The Consult Room

In this episode of The Consult Room, I explore something that sounds technical - but actually affects every single pet guardian in the UK: the government’s decision to reform the Veterinary Surgeons Act.
This is the 1966 law that regulates veterinary surgeons and shapes how veterinary care is delivered behind the scenes. But veterinary medicine has changed dramatically in the past 60 years - from the James Herriot era of kitchen table stitching to advanced imaging, complex surgery, and multidisciplinary teams.
Following the CMA investigation into the veterinary sector, DEFRA has launched a public consultation to modernise this legislation. But what is actually being proposed? What could change? And just as importantly…what won’t?
I share my perspective as a vet working in both clinical and charity settings, including why I believe the role of veterinary nurses deserves greater recognition, why regulation needs to reflect team-based care, and why reform is not a silver bullet for affordability.
This episode is about clarity, context and balance, not headlines.
In This Episode:
What the Veterinary Surgeons Act actually does

Why 1966 legislation no longer reflects modern veterinary practice

The impact of the CMA investigation

Why veterinary businesses currently aren’t regulated as entities

The role and recognition of veterinary nurses

What reform could realistically improve

What reform will not fix

Key Takeaways:
Veterinary medicine has evolved far beyond what the 1966 Act envisaged

The consultation is about modernisation, not blame

Reform may improve transparency and efficiency - but won’t magically reduce costs

Recognising the wider veterinary team could improve sustainability

Good reform requires scrutiny and realistic expectations

Resources and More Info:
🌐 ⁠DEFRA Consultation: Reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act⁠ 🌐 ⁠RCVS Position on Reform⁠
 
🐾 Follow ⁠@‌DrPaulTheVet⁠ for ongoing updates and discussion
🎙️ Enjoyed the episode? Follow and review The Consult Room wherever you listen.

In this episode of The Consult Room, I explore something that sounds technical - but actually affects every single pet guardian in the UK: the government’s decision to reform the Veterinary Surgeons Act.
This is the 1966 law that regulates veterinary surgeons and shapes how veterinary care is delivered behind the scenes. But veterinary medicine has changed dramatically in the past 60 years - from the James Herriot era of kitchen table stitching to advanced imaging, complex surgery, and multidisciplinary teams.
Following the CMA investigation into the veterinary sector, DEFRA has launched a public consultation to modernise this legislation. But what is actually being proposed? What could change? And just as importantly…what won’t?
I share my perspective as a vet working in both clinical and charity settings, including why I believe the role of veterinary nurses deserves greater recognition, why regulation needs to reflect team-based care, and why reform is not a silver bullet for affordability.
This episode is about clarity, context and balance, not headlines.
In This Episode:
What the Veterinary Surgeons Act actually does

Why 1966 legislation no longer reflects modern veterinary practice

The impact of the CMA investigation

Why veterinary businesses currently aren’t regulated as entities

The role and recognition of veterinary nurses

What reform could realistically improve

What reform will not fix

Key Takeaways:
Veterinary medicine has evolved far beyond what the 1966 Act envisaged

The consultation is about modernisation, not blame

Reform may improve transparency and efficiency - but won’t magically reduce costs

Recognising the wider veterinary team could improve sustainability

Good reform requires scrutiny and realistic expectations

Resources and More Info:
🌐 DEFRA Consultation: Reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act
🌐 RCVS Position on Reform
 
🐾 Follow @‌DrPaulTheVet for ongoing updates and discussion
🎙️ Enjoyed the episode? Follow and review The Consult Room wherever you listen.

In this episode of The Consult Room, I’m joined by Rita Howson, Chief Executive of Support Dogs, and Danny Anderson, Head of Fundraising, to explore a charity whose dogs don’t just offer support - they genuinely change lives.
Support Dogs trains assistance dogs for people living with autism, epilepsy and physical disabilities, helping individuals and families who often feel overwhelmed, isolated or unsafe. We share powerful stories of seizure alert dogs giving people precious warning time to get to safety, autism assistance dogs preventing children from running into traffic, and families experiencing simple moments they’d never had before - like going to the beach together.
We also discuss how dogs are selected and trained, the real costs behind each partnership, and why these life-changing dogs still aren’t viewed or funded like the medical solutions they truly are.
In This Episode:
What Support Dogs does and who they help

Seizure alert dogs and the impact of early warnings

Autism assistance dogs and child safety in public spaces

The “portable safe place” effect for autistic children

How dogs are sourced, assessed and trained

Demand, waiting lists and the charity’s plans to expand capacity

The true cost of placing and supporting a partnership

Key Takeaways:
These dogs don’t stop medical conditions, but they can restore safety and control

The impact goes far beyond “tasks” — it’s independence, confidence and family life

Training is as much about the human-dog relationship as it is about skills

Long-term support matters, because people’s needs change over time

Resources and More Info:
🌐 Learn more or donate: supportdogs.org.uk
📱 Follow: Support Dogs UK on Instagram
🐾 Follow @DrPaulTheVet for updates and future episodes
🎙️ Enjoyed the episode? Follow and review The Consult Room wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode of The Consult Room tackles a topic that’s quietly becoming one of the biggest ethical and environmental debates in veterinary medicine.
For decades, routine parasite prevention has been seen as essential. Monthly flea treatments. Regular worming. Often given automatically, year after year. But growing evidence now suggests that some of the chemicals used to protect our pets are ending up far beyond the clinic - in rivers, waterways, and ecosystems.
To explore what this means for pets, vets, and the planet, I’m joined by Andrew Prentis, a veterinary surgeon with nearly 40 years’ experience across private practice, charity hospitals, and academia. Andrew is a Visiting Fellow at Imperial College London and a member of the PREPP group, producing rational evidence for parasiticide prescription.
In this balanced, evidence-led conversation, we unpack how parasite treatments enter the environment, what the science actually shows, and why a more risk-based, individual approach to parasite control may be overdue.
In This Episode
How flea and tick treatments end up in rivers and waterways
What research shows about imidacloprid and fipronil contamination
The environmental impact on insects, food chains, and biodiversity
Why “blanket prevention” became the norm in veterinary care
The difference between hazard-based and risk-based parasite treatment
Commercial pressures, pet health plans, and industry influence
Practical alternatives and what responsible parasite control could look like

Key Takeaways
🔹Not all pets face the same parasite risk
🔹Routine treatment does not always equal best practice
🔹Some commonly used parasite chemicals persist in the environment
🔹A risk-based approach can protect pets while reducing environmental harm
🔹Responsible prescribing builds trust without compromising welfare

Resources & Links
Learn more about environmental research into parasiticides
Visit VetSustain for sustainability guidance in veterinary care
Follow @DrPaulTheVet for future episodes and updates
💬 Do you use parasite treatments routinely, or only when needed?
Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.
📲 Don’t forget to follow the podcast and leave a review - it really helps these conversations reach more people.

In this episode of The Consult Room, I explore a headline-grabbing idea that’s raising big questions in veterinary medicine - the possibility of an Ozempic-style appetite suppressant for dogs.
With around half of dogs in the UK now overweight or obese, researchers are trialling a slow-release implant designed to suppress appetite and support weight loss. At first glance, it sounds like a potential breakthrough. But obesity in dogs is largely a human-created problem, and that raises important ethical, welfare, and responsibility questions.
I unpack the science behind GLP-1 implants, the potential benefits for certain dogs, and the concerns vets need to think about carefully - from masking early signs of illness to shifting responsibility away from diet, exercise, and lifestyle.
This episode isn’t about rejecting innovation. It’s about asking whether medical solutions should support better care, or replace it?

In This Episode:

Why dog obesity is one of the biggest welfare challenges today

How appetite-suppressing implants work

The real causes of pet obesity

Ethical concerns around medical shortcuts

Why exercise matters beyond weight loss

Could appetite suppression mask early disease?

Where drugs fit - and where they don’t

Key Takeaways:

Dogs don’t feed themselves - obesity is a human responsibility

Weight-loss drugs may help some dogs, but won’t fix the root problem

Exercise is a legal and welfare requirement, not optional

Appetite is a vital clinical warning sign

Education, portion control, and lifestyle change remain essential

Resources and More Info:
🌐 Visit theconsultroom.co.uk for more episodes and evidence-based advice
🐾 Follow @‌DrPaulTheVet for insights and discussion
🎙️ Enjoyed the episode? Follow and review The Consult Room wherever you get your podcasts.