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AFSCAN app to provide perspective on canine health
Left to right: Dr Anselm Voigts, AFSCAN Ambassador, Namibia; Dr Olatunji Nasir, AFSCAN Ambassador, Nigeria, Professor Amandus Muhairwa, AFSCAN Ambassador, Tanzania.
Initative will collect data from vets in Kenya

Two initiatives have been announced by the African Small Companion Animal Network (AFSCAN) as part of its efforts to drive up standards of veterinary care in Africa.

Announced during a meeting of the AFSCAN Board and Ambassadors, the first initiative will use a tablet-based app to collect data from vets in Kenya. The vets will be asked to collect health and demographic data from dogs visiting their practices.

This will provide a 'valuable baseline perspective' on canine health in Kenya, says AFSCAN. It also has the potential to be extended across the AFSCAN countries, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda.

The second initiative is a 'twinning programme' that will give vets in Africa the chance to partner with a veterinary hospital in the United States. The project aims to provide a long-term mentoring relationship with the African vet and allows the US vet to get involved in international veterinary development.

Developed by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), AFSCAN is working towards its goal of enhancing veterinary care in Africa. This is being achieved through the provision of online and continuing education and through the creation of a sustainable network of small companion animal veterinary associations (SAVA’s).

Commenting on the project's progress, Dr Gabriel Varga, chair of the AFSCAN board said: “The progress made by AFSCAN over the last three years is extraordinary and is a credit both to the Ambassadors and Board who have worked so hard to strengthen the companion animal veterinary communities in their own countries.   

“We are looking forward to the launch of our new projects for 2017. Looking ahead, we are also exploring how we can extend the benefits AFSCAN is bringing to other countries in Africa. 2017 is set to be another exciting year!”

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.