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The campaign forms part of Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month 2026

The BVNA is set to celebrate the ‘unsung heroes’ of the veterinary nursing profession as part of its 2026 Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month (VNAM) campaign.

Under the theme ‘Compassion and Empathy’, the organisation is inviting veterinary clients and colleagues to shine a light on the RVNS and SVNs who go above and beyond the call of duty — often behind the scenes and without recognition.

The organisation is particularly seeking nominations from clients whose lives have been touched by compassionate nursing care and colleagues who witness the day-to-day emotional labour, professionalism and dedication that often goes unseen.

Throughout VNAM, the BVNA will also explore how veterinary nurses demonstrate compassion and empathy every day, whether towards their patients or the people around them, and underpin the skilled care they provide.

BVNA President, Sarah Holliday, said: “I am delighted to launch this year’s VNAM, which also follows my Presidential theme of ‘Compassion and Empathy’.

“Throughout May, we will be highlighting how these qualities are integral to everything veterinary nurses do - from providing dedicated and skilled care to animals of all species, supporting animal caregivers in sometimes difficult and emotional situations, and offering a listening ear to colleagues. Often, this goes on behind the scenes; VNAM is a crucial opportunity to put a spotlight on the incredible work carried out by veterinary nurses every day.
 
“I encourage the whole veterinary profession to get involved, showcasing to the public just how much veterinary nurses contribute to their teams and to animal welfare. It’s an ideal opportunity to get creative with your team – and BVNA has provided lots of resources on our website to help to generate ideas.”
 
She continued: “I also look forward to reading the nominations of inspiring individuals and teams who deserve to be showcased for bringing compassion and empathy into their work every day. Receiving this recognition provides a real boost for the recipients and reminds them that their work does not go unnoticed – nominations only take a few minutes to submit but make a real impact.”

The nomination form for the BVNA’s Unsung Heroes campaign is available on the BVNA website.

Image (C) BVNA.

The march brought together Cats Protection supporters, volunteers and staff.

Campaigners gathered in Parliament Square on Tuesday (14 April) to protest the abandonment of cats from the government’s recent Animal Welfare Strategy.

Led by feline welfare charity Cats Protection, the march brought together supporters, volunteers and staff to highlight the largely unregulated trade in kittens and cats.

Representatives from the charity also handed over a petition to 10 Downing Street, containing more than 60,000 signatures, which urges the government to introduce regulation of cat breeding in England. 

Madison Rogers, associate director of advocacy and campaigns at Cats Protection, said: “By failing to introduce even basic safeguards for cat breeding, the Government has left cats exposed to severe health problems and lifelong suffering. While other species have been recognised within the Animal Welfare Strategy, cats – one of the nation’s most popular companion animals – have been completely overlooked.
 
“This lack of action is allowing a largely unregulated breeding market to thrive, where underage, sick and genetically compromised kittens can be bred and sold with little oversight. Rising demand for extreme‑trait breeds, fuelled by social media trends, is becoming a ticking time bomb for cat welfare, despite the well‑documented and lifelong health issues these cats can face.
 
“Today’s action shows just how strongly the public feels about this issue. More than 60,000 people have added their names to our call for change, and they are right to expect the Government to act. Cats deserve the same protections as other animals, and we urgently need clear commitments to close these welfare gaps and prevent further suffering.” 

Image (C) Cats Protection.

The grant programme supports projects that focus on animal welfare.

The Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) — the charitable arm of the British Veterinary Association — has opened up a new £80,000 research fund.

Veterinary professionals and researchers are encouraged to apply for the funding, which has been bolstered by an additional £50,000 this year thanks to generous legacy donations. 

While there is no set limit, the AWF aims to fund a number of projects from the total £80,000 pot that aim to solve pressing animal welfare issues.

Projects should start in 2026, be relevant to veterinary and allied professionals in the UK and should last no more than 36 months.

“High-quality research is the cornerstone to improving animal welfare, providing the evidence needed to successfully push for innovation and change,” commented AWF chair, Julian Kupfer. 

“The Animal Welfare Foundation’s research grant programme has been at the forefront of this movement, supporting the best and the brightest professionals to deliver projects that are making a tangible difference. This year we’re excited to be able to increase this funding significantly to help continue to build a valuable evidence base for improving animal welfare.”

Chair of AWF’s Grants committee, Nicola Gladden, added: “We have a fantastic amount of funding to be able to offer to one or more research projects this year and it really is thanks to the generous legacy donation we received last year. 

“Legacies, no matter how large or how small, are so important to AWF, they enable us to continue supporting much needed research as well as education into the field of animal welfare. If you are thinking about leaving a legacy in your will, please do consider AWF to help us continue helping to improve animal welfare in the UK.” 

The deadline for submission is midnight on Sunday 10 May 2026. For more information visit the Animal Welfare Foundation website. 

Image (C) create jobs 5/Shutterstock.

The birth brings hope for this rapidly declining species.

Conservationists at Chester Zoo have hailed the birth of three giant otters as “a hugely special moment”, marking the first time the species has been born at the zoo in several years.

Rachael Boatwright, assistant team manager of carnivores at Chester Zoo, said the triplets “are healthy and thriving” and will soon be able to explore the great outdoors.

The pups, who have yet to be named, were born to first-time parents, Bonita and Manu, as part of an international conservation effort to boost the species. With fewer than 5,000 giant otters thought to remain in the wild, this latest arrival is considered to be a rare boost for the species.

Ms Boatwright said: “The pups recently had their very first health check-up at eight weeks old, where they were weighed and had their heart, teeth and overall condition assessed by the zoo’s vets. We’re delighted to confirm that all three are healthy and thriving- and that we have two male and one female pup.

“At eight weeks old, the pups will now start to venture outside alongside parents Bonita and Manu, who will start introducing them to the water and all of the essential skills they’ll need as they grow.”

Native to South America, giant otters have been disappearing entirely from parts of their former range owing to deforestation, water pollution and illegal hunting. The species is listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), meaning that, without urgent conservation action, it could be wiped out entirely.

Kirsten Pullen, chief conservation officer at the zoo, said:  “Every birth represents genuine hope for this highly endangered species, and these three giant otter pups are an important reminder of what conservation efforts around the world can achieve.

“Wild giant otter populations are facing enormous pressure from widespread habitat loss and pollution in their freshwater ecosystems, so the international conservation breeding programme has become a vital safety net for the species.

“By maintaining healthy, genetically diverse populations in conservation zoos like ours, while also supporting efforts to protect and restore habitats in the wild, we’re hopeful that giant otters can thrive long into the future.”

Image (C) Chester Zoo.

The study could lead to earlier diagnosis in humans and animals. 

A new study has identified biomarkers for early canine osteoarthritis, paving the way for earlier detection in both dogs and humans.

Using high-resolution micro-computed tomography (CT), researchers at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) mapped the femoral head of dogs treated with total hip replacement surgery for osteoarthritis. 

Their findings show that in the earliest stages of osteoarthritis, the inner regions predictably change their bone structure pattern, allowing for early identification of the disease. 

As the disease progresses, the dense layer of bone below the joint surface becomes more porous in proportion to the increasing severity of osteoarthritis, distinguishing mild from severe changes. 

This is the first time this advanced form of evaluation has been performed in dogs or humans. It has also been published in the leading human journal, Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, underscoring the value of a One Health approach to disease research. 

Professor Richard Meeson, Professor of Orthopaedics at the RVC, and senior author of the paper, said: “Osteoarthritis is a devastating disease affecting both people and pets. Every day in our orthopaedic referral clinic, I see dogs suffering from its severe effects. 

“What is truly exciting is that through our clinical work, we can transform the lives of dogs through hip replacement surgery, and we have also been able to drive forward pioneering research at the RVC. This research has provided new insights into the disease and, crucially, brings us closer to diagnosing osteoarthritis at a much earlier stage.”

The team now hope to match the changes with clinical scans to develop improved non-invasive approaches to assessing joint health at much earlier stages of disease. 

Dr Gareth Jones, former PhD Student at the RVC and lead author of the paper, said: “Uniquely, our pet dogs share our environment and lifestyles and often develop the same diseases. 

“It is therefore pleasing to see greater acceptance of the opportunity to learn from veterinary diseases to also understand human diseases, through our One Health approach, with this work on dogs being published in such an esteemed human research journal.”

Image (C) Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock.

The findings reinforce the importance of a One Health approach

Researchers at The Roslin Institute have identified a link between high antibiotic resistance and poultry farming in Malawi.

The discovery, described in PLOS Public Global Health, highlights the need for targeted stewardship and a One Health response. 

In the study, Roslin Institute researchers joined forces with fellows from the Fleming Fund - an initiative that aims to improve antimicrobial surveillance, raise public awareness and promote responsible antibiotic use in low-and middle-income countries.

Tests on samples of E.coli bacteria from poultry, farm workers and the surrounding community revealed high levels of resistance to the commonly used antibiotic, cotrimoxazole. This resistance was across animals, humans and the environment, suggesting that resistance is circulating between them.

Conversely, resistance to ceftriaxone - a drug used in hospitals - remained relatively low, highlighting the importance of protecting the drug’s effectiveness.

The study also found that the use of commercial feed, keeping chickens in enclosed spaces and prior antibiotic use were linked to higher levels of antimicrobial resistance. Some farmers were administering antibiotics intended for humans to poultry. 

The findings were presented to the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Surveillance Technical Working Group of Malawi’s Ministry of Health and Sanitation. Researchers will now work with the country’s Antimicrobial Resistance National Coordinating Centre to translate the findings into practical steps.

“These findings reinforce the importance of a One Health approach to tackling antibiotic resistance,” commented Dr Stella Mazeri, of the Roslin Institute, and former Fleming Fund Deputy-Director.

“It was a privilege to support the Phase 1 Malawi Fellows in their collaborative project, contributing to evidence that can help guide more effective and context-specific interventions.”

Image (C) Akindele Aremu-cole/Shutterstock

The disease remains widespread on UK sheep farms. 

A survey conducted by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has identified a number of opportunities to improve the prevention and control of orf virus.

A common viral disease of goats and sheep, orf virus one of the biggest causes of economic loss to sheep farmers globally. However, there is little understanding about how often the disease occurs and how it is managed.

A total of 421 UK sheep farmers participated in the research, making this the first UK-based study of this scale to investigate farmers’ current orf treatment practices.

The findings show that orf remains widespread on UK sheep farms, with 88.8 per cent of respondents reporting having identified orf lesions in their sheep. An average treatment cost of £5 per affected lamb and £100 per affected flock were reported by the farmers, underscoring the ongoing economic impact of the disease. 

The most reported treatment used by 65.2 per cent of respondents was topical antibiotic sprays. A further 26.7 per cent used injectable antibiotics and 22.7 per cent reported using both injectable and topical antibiotics. 

A notable 13.6 per cent of respondents used salt licks as part of their orf treatment practices. However, only 34.5 per cent said they used pain relief in affected animals. 

Just 23.8 per cent of farmers flock consulted a veterinary surgeon when orf was suspected. 

Importantly, the study highlighted several human health conditions. A third of respondents reported having contracted orf themselves.

Those who reported wearing gloves some or all of the time was significantly less likely to contract the disease, with their likelihood of infection only 64 per cent of that of those who never wore gloves. 

Researchers say their findings highlight the need for discussion between sheep farmers and vets on treatment options, the zoonotic risk and the importance of ensuring other diseases with similar clinical presentations are not overlooked – and that antimicrobials are only used when necessary.

Beth Reilly, Senior Teaching Fellow in Small Ruminant Health and Flock Management at the RVC, said: “Our online survey set out to establish current orf treatment practices on UK sheep holdings, as there is currently no licenced treatment. 

Eighty eight percent of respondents had seen orf on their holdings and reported a wide variety of treatments. An unexpected finding was the use of salt licks by 13.6 per cent of respondents as part of orf treatment, highlighting the need for further research into the potential of this for orf treatment and control.”  

David Charles, International Business Development Manager at NoBACZ Healthcare, said: “Orf virus remains one of the big causes of economic and production loss to sheep farmers globally. Until recently, the true prevalence and economic impact have likely been underestimated, with the most recent previous work being done over a decade ago.

“At NoBACZ, we are proud to be a highly evidence-based company, and we were thrilled to work with the RVC on this research to improve our understanding of this challenging disease: widening the evidence-base and growing our sector's understanding of prevalence, economic impact and understanding what farmers were using.

“Crucially, this data has shown just how much antibiotic is used for what is a viral disease, clearly showing areas where we can support education and behaviour changes to lead to improved antimicrobial stewardship and increase the responsible use of antibiotics."

Image (C) Aleksandar Malivuk/Shutterstock