Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Guide Dogs appoints new chief veterinary officer
"It's important that we keep the healthcare of guide dogs at the top of our priorities list." - Tim Davies.

The charity is 'delighted' to announce the appointment of Tim Davies.

UK-based charity Guide Dogs has appointed its new chief veterinary officer. The role has been taken over by highly experienced veterinary surgeon Tim Davies.

The role involves ensuring that Guide Dogs has understanding of and access to the best veterinary knowledge available, and that every one of the charity's dogs are provided with excellent veterinary care. 

Tim Davies commented on working with the dogs: “Guide dogs are fantastic to work with – they are good-natured and easy to handle, and the owners always have the best interests of the dog at heart. 

“Plus, you know you are helping more than someone’s pet, a working dog making a real difference to a person’s life. A guide dog needs to be happy and healthy to fulfil its role. It all adds up to a very different flavour of vet work.”

Previously, Tim worked as the national veterinary director for CVS, helping the company to expand from 200 to 1200 veterinary surgeons. 

He has also worked as the principal veterinary surgeon at Nine Mile Veterinary Group in Wokingham, expanding the business from one veterinary surgeon and three staff to 16 veterinary surgeons and 60 staff in his time there. 

This new role for Tim also marks a return to Guide Dogs, as he has worked for the charity previously in the role of centre veterinary advisor from 1987 until 2007 at Wokingham. 

Commenting on his return to Guide Dogs, Tim said: “I am looking forward to being back, but in a more central role with more strategic responsibility. The veterinary world has changed so much, even in the last ten years, and it will be good to draw on my experiences to help Guide Dogs traverse that change.

“I am particularly looking forward to help utilise the cutting-edge genomic research and behavioural science approach Guide Dogs are leading, to improve the health of our dogs and indeed of dogs in general.”

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

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. 

Click here for more...
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.