With the Zoological Society of London announcing a veterinary viewing gallery as part of its new wildlife health centre, Josh Loeb takes a look at its plans and why some are critical.With the Zoological Society of London announcing a veterinary viewing gallery as part of its new wildlife health centre, Josh Loeb takes a look at its plans and why some are critical.
From first-opinion practice to life in academia, small animal vet Emily Auger reflects on perfectionism, burnout and why teaching turned into her calling.From first-opinion practice to life in academia, small animal vet Emily Auger reflects on perfectionism, burnout and why teaching turned into her calling.
BACKGROUND: In Great Britain, donkey work has shifted from beach donkey rides towards a greater diversity of economic activities, such as wellness industries, films and exhibits. This research investigates the distributi...BACKGROUND: In Great Britain, donkey work has shifted from beach donkey rides towards a greater diversity of economic activities, such as wellness industries, films and exhibits. This research investigates the distribution, health and welfare of donkeys in licensed activities in Great Britain. METHODS: Local authority data were used to map the population of donkeys working under licence. Data on the welfare status of donkeys relinquished, retired or removed to The Donkey Sanctuary from licensed commercial businesses were analysed descriptively. RESULTS: Donkeys are engaged in a diverse range of licensed activities throughout Great Britain and are frequently one of the main draws of some commercial businesses. Most donkeys relinquished or removed from licensed premises were found to have health and welfare issues. LIMITATIONS: The welfare data include only those donkeys relinquished or removed to The Donkey Sanctuary, which may not be representative of the population of donkeys in all commercial operations. CONCLUSION: The study finds that licensing does not necessarily protect donkeys from poor welfare outcomes, despite some licences requiring mandatory veterinary oversight. In addition, the licensing system and those finding themselves working within it, may need further resourcing to support those trying to license, regulate and enforce commercial activities.
BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) causes chronic pain and reduces welfare in dogs. Standard treatments may be inadequate or associated with adverse effects, prompting investigation of alternative therapies. Transcutaneous...BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) causes chronic pain and reduces welfare in dogs. Standard treatments may be inadequate or associated with adverse effects, prompting investigation of alternative therapies. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a non-pharmacological pain management method, but evidence for its efficacy in canine OA is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of TENS on clinical signs, owner-reported pain and physical activity in dogs with OA and to compare two accelerometer data filtering methods. METHODS: This single-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled crossover study included 15 dogs with OA and mild to moderate lameness. The assessments comprised clinical examinations performed on the day of treatment and the following day, two validated pain questionnaires and physical activity monitoring. The activity data were processed using ActiLife software and an R-based Euclidean norm minus one method. RESULTS: Clinical examinations showed similar pain responses following TENS and placebo. No significant differences were detected between treatments in pain questionnaire scores or activity levels. Filtering methods influenced the activity intensity distribution but not the treatment-related conclusions. LIMITATIONS: Limitations include a small sample size and a heterogeneous study population. CONCLUSION: No significant differences were observed in physical activity and pain scoring between TENS and placebo treatments. Further studies are warranted.
BACKGROUND: When working with free-ranging phocid seals, methods of chemical immobilisation require ongoing refinement to reduce complications, particularly apnoea, during research procedures. METHODS: Adult Weddell seal...BACKGROUND: When working with free-ranging phocid seals, methods of chemical immobilisation require ongoing refinement to reduce complications, particularly apnoea, during research procedures. METHODS: Adult Weddell seals (n = 20) at Cape Crozier, Antarctica, were chemically immobilised with intramuscular injection of butorphanol and midazolam in 2024 and 2025. RESULTS: Butorphanol and midazolam were administered intramuscularly at 0.16 ± 0.03 and 0.19 ± 0.03 mg/kg, respectively. No apnoea lasting more than 2 minutes was observed, nor were any other adverse effects. LIMITATIONS: The sample was limited to 20 adults, predominantly mid-lactation females (n = 14). Additional data on other demographic groups, varying the dose combination, more detailed records of seal vital signs, and additional physiological measurements (e.g., blood gases) would provide valuable insight into this drug combination for Weddell seals. CONCLUSION: In this limited study, intramuscular butorphanol and midazolam were a safe and effective combination for field immobilisation of adult Weddell seals.
BACKGROUND: Cattle only show subtle signs of pain, making pain assessment difficult. The approach to pain and the use of analgesics depend on the treating person's experience and opinions. METHODS: Bavarian veterinary st...BACKGROUND: Cattle only show subtle signs of pain, making pain assessment difficult. The approach to pain and the use of analgesics depend on the treating person's experience and opinions. METHODS: Bavarian veterinary students were asked to answer two identical questionnaires before and after 12 weeks of clinical training in a ruminant clinic. A total of 60 students answered both questionnaires. RESULTS: Out of 28 behavioural expressions of pain, six parameters were selected significantly more often following clinical training. Following training, pain scoring changed significantly for 10 of 20 conditions and three of 15 procedures in adult cattle, with enucleation of the eye bulb, claw amputation and caesarean section judged to be the most painful procedures. Castration (both surgical and Burdizzo) and laparotomy were scored as the most painful procedures in calves. Selected analgesic regimens did not change significantly, except for management for tenotomy of contracted tendons in calves. Students' opinions about farmers' attitudes towards pain and willingness to pay for analgesics differed after clinical training. LIMITATIONS: The high proportion of female participants could have influenced the study's results. CONCLUSION: Practical experience influences veterinary students' attitudes towards pain recognition in cattle, but not towards pain management. Working with farmers changes students' opinions about farmers' preferences.
BACKGROUND: Floppy rabbit syndrome (FRS) is known as an idiopathic neurological condition with a peracute onset of tetraparesis. While there are several anecdotal reports mentioning this phenomenon, scientific literature...BACKGROUND: Floppy rabbit syndrome (FRS) is known as an idiopathic neurological condition with a peracute onset of tetraparesis. While there are several anecdotal reports mentioning this phenomenon, scientific literature on this subject is scarce. The aim of this study was to assess clinical and clinicopathological data as well as the outcome of patients with FRS. METHODS: This retrospective study included pet rabbits that presented with a peracute progressive symmetric lower motor neuron tetraparesis characterised by generalised weakness in all four limbs and decreased muscle tone and spinal reflexes. History, clinical signs, laboratory results, treatment and outcome were analysed. RESULTS: The data revealed nine rabbits with non-ambulatory tetraparesis resembling FRS. Otherwise, the rabbits presented clinically unremarkably. All the animals showed significantly increased serum creatine kinase (CK) concentrations. Eight out of nine rabbits fully recovered within a short period. LIMITATIONS: The study is limited by the small number of patients and the absence of muscle biopsy results and electromyography. CONCLUSION: FRS can be clearly diagnosed due to its typical consistent clinical presentation and neurological examination. Clinical pathology, including the determination of serum CK concentrations, may aid in differentiating FRS from other diseases. FRS is typically self-limiting idiopathic neuromuscular disease that does not require specific treatment; therefore, euthanasia should be avoided.
BACKGROUND: Large language models (LLMs) are emerging as decision-support tools in human medicine; however, their evaluation in veterinary anaesthesiology remains limited. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 225 anonymi...BACKGROUND: Large language models (LLMs) are emerging as decision-support tools in human medicine; however, their evaluation in veterinary anaesthesiology remains limited. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 225 anonymised feline and canine cases (American Society of Anaesthesiologists [ASA] classifications 1‒5) from Atatürk University Veterinary Hospital. ChatGPT-4o, ChatGPT-5 and Gemini 2.5 Pro independently assigned ASA classifications and generated anaesthetic protocols using standardised prompts. Protocol adequacy was evaluated for all cases, regardless of ASA classification agreement, by two experienced veterinary anaesthesiologists using a four-point scale. Statistical analyses included Friedman and Bonferroni-adjusted Wilcoxon tests, effect sizes and inter-panelist reliability (assessed by quadratic-weighted Cohen's kappa and intraclass correlation coefficient). RESULTS: ChatGPT-5 achieved the highest ASA classification accuracy (53.3%), followed by ChatGPT-4o (46.7%) and Gemini 2.5 Pro (30.7%). The performance was strongest for ASA 3‒5, whereas ASA 1 cases were frequently misclassified, mainly due to ASA overestimation. ChatGPT-5 generated the most clinically sufficient anaesthetic protocols, outperforming the other models. LIMITATIONS: The retrospective, single-centre design and inclusion of only feline and canine cases may limit generalisability. CONCLUSIONS: LLMs can generate clinically relevant ASA classifications and anaesthetic protocols in veterinary anaesthesiology, although performance varies across models. However, expert oversight remains essential.