Vet Times Podcast

The British Veterinary Ethnicity and Diversity Society (BVEDS) is celebrating its 10th birthday. Its founders, vets Navaratnam Partheeban and Issa Robson, join Chris Simpson to reflect on BVEDS’ work, how the veterinary sector has changed and what it still needs to do to become a more inclusive profession for all. Podcast music: “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creativ...

Purina Pro Plan has recently launched its Young Vets initiative – an educational platform offering free courses in pet nutrition, employability, and entrepreneurship to support students and early career vets. The aim of the programme is to give them the tools they need to make a seamless transition from the lecture hall to the consult room. Vet Times has partnered with Purina Pro Plan with a three...

New RSPCA CVO Charlotte Beckett joins Allister Webb to discuss her priorities in the role and her aspirations for the sector as it faces up to major changes. Podcast music: “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Earlier this year, IDEXX announced it was expanding its Cancer Dx Panel to include canine mast cell tumour detection as well as lymphoma detection, and the rollout of FNA cytology on the IDEXX inVue Dx Cellular Analyzer. IDEXX global medical affairs specialist Dana Connell joined Chris Simpson to discuss the innovation and the importance of incorporating cancer screening into routine veterinary co...

In June, BVA Live’s Interactive Zone hosted the packed session “When is enough, enough? How do we define overtreatment?”, which made for lively and thought-provoking debate. The session’s chairs, BVA senior vice-president Elizabeth Mullineaux and Caroline Allen, director at Pet Lighthouse and former chief veterinary officer of the RSPCA, sat down with Chris Simpson to take the discussion further....

In this Vet Times Extra podcast, supported by Animal Friends Pet Insurance, Paul Manktelow, veterinary services director at Blue Cross, discusses the vital role of long-term supporters, equine welfare, and strategies for navigating and relieving the impacts of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis across the veterinary sector. The podcast episode highlights the multi-year support provided by Animal Fr...

As the leading global charity dedicated to feline welfare, iCatCare provides trusted, evidence-based support for veterinary professionals and cat owners. Vetoquinol UK, an animal health pharmaceutical company, shares iCatCare's commitment to improving cat health and welfare through education and engagement. Together, iCatCare and Vetoquinol UK will support feline health initiatives, promote best p...

This episode is brought to you by Vets Now ECC Congress 2026. Taking place 5 and 6 November at Leeds Royal Armouries, it features more than 30 world-class speakers and up to 80 hours of CPD across seven dynamic streams. Whether you're looking to level up your emergency skills, explore practical clinical workshops or connect with peers, head over to vets-now.com/congress-2026 to book your ticket to...

The first clinical trials for veterinary application of low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) are getting underway in the United States to generate clinical evidence on its potential as a non-invasive for chronic pain management. Texas-based veterinarian Mandy Moody, director of clinical research at Pelara and SecureDX, which have partnered to launch the trials, joins Chris Simpson to explain th...

In this Vet Times Extra podcast, in association with Arwain DGC, Amelia Sidwell and Hannah Jarman discuss the valuable work of Arwain DGC, a Welsh government-funded programme that brings together veterinary professionals, farmers, researchers and industry partners to tackle antimicrobial resistance in livestock and the environment. The programme promotes responsible antimicrobial stewardship throu...

Earlier this year, a landmark study [https://www.vettimes.com/news/vet-nursing/small-animal/study-offers-dramatic-increase-in-knowledge-of-canine-microbiome] offered a “dramatic increase” in our understanding of the canine microbiome. One of its authors, Phil Watson, senior research manager at Waltham Petcare Science Institute, sat down with Chris Simpson to discuss the study’s findings and how th...

Ten years on from the introduction of compulsory dog microchipping in the UK – how much has really changed for pets, vets, charities and owners? As one of the UK’s leading pet microchip providers, Identichip brings together leading veterinarian Steve Leonard and Fiona Cooke, associate director of policy and impact at Woodgreen Pets Charity, for this Vet Times podcast. Together, they explore the im...

Amid falling Royal Kennel Club registrations of key brachycephalic dog breeds, RVC academics Dan O’Neill and Rowena Packer join Chris Simpson to discuss the efforts of the UK’s Brachycephalic Working Group. Prof O’Neill and Dr Packer provide updates on their latest research, the launch of the Innate Health Assessment tool [https://www.innatehealthassessment.org/] and discuss the role vets have to...

Chris Simpson sits down with new president of the North American Veterinary Community’s (NAVC) board of directors, Jon Townsend, to discuss his plans to expand mentorship opportunities across the profession during his presidential year. Dr Townsend also discusses the latest updates on the outbreaks of avian influenza in dairy herds across the United States and offers his take on veterinary telemed...

A month on from the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) publication of its final remedies for the UK pet sector, vet leaders gathered at the Crowne Plaza Hotel for VMG Congress. VMG president Rebecca Robinson joined Chris Simpson to discuss the feeling among delegates about the measures and give her own thoughts on the CMA process. Podcast music: “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)...

With purebred and pedigree cats becoming increasingly popular among pet owners, Cats Protection feline welfare researcher Claire Roberts speaks about her recent welfare review of concerns associated with purebred cats with extreme features. Meanwhile, the charity’s associate director of advocacy, campaigns and external affairs, Madison Rogers, discusses Cats Protection’s campaign for cat breeding...

Chris Simpson sits down with Michael Q Bailey, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), to discuss the issues facing veterinarians in the United States. Dr Bailey discusses rural veterinary workforce shortages and the AVMA-sponsored legislation set to tackle the issue, the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, and the latest efforts to combat the re-emerging threat of New World S...

Allister Webb and James Westgate welcome a panel of industry experts to examine how the veterinary sector can move forward after the CMA investigation in a discussion recorded at SPVS Congress in Birmingham. Podcast music: “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

With the nomination deadline for the 2026 BVA Awards looming on 16 March, last year’s BVA Young Vet of the Year winner Leah Hunter joins Chris Simpson to talk about her experiences of winning the accolade and life as a mixed practice vet in Orkney. Dr Hunter, of Flett and Carmichael Veterinary Surgeons, was recognised for her “extraordinary dedication; compassion; unwavering devotion to her patien...

With consultations on reforming veterinary legislation now finally underway, BVA president Rob Williams returns to the podcast to discuss his hopes and fears for the process with Allister Webb. The consultation (https://consult.defra.gov.uk/reform-of-the-veterinary-surgeons-act/consultation/) is open for submissions until 25 March.    Podcast music: “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), l...

With a long-awaited consultation on veterinary legislative reform now finally underway, Allister Webb is joined by Defra’s deputy chief veterinary officer Ele Brown to discuss what change might achieve for the sector. The consultation (https://consult.defra.gov.uk/reform-of-the-veterinary-surgeons-act/consultation/) is open for submissions until 25 March.    Podcast music: “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacL...

As the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion in Ukraine approaches, vets in the country – many of whom are fighting or serving as combat medics on the front lines as well as managing their clinics – are facing shortages of vital medicines and equipment. At the same time, rabies cases in wild and stray animals are on the rise, putting vets in further danger during the conflict. Ukrainian vet Dari...

Burnout, mental health issues and staff turnover are challenges that continue to affect the veterinary profession. Angela Chapman, senior veterinary nursing lecturer at Melbourne Polytechnic and graduate researcher at La Trobe University, joins Chris Simpson to discuss her new vet nurse burnout prevention survey [https://www.veterinaryburnout.com.au/workplace-survey]. Podcast music: “Funky Chunk”...

Allergic dermatitis is one of the most challenging chronic conditions we face in practice. Not just clinically, but because owners expect their dogs to return to “normal.”   In this podcast with Darren Berger, US board certified dermatologist and Elanco’s head of allergy and dermatology, we’ll look at the science behind Zenrelia, the new JAK inhibitor helping dogs get back to normal, and how it’s...

SPONSORED In today’s episode, sponsored by Royal Canin, we celebrate 20 years of Royal Canin’s partnership with the University of Liverpool’s Obesity Care Clinic – the world’s first specialist weight loss clinic for cats and dogs. This pioneering collaboration has transformed obesity care, combining expert research with exceptional service for clients and referring vet practices. Join us as Georgi...