Ep 140: Mentorship and NAVC plans, with Jon Townsend

In this Vet Times Extra podcast, supported by Animal Friends Pet Insurance, Paul Manktelow, veterinary services director at Blue Cross, discusses the vital role of long-term supporters, equine welfare, and strategies for navigating and relieving the impacts of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis across the veterinary sector. The podcast episode highlights the multi-year support provided by Animal Friends Pet Insurance. The pet insurance provider, founded in 1998 to support animal welfare, has donated more than £10 million to help support more than 830 animal welfare charities in the last 28 years*. The episode also explores how funding helps to empower charities to deliver essential services for UK pet owners, expand volunteer networks, and relieve pressure on veterinary teams. At the core of the discussion is the critical need for accessible veterinary care. Paul explains how Blue Cross supports vets through initiatives like the Veterinary Care Fund, which now engages approximately 1,500 practices across 92% of the UK to help owners who cannot afford immediate treatment. He also addresses the introduction of discounted fees at Blue Cross hospitals to ensure long-term service sustainability, alongside the expanded role of the Pet Loss Support line in assisting owners through pet relinquishment, loss and financial strain. For more details on the charity’s work and services, visit: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/ Paul Manktello has worked in the veterinary sector for 25 years, predominantly within the charity field alongside ongoing engagement in private practice. Having previously worked with the PDSA, he now serves as veterinary services director at Blue Cross. In his role, Paul oversees hospital operations and strategic planning to address evolving societal and industry challenges – notably driving initiatives around contextualised care, affordable treatment models, and equine rehoming expansion. *The charitable work undertaken by Animal Friends Insurance is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Podcast music: “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

As the leading global charity dedicated to feline welfare, iCatCare provides trusted, evidence-based support for veterinary professionals and cat owners. Vetoquinol UK, an animal health pharmaceutical company, shares iCatCare's commitment to improving cat health and welfare through education and engagement. Together, iCatCare and Vetoquinol UK will support feline health initiatives, promote best practice in cat care, and raise awareness of cats' unique needs among veterinary teams and owners. SPONSORED: Podcast funded by Vetoquinol UK (Felpreva). Information on iCatCare education and CPD courses: Global cat charity iCatCare runs courses including those to help us understand cats – listed on https://icatcare.org/courses. The Cat Friendly Veterinary Professional https://icatcare.org/courses/cat-friendly-veterinary-professional and Cat Friendly Veterinary Receptionist https://icatcare.org/courses/cat-friendly-veterinary-receptionist on-demand courses are particularly useful for vet teams to help them think ‘CAT’ and reduce stress for feline patients and caregivers. General information • Information highlighting different feline needs: https://icatcare.org/articles/the-different-needs-of-different-cats • Information on the 'Five Pillars' of a healthy feline environment from iCatCare & FelVMA: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1098612X13477537 • iCatCare info on Cat friendly handling & cat friendly interactions (CFI): https://icatcare.org/articles/handling-and-interactions • iCatCare & FelVMA 2022 Cat Friendly Vet Interaction Guidelines: Approach & Handling Techniques: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1098612X221128760 iCatCare & FelVMA 2022 Cat Friendly Vet Environment Guidelines: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1098612X221128763 • Feline Grimace Scale for pain recognition is validated for non-vet professionals to use too (acute pain): https://www.felinegrimacescale.com/ • iCatCare carer guide on acute pain: https://icatcare.org/resources/cat-carer-guide-acute-pain.pdf • Chronic pain may be more challenging, but for osteoarthritis caregivers can fill out mobility checklist: https://icatcare.org/resources/cat-friendly-clinic/cat-friendly-clinic-mobility-checklist.pdf • Signs of pain for caregivers iCatCare infographic: https://icatcare.org/articles/physical-health • iCatCare information on kittens e.g. https://icatcare.org/articles/helping-your-new-cat-or-kitten-settle-in and taking your cat to the vet https://icatcare.org/articles/taking-your-cat-to-the-vet? • iCatCare information on giving cats medications: https://icatcare.org/articles/how-to-give-a-cat-medication • iCatCare information on Cat Friendly Clinics (CFC): https://icatcare.org/cat-friendly-clinic/becoming-a-cat-friendly-clinic About the speaker Séverine Tasker is an RCVS recognised specialist in feline medicine and EBVS European veterinary specialist in small animal internal medicine. After graduation from the University of Bristol veterinary school, Séverine spent time in practice before taking an iCatCare residency in feline medicine at Edinburgh’s vet school. She then returned to Bristol and completed a PhD in feline haemoplasmosis before undertaking an academic career, becoming professor in feline medicine in 2016. In 2018, she became a medical leader for a group of veterinary clinics in the UK and Ireland, developing a medical strategy incorporating quality improvement, education and clinical research. In 2025 she joined the charity iCatCare where she is global veterinary advisor, helping to advance feline veterinary science internationally. Podcast music: “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This episode is brought to you by Vets Now ECC Congress 2026. Taking place 5 and 6 November at Leeds Royal Armouries, it features more than 30 world-class speakers and up to 80 hours of CPD across seven dynamic streams. Whether you're looking to level up your emergency skills, explore practical clinical workshops or connect with peers, head over to vets-now.com/congress-2026 to book your ticket today. In this podcast, we speak to one of the international speakers, Marlaina Hrosch, about the sessions she will be presenting across the two days. Marlaina Hrosch became an RVT in 2014 and earned her VTS (ECC) in 2020. She works for VEG ER for Pets as the director of field nursing programmes to provide impactful training opportunities for veterinary nurses and assistants across hospitals. She is currently the treasurer for the Academy of Emergency and Critical Care Technicians and Nurses and lectures nationally and internationally on ECC topics including triage, toxicology and commonly seen emergencies. Marlaina is passionate about inspiring veterinary nurses and technicians to stay curious, keep learning, and share their knowledge with their team to elevate patient care. SPONSORED This podcast is sponsored by Vets Now. Podcast music: “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The first clinical trials for veterinary application of low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) are getting underway in the United States to generate clinical evidence on its potential as a non-invasive for chronic pain management. Texas-based veterinarian Mandy Moody, director of clinical research at Pelara and SecureDX, which have partnered to launch the trials, joins Chris Simpson to explain the science behind LIFU and where she hopes it might fit into the future of veterinary medicine. Podcast music: “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this Vet Times Extra podcast, in association with Arwain DGC, Amelia Sidwell and Hannah Jarman discuss the valuable work of Arwain DGC, a Welsh government-funded programme that brings together veterinary professionals, farmers, researchers and industry partners to tackle antimicrobial resistance in livestock and the environment. The programme promotes responsible antimicrobial stewardship through training, research, data collection, technology adoption and knowledge exchange across Wales. At the heart of the programme is the Veterinary Prescribing Champions, or VPC, network. This network, which now covers 90% of the country, consists of veterinary surgeons from livestock practices across Wales who act as leaders and advocates for responsible antimicrobial use within their practices and farming communities. VPCs receive ongoing training and participate in workshops, discussion groups and peer learning activities, working collaboratively to maintain high prescribing standards and encourage evidence-based decision-making. For more details, visit the website: https://mentera.cymru/arwaindgc/ Amelia Sidwell grew up on a dairy farm in Derbyshire, where her interest in antimicrobial use (AMU) and stewardship first developed. She graduated cum laude from the University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest in 2016, and began her career in mixed practice, later focused on equine dentistry and maxillofacial surgery. She completed specialist training in this field through an EVDC residency. During this time, she led antimicrobial stewardship initiatives, published on AMU in equine dentistry, and presented internationally on the subject. Following the defence of her Master’s thesis on pain behaviour in equids, she now works as veterinary development manager for Arwain DGC, where she is conducting research to support AMU decision-making in farm animal practice. She continues to undertake clinical work in both small animal emergency and critical care and the equine sector alongside her role. Hannah Jarman is a director and veterinary prescribing champion (VPC) at Prostock Vets, leading the practice's antimicrobial stewardship work. Passionate about responsible medicine use, she runs farmer education programmes, leads flock health discussions, and has secured funding for innovative technologies that support targeted treatments and reduce antibiotic use. Known for her energy and enthusiasm, Hannah is committed to preventive herd and flock health, mentoring the next generation of vets, and driving practical solutions that improve animal health, farm productivity and antimicrobial stewardship. Podcast music: “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Earlier this year, a landmark study [https://www.vettimes.com/news/vet-nursing/small-animal/study-offers-dramatic-increase-in-knowledge-of-canine-microbiome] offered a “dramatic increase” in our understanding of the canine microbiome. One of its authors, Phil Watson, senior research manager at Waltham Petcare Science Institute, sat down with Chris Simpson to discuss the study’s findings and how they might be used to help vets tailor treatments to animals’ individual gut microbiomes in the future. Podcast music: “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Ten years on from the introduction of compulsory dog microchipping in the UK – how much has really changed for pets, vets, charities and owners? As one of the UK’s leading pet microchip providers, Identichip brings together leading veterinarian Steve Leonard and Fiona Cooke, associate director of policy and impact at Woodgreen Pets Charity, for this Vet Times podcast. Together, they explore the impact of the legislation, ongoing challenges, registration compliance, success stories from practice and charity work and the importance of keeping details up to date. SPONSORED This Vet Times Extra podcast is sponsored by Identicare – the suppliers of Identichip microchips and the Defra-compliant pet database Identibase. Identicare supports vets and animal charities with high-quality microchips, scanners and a dedicated team to help with the full pet protection journey, from implantation and registration to keeping owner details up-to-date. For microchipping support and resources, contact Identichip or visit https://identichip.co.uk/ Steve Leonard qualified from the University of Bristol in 1996. His final year at university was filmed by the BBC for a documentary called “Vet School”. He went on to make many wildlife and veterinary documentaries taking him all over the globe and working alongside some of the planet’s most iconic species. Steve has remained a passionate small animal vet and passed his BSAVA Certificate in Small Animal Medicine with distinction in 2017. He is the co-founder of Phoenix Vet Practice, a new independent practice in Nantwich, Cheshire that opened in May 2026. Fiona Cooke is associate director of policy and impact at Woodgreen Pets Charity, where she leads the campaigns, policy, research and insights teams. With a background in animal welfare law and policy, she works on issues including pet identification, responsible ownership, and improving outcomes for pets and their owners. Fiona is also a registered clinical animal behaviourist, bringing practical and scientific expertise to her role. She’s passionate about animal welfare and keeping pets and people together and has published widely on animal welfare and issues affecting pet owners.

Amid falling Royal Kennel Club registrations of key brachycephalic dog breeds, RVC academics Dan O’Neill and Rowena Packer join Chris Simpson to discuss the efforts of the UK’s Brachycephalic Working Group. Prof O’Neill and Dr Packer provide updates on their latest research, the launch of the Innate Health Assessment tool [https://www.innatehealthassessment.org/] and discuss the role vets have to play in bringing an end to animals with extreme conformation. Podcast music: “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Chris Simpson sits down with new president of the North American Veterinary Community’s (NAVC) board of directors, Jon Townsend, to discuss his plans to expand mentorship opportunities across the profession during his presidential year. Dr Townsend also discusses the latest updates on the outbreaks of avian influenza in dairy herds across the United States and offers his take on veterinary telemedicine. Podcast music: “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

A month on from the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) publication of its final remedies for the UK pet sector, vet leaders gathered at the Crowne Plaza Hotel for VMG Congress. VMG president Rebecca Robinson joined Chris Simpson to discuss the feeling among delegates about the measures and give her own thoughts on the CMA process. Podcast music: “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/