Canine health and welfare research funding in the UK: Current status and future opportunities

People: Alison Skipper, Dan O'Neill, Rowena Packer

Vet Compass Project Type: Dog

This project, supported by four leading UK canine charities in partnership with the RVC, will explore the levels and distribution of UK canine health research funding over the last decade, and analyse the areas of research this has included. Through collaborative discussion with funders, vets, scientists, dog breeders and owners, the project will develop a joint strategy to agree priorities for future research funding decisions.

The DogWeb Survey

People: Michelle Farrow, Rowena Packer, Dan O'Neill

Vet Compass Project Type: Dog

This study aims to explore whether and how online information sourcing affects the decision-making of UK canine caregivers when deciding whether to seek veterinary care for dogs exhibiting clinical signs of disease.

RCVS VetCompass Equine Pandemic Project

People: Dan O'Neill, Jackie Cardwell, Kristien Verheyen, David Brodbelt

Vet Compass Project Type: Horse

The COVID-19 pandemic presents a serious challenge for the customer-facing veterinary profession.  To ensure minimal disruption to essential veterinary services, new COVID-mitigated working protocols were quickly implemented, however, little is known about the impact of the pandemic on equine veterinary care in the UK.  The aim of this project was to describe equine veterinary activity before and during the pandemic and explore the contribution of telemedicine to case management. 

Are lop-eared rabbits more predisposed to dental and ear diseases than erect-eared rabbits?

People: Maria Jackson, Charlotte Burn, David Brodbelt, Joanna Hedley, Dan O'Neill

Vet Compass Project Type: Rabbit

We aim to deepen understanding of the animal welfare impacts of dental and ear disease in rabbits, and to identify breed related risk factors for these. We plan to use the new information to improve rabbit welfare by raising awareness of any dental and ear health implications from selecting for rabbit with extreme morphology.  

BVetMed RP2 Research Projects

People: Dan O'Neill, David Brodbelt, Camilla Pegram

Vet Compass Project Type: Dog, Cat, Small Mammal, Exotic

All BVetMed veterinary undergraduates at the RVC are required to complete a formal piece of research (named Research Project 2 “RP2”) as part of their route towards gaining a veterinary degree. This project is a Level 7 body of work that is at the level of a master’s project. VetCompass supports students to undertake these RP2 projects at the RVC. The Kennel Club Charitable Trust has supported several VetCompass RP2s annually on topics related to canine health.

Antimicrobial usage in farm animal veterinary practice in the UK: A mixed-methods approach

People: David Brodbelt, Dan O'Neill, Richard Booth

Vet Compass Project Type: Farm Animal

The aims of this study are to estimate current antimicrobial usage in Farm Veterinary Practice and investigate the intrinsic factors and extrinsic factors associated with farm veterinarian decision-making when prescribing antimicrobials as well as exploring the drivers behind farmers' decision when using antimicrobials.

Evidence-based prioritisation of disorders within dog breeds

People: Camilla Pegram, Dan O'Neill, David Brodbelt

Vet Compass Project Type: Dog

The Kennel Club Charitable Trust (KCCT) has funded a 1-year project within VetCompass™ called ‘Evidence-based prioritisation of disorders using epidemiological data on dog breeds from VetCompass primary-care veterinary clinical records’. Camilla Pegram has taken up the role of VetCompass epidemiologist, working alongside Dr Dan O'Neill and Dr Dave Brodbelt, to explore studies on breed health and to assist in VetCompass™ development.

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