RCVS Knowledge - Evidence-based Veterinary Medicine

Audio Summary: In dogs with atopic skin disease, is lokivetmab more effective than oclacitinib in reducing the score of a recognised scoring system?

In this Audio Summary, Bonnie looks at whether lokivetmab is more effective than oclacitinib in reducing the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Lesion Index score (or some other recognised scoring system), in dogs with atopic skin disease. 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.

Research Focus: Comparison of growth in neutered Domestic Shorthair kittens with growth in sexually-intact Cats

Sally Everitt speaks with Alex German, Professor of Small Animal Medicine at the University of Liverpool about the implications of his research into weight gain after neutering reported in the research paper entitled 'Comparison of growth in neutered Domestic Shorthair kittens with growth in sexually-intact Cats'.
Read the paper
Read the podcast transcript
Read our inFOCUS Spotlight summary on the benefits and risks of neutering pets – what is the evidence
WALTHAM™ Kitten Growth Charts | WALTHAM
Puppy Growth Charts | WALTHAM Petcare Science Institute

Audio Summary: Heatstroke and brachycephalic dogs – is there an increased risk?

In this Audio Summary, Anna looks at whether dogs that are brachycephalic have an increased risk for developing heat-related illness compared to dogs that are not brachycephalics. Read the full Knowledge Summary here.
Audio Summaries are a free resource that enables vets and vet nurses to access and digest relevant and up-to-date evidence quicker and easier. A time-saving way to make better and faster evidence-based decisions.

Audio Summary: Comparing clinical outcomes of dogs suffering from degenerative lumbosacral stenosis upon surgical or nonsurgical treatment

In this Audio Summary, Kristy looks at whether surgical treatment is more effective than nonsurgical therapy in reducing lumbosacral pain and neurological dysfunction in dogs suffering from degenerative lumbosacral stenosis (DLSS). Read the full Knowledge Summary here.
Audio Summaries are a free resource that enables vets and vet nurses to access and digest relevant and up-to-date evidence quicker and easier. A time-saving way to make better and faster evidence-based decisions.

Knowledge Natter with David Charles

In this Knowledge Natter, Lou Northway speaks with David Charles, who was named a Knowledge Champion in the 2023 RCVS Knowledge Awards.
David conducted an audit across multiple UK practices to gather data on ovine lambings and caesareans, and implemented training and recommendations related to the use of analgesia, antibiotics, and adjunctive medications. The practices saw a reduction in prophylactic antibiotic use and an improvement in the provision of analgesia.
Read David's award-winning case example
Read the podcast transcript
View David's published work

Knowledge Natter with Leanne McLeod

In this Knowledge Natter, Lou Northway speaks Leanne McLeod from Earlswood Veterinary Hospital, who was named a Knowledge Champion in the 2023 RCVS Knowledge Awards. Leanne introduced a hypothermia audit that focused on pre-warming patients before general anaesthesia. By implementing new warming protocols, her team reduced the incidence of hypothermia from 100% to 16%.
Read the podcast transcript
Read Leanne's case example
The 2024 RCVS Knowledge Awards are open for applications now, learn more at rcvsknowledge.org/knowledgeawards

VetTeamAMR for companion animal teams

Pam Mosedale speaks to VetTeamAMR Clinical Leads Angie Rayner and David Singleton about how the new initiative will provide companion animal veterinary teams with knowledge, resources and tools to make positive changes in their antimicrobial prescribing.
VetTeamAMR for companion animal teams will launch at a free event on Tuesday 20 June. Sign up here: rcvsknowledge.org/VetTeamAMRcompanion
Read more about VetTeamAMR
Listen to the podcast transcript

Canine Cruciate Registry and the Minimally Clinical Important Difference

In this podcast, Quality Improvement Clinical Lead Pam Mosedale talks to John Innes, honorary professor at Liverpool University, about new research that used data from RCVS Knowledge’s Canine Cruciate Registry (CCR) to determine its findings. The research provides estimates on the minimal clinically-important differences (MCIDs) for the two validated outcomes measures that are used by the CCR.
Read the transcript

VetTeamAMR for equine vets

Pam Mosedale speaks to VetTeamAMR Equine Clinical Lead Tim Mair about how the new initiative will provide equine veterinary teams with knowledge, resources and tools to make positive changes in their antimicrobial prescribing.
Read more about VetTeamAMR
Listen to the podcast transcript

Research Focus: Panleukopenia outbreak in cats

Sally Everitt speaks with Barbara Glanemann and Karen Humm from the Royal Veterinary College about their involvement in the research into the clinical features and causes of the outbreak of cases of pancytopenia in cats that occurred in the UK in Spring 2021.
Read the transcript 
Read the paper