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Medical Detection Dogs issues call for puppy socialisers
The puppies will be trained to detect diseases like Parkinson's and bowel cancer. 

Volunteers will help raise a new litter of golden retriever Labrador cross puppies.

UK charity Medical Detection Dogs is appealing for volunteers to help raise its new litter of assistance puppies.

The four golden retriever Labrador cross puppies were born on 19 July and will one day, be trained to detect serious illnesses such as bowel cancer and Parkinson’s disease, much faster and less invasively than other methods. 

The dogs may also go on to provide life-changing support as Medical Alert Assistance Dogs.

Medical Detection Dogs is specifically looking for volunteers to assist with the puppies’ basic daily training, and gradually increase their exposure to public environments.
                             
Chris Allen, head of dog supply and training at Medical Detection Dogs, said: “The arrival of this new litter is a joyful milestone for us, but it comes with a pressing challenge. To continue our groundbreaking work in the fight against life-threatening diseases, we urgently need more volunteer puppy socialisers to step forward. 

“Their role is absolutely critical; without them these dogs cannot gain the vital foundations they need to one day save lives as disease detection and assistance dogs”.

Volunteers should ideally be based within an hour of Medical Detection Dogs hubs in Milton Keynes, Essex or Perth. 

Socialisers should also be at home regularly with their puppy, provide them with their daily nutritional needs, follow positive training methods, and introduce them to a wide variety of everyday environments.

Image (C) Medical Detection Dogs.

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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.