Vet Voices On Air

In this episode of Vet Voices on Air, we take a much deeper look at obesity in dogs and cats — not simply as a question of calories, but as a complex interaction between physiology, behaviour, nutrition, environment, human psychology and the human–animal bond.

This week Robyn Lowe from Vet Voices On Air , dives into the remarkable world of Lowland Rescue dogs —the volunteer teams working alongside police to locate vulnerable missing people across the UK. If you’ve ever wondered how these dogs are trained, how they search, or how the public can help, this episode offers a fascinating look behind the scenes.

What makes a good veterinary leader? Is it confidence, ambition and having the answers — or the ability to admit when you've got things wrong? In this episode of Veterinary Voices on Air , Robyn Lowe is joined by Professor Heather Bacon, Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Lancashire , for a remarkably open conversation about animal welfare, leadership, self-doubt an...

“They are masters of presenting very vaguely for vastly different things.” — Mark Naguib  In this in-depth episode of Vet Voices on Air, Robyn is joined by Mark Naguib BVMS(Hons) CertAVP(ZM) MRCVS, RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Zoological Medicine , an experienced avian and exotic veterinary surgeon, to explore the realities of avian medicine in general practice—covering both wildlife birds and co...

You’ve spent years working towards becoming a vet or RVN. Then comes the first job. But what happens when the career you dreamed about doesn’t feel quite so dreamy once you’re actually living it? “We all have that glass slipper image of the practice that we feel is best for us.” — Robyn  In this episode of Vet Voices on Air, Robyn is joined by veterinary surgeon and graduate mentor Alison Price an...

In this episode of Vet Voices On Air , Genever Morgan and Georgia Woods-Lee explore one of the most debated topics in companion animal medicine: pet nutrition. From raw feeding and kibble to insect protein, plant-based diets and minimally processed foods, they discuss why feeding choices have become so personal—and why conversations about nutrition can be surprisingly complex.

What if it's not arthritis? Lower back pain can look like hip osteoarthritis, behavioural change, skin disease, anal gland problems or simply people thinking it's just ‘old age’. Diagnosing it requires far more than finding one painful spot—it takes careful history-taking, clinical reasoning and seeing the bigger picture. In this episode of Vet Voices on Air, we sit down with RCVS and Euro...

What happens when three veterinary students are trusted to think differently? This episode begins with an incredible achievement: three University of Cambridge veterinary students who won a Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS) competition, securing up to £100,000 to turn their vision into a real-world project. But this isn't simply a story about winning a competition—it's a conversation abou...

The launch of the Innate Health Assessment (IHA) has sparked a passionate debate in the dog world. *Special Extended Episode* Supporters see it as a practical, simple tool to help improve canine welfare by addressing extreme conformation. Critics have raised concerns about fairness, scientific validity, breed identity, and fears that it could ultimately threaten certain breeds. To separate fact fr...

In this episode, Robyn is joined by Dr Camilla Edwards from First Opinion Veterinary Ultrasound (FOVU) for a really practical, honest conversation about making ultrasound less scary and more useful in everyday practice. If your machine is gathering dust, only comes out for the odd pyometra, or you feel that familiar imposter syndrome every time you pick up the probe – this one’s for you.

In the latest Vet Voices on Air, Robyn is joined by Dr. Marie Francesca Menniti, MRCVS (residency-trained clinical nutritionist) to unpack a hot topic in pet feeding: home-prepared diets.

Veterinary work is rewarding but also challenging. This resource explores three key psychosocial factors—burnout, moral injury, and compassion fatigue—that may impact the wellbeing of veterinary professionals. Sudden crises, ongoing stress, trauma, and ethical dilemmas can all contribute. While many other issues affect wellbeing, this guide focuses on these three. It applies to all veterinary team...

This week on Vet Voices on Air, Robyn chats with Dr. Laurent, a European & RCVS-recognised Specialist in Veterinary Cardiology and certified perfusionist, about how general practitioners can feel more confident diagnosing, managing, and referring cardiac cases.

Heatstroke is one of the most lethal yet most misunderstood emergencies in veterinary medicine—and it doesn’t only happen on scorching summer days. In this in-depth episode Robyn from Vet Voices on Air is joined by two leading voices in the field: Dr Emily Hall , primary care vet, educator, and researcher whose PhD focused on the epidemiology of heatstroke in UK dogs, and Emily Cockerill , referra...

In this powerful and much-needed episode of Vet Voices on Air , we dive into one of the most emotionally charged and complex conversations in the dog world right now: breed health, extreme conformation, judging decisions, health testing, genetic diversity, and what meaningful change really looks like after Crufts 2026 .

Pet dental health is one of the most overlooked areas of animal care, and in this episode of Vet Voices On Air with Robyn, we tackle a topic that is becoming more common, more visible, and often more confusing for owners: anaesthesia-free dental procedures. Joining us for this important discussion are Alix, an ECVS and RCVS-recognised veterinary dental specialist, and Cat, a registered veterinary...

Vet Voices On Air episode for Endometriosis Awareness Month – March 2026 The 2021 RCVS report shows that the UK veterinary profession is overwhelmingly female: 57% of all registered veterinary surgeons are female 96.8% of veterinary nurses are female Nearly 80% of veterinary degree students are female Now put that next to the Endometriosis UK statistic that 1 in 10 females are affected by endometr...

The episode challenges the profession to rethink how it communicates, so that in a world of instant information, veterinary professionals remain the trusted guide – not the last resort after a Google spiral.

From IOHC to HIF: understanding elbow fissures, fracture risk, and evidence-based treatment decisions in at-risk dogs.

In this Vet Voices on Air episode, Robyn Lowe hosts a powerhouse panel to unpack the brand new Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025 – the law many are calling the Puppy Smuggling Act , but which reaches far beyond puppies alone. Featuring: Dr Danny Chambers – Vet & MP, who brought the Bill through Parliament Dr Sean McCormack – Vet, conservationist & presenter (ear cr...

Ever wondered what actually happens when a horse vet swaps night shifts and colic calls for Parliament and policy. In this episode of Vet Voices On Air, Robyn speaks to her friend Danny Chambers – founder of Veterinary Voices UK, equine vet and now MP (since July 2024) – about life on the green benches and what it really means to have “a vet in the room” in Westminster.

Listen to the finale episode of Vet Voices on Air for the full mix of chaos, laughter, penguins, snails, politics, hiking storms, and heartfelt community chat – available where you usually find us. Wishing you a Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays / peaceful festive on-call rota May the on-call gods be gentle, the chocolate be out of reach of dogs , and your 2026 be full of more glimmers than grumble...

In this episode, Paul and Robyn explore how  public expectations ,  rehabilitation centre realities , and  veterinary clinical decision-making  can sometimes pull in different directions. From questions around treatment thresholds and release suitability, to the emotional weight of euthanasia decisions, we unpack  why  different groups may see the same situation differently — and why that’s okay (...

This week on Vet Voices On Air, Robyn talks with Professor Dan O’Neill (Royal Veterinary College, VetCompass) about a powerful new way of thinking: innate health. Rather than asking “Does my dog have a disease?”, innate health asks:👉 “Can my dog actually live the full life a dog should — breathe easily, run, blink, sleep, wag, communicate and enjoy life without pain or struggle?” Dan explains how...

Bonus episode: The revamped Rabbit Friendly Practice Scheme — and how to get featured where owners look first On Vet Voices on Air, Robyn chats with John Chitty (Advisor, Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund) about the biggest overhaul of the Rabbit Friendly Practice Scheme since it began — plus how practices can appear in the Trusted Rabbit Friendly Vet Directory that rabbit owners actively use...