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Rabbits and Small Furries Congress

Thursday 13 March 2025

Early Bird pricing is available until Friday 17 January 2025

Virtual Event

About Agenda Speakers Prices

What is Rabbits and Small Furries Congress?

Rabbits and Small Furries Congress is a one day virtual event that explores the care of rabbits and small furries in veterinary practice.

This congress offers 7 hours of evidenced CPD and we are welcoming a range of expert industry speakers to deliver lectures.

Who should attend?

Veterinary nurses looking to develop their knowledge of nursing rabbits and small furries. This congress will be particularly useful if you're:

  • Interested in learning more about caring for rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets and other small mammals
  • Aiming to specialise in the nursing of rabbits or small furries
  • Aiming to progress within your role
  • Interested in keeping up-to-date with everything happening in the industry

Why attend?

  • Listen to lectures from a range of speakers who will be sharing their experiences and knowledge
  • Q&A sessions mean your questions will be answered by the speakers themselves
  • Gain practical takeaways that you can implement in your practice
  • Gain information, product knowledge and offers from our virtual exhibitors
  • Earn 7 hours of evidenced CPD
  • Gain online access to recordings of all the lectures and lectures from previous congresses up until the next event
Download the agenda (PDF)

Online Registration

Chair's Welcome

Help! My rabbit’s a nightmare!
Advising on common behavioural problems in practice

Guen Bradbury MA, VETMB, MRCVS

This presentation will be looking at common rabbit behavioural issues and by the end of the talk you should:

  • Recognise common behavioural problems in rabbits
  • Understand how health and welfare affect behaviour
  • Be able to identify where a rabbit’s welfare is poor and suggest ways to improve it
  • Know simple advice to give to owners who are struggling with some common behavioural problems

Nutrition - Is it just about hay?!

Nicola Lakeman MSc BSc(Hons) RVN CertVNECC CertSAN VTS(Nutrition)

This session will look at how the different nutrient content of the diet (hay, pellets, vegetables) can affect different medical conditions in herbivores. Discussing lifestage nutrition and why we have different stages for rabbits – it’s all about protein and calcium content.

Hay and grasses are a multitude of different species, with differing mineral contents, that will have a potential consequence for the animals being fed it.

Nutrition isn’t just about what we feed; it is also about how we feed these foods. We will have a look at feeding behaviours and enrichment techniques that we need to discuss with pet owners.

Live Q&A Panel

Present questions (anonymously if desired) to the speakers.

Morning Break and Exhibitor Promos

Rabbits - Getting the Bloods Out and the Meds In

Jo Megarity RVN

This talk will discuss 2 main topics: Blood sampling and common medications including analgesia.

Placing IV cannulas and taking blood samples can be a daunting thought but these top tips including sample sites, local anaesthesia and general stress reduction will help.

Analgesia is vital and we will cover a range of different types to enable you to understand the important pharmacokinetics of each and allow you to take a polypharmacy approach to your treatment plans.

Other common medications such as antibiotics and prokinetics will be delved in to as we look at their potential indications and administration routes.

Live Q&A Panel

Present questions (anonymously if desired) to the speakers.

Lunch Break, Online Exhibition and Lounges

How to Make your Practice Guinea pig Friendly

John Chitty BVetMed CertZooMed MRCVS

Guinea pigs are becoming ever more popular as pets and there is often a strong owner-guinea pig bond. Guinea pig owners expect high quality care!

Guinea pigs, like rabbits, are prey species and so have different needs to dogs and cats. However, guinea pig needs are not quite as for rabbits- there are differences in housing and diet, for example. As such a practice seeing a lot of guinea pigs needs to understand how to cater for their needs both in the consultation and when hospitalised.

In addition, many of their presenting diseases are based in unfulfilled husbandry needs and so a good knowledge of Guinea pig biology and welfare needs is essential.

Veterinary care of chinchillas, they are not small rabbits!

Matthew Rendle RVN

Chinchillas are increasingly popular as pets, and increasingly seen in practice, but often treated as small rabbits, with rabbit protocols, dosages and approaches uses - lots of which are inappropriate, and often result in poor welfare.

In this lecture, we will look at the common presentations in practice and how to nurse them properly.

Live Q&A Panel

Present questions (anonymously if desired) to the speakers.

Chair's Close

Event Close

Please note this programme is subject to change.

Guen Bradbury HeadshotGuen Bradbury MA, VETMB, MRCVS

Guen Bradbury is a vet who runs a teleconsultancy to help rabbit owners, vets, and vet nurses with behavioural problems in rabbits.

Her textbook on the subject, ‘Behavioural problems in rabbits: a clinical approach,’ explores the different aspects of rabbit behaviour, discusses communication behaviours, describes how rabbits learn to change behaviour, and has detailed, specific guidelines on approaches to common clinical behaviour problems.

Guen is also the veterinary adviser for RWAF’s Rabbiting On magazine and she lectures on the Cambridge vet course.

Nicola Lakeman HeadshotNicola Lakeman MSc BSc(Hons) RVN CertVNECC CertSAN VTS(Nutrition)
IVC Evidensia

Nicola works as the Nutrition Manager for IVC Evidensia. She graduated from Hartpury College with an honours degree in Equine Science, and subsequently qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2002.

Nicola has written for many veterinary publications and textbooks and is the editor of Aspinall’s Complete Textbook of Veterinary Nursing. She is also one of the Consultant Editors for The Veterinary Nurse.

Nicola has gained her Master’s degree in Advanced Veterinary Nursing with Glasgow University and she has also won the BVNA / Blue Cross award for animal welfare, the SQP Veterinary Nurse of the Year and the SQP Nutritional Advisor of the Year.

Jo Megarity HeadshotJo Megarity RVN
LagoLearn

Jo has worked in the veterinary industry since 2007 and has always had a special interest in rabbits. She owns LagoLearn, which provides rabbit specific CPD to veterinary professionals in the UK and Internationally.

She spends a significant amount of voluntary time highlighting animal welfare, is the Secretary of the AZEVN and is proud have been the President of the BVNA in 2019/2020.

Jo has received several awards over the years including the Blue Cross Veterinary Nurse of the Year in 2014, an RCVS Innovation Award winner in 2017 and the IFAW Animal Advocate Award in 2017.

John Chitty HeadshotJohn Chitty BVetMed CertZooMed MRCVS

John Chitty qualified from the RVC in 1990, gained the RCVS Certificate in Zoological Medicine in 2000 and is an RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Zoological Medicine.
John formerly ran a small animal/ exotics practice in Andover with a 100% avian/ exotics/ small mammal caseload- referral and first opinion, as well as consulting to various zoos and reintroduction projects. He now provides a consultancy and advisory service to vets, zoo collections and Local Authorities.

He is a co-editor/author of five textbooks on avian/exotics and he is an author of various book chapters and papers on a range of species. (With a sixth text book on Guinea Pigs on the way!)
John was President of the European Association of Avian Veterinarians from 2015-17 and he is on the editorial board of the Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine, Veterinary Record, and Veterinary Evidence.

He was President at BSAVA 2017-18 and he is a Trustee and Honorary Secretary for Vetlife.

Matthew Rendle HeadshotMatthew Rendle RVN

Matt started his veterinary nursing career at The Park Veterinary Centre, Watford in 1989, a busy mixed and exotics practice, where he completed his veterinary nursing qualification and was made Senior Theatre Nurse, before going on to work in a variety of clinical environments.

Matt has experience in the nursing care for many species from ants to elephants (and most things in-between) and has been fortunate to travel extensively across the world as part of his roles.

He has been involved in veterinary politics for many years and currently is an elected member of the RCVS VN council. He is also the Chair of AZEVN (The Association of Zoo and Exotic Veterinary Nurses) which he helped found in 2016, to provide CPD for nurses working with zoo, exotics, and wildlife species.

Matt also is a member of the board of ACOVENE, who help promote and support veterinary nursing education in Europe.

Our 2025 Exhibitors will be available shortly.

2024 Exhibitors:

CAW Business School

CAW Business School was set up in 2012 to offer business related qualifications. CAW Business School offers a number of highly recognised qualifications including the opportunity to study AAT Accounting, Business Administration, Customer Service, TAQA and ILM leadership and management, and coaching and mentoring courses.

MedivetMedivet

Founded in 1987, Medivet is a veterinary owned and led group of more than 350 branches with 24 state-of-the art, 24-hour veterinary centres across the UK.

The Company offers a broad range of mainly small animal veterinary services – including both routine and advanced surgery – to meet all a pet’s health and wellbeing needs, from microchipping and neutering to more complicated surgeries and leading-edge diagnostic technology.

Medivet’s core purpose is to deliver exceptional care whenever needed and it has built a national community of passionate vets offering progressive care to pets and their pet owners.

Millpledge Veterinary LogoMillpledge Veterinary

Millpledge Veterinary has been manufacturing innovative products designed specifically for the veterinary professional for over 30 years.

Ranging from Pharmaceuticals to Nutraceuticals, Bandaging and Fluid Therapy, encompassing products for companion and large animal use. Providing complete peace of mind for the veterinary profession.

Popular products include Rapz Eazy Tear® Cohesive Bandages, Eaze-Off® Tape and Bandage Removal Spray, Tom Tiddle™ Urinary Cat Catheters, Millpack™ Sterilisation Pouches with built-in sterility test strips, Aniset™ IV Sets for small and large animals, and V-GEL® advanced species-specific supraglottic airway devices for Rabbits, Cats, and Dogs.

Visit our website at www.millpledge.com to view our full range.

Pet RemedyPet Remedy

Pet Remedy is a natural plant based range of calming products for pets. Easy to use and fast acting. This unique and patented formula is valerian root oil based and is made in the UK.

Pet Remedy works with the pet's own natural calming mechanisms and is suitable for use in all stressful situations. Pet Remedy will also help with developing emotional resilience and wellbeing. Now used by most veterinary practices and rescues on a daily basis. Visit the vet zone on our website and you will see a detailed explanation by Dr Robert Falconer-Taylor (veterinary neuro surgeon and author), about how Pet Remedy works. You will also see links to 9 published studies showing efficacy in multi-species including cat, dog, rabbit, pig and horse.

PALSPinmoore Animal Laboratory Services Limited (PALS)

Meet PALS – your one-stop exotics diagnostic laboratory...

We pride ourselves on our rapid and personalised veterinary diagnostic testing service and we are passionate in our aim to support vets in giving the best care to their patients.

We are specialists in the analysis of samples from all exotic species from zoos, wildlife parks and exotic veterinary practices, Aardvarks to Zebras, we do them all, along with an extensive range of diagnostic tests to support small animal, equine and farm animal vets. From tests involving multiple disciplines including, haematology, microbiology, biochemistry and cytology, to professional postmortem services – we offer a comprehensive list of options.

Throughout last year, we have launched several new ‘Express’ tests including E. cuniculi IgM & IgG antibody and PCR testing for E. cuniculi, Tritrichomonas and Chlamydia psittaci giving you results within 24 hours of receipt. Our continual investment in research and development ensures that we are at the forefront of veterinary laboratory technology and innovative techniques.

Our ethos is to give you and your clients the highest level of quality and service with exceptional customer care from our dedicated customer service team, all supported with expert veterinary advice from one of our specialists.

CAW LogoThe College of Animal Welfare

The College of Animal Welfare is one of the largest providers of veterinary nurse training in the UK, with centres in Cambridgeshire, North London, Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, West Midlands, County Durham and Scotland. We strongly believe that education and training is the key to raising standards of animal welfare. To this end, we strive to create new and accessible opportunities for learning, and encourage employers and those working with animals to undertake appropriate levels of training and continue with lifelong learning and education.

VetlifeVetlife

Vetlife is a charity dedicated to supporting the veterinary profession.

Everyone in the veterinary community is welcome to contact the Vetlife Helpline for free, independent and confidential support – including veterinary nurses, veterinary students, and non-clinical staff. The Helpline can be reached on 0303 040 2551 or by anonymous email.

Following contact with the Vetlife Helpline, volunteers can refer those needing further care to our award-winning Vetlife Health Support service which provides mental health support.

Vetlife Financial Support is available for eligible veterinary surgeons, registered veterinary nurses, and their dependants in the UK.

Early Bird Tickets Available

£150 (£125+VAT)

That's a saving of £60

Once the Early Bird promotion ends, your ticket will cost: £210 (£175+VAT)

Early Bird pricing is available until Friday 17 January 2025.

Interested in exhibiting at Rabbits and Small Furries Congress?

Rabbits and Small Furries is a one day virtual event that focuses on care of rabbits and small furries in veterinary practice.

Why exhibit with us?

  • Limited exhibitor numbers - Unlike larger congresses where hundreds of exhibitors often mean that visitors will not remember everyone, exhibition space for these events is strictly limited. As such you will get the opportunity to engage with the delegates attending our congresses personally.
  • Make meaningful business connections – Network with those that influence decision making in veterinary practice and make relevant industry contacts virtually.
  • Cost effective – with exhibitor packages starting from just £50+VAT, our prices offer value for money and fall considerably below that of larger events within the industry.

To find out more contact Claire Gregory on 01480 422060.


Book now