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BSAVA issues guidance on neutering during lockdown
The guidance is designed to help vets when risk-assessing the need for neutering.
Advice supplements advice issued by the RCVS and BVA.

New guidance for small animal practitioners on neutering during the COVID-19 lockdown has been produced by the BSAVA.

The Neutering Guidance is designed to help vets when risk-assessing the need for neutering while applying their clinical and professional judgement.

If forms part of a suite of tools produced by the BSAVA to assist veterinary professionals during the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, and supplements the advice issued by the RCVS and BVA.

“The Neutering Guidance was produced by BSAVA volunteers who collaborated with a range of veterinary contributors within a very short time frame,"
said BSAVA president, Sue Paterson. "Similar to our recently issued BSAVA Vaccination Guidance and in line with BSAVA’s core ethos, the Guidance is ‘By the profession for the profession."

The advice was put together in collaboration with specialists in internal medicine, exotic medicine and behaviour; advanced practitioners in medicine and exotic medicine as well as shelter medicine and primary care vets.

It follows the recently-published BSAVA guidance on vaccinations, which is available here.

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

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News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.