RCVS Knowledge - Evidence-based Veterinary Medicine

Knowledge Awards audio overview: Clinical audit on fluid therapy rates in dehydrated patients by Vet Now, Bristol

In this RCVS Knowledge Award overview, Emily Hudson outlines how the team at Vets Now, Bristol, conducted an audit to investigate whether fluid therapy rates for dehydrated patients were being calculated in accordance with current guidelines, given the risk of fluid overload in critically ill patients.
The Vets Now, Bristol team were awarded Champion in the 2025 RCVS Knowledge QI in Practice Awards.
Read the transcript. 

Knowledge Award audio overview: Reduction of highest-priority critically important antibiotic use by Animal Trust, Dewsbury

In this RCVS Knowledge Award overview, Tighearnan Mooney from Animal Trust, Dewsbury, explains how the team approached reducing the unnecessary use of highest-priority, critically important antibiotics (HPCIAs) and ensuring that any use followed the principles of good antimicrobial stewardship. 
The team at Animal Trust, Dewsbury, received a Champion Award in the 2025 RCVS Knowledge Antimicrobial Stewardship Awards. 
Read the transcript.

Knowledge Award audio overview: HUSH Huddles: Huddle up for safer healthcare by Paragon Veterinary Referrals

In this RCVS Knowledge Award overview, Helen Garbett from Paragon Veterinary Referrals outlines how the team implemented an innovative team-based approach to improving patient safety. The daily huddles introduced by the team focus on preventing medication and dispensing errors by embedding key principles, including involving all members of the clinical and non-clinical teams to identify at-risk patients and agree on actions to mitigate that risk.
Paragon Veterinary Referrals received a Champion Award in the 2025 RCVS Knowledge QI in Practice Awards.
Read the transcript.

Audio Summary: The therapeutic effectiveness of oral cannabidiol in addition to current treatment in cats with osteoarthritis

In this audio summary, Oliver Wilkinson asks, in cats with osteoarthritis, does the oral supplementation of cannabidiol (CBD) oil, compared to conventional treatment alone, improve treatment outcomes of reducing pain and improving locomotion? Read the full Knowledge Summary here.
Audio Summaries are a free resource that enable vets and vet nurses to more quickly and more easily access and digest relevant and up-to-date evidence! A time-saving way to make better and faster evidence-based decisions.

Audio Summary: Recurrence rates in dogs with GDV treated with gastric decompression versus dogs treated with gastric decompression and gastropexy

In this audio summary, Costel Zagan asks, in dogs diagnosed with gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV), does gastric decompression and gastropexy reduce the risk of recurrence of dilatation compared to dogs undergoing gastric decompression alone? Read the full Knowledge Summary here.
Audio Summaries are a free resource that enable vets and vet nurses to more quickly and more easily access and digest relevant and up-to-date evidence! A time-saving way to make better and faster evidence-based decisions.

Audio Summary: Does early gonadectomy increase the risk of cranial cruciate ligament disease in female dogs?

In this audio summary, Daniel Low asks, in bitches, does gonadectomy before 1 year of age, compared to gonadectomy at 1 year of age or older, increase the risk of cranial cruciate ligament disease during their life? Read the full Knowledge Summary here.
Audio Summaries are a free resource that enable vets and vet nurses to more quickly and more easily access and digest relevant and up-to-date evidence! A time-saving way to make better and faster evidence-based decisions.

Audio Summary: Clinical audit of nonoperative anaesthesia time and surgical site infections of canine tibial plateau osteotomy procedures

In this audio summary, Amy Mann shares the findings of a clinical audit conducted alongside Ciara Barr, which investigated how to reduce nonoperative anaesthesia time for canine tibial plateau osteotomy (TPLO) procedures. Read the full Clinical Audit here.
Audio Summaries are a free resource that enable vets and vet nurses to more quickly and more easily access and digest relevant and up-to-date evidence! A time-saving way to make better and faster evidence-based decisions.

Celebrating clinical audit: Why Clinical Audit Awareness Week matters

In this insightful podcast Julie Gibson, Quality Improvement Clinical Lead at RCVS Knowledge, and Pam Mosedale, Chair of the RCVS Knowledge Quality Improvement Advisory Board, discuss the importance of clinical audit and celebrate Clinical Audit Awareness Week 2025.
They discuss the benefits of clinical audits in veterinary practice, emphasising their role in improving patient outcomes, enhancing team collaboration, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Pam and Julie share practical advice and success stories, providing you with valuable insights and resources that will help veterinary teams effectively implement and sustain clinical audits.
Read the transcript
Discover clinical audit tools and resources

Audio Summary: Do opioids provide adequate analgesia for surgical coeliotomy in teleost fish?

In this audio summary, Shannen Schultz asks, for teleost fish undergoing surgical coeliotomy, do intramuscular exogenous opioids reduce perioperative pain, compared with no analgesia? Read the full Knowledge Summary here.
Audio Summaries are a free resource that enable vets and vet nurses to more quickly and more easily access and digest relevant and up-to-date evidence! A time-saving way to make better and faster evidence-based decisions.

Audio Summary: In sheep undergoing general anaesthesia does inclusion of medetomidine result in hypoxaemia?

In this audio summary, Rachael Gregson asks, in healthy adult female non-pregnant sheep undergoing general anaesthesia for research studies, does the inclusion of intravenous medetomidine as part of the anaesthetic protocol cause hypoxaemia? Read the full Knowledge Summary here.
Audio Summaries are a free resource that enable vets and vet nurses to more quickly and more easily access and digest relevant and up-to-date evidence! A time-saving way to make better and faster evidence-based decisions.