CPD

Exotic considerations of stress and pain

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 15:26:05 GMT

Exotic pets are becoming more popular and, as a result, are increasingly seen in veterinary practice. However, many professionals still feel unsure about how to care for them appropriately. These species display a wide range of behaviours that can often be misunderstood, particularly in a hospital setting. This webinar provides an overview of commonly encountered small mammals, birds, and reptiles, exploring how they behave when healthy, unwell, critically ill, and stressed. Understanding these behavioural differences will support more accurate interpretation, better clinical decision-making, and more timely, appropriate patient care.

Why do this course?
Delegates will develop the ability to recognise normal behaviours in small mammal, bird, or reptile animals to better interpret when they are unwell and unable to mask any longer.

The course will strengthen understanding of how exotic species express conteness, stress and illness, improving confidence in assessing these patients in practice. By enhancing interpretation of behaviour and clinical presentation, delegates will be better equipped to deliver timely, appropriate care and meet the more intensive nursing and management needs that exotic patients often require.

Our extensive library of recorded webinars are great value for busy practitioners seeking quality CPD at a time of their choice and without leaving home. Participants gain access to the webinar for two weeks which allows them to view it at their leisure and convenience as well as review aspects as needed to enhance learning. Participants will receive an electronic copy of the slides to support their viewing session and a CPD certificate.

Members of the BVA Young Vets Network receive a 50% discount on our recorded webinars (subject to availability – ten discounted places available per webinar per year).

Recorded Equine lecture series 2026: My horse needs joint injections - It’s not always steroids ...

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 13:59:17 GMT

This event is designed for horse owners, riders and paraprofessionals.

My horse needs joint injection - It’s not always steroids...

Join David Bolt, Senior Lecturer in Equine Surgery to discuss the newest developments in managing lameness cases

What drugs can be injected and what do they do?
Explore non-biologic and biologic options including alpha 2 macroglobulin, Prostride-TM and stem cells

Lectures in this series now available as recordings:

Equine lecture series 2026: Getting a clearer picture - Understanding your horse through advanced imaging

Recorded Equine lecture series 2026: Getting a clearer picture - Understanding your horse through advanced imaging

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 14:14:58 GMT

This lecture is designed for horse owners, riders and paraprofessionals.

Getting a clearer picture - Understanding your horse through advanced imaging

Join our fantastic team of imagers to learn how advanced diagnostic imaging can help us get a clearer picture of your horse's condition.

Lectures in this series now available as recordings:

Equine lecture series 2026: My horse needs joint injections - it's not always steroids...

Recorded Equine lecture series 2025: The equine MOT

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 16:33:19 GMT

This event is designed for horse owners, riders and paraprofessionals.

The equine MOT

Nicola Fossey (QJ-(SQP), Senior Dispensary Technician, divulges tips and tricks to keeping your horse healthy this winter and getting them ready for the year ahead.

Lectures in this series available to view as recordings:

My horse isn't quite right. When to work up and the diagnostic journey
Pre-purchase exams - What the research says and common diagnostic findings
Laminitis - Raising endocrine awareness

Wildlife triage and initial care

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 13:06:40 GMT

Do you see wildlife casualties in practice and wish you had more knowledge of these species? Would you like to feel more confident with handling, triage and decision making?

Wildlife casualties are frequently presented for emergency veterinary care, and decision making and the approach to these cases can be challenging. This series of 3 webinars aims to help clinicians build confidence in their management of wildlife cases from species identification and triage through to stabilisation and treatment of common presentations. It is suitable for both experienced and new graduate vets and nurses.

This webinar covers the approach to initial triage and first aid of the wildlife casualty, including decision making for euthanasia.

The other two webinars in the series will build on this foundation with more detailed discussion of species-specific conditions and their management.

Recorded webinar: Managing the avian wildlife casualty
Recorded webinar: Managing the mammalian wildlife casualty

Why do this course?
If you are seeing wildlife casualties on an occasional or regular basis and wish to build your confidence in approaching these cases. If you want to update your knowledge on the most commonly seen conditions and their treatment and prognoses, to provide optimal care for these patients.

Members of the BVA Young Vets Network receive a 50% discount on our recorded webinars (subject to availability – ten discounted places available per webinar per year).

Please note: Our anytime Recorded Webinars and Recorded Webinar Plus CPD are regularly reviewed to ensure they are still providing the most up-to-date information. Please therefore activate the webinar within 3 months of purchase as we cannot guarantee availability after this time period. Any recorded webinars that are removed from sale during the 3 month time period we will offer a free replacement.

Managing the avian wildlife casualty

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 13:06:40 GMT

Do you see wildlife casualties in practice and wish you had more knowledge of these species? Would you like to feel more confident with handling, triage and decision making?

This webinar covers an approach to the avian wildlife casualty. The most common reasons for presentation of pigeons, waterfowl, raptors and garden birds will be discussed in detail, with management techniques described. An approach to the orthopaedic case is also discussed, including external coaptation techniques and external fixator application.

This webinar is one of three in this series with:

Recorded webinar: Wildlife triage and initial care
Recorded webinar: Managing the mammalian wildlife casualty

Managing the mammalian wildlife casualty

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 13:06:40 GMT

Do you see wildlife casualties in practice and wish you had more knowledge of these species? Would you like to feel more confident with handling, triage and decision making?

This webinar covers an approach to the mammalian wildlife casualty. The most common reasons for presentation of hedgehogs, bats, foxes and badgers will be discussed in detail, with management techniques described. An approach to less commonly seen species such as seals, deer and lagomorphs is also discussed.

This webinar is one of three in this series with:

Recorded webinar: Wildlife triage and initial care
Recorded webinar: Managing the avian wildlife casualty

Recorded Webinar Series: Getting the most from your pathologist: An introduction to exotic and zoo species diagnostic investigations

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:24:21 GMT

With continued improvements in diagnostic testing capabilities for exotic species, are you up to date with which samples are needed to investigate your differentials list?

This online, lecture-based course explores disease investigations of exotic pets, zoo species and wildlife, specifically focusing on the sampling approach for commonly encountered diseases in these uncommonly encountered species. Through the use of case-based examples, the course will highlight which samples can be taken, both non-invasively and invasively, to test for specific infectious and non-infectious diseases in birds, reptiles and small mammals. Presented through the lens of a pathologist, course notes will provide delegates with information about sample collection and storage with the goal of improve diagnostic test accuracy and subsequently patient care. As every sample counts with these patients, forming a strong understanding of why you’re taking the sample is key to maximising success.

Why do this course?
This course aims to increase delegate confidence when working up exotic or zoo species cases, specifically related to sampling for diagnostic testing. By the end of this introduction, delegates are expected to have a better understanding of what constitutes appropriate samples from non-traditional species, with the goal of improving the diagnostic accuracy of the pathologist receiving these samples. Sampling exotic patients can be stressful, difficult and unrewarding, and so making sure the right samples are being taken and stored appropriately is important to increase diagnostic success.

Pre-recorded webinars available to view prior to a live Q&A with tutor on Monday 2nd November 2026 at 1:30pm London time.

Recorded Webinar Series: Getting the most from your pathologist: An introduction to exotic and zoo species diagnostic investigations

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:24:20 GMT

With continued improvements in diagnostic testing capabilities for exotic species, are you up to date with which samples are needed to investigate your differentials list?

Pre-recorded webinars available to view prior to a live Q&A with tutor on Monday 2nd November 2026 at 1:30pm London time.

Webinar: Unlocking farm animal disease investigations: The role of histopathology and other sample taking during on-farm necropsies

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 15:26:21 GMT

Are your on-farm post-mortem samples falling short? Discover how to get the most from your samples and histopathology to sharpen your diagnostics accuracy!

This webinar discusses the rationale behind sample taking during on-farm post-mortems from a practical perspective. An updated diagnostic framework for various herd/flock diseases, with a particular emphasis on the usefulness of histopathology in livestock species medicine, will be covered through real case examples in a range of farm species (ruminants, pigs and poultry).

Why do this course?
Delegates will learn up to date guidance on practices regarding sampling from on-site post-mortems to get meaningful results and support in decision making process to decided which samples to choose. Particular focus will be put on advantages and drawbacks of histopathology as a diagnostic support tool to investigate diseases in livestock and deadstock. Insights into best practice sample taking will be provided based on real case scenarios that farm or mixed practice vets will experience during their daily practice.

The webinar will run on Monday 20th July at 12:30pm London time.

A recorded version will be available to purchase approximately 4 weeks after the completion of the live webinar.

Webinar Series: Equine ophthalmology

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 14:49:11 GMT

Explore common and complex ocular conditions affecting horses, focusing on practical diagnosis, treatment options, and emerging therapies.

This new series of webinars on equine ophthalmology will give equine practitioners the most up-do-date information on a range of common ailments. The webinars will provide practical information and can be purchased individually or as a “pick and mix” option.

The webinars will run from 12:30pm to 1:30pm London time.

Monday 15th June: Eyes under scrutiny: Is this normal?
Monday 22nd June: More than just a cloudy eye: Immune-mediated keratitis in horses
Monday 29th June: Intravitreal gentamicin injection for equine recurrent uveitis: Game changer or just another option?

Discount offer:
The cost of one live webinar is £50 or £125 for all 3. The discount for booking all webinars will automatically be calculated when the webinars have been added to your shopping basket.

How to diagnose and treat common stifle problems – the cruciate and the patella

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 14:23:31 GMT

Would you like to be able to manage cruciate disease and patellar luxation without investing in expensive orthopaedic kits?

This blended course combines online learning with a full day of practical teaching, designed to give you the confidence and capability to tackle these common conditions in general practice.

Online recorded webinars: Covering the essential theory, diagnosis (including joint taps, cytology, and radiographic review), and the surgical techniques required before stepping into theatre.
Onsite practical day: Practise your surgical skills under expert guidance using plastic bones and cadaver limbs, reinforced by case-based discussions and decision-making scenarios (what to do if you are unsure, when to refer, when to operate yourself).

By the end of the course, you will not only understand the principles of cruciate and patellar surgery but also be able to apply them confidently in your own practice.

Why do this course?
This course is ideal for both those who are relatively new to surgery and experienced vets looking to refine their techniques. It offers practical and cost-effective approaches to managing two of the most common orthopaedic issues encountered in first-opinion practice. With expert guidance and ample hands-on time for each procedure, participants can build confidence in a supportive learning environment. The skills and techniques gained can be immediately applied in clinical practice.

This course consists of recorded webinars and a day of practical sessions. Please note: The online lectures are a pre-requisite for attending the onsite day (these will be available to view approximately 4 weeks prior to the practical day). These lectures allow you to learn at your own pace and can be listened to at a convenient time. This allows delegates to have more time once onsite for practical, hands-on teaching sessions. On the practical day, the tutors will be happy to answer questions relating to the online lectures, however to get through everything planned for the practical day, they will not be able to cover the content in the same level of detail as the online lectures. It is therefore imperative that all lectures are viewed in advance of attending.

How to diagnose and treat common stifle problems – the cruciate and the patella

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 14:23:30 GMT

Do you want to perform surgery for cruciate disease and patellar luxation—without needing costly orthopaedic kits?

This blended course combines online learning with a full day of practical teaching, designed to give you the confidence and capability to tackle these common conditions in general practice.

Online recorded webinars: Covering the essential theory, diagnosis (including joint taps, cytology, and radiographic review), and the surgical techniques required before stepping into theatre.
Onsite practical day: Practise your surgical skills under expert guidance using plastic bones and cadaver limbs, reinforced by case-based discussions and decision-making scenarios (what to do if you are unsure, when to refer, when to operate yourself).

By the end of the course, you will not only understand the principles of cruciate and patellar surgery but also be able to apply them confidently in your own practice.

Webinar: Eye care hacks – how to enhance compliance in small animal ophthalmic patients for nurses

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 13:37:11 GMT

Who hasn’t struggled with a tricky eye patient, a client overwhelmed by eye drops, or the question: Is this animal in pain - or even able to see?

Eye patients often present unique challenges whether due to blindness, brachycephalic anatomy, or a difficult temperament. This session offers veterinary nurses practical, hands-on tips for stress-free handling, from essential basics to evidence-based tools that improve compliance, such as “chill pills” and subpalpebral lavage systems. You’ll also gain valuable background knowledge on ophthalmic medications - like why one drop really is enough - and learn how to recognise signs of blindness and ocular pain. All of this is not only useful in practice but also enhances your ability to educate and support pet owners effectively.

Why do this course?
Ophthalmic patients can be some of the most frustrating to treat, whether it’s a squirmy dog, a cat that refuses eye drops, or a worried owner unsure if their pet can see or cope with a plastic collar. This course gives veterinary nurses the confidence, tools, and practical know-how to manage even the most challenging eye cases calmly and effectively. You’ll leave with real-world skills you can apply on your very next shift.

The webinar will run on Monday 8th June at 12:30pm London time.

Recorded Webinar Series: Euthanasia and bereavement

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 12:13:52 GMT

Do you sometimes find it difficult to make sense of your clients’ reactions to euthanasia, grief, or loss? Are you unsure how best to support them, while also looking after yourself and your team?

Those working in veterinary practice encounter death and loss on a regular basis, often without formal training in how to recognise and respond to the wide range of emotions that arise. The way we communicate – what we say, what we don’t say, and how we say it – can profoundly shape client experiences and also influence our own wellbeing.

Why do this course?
This course helps participants deepen their understanding of the impact of companion-animal loss on clients, colleagues, and themselves. It also equips veterinary professionals with practical skills for empathetic communication, for recognising and responding to caregiver burden, and for developing practice processes that support both client care and team resilience.

The webinars for this course will be pre-recorded and available to view a month before the live Q&A. The live Q&A session with the tutor will run on Wednesday 22nd April at 1:30pm London time and is an opportunity for you to ask your questions and share your experiences.

POCUS in practice: Ultrasound skills for veterinary nurses

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 13:25:31 GMT

POCUS is becoming an essential part of patient care – are you ready to use it effectively in practice? Do you want to feel confident placing ultrasound-guided IV catheters? Do you want to learn practical skills you can apply the very next day in practice?

This course is designed specifically for veterinary nurses who want to gain confidence in using ultrasound in everyday practice. The focus will be on practical skills that can be directly applied to patient care, from emergency stabilisation to routine monitoring.

Delegates will first complete approximately 2 hours of pre-recorded video learning, covering the basics of ultrasound physics and machine settings plus demonstrations of what you will learn on the day. The in-person session will then focus on 3–4 hours of hands-on practical training in small groups.

Practical stations will include:

Basic abdominal and thoracic point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS)
Ultrasound-guided vascular access
Bladder scanning and assessment

Why do this course?
By the end of the course, delegates will have the confidence to use ultrasound as a nursing tool in practice, improving both patient care and team support.

This course consists of recorded webinars followed by practical sessions. Please note: The online lectures are a pre-requisite for attending the onsite practical (these will be available to view approximately 4 weeks prior to the practical day). These lectures allow you to learn at your own pace and can be listened to at a convenient time. This allows delegates to have more time once onsite for practical, hands-on teaching sessions. On the practical day, the tutors will be happy to answer questions relating to the online lectures, however to get through everything planned for the practical day, they will not be able to cover the content in the same level of detail as the online lectures. It is therefore imperative that all lectures are viewed in advance of attending.

Webinar Plus: He’s off his legs! Managing the acute spinal cord patient

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 12:58:39 GMT

Do you feel out of depth when a dog or cat comes in off its back legs? Would you like to better understand the main causes for this presentation and how to manage them?

The dog or cat presenting “off back legs” is a common emergency presentation in clinical practice. Is it neurological, orthopaedic or something else? Is it likely to progress? Does it require urgent interventions such as spinal decompression or stabilisation? This course will give you the confidence to recognise and successfully manage these challenging, yet often highly rewarding, patients in practice.

We will discuss how to accurately assess your patient to decide whether it has a neurological disorder and if so, how to define the neuroanatomical localisation. We will work through the major causes of acute onset spinal cord disorders in dogs and cats, including how to recognise and manage them. We will then move on to consider the important orthopaedic causes of acute reluctance to walk. We will utilise clinical reasoning to formulate an ordered list of differentials and will support learning with relevant case examples and up to date literature.

Why do this course?
Delegates will build confidence in recognising and managing patients with acute onset non-ambulatory paraparesis/ paraplegia. We will cover how to stabilise the emergency patient, as well as how to decide on an appropriate diagnostic and management plan. We will work through multiple important causes of spinal cord injury and of orthopaedic disorders. All learning will be supported by current literature to ensure the most up to date information and recommendations are provided.

The webinars for this course will be pre-recorded and can be viewed as recorded versions throughout the course. Live Q&A sessions with the tutors will run on the following dates at 1.30pm London time.

Webinar dates:
Thursday 5th November
Thursday 12th November
Thursday 26th November

Webinar Plus: Ears in everyday practice

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 10:48:50 GMT

Due to unforseen circumstances this course is being postponed until Spring 2027. To register your interest please email cpd@rvc.a.uk.

Does a sense of dread descend on you at the sight of yet another smelly ear? What’s really in those ear drops? Do cleaners actually clean? Why won’t this ear infection go away?

This interactive online course is designed for vets in general practice who want to get to grips with everyday ear problems. From hairy ears and hearing loss to biofilms and blocked canals, we’ll explore what works, what doesn’t, and why.

We’ll turn the quest for the “best potion” into a deeper understanding of what’s really stopping success—and how to fix it. Bring your questions, bring your cases, and leave with practical tools you can use the next day.

Ear disease is a daily challenge in general practice—yet it can feel anything but routine. With so many products on the shelf and conflicting advice, it’s easy to feel unsure. This course is designed to help you cut through the confusion and build confidence in managing common ear problems. We will focus on the practical questions you face every day—like how to choose the right treatment, when to sample, what to say to owners, and how to spot when a course of ear drops won’t help.

You’ll learn:

What different products actually do - and when (or if) to use them
When to use and how to interpret cytology and culture results in real-world cases
How to problem-solve tricky cases
When to escalate: flushing, imaging, myringotomy, or referral

Why do this course?
Whether you are new to practice or just want to feel more confident with ear cases, this course will give you practical tools, clear explanations, and a chance to ask all the questions you have been meaning to.

The webinars will run on the following dates from 1pm to 3pm London time:

Tuesday 22nd September
Tuesday 29th September
Tuesday 6th October
Tuesday 13th October

Emergency and critical care for exotic species online

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 10:23:00 GMT

A rabbit with a gastric obstruction, a tortoise that been attacked by a fox, an egg-bound bird! What do you do when they walk through the door?

Do you want to learn how to provide emergency care to exotic species? Are you looking to advance your exotic species nursing? This course will cover the triage and ongoing care of a range of exotic species. Including rabbits, small mammals, reptile and amphibians and avian species. Including common presentations, stabilisation techniques and advanced life support.

We will discuss cases that you have seen, dive into how best we can approach these cases and build your knowledge to enable you to confidently care for any exotic species that walks through your door.

Why do this course?
This course will help any veterinary professional, vet or vet nurse, provide appropriate care for a wide range of exotic species in an emergency scenario. It will give you the tools to stabilise and provide ongoing care to common and uncommon exotic pets.

Sharpen your surgery skills – surgical techniques to build lasting confidence

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 09:49:22 GMT

Due to unforseen circumstances this course is being delayed until 2027. A new date will be added soon. In the meantime please register your interest at cpd@rvc.ac.uk

Do you want to sharpen your surgical skills and step into surgery with renewed confidence? Need a quick refresher to reignite your surgical confidence? Do you want to improve your basic surgical skills such as suturing and hand ties or boost your confidence with surgical equipment like electrocautery and surgical stapling devices? Do you want to take control of the operating room and conquer surgical stress?

Build your surgical confidence from start to finish with this comprehensive course. We will begin with a series of online recorded webinars, then we will put your skills into action during a full-day, hands-on practical. Designed for veterinarians looking to strengthen their core surgical techniques and feel more in control in theatre, this course covers tissue handling, hand ties, electrocautery, and surgical stapling devices. You'll also learn how to prep your team and operating room for success — and gain strategies to manage surgical stress so you stay sharp and confident under pressure.

Get hands-on with core surgical skills in our practical day - from hand ties to abdominal exploration, electrocautery and stapling devices. Put theory into practice with the tools you learned in the webinars. You’ll receive personalised, one-on-one feedback on your intestinal and skin suturing technique from expert course leaders, helping you refine your skills with confidence. For any left-handed surgeons we can provide tailored surgical advisse and the opportunity to practice with left-handed equipment.

Why do this course?
Gain essential surgical skills that will boost your confidence in routine procedures and set the stage for future success. Discover how to integrate advanced electrocautery and stapling devices into your practice to enhance efficiency, precision, and patient care. You'll also learn how to effectively manage the operating room—improving both patient outcomes and your ability to handle surgical stress with confidence.