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Partnership to offer students neutering learning opportunities
The students will operate on animals that arrive into the clinic, enabling them to build on vital skills for a career in veterinary medicine.
Mayhew and University of Surrey initiative is open to fourth-year students.

Animal welfare charity Mayhew has teamed up with the University of Surrey to give students practical, hands-on experience in performing neutering procedures.

Mayhew is working with Surrey's School of Veterinary Medicine, giving fourth-year students the opportunity to learn about neutering at its Community Vet Clinic. 

Located in Kensal Green, London, the charity will host students for two semesters a year - during which they will carry out neutering operations under the supervision of Surrey Vet's surgical and anaesthesia specialists.

The students will operate on animals that arrive into the clinic, enabling them to build on vital skills for a career in veterinary medicine.

Mayhew head veterinary surgeon, Justin Ainsworth, said: "Our partnership with the University of Surrey's School of Veterinary Medicine offers their fourth-year students the unique opportunity to get practicable knowledge of neutering as part of their degree course, as well as learning how to interact with pet owners, which is a very important part of a vet's role.

“This training, at this stage of their degree course, can only enhance their skills as vets and better prepare them for their future careers."

Surrey Vet School's teaching fellow in small animal surgery, Melanie Blevins, added: "The neutering clinic days hosted by Mayhew are an invaluable opportunity for our students to put all of their training into practice in a real-life environment with the full support and supervision of the University team. 

“It not only allows them to utilise their practical skills in surgery and anaesthesia but to be involved in all the aspects of veterinary care that they have been training towards, patient care, communicating with owners and working as part of the veterinary team. It forms a vital part of their training and prepares them for their final year workplace-based rotations."

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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. 

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.