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Guinea pig awareness week postponed
This years' GPAW will take place from 26 - 30 September.

New dates have been announced.

The organisers of Guinea Pig Awareness Week (GPAW) have declared new dates for the campaign, following the announcement that Queen Elizabeth II's funeral will take place on Monday 19 September, when the campaign was originally due to start.

As a mark of respect to the Queen and her family, GPAW has been postponed to the following week, starting Monday 26 September.

Charlotte Varley, communications manager for Burgess Pet Care, who organises GPAW, explained: “Given this time of national sorrow following the death of Her Majesty The Queen, as a show of respect we felt it appropriate to postpone the launch of GPAW until 26 September.

“We’re delighted that some vets’ practices have already downloaded their digital GPAW packs and are getting behind this year’s important campaign. 

“With GPAW less than two weeks away, we’d love to see even more practices helping us to throw the spotlight on these adorable creatures and their specific welfare needs, including their housing, through our national campaign dedicated to improving guinea pigs’ lives.

“GPAW is a fantastic opportunity to educate owners about how they can give their guinea pigs the best possible care, and to highlight the responsibility that comes with ownership.”

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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
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."