FECAVA - Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations

16/06/2026

🌱 Happening Tomorrow!

Online Congress on Sustainability in Veterinary Medicine 🐾

Join veterinary professionals as we explore sustainable solutions, environmental responsibility, and the future of our profession.

Don’t miss it!

🌱 Just One Week to Go!

Join us on 17 June 2026 for the Online Congress on Sustainability in Veterinary Medicine — a free event dedicated to practical and achievable solutions for creating a more sustainable future in veterinary practice.

🗓️ 17 June 2026
🕑 14:00 CET
💻 Online
🎟️ Free of charge

Organized by the FECAVA Sustainability Working Group, this congress will bring together international experts and veterinary professionals to discuss sustainability in:

🔬 Clinical practice
🧪 Veterinary laboratories
📋 Practice management
🌍 System-level and strategic approaches

Whether you work in practice, academia, industry, or veterinary organizations, you'll gain valuable insights and practical ideas that can be implemented in your daily work.

Register Here: https://shorturl.at/JFuYd

📩 Questions: [email protected]

15/06/2026

FECAVA Monday Read | Threshold Doses of Food Allergens and Time to Flare in Dogs with Adverse Food Reactions

Adverse food reactions (AFR) are a common cause of chronic pruritus in dogs, yet little is known about how much allergenic protein is needed to trigger a reaction or how quickly clinical signs develop after exposure.

This prospective double-blinded study (Vovk et al., 2026, Frontiers in Veterinary Science) evaluated threshold doses of dietary allergens and time to flare in dogs with confirmed AFR following controlled oral food challenges.

Key findings:
• Most reactions occurred after exposure to 20–30 g of dietary protein, although some dogs reacted to as little as 1 g
• The average time to flare was 4.1 days, with most reactions developing between days 2 and 6
• Dogs showed considerable individual variation in both allergen threshold and reaction timing
• Fish, wheat, beef, pork, chicken, corn, and lamb all triggered reactions, with no single protein predominating
• Findings support monitoring food challenges for at least 7 days, and potentially up to 14 days, to identify delayed reactions

The study highlights the complexity of canine food allergies and provides valuable insights for improving elimination diet protocols, dietary challenge testing, and clinical management of dogs with AFR.

🔎 Read more: https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2026.1767167

13/06/2026

Congratulations to Professor Clare Rusbridge on Receiving an MBE

FECAVA warmly congratulates Professor Clare Rusbridge on being honoured in the King's Birthday Honours List and appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her distinguished contributions to the veterinary profession.

A highly respected veterinary neurologist, researcher, educator, and advocate for animal welfare, Professor Rusbridge has dedicated her career to advancing the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of neurological disorders in companion animals. Through her clinical work, research, and educational initiatives, she has helped improve the lives of countless animals and their owners around the world.

Professor Rusbridge has authored more than 160 scientific papers and book chapters and has been a tireless advocate for making specialist veterinary knowledge accessible to both veterinary professionals and pet owners.

We congratulate Professor Rusbridge on this well-deserved recognition and thank her for her outstanding contributions to veterinary medicine, animal welfare, and education.

11/06/2026

FECAVA at the UEVP General Assembly – 11 June 2026 | Rovaniemi, Finland

FECAVA President Ann Criel attended today the Union of European Veterinary Practitioners (UEVP) General Assembly on 11 June 2026, where she delivered a presentation on medicated food for dogs and cats, highlighting key clinical and regulatory aspects relevant to companion animal practice in Europe. She also presented FECAVA’s current certification programmes, including the FECAVA Anaesthesia and Analgesia Certificate and the FECAVA Advanced Veterinary Clinician initiatives, aimed at supporting continuous professional development and clinical excellence across Europe. In addition, she introduced the FECAVA EuroCongress 2027, which will take place in Antwerp, Belgium, from 2–4 September 2027, inviting colleagues to gather for another inspiring European Veterinary Congress: “Let’s go for a second September to remember!”

10/06/2026

🌱 Just One Week to Go!

Join us on 17 June 2026 for the Online Congress on Sustainability in Veterinary Medicine — a free event dedicated to practical and achievable solutions for creating a more sustainable future in veterinary practice.

🗓️ 17 June 2026
🕑 14:00 CET
💻 Online
🎟️ Free of charge

Organized by the FECAVA Sustainability Working Group, this congress will bring together international experts and veterinary professionals to discuss sustainability in:

🔬 Clinical practice
🧪 Veterinary laboratories
📋 Practice management
🌍 System-level and strategic approaches

Whether you work in practice, academia, industry, or veterinary organizations, you'll gain valuable insights and practical ideas that can be implemented in your daily work.

Register Here: https://shorturl.at/JFuYd

📩 Questions: [email protected]

09/06/2026

🐾 FVE and UEVP establish Joint Animal Health Working Group

FECAVA is pleased to be represented in the newly established Animal Health Working Group, created jointly by Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) and UEVP to strengthen veterinary expertise in animal health policy, disease prevention, and preparedness.

The group will support the implementation of the Animal Health Law (AHL) and focus on key priorities including biosecurity, surveillance, vaccination strategies, disease prevention and control, and Day One competences for future veterinarians. It will also contribute to EU-funded projects and European and international policy engagement.

A key aim is to provide evidence-based veterinary input on disease prevention, detection, and management, while addressing emerging disease threats and supporting policy development in collaboration with related working groups.

Preparedness efforts will include crisis planning, workforce resilience, and cooperation with EU institutions and WOAH.

FECAVA is proud that Demetris Epaminondas, FECAVA Director from Cyprus, will contribute to this initiative, ensuring the companion animal veterinary perspective is represented.

The Working Group will be chaired by Giovanni Guadagnini (UEVP) and co-chaired by Claire White (FVE). Its first task will be a three-year action plan with measurable objectives.

More information can be found here: https://uevp.fve.org/news/fve-and-uevp-establish-joint-animal-health-working-group

08/06/2026

FECAVA Monday Read | Early-Life Experiences and Behavioural Problems in Pandemic Puppies

Problem behaviours are a leading cause of canine relinquishment and behavioural euthanasia. Understanding the factors that influence behavioural development is therefore essential for improving canine welfare.

This study (Brand et al., 2024, Animals) followed a cohort of UK "Pandemic Puppies" to investigate how early-life experiences, training methods, and owner characteristics affected behaviour at 21 months of age.

Key findings:
• 96.7% of owners reported at least one behavioural problem by 21 months of age
• Nearly one-third of dogs displayed separation-related behaviours
• Use of aversive training methods was associated with a higher number of reported behavioural problems
• Attendance at online puppy classes was linked to a lower likelihood of owners using aversive training techniques
• First-time owners were more likely to find training harder than expected

The findings highlight the importance of early socialisation, owner education, and reward-based training approaches to support positive behavioural outcomes and improve long-term canine welfare.

🔎 Read more: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14020336

06/06/2026

Veterinary professionals from 60 countries have joined the FECAVA Certificate in Small Animal Anaesthesia and Analgesia!

This truly global participation reflects the growing commitment of veterinarians worldwide to advancing patient safety, perioperative care, and evidence-based pain management in dogs and cats.

Through practical, bite-sized webinars led by internationally recognised experts, participants are strengthening their knowledge and skills while working towards FECAVA Certification.

If you have not registered yet, there is still time to join this international learning community and benefit from high-quality, practice-oriented education.

👉 Register today: https://www.fecava.org/fecava-certificate-in-small-animal-anaesthesia-and-analgesia/

Thank you to our global veterinary community for being part of this learning journey.

05/06/2026

Have a mosquito free weekend 🤣🐈‍⬛🐈🐕🐩

03/06/2026

What pets should be allowed? 🐾 The APA (UK) and AAP (Netherlands) are looking for veterinarian perspectives on 'Positive List' regulations to see how they impact animal welfare across Europe.

This survey is part of a research project led by the Animal Protection Agency (APA) and AAP Animal Advocacy and Protection to gather real-world evidence on how these lists work in practice. By sharing your expertise, you help them understand if "Positive Lists" are a feasible and effective way to protect animal health and prevent the trade of unsuitable species across Europe.

https://buff.ly/jUsjsjN
Open till Friday, 5th June 2026.