FIVP 'disappointed' in CMA's medicines approach

The RSPB says ground-nesting birds are at greatest risk of human disturbance.

The public is being urged to give space to vulnerable birds this spring and summer to protect them during breeding season.

According to the RSPCA, more than half of the UK’s most vulnerable birds, including the curlew, skylark, lapwing, and little ten, nest near or on the ground – making them most at risk of disturbance from humans and dogs.

Many of these species are on the Red List, meaning their numbers are in rapid decline due to habitat loss, food scarcity, and the impacts of climate change.

The birds can be found across a range of different habitats, including heathland, woodland and beaches. Common garden birds, such as robins and wrens, sometimes also build their nests close to the ground, raising their chicks in ivy, hedges and shrubs.

Walkers are being urged to help ground-nesting birds by sticking to marked paths, keeping their dogs under close control and giving birds plenty of space. The RSPB advises anyone who finds a nest or chicks running about to keep a minimum of 100m distance away.

Dr Conor Pharaoh-John, RSPB’s recreational disturbance programme manager, explains: “The closer the bird’s nest is to the ground, the more at risk it is to accidental disturbance, mainly from people, who will likely be unaware the nest is there, and dogs freely roaming off lead. 

“Exploring the countryside with our dogs is a great activity to get us out of the house and connecting to our local greenspaces. However, whilst we mean no harm to wildlife, people and dogs appear as potential predators to a bird, especially those nesting on the ground.” 

Image (C) Vishnevski Vasily/Shutterstock.com

Campaigners say the practice is being used as a ‘smokescreen’ for illegal hunting with dogs.

The government is consulting on a ban on trail hunting in England and Wales.

Trial hunting, in which hounds follow a pre-laid animal scent, has become a popular alternative to fox hunting after the implementation of the Hunting Act 2004.

But the very nature of the sport means that live animals, including foxes, hares, and sometimes even household pets, are injured or killed by the dogs. This occurs because the dogs often follow the scent of the wild animals, rather than the artificially placed scent.

Police and animal rights campaigners have also expressed concern over whether the sport is being used as a ‘smokescreen’ to enable illegal hunting with dogs.

Assistant chief constable Matt Longman, who leads on hunting for the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said trail hunting “gives people the opportunity to carry on hunting – as they always said they would when the ban came in 20 years ago”.

Labour first proposed a ban on trail hunting in its 2024 election manifesto. Animal welfare groups, including the RSPCA, welcomed the move, while also noting the sport’s negative impact on local communities.  

David Bowles, head of public affairs at the RSPCA, said: “Since the Hunting Act came into force, there is mounting evidence that trail hunting is being used as a smokescreen for illegal hunting with dogs, putting wild animals, pets and livestock at risk, while rural communities face intimidation and anti-social behaviour.

“Public support for a ban is clear: over 80 per cent support the existing ban on hunting wild animals with dogs, and more than 100,000 people signed a petition calling for a ban on trail hunting. As part of the Time for Change Coalition Against Hunting, the RSPCA would like to see the Hunting Act strengthened and to close any loopholes so we can finally consign illegal hunting with dogs to the history books.”

Animal welfare minister, Baroness Sue Hayman, said: “We pledged to ban trail hunting in our manifesto and that is exactly what we intend to do. “The nature of trail hunting makes it difficult to ensure wild and domestic animals are not put at risk of being killed or injured - that is clearly unacceptable.

“We understand that this is a complex issue and so we are seeking views from everyone with an interest to help shape how we bring this forward.”

The consultation will run until 18 June. 

Image (C) Trialhunt (C) Angela Lock/Shutterstock.

Vet groups look ahead to remedy rollout.

The Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS) and the Veterinary Management Group (VMG) have considered the rollout of the CMA’s remedies in responses published this week.

SPVS has reflected on the ‘substantial changes’ and ‘real implications’ of the remedy package, as well as the media scrutiny the sector can expect following the published report.

It has praised a change to the prescription fee cap, which it described as ‘a major focus’ in its hearing responses. The prescription fee cap will now be £21, and £12.50 for additional medication.

SPVS says that, now the remedies are ‘no longer theoretical’, the focus will be on their implementation. It highlights operational changes to be made in practices, as well as ‘commercial consequences’.

In a video statement, junior vice-president Kate Higgins said: “There are things we will need to mitigate; potential losses in medicine sales, there’s going to be some work to do around how we present those price lists which are going to be on, initially the Find the Vet website but there will be comparison sites that will be able to access that data.”

The VMG has also reflected on the ‘uncertainty and overwhelm’  that may accompany the publication of the report.

Rebecca Robinson, VMG president, said: “The publication of the CMA’s report is an important moment for the profession. While for some there’s relief that we now have clarity, for others there will be feelings of uncertainty and overwhelm - which are entirely understandable at this stage.

“What has changed is that we’re no longer operating in the dark. We have a clear view of what’s being asked of us, together with timelines. This gives us something to work with, even if the scale of change still feels significant.”

SPVS is hosting five ‘roadshows’ on the CMA report, which will take place across the UK throughout May. Meanwhile the VMG says the implications of the CMA report will be addressed at this year’s VMG Congress, taking place from 22-24 April 2026.

Image © VMG

Survey will gather baseline data to inform best practice. 

Sheep farmers are being urged to give their views on lambing to help researchers gain a better understanding of the challenges facing the sector.

The UK Lambing Survey 2026 is being led by the University of Nottingham and Fiona Lovatt of Flock Health Ltd, who also chairs the Sheep Antibiotic Guardian Group (SAGG).

Dr Lovatt said: "There isn’t a time in a sheep farmer’s calendar more stressful than the lambing season. In recent years, the pressure has risen further due to the additional threat of both Schmallenberg and Bluetongue viruses, disrupted vaccine supplies, unpredictable weather conditions and increasing scrutiny of what, for some, had become routine lambing-time practices.

“The UK sheep industry has a good reputation for responsible medicine stewardship, good practice and high welfare standards, which we are keen to maintain and defend. For this to happen, it is essential we gather baseline data on what takes place ‘on the ground’ or ‘in the lambing shed’. We are very grateful to everyone who supports this survey, both by filling it in and encouraging others to do so.”

The survey is supported by organisations from across the sheep industry and takes around 12 minutes to complete. 

Findings will be made available to the public and used to directly inform the sheep section of the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Targets Task Force report (RUMA TTF).

Image (C) Janice Chen/Shutterstock.

The findings could help vets better support clients in managing behaviour.

New research from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies suggests a dog owner’s ethical values can influence how they manage their pet's behaviour.

Through a survey of 500 owners in the US, researchers found a clear link between a person’s ethical orientation toward animals and their preferred training methods.

Specifically, the survey aimed to determine whether certain ethical perspectives would correlate with a preference for positive reinforcement training. For example, only responding to desired behaviours or to physical correction methods, like prong collars.

The results suggest that individuals who prioritise people over animals (anthropocentric) are less likely to use positive reinforcement training methods and more likely to use physical correction.

Conversely, people whose ethics are inclined towards animal protection were more likely to use positive reinforcement training and less likely to use physical correction methods.

Interestingly, the results also suggest that people who support animals having equal rights to humans rarely use physical correction, but do not show a clear inclination towards positive reinforcement training.

Researchers hope their findings may help vets and animal behaviourists better support their clients in managing their pet’s behaviour.  

Tracy Weber, Former MSc researcher and study lead, said: “People have deeply held belief systems that frame their views of the world and impact many aspects of their lives – this includes how they train their animals.

“My hope is that this insight can help to build communication among people with a range of views, in which positive change can emerge.”

Peter Sandøe, Ms Weber's MSc supervisor and senior author of the study, said: “Scientific studies of dog behaviour play an important role when it comes to choice of training methods, but there is also an ethical side to the debate, as our study has shown.”

The study, Dog Owners' Use of Ethical Training Methods and Their Ethical Stance on the Treatment of Animals, is published in Anthrozoos.

Image (C) O_Lypa/Shutterstock.

Operation saves monkey’s foot from amputation.

A critically-endangered monkey has given birth after a unique operation saved her foot from amputation.
 
Masaya, a 15-year-old roloway monkey at Chester Zoo, underwent pioneering surgery to remove a mass from her foot last summer.
 
The operation was performed jointly by veterinary surgeons from Chester Zoo, as well as surgeons from the University of Liverpool. Rather than amputating Masaya’s foot, the team hoped to instead only remove the golf-ball-sized mass from her foot.
 
Masaya had been experiencing recurring problems with her foot since she arrived at Chester Zoo in 2023. She was given x-rays, ultrasounds and biopsies, however veterinary surgeons were unable to ascertain the cause.
 
After swelling became worse Masaya underwent a CT scan at the University of Liverpool, where it was decided that surgery would be needed to remove the abscess.
 
Masaya’s pregnancy made the surgery particularly necessary, since an amputated foot could have made it impossible for her to hold her offspring. There is no evidence of any similar procedures being performed on a roloway monkey, but thankfully, the surgical team were able to save all but one of her toes.
 
Rachel Burrow, a vet and lecturer at the University of Liverpool: “This was the last chance to save Masaya's foot before amputation. Working with primates is completely different from my usual patients, who are typically cats and dogs, and it was a real privilege to care for such a rare animal.
 
“It's great to see the surgery was a success - she's comfortable, active and using the limb well."
 
In a significant moment for the species, Masaya has now given birth to her third daughter – Lagertha.
 
Zoe Edwards, a primate keeper at Chester Zoo, said: “Masaya is a very experienced mum and she's parenting magnificently. Lagertha is only a few weeks old and is very dinky, but already curious about the roloway monkey habitat and inquisitive about us.



“The fact Masaya’s foot has healed so well is a huge relief. If she'd had an amputation, we'd have been left with real questions about whether she could hold her offspring or continue with her normal behaviours.”
 
Image © Chester Zoo

The group claimed wordmark over ‘Pet Health Club’ a year ago.

Independent practices have been left ‘in limbo’ after receiving legal threats from IVC Evidensia over a year ago, a support group has said.

In letters to dozens of practices, IVC Evidensia claimed wordmark over the term ‘Pet Health Club’ and demanded practices cease use of the term.

The letter, issued by IVC chief medical officer Gudrun Ravetz and legal counsel Alice Holt, described the term as ‘a trading name of Independent Vetcare Limited’. It claimed that it had built goodwill and reputation in the United Kingdom.

A follow-up letter gave independent practices a deadline of 31 December 2025 to act upon IVC Evidensia’s demands. However, since the deadline passed, none of the practices have received any further communications from the veterinary group.

IVC Evidensia’s first legal letter prompted the formation of a support group, We Are Spartacus, where affected practices could unite against the threats. Within days the website received hundreds of supporters.

Dr Natalie Morris-Webb, owner of Malthouse Vets, said: “Although IVC appears to have ceased defending the ‘pet health club’ wordmark, with none of the affected practices reporting any further correspondence for many months, the uncertainty is still there.

“It’s unacceptable that IVC has not yet achieved a commercial settlement, or revealed whether they have given the industry a reprieve and no longer plan to take legal action.”

An IVC Evidensia spokesperson has responded, stating: "We have no current plans to approach anyone we haven’t previously contacted on this matter, but of course, we reserve the rights available to the company, as trademark holder, to protect our trademarks and customers in the future, as in any sector."

"A material number of those previously infringing our trademark have now updated their branding. Anyone still in breach was given clear notification, so the position is unambiguous - they are required to update.”

Meanwhile, We Are Spartacus has reported separate legal processes being enacted by IVC Evidensia.

The large veterinary group has been registering a number of wordmarks, common phrases and trademarks, including the phrase ‘It’s not what we do, it’s why we do it’. It has also registered ‘IVC inspiring veterinary care’, which We Are Spartacus suggests could be confused with RCVS’ strapline, ‘inspiring confidence in veterinary care’.

A spokesperson from We Are Spartacus said: “Now IVC is attempting to trademark the words ‘inspiring vet care’, so there’s a possibility that the RCVS is now in Gudrun and Alice’s sights, due to the similarities with its strapline.

“If this is the case, we’d welcome the RCVS to join We Are Spartacus. Hundreds of those that registered on our website weren’t affected by the legal letters, but they still wanted to show their support and stand alongside everyone that has had to contend with IVC’s threats. There’s no doubt this support and solidarity from the wider veterinary industry would extend to the RCVS as well, should they need it."

IVC Evidensia’s trademark application can be viewed online.

Image © Shutterstock.com/Indypendenz