rutherford

Scott Graduated from University of Glasgow in 2001. He gained ECVS diploma in 2013 and became RCVS recognised Specialist in Surgery in 2014. Scott is the founder and now clinical director of Frank. Pet Surgeon which joined the IVC Evidensia network in 2020. To contact Scott Rutherford regarding cases and referrals: srutherford@frankpetsurgeons.com. To find out more about frank. Pet surgeons www.frankpetsurgeons.com

Daniella Dos Santos:

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College and has since worked in first opinion small animal and exotic pet practice across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient on the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the animal welfare charity SPANA and the PetPlan Charitable Trust.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links:

East Neuk Veterinary Clinic https://www.eastneukvetclinic.co.uk/

Puppy buyers checklist from the National Animal Welfare Trust: https://www.nawt.org.uk/news/the-puppy-buyers-checklist/

Research paper discussed in this episode: Diet restriction and ageing in the dog: Major observations over two decades:https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/d iet-restriction-and-ageing-in-the-dog-major-observations-over-two-decades/3DDCC1DDF5A7D85518684AA687FBA63E

Antibiotic licensing issues and the practical limitations of culture and sensitivity are explored. Bruce addresses the moral responsibility of veterinarians to use antibiotics judiciously, considering both the best interests of individual horses and the vital collective need to combat resistance. Finally, Bruce shares his views on the controversial use of enrofloxacin.

Bruce Bladon:

Bruce Bladon graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1988 and spent one year in mixed practice before moving to equine practice. In 1995 he undertook a Residency in Equine Surgery at the University of Bristol. He is now a clinical director and principal equine surgeon at Donnington Grove Equine Hospital. He became a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2001 and Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2016. He will be BEVA President in 2024/25. Bruce is interested in all branches of equine surgery, particularly colic surgery, arthroscopy and fracture repair. He also has an interest in MRI and CT imaging. Bruce has published over 40 papers and has lectured around the world. He was equine surgeon at the Rio Olympic Games and the Asian Games in 2023.

Gayle Hallowell:

Gayle graduated from the University of Cambridge and then completed a rotating large animal internship and residency at the Royal Veterinary College. She then moved to the University of Nottingham to complete a PhD on the equine aortic valve and worked there until 2022 when she joined IVC Evidensia as Director of Veterinary Professional Development. She still loves working as an internal medicine and ECC specialist at Pool House Equine Hospital a day a week.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links:

Pool House Equine Hospital https://www.poolhouseequine.co.uk/

Latest VARSS Report issued by the VMD: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/663373da1834d96a0aa6cfd5/2779033-v1-VARSS_2022__April_2024_Update_.pdf

BEVA ProtectME Toolkit: https://www.beva.org.uk/Guidance-and-Resources/Medicines/Antibiotics

Free access paper published in EVJ referenced in this episode: https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/evj.13988

Dave reflects on the impact of the ban on rehoming centres and the welfare of affected dogs, as well as considering whether the ban has truly reduced serious dog attacks, which often occur at home. Practical tips for veterinary teams when handling XL Bully dogs are shared and the importance of risk assessing the individual dog is emphasised. Finally, Dave discusses scenarios involving XL Bully dogs without exemption certificates and when vets should report concerns to the police.

Dave Martin:

Dave graduated from Liverpool in 1997 and has worked in mixed practice in Shropshire and North Wales ever since. He is the Group Head of Animal Welfare for IVC Evidensia and works on a wide range of projects including the IVC Evidensia Care Fund, reducing patient stress whilst visiting practices, building relationships with animal charities and supporting practices dealing with serious animal welfare challenges.

Daniella dos Santos:

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College and has since worked in first opinion small animal and exotic pet practice across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient on the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the animal welfare charity SPANA and the PetPlan Charitable Trust.

Powered by IVC Evidensia:

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links:

Official government advice on the ban: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ban-on-xl-bully-dogs

IVC Evidensia Care Fund: https://ivcevidensia.co.uk/care-fund

IVC Evidensia Welfare contact email: welfare@ivcevidensia.com

Nicola also discusses overcoming confidence knocks, drawing on her own experience with a complaint. The episode concludes by addressing confidence challenges that can come from life events like parental leave, long-term illness, or menopause.

Nicola Lakeman:

Nicola works as the Nutrition Manager for IVC Evidensia. Nicola graduated from Hartpury College with an honours degree in Equine Science, and subsequently qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2002. Nicola has written for many veterinary publications and textbooks and is the editor of Aspinall’s Complete Textbook of Veterinary Nursing. Nicola is one of the Consultant Editors for The Veterinary Nurse. Nicola has previously won the BVNA / Blue Cross Veterinary Nurse of the Year and was this year awarded the BSAVA Outstanding Contribution to Veterinary Nursing Award. Nicola has gained her master’s degree in advanced veterinary nursing from Glasgow University; and is a board-certified Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in nutrition status.

Arlene Connor:

Arlene qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2003 and subsequently worked in a small animal practice in central Scotland. She joined Vets Now 24/7 Emergency and Specialty Hospital in Glasgow in 2013 as a surgery nurse, before becoming Clinical Nursing Manager in 2014. In 2017, Arlene took on the role of Head of Clinical Operations for Vets Now’s Referral Hospital sites across the UK, which saw her represent Referrals within VetsNow as a member of the Veterinary and Nursing Standards group and at the company’s Clinical Strategy Board. In 2021 Arlene moved over to IVC Evidensia as National Lead of Referral Nursing, within the newly created Referral Division, taking the lead on the UK’s Referral Nurse Strategy. In addition, with the rest of the National Clinical Lead team, Arlene is responsible for the clinical and professional standards within the hospital and is part of the team responsible for opening new IVC Evidensia Referral Hospitals in the U.K.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links:

IVC Evidensia Referrals https://www.ivcevidensiareferrals.com/

RCVS Guidelines: https://knowledge.rcvs.org.uk/quality-improvement/tools-and-resources/guidelines/

RCVS Checklists: https://knowledge.rcvs.org.uk/quality-improvement/tools-and-resources/checklists/

Vetlife: https://www.vetlife.org.uk/

Marios highlights the importance of early intervention with benzodiazepines, the use of intranasal midazolam, and the concurrent use of levetiracetam and phenobarbitone for dogs in status epilepticus. Marios defines cluster seizures and again reiterates the importance of early intervention.

The episode provides practical tips on using intranasal midazolam and recommends use of the algorithms provided alongside the statement, when managing emergency seizures.

Marios Charalambous:

Marios Charalambous is an ABVS, EBVS and RCVS recognized specialist in veterinary neurology. He began his career with a small animal internship at Cambridge University before completing a post-graduate diploma in advanced neuroimaging at the Institute of Neurology, University College London. His career led him to Cornell University and later to Ghent University in Belgium, where he completed an ACVIM and ECVN approved residency in neurology. He went on to earn a Ph.D. at Ghent University, focusing on innovative therapies for epileptic seizure disorders. Marios is a referral neurology consultant at IVC Evidensia Blaise Referral Hospital in Birmingham and a research associate at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hannover (Germany).

Daniella dos Santos

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College. She has since worked in first opinion, small animal and exotic pet practices across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient on the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the animal welfare charity SPANA and the PetPlan Charitable Trust.

Powered by IVC Evidensia:

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links:

Blaise Referrals https://www.blaise-referrals.com/

ACVIM Consensus statement: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jvim.16928

For clinical advice and further information about neurology referral services at Blaise: https://www.blaise-referrals.com/vet-hub/our-services/neurology

We’ll be bringing you insights, information, and advice from experts with first-hand experiences and knowledge.

Hear from leading minds in the industry about the topics which matter most to them.

Looking for more from IVC Evidensia?

Visit our website ivcevidensia.co.uk, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.