RCVS Knowledge - Evidence-based Veterinary Medicine

This special episode of the RCVS Knowledge podcast features Fiona Lovatt of RCVS Knowledge and the Sheep Antibiotic Guardian Group, David Black - President of the BCVA, and Mark Jelley of the Cattle Antibiotic Guardian Group. The panel discuss the UK ruminant antibiotic stewardship roadmap, a project that aims to drive more responsible antibiotic usage in the ruminant sector. Read the transcript. Take the survey.

The Linnaeus Medical Quality team won the RCVS Knowledge Award in the Quality Improvement for Organisational Change in 2025 for their project that focused on building a culture of psychological safety and learning. Clinical Lead Lou Northway sat down with Sam Thompson and Aarti Hogan to learn more about their award-winning project. Read the case example Read the transcript

In this Knowledge Natter podcast, Amy Wells from Wildbore Vetstop talks to Lou Northway about her team's audit to investigate feeding plans, Resting Energy Requirements (RER), inappetence rates and interventions, and what food was being offered to inpatients. The team were named Quality Improvement Champions in the 2025 Knowledge Awards. Read the case example Read the transcript

In this Knowledge Natter, Lou Northway talks to Helen Garbett from Paragon Veterinary Referrals, Linnaeus about how her team reduced errors in practice with ‘Huddle Up for Safer Care (HUSH) huddles'. The team were named Quality Improvement Champions in the 2025 Knowledge Awards. Read the case example Read the transcript

In this episode, RCVS Knowledge chair Amanda Boag speaks with Plowright Prize winner Professor Fiona Tomley who won the Plowright Prize in 2024. Prof. Tomley discusses her career so far, her Plowright Prize win, and how she's using the prize money to give back to the academic community. Read the transcript.

In this podcast Pam Mosedale, Sally Everitt and Rachel Dean discuss Quality Improvement, evidence-based veterinary medicine (EBVM) and contextualised care and how they all fit together. Read the transcript

In this podcast interview, RCVS Knowledge Chair Amanda Boag speaks to Brian Pound, founder of CVS group and a former RCVS Knowledge trustee. Brian reflects on his five decades of experience working in the sector as a non-clinician, and the changes he's observed over that time. Read the transcript

In this RCVS Knowledge Award overview, Sean Cameron from the Linnaeus Oral Health Working Group explains the team project focused on improving clinical quality of dentistry in their first opinion practices across the company by increasing the percentage of tooth extractions receiving nerve blocks and increasing the percentage of dental radiographs being taken. This project was awarded Champion in the 2025 RCVS Knowledge QI to Lead Organisational Change Awards. Read the transcript.

In this RCVS Knowledge Award overview, Amy Wells from Wildbore Vetstop describes the team audit that investigated the use of feeding plans, Resting Energy Requirements (RER), inappetence rates, interventions, and the types of food offered to inpatients. The team at Wildbore Vetstop were awarded Champion in the 2025 RCVS Knowledge QI in Practice Awards. Read the transcript.

In this RCVS Knowledge Award overview, Caitlin Burchill describes how the team at Cockburn Vets used clinical audit to improve their responsible use of antibiotics in dog and cat dental cases. The team at Cockburn Vets were awarded Champion in the 2025 RCVS Knowledge Antimicrobial Stewardship Awards. Read the transcript.

In this RCVS Knowledge Award overview, Emily Hudson outlines how the team at Vets Now, Bristol, conducted an audit to investigate whether fluid therapy rates for dehydrated patients were being calculated in accordance with current guidelines, given the risk of fluid overload in critically ill patients. The Vets Now, Bristol team were awarded Champion in the 2025 RCVS Knowledge QI in Practice Awards. Read the transcript.

In this RCVS Knowledge Award overview, Tighearnan Mooney from Animal Trust, Dewsbury, explains how the team approached reducing the unnecessary use of highest-priority, critically important antibiotics (HPCIAs) and ensuring that any use followed the principles of good antimicrobial stewardship. The team at Animal Trust, Dewsbury, received a Champion Award in the 2025 RCVS Knowledge Antimicrobial Stewardship Awards. Read the transcript.

In this RCVS Knowledge Award overview, Helen Garbett from Paragon Veterinary Referrals outlines how the team implemented an innovative team-based approach to improving patient safety. The daily huddles introduced by the team focus on preventing medication and dispensing errors by embedding key principles, including involving all members of the clinical and non-clinical teams to identify at-risk patients and agree on actions to mitigate that risk. Paragon Veterinary Referrals received a Champion Award in the 2025 RCVS Knowledge QI in Practice Awards. Read the transcript.

In this audio summary, Oliver Wilkinson asks, in cats with osteoarthritis, does the oral supplementation of cannabidiol (CBD) oil, compared to conventional treatment alone, improve treatment outcomes of reducing pain and improving locomotion? Read the full Knowledge Summary here. Audio Summaries are a free resource that enable vets and vet nurses to more quickly and more easily access and digest relevant and up-to-date evidence! A time-saving way to make better and faster evidence-based decisions.

In this audio summary, Costel Zagan asks, in dogs diagnosed with gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV), does gastric decompression and gastropexy reduce the risk of recurrence of dilatation compared to dogs undergoing gastric decompression alone? Read the full Knowledge Summary here. Audio Summaries are a free resource that enable vets and vet nurses to more quickly and more easily access and digest relevant and up-to-date evidence! A time-saving way to make better and faster evidence-based decisions.

In this audio summary, Daniel Low asks, in bitches, does gonadectomy before 1 year of age, compared to gonadectomy at 1 year of age or older, increase the risk of cranial cruciate ligament disease during their life? Read the full Knowledge Summary here. Audio Summaries are a free resource that enable vets and vet nurses to more quickly and more easily access and digest relevant and up-to-date evidence! A time-saving way to make better and faster evidence-based decisions.

In this audio summary, Amy Mann shares the findings of a clinical audit conducted alongside Ciara Barr, which investigated how to reduce nonoperative anaesthesia time for canine tibial plateau osteotomy (TPLO) procedures. Read the full Clinical Audit here. Audio Summaries are a free resource that enable vets and vet nurses to more quickly and more easily access and digest relevant and up-to-date evidence! A time-saving way to make better and faster evidence-based decisions.

In this insightful podcast Julie Gibson, Quality Improvement Clinical Lead at RCVS Knowledge, and Pam Mosedale, Chair of the RCVS Knowledge Quality Improvement Advisory Board, discuss the importance of clinical audit and celebrate Clinical Audit Awareness Week 2025. They discuss the benefits of clinical audits in veterinary practice, emphasising their role in improving patient outcomes, enhancing team collaboration, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Pam and Julie share practical advice and success stories, providing you with valuable insights and resources that will help veterinary teams effectively implement and sustain clinical audits. Read the transcript Discover clinical audit tools and resources

In this audio summary, Shannen Schultz asks, for teleost fish undergoing surgical coeliotomy, do intramuscular exogenous opioids reduce perioperative pain, compared with no analgesia? Read the full Knowledge Summary here. Audio Summaries are a free resource that enable vets and vet nurses to more quickly and more easily access and digest relevant and up-to-date evidence! A time-saving way to make better and faster evidence-based decisions.

In this audio summary, Rachael Gregson asks, in healthy adult female non-pregnant sheep undergoing general anaesthesia for research studies, does the inclusion of intravenous medetomidine as part of the anaesthetic protocol cause hypoxaemia? Read the full Knowledge Summary here. Audio Summaries are a free resource that enable vets and vet nurses to more quickly and more easily access and digest relevant and up-to-date evidence! A time-saving way to make better and faster evidence-based decisions.

In this podcast, Pam Mosedale talks to Angie Rayner and Mark Moreton from CVS about their motivation for introducing the What Matters to You framework and its impact on teams across the group. Find out how to use the What Matters to You framework to build teamwork and a positive practice culture in the RCVS Knowledge QI Boxset Series 8. Read the transcript

In this Knowledge Natter, Lou Northway talks to Megan Orr from Roundhouse Veterinary Hospital about their nurse-led initiative introducing surgical safety checklists. The practice was Highly Commended in the 2024 Quality Improvement Awards. Read the transcript Read the case example Roundhouse Veterinary Hospital Surgical Safety Checklist The views and opinions expressed in our podcasts are the speakers’ own and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of RCVS Knowledge.

Welcome to this four-part series for Suitably Qualified Persons or Registered Animal Medicines Advisors. This series is a collaboration between RCVS Knowledge and AMTRA. This podcast series will highlight how the courses on the RCVS Knowledge Learn platform can be used for your self-reflection CPD. This episode covers Modules 1 and 2 of the Managing Veterinary Medicines courses: Regulation and Responsible and legal use of medicines To access any of the courses mentioned, head to learn.rcvsknowledge.org and set up your free account. Access the transcript

Welcome to the second episode of a series for Suitably Qualified Persons or Registered Animal Medicines Advisors. This series is a collaboration between RCVS Knowledge and AMTRA. This podcast series will highlight how the courses on the RCVS Knowledge Learn platform can be used for your self-reflection CPD. This episode covers Modules 3 and 4 of the Managing Veterinary Medicines course: Dispensary management and QI in the dispensary: Preventing errors. To access any of the courses mentioned, head to learn.rcvsknowledge.org and set up your free account. Access the transcript

Welcome to the third episode of a series for Suitably Qualified Persons or Registered Animal Medicines Advisors. This series is a collaboration between RCVS Knowledge and AMTRA. This podcast series will highlight how the courses on the RCVS Knowledge Learn platform can be used for your self-reflection CPD. This episode covers VetTeam AMR and Farm Vet Champions, an RCVS Knowledge initiative that promotes good antimicrobial stewardship in food producing animals. To access any of the courses mentioned, head to learn.rcvsknowledge.org and set up your free account. Access the transcript

Welcome to the third episode of a series for Suitably Qualified Persons or Registered Animal Medicines Advisors. This series is a collaboration between RCVS Knowledge and AMTRA. This podcast series will highlight how the courses on the RCVS Knowledge Learn platform can be used for your self-reflection CPD. This week’s episode covers VetTeamAMR, and the Companion Animal and Equine courses, an RCVS Knowledge initiative that promotes good antimicrobial stewardship in companion animal and equine practices. To access any of the courses mentioned, head to learn.rcvsknowledge.org and set up your free account. Access the transcript

In this podcast Veterinary Evidence Editor in Chief Peter Cockcroft speaks to the first and second place winners of the Veterinary Evidence Student Awards, Amelia Cannadine and Oliver Wilkinson. Amelia and Oliver both discussed the process of writing award winning knowledge summaries for Veterinary Evidence. Read Amelia's knowledge summary here Read Oliver's knowledge summary here Read the transcript

In this Knowledge Award audio summary, Hannah Jones from Avenue Veterinary Centre, explains how her team approached a prospective audit using post-operative pain scoring to assess the analgesia protocols for neutering in feline patients. A change in the protocols led to a 61% reduction in the number of cats requiring rescue analgesia post-operatively. Read the full case example. Read the transcript.

In this Knowledge Natter, Lou Northway speaks to Lizzie McLennan-Green from CVS about their award winning project using clinical audit to look into blood pressure monitoring in cats. By creating a wide range of guidance documents and providing team training, the Clinical Leadership Team increased blood pressure monitoring, and enabled earlier identification and treatment of hypertension in cats aged 7 years or older. This nationwide initiative was awarded Champion in the 2024 Quality Improvement Awards, recognising the contribution of all team members involved in the project. Read the case example here. Read the transcript here. The views and opinions expressed in our podcasts are the speakers’ own and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of RCVS Knowledge.

In this Knowledge Award audio summary, Lizzie Booth from Quarry Veterinary Group, explains how her team reviewed aspects of the BSAVA Protect ME Poster to facilitate discussions on their antimicrobial stewardship activities and rational use of antibiotics in ear and skin conditions. This led to several initiatives including all team training and new guidelines, resulting in an impressive 89% reduction in long-acting antibiotic use. Read the full case example. Read the transcript.

In this Knowledge Award audio overview, Megan Orr from Roundhouse Hospital, explains how her practice approached the introduction of a surgical safety checklist. This nurse-led initiative and audit to assess its use resulted in a 94% compliance with completing the checklists, benefitting patient safety and team communication. Megan was awarded Highly Commended in the 2024 RCVS Knowledge Awards. Read the full case example. Read the transcript.

In this Knowledge Natter podcast, Lou Northway speaks to 2024 Quality Improvement champion, Paul Stanley from White Lodge Veterinary Surgery about their award winning initiative looking at post-operative pain scoring and management in their bitch spay patients. Team training and updating pain management protocols enabled them to both improve their pain scores and reduce the number of dogs requiring rescue analgesia to just 10% of patients. Read the case example here. Read the transcript here. Additional resources Pain assessment in the dog: the Glasgow Pain Scale - Royal Canin Acute pain assessment scale for dogs - The Practice Assistance Centre (PAC) Pain assessment in cats - The Feline Grimace Scale inFOCUS Spotlight on Quality of Life assessment tools - Species specific pain assessment tools The views and opinions expressed in our podcasts are the speakers’ own and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of RCVS Knowledge.

Sally Everitt speaks to Martin Whitehead about the "Down the drain" study, looking at how spot-on parasiticides applied to dogs can contaminate the environment, and how he takes a risk-based approach to the prevention and treatment of parasites. Read the transcript Read the paper Additional resources Down-the-drain pathways for fipronil and imidacloprid applied as spot-on parasiticides to dogs: Estimating aquatic pollution - inFOCUS Veterinary medicines and the environment - inFOCUS Responsible use of antiparasitic medications in veterinary practice - inFOCUS How cat and dog routine prophylaxis needs to change | BSAVA Library How can we prevent worms and still protect the environment? | BSAVA Library The views and opinions expressed in our podcasts are the speakers’ own and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of RCVS Knowledge.

In this Knowledge Natter podcast, Lou Northway speaks to 2024 Quality Improvement champion, Corinne Ackroyd from Yorkshire Vets about her nurse-led initiative to reduce the use of oxygen and volatile anaesthetic gasses. Through the initiative, the team were able to substantially reduce oxygen and isoflurane use. The carbon footprint reduction is the equivalent of driving from London to Rome, and back. Read the case study here. Read the transcript. Additional resources Oxygen Conservation – Davies Vet Specialists Conversations with Keith and Courtney: Non-Rebreathing Systems Conversations with Keith and Courtney: Rebreathing Systems Demystifying Circle Breathing Systems: A Practical Overview by Courtney Scales The views and opinions expressed in our podcasts are the speakers’ own and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of RCVS Knowledge.

Quality Improvement (QI) techniques can be used to review and improve administrative tasks, helping to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency and profitability of practices. This in turn helps to improve clinical outcomes and bring the whole team together with a shared purpose. In this episode, our QI Clinical Lead and Chair of the Quality Improvement Advisory Board (QIAB), Pam Mosedale speaks to Practice Manager Cath Grimsey from Pinkham Equine Veterinary Services about the role of management in Quality Improvement, and how she has approached implementing QI techniques in her setting. Read the transcript.

In this Research Focus podcast, small animal internal medicine specialist Scott Kilpatrick discusses his study on cobalamin supplementation in dogs with RCVS Knowledge Clinical Lead Sally Everitt. They use Scott’s study as a jumping off point to discuss all manner of topics, including the benefits and drawbacks of doing research as a practising vet, how to bring pet owners on board with research, and how doing your own research can give you a deeper understanding of research carried out by others. Read the paper Read our inFOCUS summary of the paper Read the podcast transcript

Dr Kit Sturgess, outgoing Editor-in-Chief of Veterinary Evidence, chatted to two of the winners of our 2023 Veterinary Evidence Student Awards - Rebecca Hearne and Rachel Garrett - about their experiences of writing Knowledge Summaries for Veterinary Evidence and how it felt to be published in a peer-reviewed journal before graduating. Read the transcript

Rosemullion Veterinary Practice were named Quality Improvement Champions in the 2023 Knowledge Awards for conducting an audit aimed at improving infection control and cleaning methods in clinical and non-clinical areas. In this Knowledge Natter, Lou Northway speaks to Abi Redfearn from Rosemullion Veterinary Practice about the audit. Read the transcript

To celebrate International Women’s Day our Clinical Leads Pam Mosedale, Sally Everitt, and Fiona Lovatt speak about their careers in the veterinary professions. Read the transcript.

For this Knowledge Natter, our Farm Vet Champions Lead Fiona Lovatt spoke to Tonia Simms from the Farm Vets at Hampden Veterinary Hospital (VetPartners). Tonia won an RCVS Knowledge Award in 2023 for her work on auditing antibiotic use in surgical calf castrates, which reduced the use of antibiotics without compromising patient welfare. Read the transcript. Read Tonia's case example

The School of Veterinary Nursing at the Royal Veterinary College were named Quality Improvement Champions in the 2023 Knowledge Awards. In this Knowledge Natter, Lou Northway talks to Perdi Welsh and Niamh Clancy from the Royal Veterinary College about their winning initiative to incorporate QI within their post-registration qualifications, guiding students through a number of measures to carry out projects in practice, submit to peer-reviewed journals and present at conferences. Read the transcript Apply for the 2024 Knowledge Awards

In this audio summary, Alexander Wallace asks, in canine patients recovering from surgery for intervertebral disc disease, do passive range of motion exercises, compared to no intervention, lead to a shorter or faster rate of recovery? Read the full Knowledge Summary here. Audio Summaries are a free resource that enable vets and vet nurses to more quickly and more easily access and digest relevant and up-to-date evidence! A time-saving way to make better and faster evidence-based decisions.

In this episode, Helen Silver-MacMahon talks to Pam Mosedale about Clinical Audit Awareness Week 2023, and how you can get involved by making a start on your own clinical audits. Read the transcript Learn more about Clinical Audit Awareness Week

Sally Everitt speaks with Elly Russell and Julie Gibson about the paper 'Are They Thinking Differently? The Perceptions and Differences in Medical Disputes between Veterinarians and Clients'. Read the paper Read the podcast transcript Some further resources that are referenced in the podcast are linked below: Read the paper by Russell, E. et al (2022) Read the paper by Gibson, J. et al (2022) Read the paper by Gibson, J. et al (2023) Read the paper by Gibson, J. et al (2024) Access VetSafe

In this VetTeamAMR podcast, Pam Mosedale speaks with Danny Chambers MP about the upcoming Antibiotic Amnesty. Danny touches on his experiences working in equine and small animal practice to discuss why the Antibiotic Amnesty is important, and how you can get involved. Get involved with the Antibiotic Amnesty campaign. Disclaimer: the views expressed in this episode are that of the interviewee and are not necessarily held by RCVS Knowledge. Please note: This episode was recorded in 2023. Read the podcast transcript

Pam Mosedale speaks to 2023 Knowledge Award Antimicrobial Stewardship Champions Paul Stanley and Emily Parr from White Lodge Veterinary Surgery in Exmouth. They conducted a prospective audit to review antibiotic use in cat bite abscesses and successfully treated 86% of their patients without antibiotics without compromising patient welfare. Read the podcast transcript Read Paul and Emily's case example The 2024 RCVS Knowledge Awards are open for applications now, learn more at rcvsknowledge.org/knowledgeawards

In this Audio Summary, Anne-Claude asks, in cats with psychogenic alopecia, is overgrooming reduced by the use of clomipramine compared to untreated cats? Read the full Knowledge Summary here. Audio Summaries are a free resource that enable vets and vet nurses to more quickly and more easily access and digest relevant and up-to-date evidence! A time-saving way to make better and faster evidence-based decisions.

In this Audio Summary, Bonnie looks at whether lokivetmab is more effective than oclacitinib in reducing the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Lesion Index score (or some other recognised scoring system), in dogs with atopic skin disease. Read the full Knowledge Summary here. Audio Summaries are a free resource that enable vets and vet nurses to more quickly and more easily access and digest relevant and up-to-date evidence! A time-saving way to make better and faster evidence-based decisions.

Sally Everitt speaks with Alex German, Professor of Small Animal Medicine at the University of Liverpool about the implications of his research into weight gain after neutering reported in the research paper entitled 'Comparison of growth in neutered Domestic Shorthair kittens with growth in sexually-intact Cats'. Read the paper Read the podcast transcript Read our inFOCUS Spotlight summary on the benefits and risks of neutering pets – what is the evidence WALTHAM™ Kitten Growth Charts | WALTHAM Puppy Growth Charts | WALTHAM Petcare Science Institute

In this Audio Summary, Anna looks at whether dogs that are brachycephalic have an increased risk for developing heat-related illness compared to dogs that are not brachycephalics. Read the full Knowledge Summary here. Audio Summaries are a free resource that enables vets and vet nurses to access and digest relevant and up-to-date evidence quicker and easier. A time-saving way to make better and faster evidence-based decisions.