The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

Summer is a wonderful time to be outdoors with family, friends, and pets.

But as temperatures climb, animals can overheat more easily – and in severe cases, develop heatstroke. Hot weather can also make them more prone to skin and ear infections.

Follow our vets’ tips to help your pet stay comfortable and safe this summer: https://edin.ac/4iEtIX7

Dental health in wild western European hedgehogs is poorer than suggested by previous studies, research shows.

Signs of dental disease were found in almost half – 44 per cent – of hedgehogs admitted to an urban animal shelter in Germany over several months.

Higher body weight was associated with dental disease, suggesting wild hedgehogs may be eating man-made food more often than previously.

Examination of teeth under anaesthesia where practical would be good practice to help spot signs of disease, researchers suggest.

https://edin.ac/4emEv7F

Gordon setter Arya was referred to the Cardiology Service at our Hospital for Small Animals having collapsed eight times in a month, after exercise or excitement.

Tests showed that the nine-year-old dog’s heart structure was normal, but she had an irregular heart rhythm. Cardiologists fitted Arya with a Holter monitor, to record her heart rhythm for 24 hours.

Results showed that Arya had a second-degree heart block — a condition where electrical signals fail to pass from the chambers in the top of the heart to those at the bottom. This resulted in a dangerously low heart rate (bradycardia), with Arya’s heart struggling to pump blood to her brain and body.

In surgery lasting just over an hour, the team fitted Arya with a pacemaker; the same type used in people, to control her heartbeat.

A lead was placed in her heart via the jugular vein, and the 4cm wide pacemaker unit and battery was positioned under the skin at the top of her neck. She stayed in hospital for five days for monitoring, then went home to be rested for one month while recuperating.

Arya hasn’t collapsed since she her pacemaker was fitted and she has a new lease of life.

Her owner said: “It is great to see Arya running around, playing with the other family dogs and having fun. Although she is nine years old, she has the energy of a puppy again.”

She added: “I will always be indebted to the Cardiology Service for the love and care they showed her.”

Second-degree heart blocks like Arya’s can cause fainting, loss of energy and breathlessness, and in serious cases, sudden death.

With four RCVS Specialists, two residents, two cardiology nurses, and a dedicated animal care assistant, the cardiology team at our hospital is the largest of its kind in Scotland. The team was the first to fit a pacemaker in a dog in the UK in the 1980s, and remains one of a handful of teams in the UK to regularly perform this procedure.

Professor Kenny Baillie, a pioneer in understanding and treating infectious diseases including Covid-19, gave an overview of his career at a recent inaugural lecture showcase.

Professor Baillie shared the stage with Professor Jim Wilson, who studies genetic influences on disease risk.

Watch again at the link below.

College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine inaugural lecture showcase | College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine | College of Medicine and Vet Medicine With professors Kenneth Baillie and Jim Wilson.

Our graduates are building bridges between animal welfare and environmental change.

Melodia, a graduate of the class of 2020 MSc Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare shares the story of a diverse career at the intersection of animal welfare, conservation, and climate action.

"My experience at the University of Edinburgh played a fundamental role in shaping both my professional path and personal perspective. It gave me the confidence to work across sectors."

Read the full story of Melodia's journey at https://edin.ac/4dPNIqa

Congratulations to Dr David Kayes, who is now a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (DipECVO).

His achievement follows over three years of focused clinical training, including clinical research, culminating in passing his certifying examinations.

David, who completed his undergraduate degree, internship and residency at our School, has joined an elite community of fellow European Diplomates around the world.

He said: “Ophthalmology is the perfect fit for me because it offers such a great mix of medicine and surgery. One of the things I enjoy most is the variety of species we get to work with; from our regular cat, dog and horse patients to more unusual cases including tigers, koalas and penguins.”

He added: “I love working in the Ophthalmology Service at the Hospital for Small Animals – they are an incredible team which makes coming to work a genuine pleasure. I also get to give back to the profession by teaching the next generation of vets and residents.”

With over 40 European and American Diplomates working across the 15 referral services in our hospital, clients and referring vets can be confident that we offer the highest standards of clinical care.

To learn more about our clinical services, visit https://www.ed.ac.uk/vet/services/small-animals

Are you considering a career as a veterinarian?

Spaces remain on our Vet Medicine sessions during the afternoon of the 22 June Open Day.

Book now to tour our campus, explore the facilities and chat with the admissions team: https://vet.ed.ac.uk/education/undergraduate/visits-events/open-days

We recommend you do not arrange other details of your trip until your booking is confirmed.

May is Veterinary Nurse Awareness Month, a time to champion the profession and highlight the knowledge, skills, and dedication of veterinary nurses everywhere.

We are incredibly proud of the veterinary nursing team at our small animal, equine and large animal hospitals and general practices.

These highly trained clinical professionals are compassionate caregivers and patient advocates and, alongside our clinicians, radiographers, physiotherapists, animal care assistants and other support staff, provide the highest standard of care for our patients 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Our nurses also play a significant role training and supporting our undergraduate veterinary students.
Thank you to our vet nurses for everything that they do.



BVNA (The British Veterinary Nursing Association)
Dick Vet Equine
Dick Vet General Practice
Dick Vet Hospital for Small Animals
Dick Vet Rabbit and Exotic Practice
Dick Vet Farm Animal Practice

Vets and nurses from our Hospital for Small Animals have helped to organise a major veterinary conference in Edinburgh next month.

The European Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (EVECC) Congress, on 4-6 June, will bring together over 1,300 delegates and experts to share knowledge about the latest developments in this field.

As part of the local organising committee, six volunteers from the Hospital’s Emergency and Critical Care team have played a key part in logistics and planning.

Four staff members from our hospital will also speak on the main confernce programme and deliver a total of 10 lectures and panel sessions on their chosen fields. Pictured top row l-r, Dr Lynda Rutherford, joint head of the Hospital’s Surgery Service and Dr Ben Blacklock, Head of the Ophthalmology Service, bottom row l-r, Dr Joao Miguel de Frias from the Neurology Service, and Fiona Wilson, a VTS accredited emergency and critical care veterinary nurse.

Our campus will host several half-day practical events, including one by Dr Rutherford on abdominal and thoracic surgery.

See the programme for further details: https://www.evecc-congress.org/

Bobby, a playful young border terrier, is living his best life after a narrowed valve in his heart was widened by cardiologists at our Hospital for Small Animals.

Bobby was referred to the Specialist-led Cardiology Service at eight months old, because he was collapsing daily after exercise.

Echocardiography (heart scan) confirmed that Bobby had severe pulmonic stenosis, a condition where the pulmonary valve in the heart is stenotic (narrowed), significantly restricting blood flow through the heart and lungs.

The team recommended that Bobby undergo balloon valvuloplasty. This specialised procedure mirrors a procedure performed in human medicine.

A small balloon-tipped catheter was guided via Bobby’s jugular vein into his heart under general anaesthetic. The balloon was then gently inflated to widen his faulty valve and improve blood flow from his heart, before being removed.

The procedure was a success, and Bobby was discharged the following day. Bobby has not suffered a collapse since his procedure and after a month of restricted exercise, is very active, his owner reports.

She said, “Bobby’s collapsing episodes started when he was just four months old; he was unable to run without collapsing. The cardiology procedure has made such a difference to his quality of life. He will need to remain on lifelong medication, but is now able to run and play with other dogs, and his zoomies are no longer a huge worry for me.”

She added, “The cardiology team has been fantastic. The care they have provided for Bobby has been second to none and he loves his visits to the hospital. They have made such a difference to Bobby's overall wellbeing.”

Pets with pulmonic stenosis usually have it from birth. If not corrected, it can lead to congestive heart failure and even sudden death. The Cardiology Service at the Hospital for Small Animals is one of only a few that can offer balloon valvuloplasty to dogs such as Bobby.

As Scotland’s largest veterinary cardiology service, the team offer an exceptional level of care and expertise that gives referring vets and pet owners confidence and peace of mind.