Vet Voices On Air

The IHA Debate: Health, Hype and Hard Questions 28.06.2026 1t 17min

The launch of the Innate Health Assessment (IHA) has sparked a passionate debate in the dog world.*Special Extended Episode* Supporters see it as a practical, simple tool to help improve canine welfare by addressing extreme conformation. Critics have raised concerns about fairness, scientific validity, breed identity, and fears that it could ultimately threaten certain breeds.To separate fact from fiction, Veterinary Voices UK sat down with Professor Dan O'Neill, veterinary epidemiologist at the Royal Veterinary College and one of the architects of the IHA, alongside Marisa Heath, Director of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW) and a long-standing animal welfare advocate.Veterinary Voices UK opened up the discussion to everyone to pose their questions and concerns, and the discussion explored the most common questions raised by breeders, owners, veterinary professionals and the wider dog community.

Building Confidence in Ultrasound with FOVU 14.06.2026 30min

In this episode, Robyn is joined by Dr Camilla Edwards from First Opinion Veterinary Ultrasound (FOVU) for a really practical, honest conversation about making ultrasound less scary and more useful in everyday practice. If your machine is gathering dust, only comes out for the odd pyometra, or you feel that familiar imposter syndrome every time you pick up the probe – this one’s for you.

Home-Prepared Feeding: Nutritional Gaps, Diet Drift, and How to Do It Safely 31.05.2026 46min

In the latest Vet Voices on Air, Robyn is joined by Dr. Marie Francesca Menniti, MRCVS (residency-trained clinical nutritionist) to unpack a hot topic in pet feeding: home-prepared diets.

Burnout, Moral Injury & Compassion Fatigue – When Caring Starts to Hurt 17.05.2026 46min

Veterinary work is rewarding but also challenging. This resource explores three key psychosocial factors—burnout, moral injury, and compassion fatigue—that may impact the wellbeing of veterinary professionals. Sudden crises, ongoing stress, trauma, and ethical dilemmas can all contribute. While many other issues affect wellbeing, this guide focuses on these three. It applies to all veterinary team members, offering insights into recognizing, preventing, and responding to these challenges in the workplace

Having A Heart To Heart Chat — Cardiology and Confidence with Dr. Laurent Locquet 03.05.2026 45min

This week on Vet Voices on Air, Robyn chats with Dr. Laurent, a European & RCVS-recognised Specialist in Veterinary Cardiology and certified perfusionist, about how general practitioners can feel more confident diagnosing, managing, and referring cardiac cases.

Too Hot to Handle: The Truth About Heatstroke 19.04.2026 41min

Heatstroke is one of the most lethal yet most misunderstood emergencies in veterinary medicine—and it doesn’t only happen on scorching summer days.In this in-depth episode Robyn from Vet Voices on Air is joined by two leading voices in the field: Dr Emily Hall, primary care vet, educator, and researcher whose PhD focused on the epidemiology of heatstroke in UK dogs, and Emily Cockerill, referral RVN and Lowland Rescue search dog volunteer with extensive real-world experience managing dogs working in extreme conditions.Together, they unpack what heatstroke actually is, why it’s so dangerous, and why time and temperature matter more than almost anything else. Using clear, evidence-based explanations, they explore what happens inside the body when temperatures rise—how proteins “cook,” organs fail, and why once a critical threshold is crossed, the damage is irreversible.

Beyond the Rosettes: the real conversation about breed health after Crufts 2026 05.04.2026 51min

In this powerful and much-needed episode of Vet Voices on Air, we dive into one of the most emotionally charged and complex conversations in the dog world right now: breed health, extreme conformation, judging decisions, health testing, genetic diversity, and what meaningful change really looks like after Crufts 2026.

The Pet Dental Debate: Prevention, Groomers & Anaesthesia-Free Cleaning 22.03.2026 38min

Pet dental health is one of the most overlooked areas of animal care, and in this episode of Vet Voices On Air with Robyn, we tackle a topic that is becoming more common, more visible, and often more confusing for owners: anaesthesia-free dental procedures.Joining us for this important discussion are Alix, an ECVS and RCVS-recognised veterinary dental specialist, and Cat, a registered veterinary nurse and full-time groomer. Together, we explore what periodontal disease really is, why it is so common in dogs and cats, and where the line lies between helpful home maintenance and treatment that truly requires veterinary intervention.

The Pain in Your Practice You Can’t See: Endometriosis in a Female Dominated Workforce 08.03.2026 35min

Vet Voices On Air episode for Endometriosis Awareness Month – March 2026The 2021 RCVS report shows that the UK veterinary profession is overwhelmingly female:57% of all registered veterinary surgeons are female96.8% of veterinary nurses are femaleNearly 80% of veterinary degree students are femaleNow put that next to the Endometriosis UK statistic that 1 in 10 females are affected by endometriosis.That means in every practice, in every lecture theatre, in every on-call rota… someone is likely living with a chronic, often invisible disease – whether they feel safe enough to say it out loud or not.

Are We Evolving As Quickly as Our Clients? 22.02.2026 40min

The episode challenges the profession to rethink how it communicates, so that in a world of instant information, veterinary professionals remain the trusted guide – not the last resort after a Google spiral.

‘The Elbow Episode’ With Ben Walton 08.02.2026 52min

From IOHC to HIF: understanding elbow fissures, fracture risk, and evidence-based treatment decisions in at-risk dogs.

Inside the Cross-Border Pet Trade: Illegal Imports, Cropped Ears, Declawed Cats and the Future of Ethical Breeding 25.01.2026 46min

In this Vet Voices on Air episode, Robyn Lowe hosts a powerhouse panel to unpack the brand new Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025 – the law many are calling the Puppy Smuggling Act, but which reaches far beyond puppies alone.Featuring:Dr Danny Chambers – Vet & MP, who brought the Bill through ParliamentDr Sean McCormack – Vet, conservationist & presenter (ear cropping and welfare campaigner)Dr Alison Skipper – Vet & Veterinary and Research Advisor, Royal Kennel ClubCat the Vet – Vet, educator, welfare advocate & media commentator

From colics to the Commons: when your out-of-hours vet becomes your MP 11.01.2026 47min

Ever wondered what actually happens when a horse vet swaps night shifts and colic calls for Parliament and policy.In this episode of Vet Voices On Air, Robyn speaks to her friend Danny Chambers – founder of Veterinary Voices UK, equine vet and now MP (since July 2024) – about life on the green benches and what it really means to have “a vet in the room” in Westminster.

Season 2 Finale: Vet Voices on Air – We Survived 2025 (Somehow) 21.12.2025 26min

Listen to the finale episode of Vet Voices on Air for the full mix of chaos, laughter, penguins, snails, politics, hiking storms, and heartfelt community chat – available where you usually find us.Wishing you a Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays / peaceful festive on-call rotaMay the on-call gods be gentle, the chocolate be out of reach of dogs, and your 2026 be full of more glimmers than grumbles.See you in January for SEASON 3!

Decision Points: The Wildlife Rehab Paradox with Paul Reynolds 23.11.2025 53min

In this episode, Paul and Robyn explore how public expectations, rehabilitation centre realities, and veterinary clinical decision-making can sometimes pull in different directions. From questions around treatment thresholds and release suitability, to the emotional weight of euthanasia decisions, we unpack why different groups may see the same situation differently — and why that’s okay (but also requires some understanding and respect, as wildlife facilities and veterinary professionals often face substantial abuse for their decisions around wildlife care) What we cover:Why members of the public often see saving an animal as the only ethical outcomeHow rehabbers balance compassion, resources, legislation and welfareThe veterinarian’s responsibility to consider suffering, prognosis and humane limitsThe importance of understanding biosecurity, facility standards and the wider ecosystemAnd most importantly… how we can communicate with more empathy, transparency and shared understandingThis episode isn’t about who’s “right” — it’s about bridging gaps, improving collaboration and building a clearer shared knowledge of why different decisions are made. When we understand each other better, wildlife welfare always wins.

When “Cute” Hurts: Rethinking Innate Health 09.11.2025 49min

This week on Vet Voices On Air, Robyn talks with Professor Dan O’Neill (Royal Veterinary College, VetCompass) about a powerful new way of thinking: innate health.Rather than asking “Does my dog have a disease?”, innate health asks:👉 “Can my dog actually live the full life a dog should — breathe easily, run, blink, sleep, wag, communicate and enjoy life without pain or struggle?”Dan explains how extreme conformations — like very flat faces, bulging eyes, deep skin folds, twisted legs or missing tails — can limit those basic abilities, even before disease appears.He also shares data from VetCompass, showing how some breeds with extreme features have shorter average lifespans. And together, we explore why public education alone hasn’t shifted buying habits, how “cute” can cloud our judgement, and how we can move toward healthier, more functional dogs without losing breed identity.What we discuss:✅What “innate health” means and why it changes the conversation✅Evidence on lifespan and welfare from thousands of dogs✅The difference between healthy variety and harmful extremes✅How owners, vets and breeders can all play a role in change✅Why compassion and reflection work better than blameOur goal? To make “healthy the new cute.”

The revamped Rabbit Friendly Practice Scheme 03.11.2025 19min

Bonus episode: The revamped Rabbit Friendly Practice Scheme — and how to get featured where owners look firstOn Vet Voices on Air, Robyn chats with John Chitty (Advisor, Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund) about the biggest overhaul of the Rabbit Friendly Practice Scheme since it began — plus how practices can appear in the Trusted Rabbit Friendly Vet Directory that rabbit owners actively use to find care.

"Just a Flesh Wound" and "'Tis But a Scratch" — Why Workplace Injuries Deserve More Attention 26.10.2025 47min

Join us for a hard-hitting episode with Dr John Tulloch, Lecturer in Veterinary Public Health and RCVS Specialist, as we unpack a critical but often overlooked topic: workplace injury in the veterinary profession.We’ll cover:How the profession defines a workplace injury and the legal/occupational framework behind it Patterns and risks of injury in equine and farm veterinarians, based on recent field researchCommon hazards and incidents in veterinary teaching hospitals and clinics, from sharps injuries to animal handling accidentsPractical steps clinics and individual veterinarians can take to reduce risk and foster safer working environmentsIf you’ve ever wondered what “occupational health” really means for veterinary workers, or if you're concerned about safety in your workplace, this episode is for you.

Nutrition Case Files with Charley Gray 12.10.2025 47min

Nutrition Case Files with Charley GrayGP vet Charley Gray joins Robyn to share powerful real-life cases where asking “What does your pet eat?” unlocked the diagnosis. From skin disease to seizures, we explore how curiosity, open dialogue, and non-judgmental nutrition discussions can transform outcomes in practice

Rethinking Career Progression in Veterinary Medicine: A Conversation with Jamie McClement 28.09.2025 49min

In veterinary medicine, it's easy to place immense pressure on ourselves to succeed. We often feel we must juggle everything—clinical work, home life, exams, further education, side projects, and more. But this constant balancing act can lead to stress, dissatisfaction, and feelings of inadequacy. Imposter syndrome becomes a quiet companion. But does it have to be this way?In this conversation, Jamie McClement BVSc MSc CertSAS FRSB FRCVS shares his journey from general practice to referral vetting. Initially, Jamie was determined to keep a hand in every area of veterinary work. But over time, he came to realise that trying to do it all wasn’t sustainable—or beneficial. Instead, he discovered that narrowing his focus wasn’t a failure, but a way to deliver better care and make the most of his skills.Reflecting on this transition, Jamie explains:“Because if you try to do everything, especially things that you're not massively good at, it just gets really, quite, quite stressful, and you don't really enjoy it so much.”In typical Jamie fashion, even moments of serious insight come with a touch of humour. He recalls a conversation that unexpectedly shaped his thinking:“One of my uncles actually was speaking about this with me. He just said something so dull—he said that what he does is, he has like a five-year plan. Every five years he sits down with his wife and works out what they want to do, what their goals are. And I thought, that is just the most boring thing I've ever heard.And then I realised—I was drifting. He’d had a really successful career. And actually, it turned out to be one of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received. It gives you focus. It makes you stop and ask, ‘What do I actually want to do?’”We also explore how critical interpretation of clinical literature is a skill that many in the profession don’t develop until much later in their careers—something that could be introduced and nurtured much earlier.Another key topic we discuss is the evolution of the veterinary nursing profession. Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs) are attaining advanced qualifications and training, yet many report that their workplaces aren't adapting fast enough to fully utilise their skills. This lack of opportunity can lead to deep frustration and career stagnation.They reflect on the missed potential; There’s a real sense of disillusionment among RVNs who’ve undertaken higher education, only to return to roles where nothing has changed. It’s demoralising to invest so much in your development, only to find your scope hasn’t expanded.This conversation is a timely reminder: Progression doesn’t always mean doing more. Sometimes, it means doing less—but doing it better. And importantly, it means creating space for others in the profession to grow, thrive, and feel valued.