Professional

The legal, ethical and welfare implications of feeding vegan diets to dogs and cats

‘A philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.’ .

Legal implications of euthanasia without owner consent

While working in veterinary practice, VSs and RVNs see patients and clients who bring legal and ethical challenges. In this fictional scenario, the euthanasia of a cat with chronic kidney disease may...

Moral distress, compassion fatigue and burn-out in veterinary practice

Veterinary professionals who neglect their physical, emotional and physiological needs often find themselves suffering with burn-out, compassion fatigue and moral distress; it has been estimated that...

Strategies for managing conflict within a team

Conflict amongst healthcare professionals has been recognised as a significant issue both in the UK within the NHS and globally (McKibben, 2017; ACT Academy 2018; Labrague et al, 2018). Patton (2014)...

Ethical dilemmas surrounding 24-hour nursing provision for patients in veterinary practice

Shea (2014) discussed how cats and dogs have become part of the family in recent years and although still classed as a person's property, pets are increasingly gaining their own rights in law, for...

Motivating and engaging others: driving practice change

Change is concerned with altering the way we do things or the way we behave. Girotti (2011) suggested that some change is only a matter of perception, while other change can have a dramatic and...

Euthanasia of aggressive dogs: ethical considerations

Utilitarianism and deontology are two classical theories which have been used to guide ethical decision making (Crowley, 2006). The former relates to achieving the greatest happiness for the greatest...

Microchipping: how legislation will impact your practice

‘Failure to comply with compulsory microchipping could result in a fine of £500 for the dog owner.’

International differences in the journey toward compulsory veterinary nurse registration

To understand the currently legal status of veterinary nurses internationally and the progress made, or being made toward registration, it is necessary to understand the status of veterinary nurses in...

Developing a social media profile for a veterinary practice

Before developing a presence in social media it is useful to establish a plan to ensure consistency and the best outcome. The practice should be looking to outline ways of building and growing a loyal...

Why social media should be part of every practice's toolkit

Social media is a term that most of people are familiar with and often the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of social media is Facebook, and rightly so for Facebook has vastly more users...

Social networking — professional platform or professional pitfall?

When used appropriately, social network sites do provide valuable opportunities to share information and can contain useful educational resources. Regardless of age, gender, religion or profession, a...