Animal Welfare Conversations

Episode 5 - Dr Matt Morgan - One Medicine

In this episode we catch up with Dr Matt Morgan, Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine, adjunct Professor, regular BMJ columnist and author of One Medicine - What animals can teach us and why it matters. 
We chat about the physiological, anatomical and behavioural similarities between humans and animals and how we can improve veterinary care for animals, alongside improving medical care for humans. We find out more about the concept of one medicine, how human medicine advances were inspired by the animal world, the importance of a joint education for vets and medics, and consider what the medical profession can learn from vets. 
Matt's book One Medicine will be released in paperback in March. 
About Dr Matt Morgan
Matt Morgan is a Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine, adjunct Clinical Professor and regular BMJ columnist. He has contributed to >50 scientific articles following his PhD in artificial intelligence including the NEJM, Lancet and JAMA. After appearing on television and radio, he gave the 2023 Woodridge Lecture and was nominated for the Royal Society’s David Attenborough prize for public engagement. His first book CRITICAL tells remarkable stories of patients in the intensive care unit. His second book, ONE MEDICINE, explores how understanding animals can help treat human disease. His third book will look at the lives of patients after surviving a cardiac arrest. His is a member of the BMJ Commission on the Future of the NHS and is the medical advisor for The National Theatre’ in London’s production of "Nye", the story of Aneurin Bevan. He lives in Cardiff with his family.
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Episode 4 - Dr Simon Doherty - Livestock Health & Welfare, Sustainability & One Health

In this episode we chat to Dr Simon Doherty. With experience in veterinary practice, industry, academia and professional representation there is a lot to talk about, including how innovation and sustainability can improve animal welfare and what the UK can learn from around the world. As always, we ask Simon what animal welfare means to him. 
More information about the podcast and our guests can be found on the podcast website, where you can also subscribe to our newsletter.  Animal Welfare Conversations
Further information and links:
QUB Institute for Global Food Security:
https://www.qub.ac.uk/Research/GRI/TheInstituteforGlobalFoodSecurity/
 
Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC):
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/trade-and-agriculture-commission
 
CowSignals:
https://www.cowsignals.com/en/
 
Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock (CIEL):
https://cielivestock.co.uk
 
British Bee Veterinary Association:
https://britishbeevets.com
 
Crustacean Compassion:
https://www.crustaceancompassion.org
 
House of Lords evidence re supply of veterinary medicines in NI:
https://committees.parliament.uk/event/20208/formal-meeting-oral-evidence-session/
 
Sustainability
Vet Sustain
 
One Health
UK One Health Co-ordination Group
 
vHive:
https://vhive.buzz
 
Veterinary World
British Veterinary Association
Federation of Veterinarians of Europe
 
BVA Animal Welfare Foundation:
https://www.animalwelfarefoundation.org.uk
 
World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association:
https://www.wavma.org
 
 

Episode 3 - Dr Sean Wensley - Animal Welfare Science

In this edition of Animal Welfare Conversations, I’m delighted to chat to Dr Sean Wensley. We discuss a diverse range of topics starting with what animal welfare means to Sean – that takes us into a fascinating conversation about the physical and mental wellbeing of animals, alongside animal welfare science, ethics and law. We delve into the complexities of each of these, how we can understand what an animal needs and wants and how to assess welfare.
We discuss Sean’s book Through a Vet’s Eyes – How to Care for Animals and Treat Them Better a book which challenges us to see how animals experience the world and how we can make their lives better, across the spectrum of animals kept for food, as companions, for sport, and wild animals impacted by human activity. We discuss sentience, innate behaviour and behavioural needs, and what our relationship with animals should look like, alongside the importance of education and raising awareness about animal welfare problems. We look at the big challenges in animal welfare including breeding for brachycephaly (a ‘flattened face’ in certain dog breeds and other species) but also discuss areas of good work which need to be adopted more widely by animal owners. Although we discuss what governments can do to improve animal welfare, responsibility doesn’t end there, with the individual and society also having a central part to play in continuously striving to improve animal welfare.
Further information
Brachycephalic Working Group – Working together to improve the health and welfare of brachycephalic dogs (ukbwg.org.uk)
RSPCA Assured UK - Farm Animal and Chicken Welfare
BVA policy - Animal welfare strategy
Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) Animal Welfare Strategy - FVE Animal Welfare Strategy: The Veterinary Voice for Europe’s Animals – FVE – Federation of Veterinarians of Europe
World Organisation for Animal Welfare - WOAH - World Organisation for Animal Health Animal Welfare - WOAH - World Organisation for Animal Health
Shock Collars / BVA / Template letter BVA policy - Electric shock collars and training aids BVA policy - Electric shock collars and training aids
PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report - PAW Report - PDSA
Guest Biography
Dr Sean Wensley FRCVS is Senior Veterinarian for Animal Welfare and Professional Engagement at the UK veterinary charity, PDSA. He was President of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and chaired the Animal Welfare Working Group of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE). Sean has contributed to animal welfare and conservation projects around the world and received the Global Animal Welfare Award for Europe from the World Veterinary Association (WVA) and the J.A. Wight Memorial Award from the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA). His first book Through A Vet’s Eyes: How to care for animals and treat them better was one of the Financial Times’ Best Summer Books of 2022.

Episode 2 - Emma Onyejekwe - The Wildlife Vet Nurse

This edition of AWC focusses on wildlife with Veterinary Nurse Emma Onyejekwe.
Many of you will know Emma as The Wildlife Vet Nurse and I’m sure that after listening to this discussion you will want to follow in her footsteps working with some amazing animals around the world, and here at home.
In 2023, Emma was awarded a 30 under Thirty Award at the London Vet Show for her work promoting wildlife care. 
In this episode we cover a diverse range of topics, including how to raise awareness about the veterinary nursing role, the important role that veterinary nurses play in education (there’s a theme emerging here), ethical dilemmas of working with wildlife, what opportunities can be created with a veterinary nursing qualification and how to break into wildlife veterinary nursing. Emma’s enthusiasm for caring for wildlife is clear throughout. I really enjoyed having the chance to talk to Emma, and I’m sure you'll enjoy listening.
 
Useful sites and further information on the topics discussed:
The Wildlife Vet Nurse on Instagram / Website / and Facebook
Improving the welfare of both wildlife and domestic cats - British Veterinary Nursing AssociationBritish Veterinary Nursing Association (bvna.org.uk)
Cats and their Owners - SongBird Survival Research (songbird-survival.org.uk)
BWRC | Ethics | British Wildlife Rehabilitation Council

Episode 1 - Amy Lyons - Veterinary Nursing in Australia

We were delighted to chat with Amy Lyons in our more recent edition of Animal Welfare Conversations. Working as a veterinary nurse in Australia Amy sees a variety of different animals – anything from wombats and kangaroos through to rabbits and dogs.
We look at how the role of the vet nurse is central to animal welfare – through vet nurse training, the challenges of working with wildlife, common husbandry conditions, owner education and the reality of working in practice.
We compare life as a vet nurse in Australia with that in the UK, and identify similarities between the two countries for the profession. It’s clear that the role of the veterinary nurse is central to owner support and education – it doesn’t have to be boring, using social media and TikTok, giving glimpses of behind the scenes, can enable practices to engage with owners providing information in a friendly and approachable way.
One surprising element to the discussion focussed on television programmes about vet practice, asking the question why they always focus on the vets, rather than the nurses. Perhaps there’s an idea for a new TV programme there.
Listen now to find out more.
Useful resources related to this episode:
https://www.vnca.asn.au/
https://www.ava.com.au/
Home - Sleepy Burrows Wombat Sanctuary

AWC_Introduction

Welcome to Animal Welfare Conversations
A podcast for veterinary nurses, vets, vet students, and anyone who just loves working with animals.
This podcast is for you if you want to feel part of a larger conversation and community around animal welfare in the UK and beyond.
Our first season is all about highlighting the good work that’s already going on in animal welfare.
Meet the humans working in animal welfare
We have an inspiring list of guests for season 1. We’ll be talking to vet nurses, writers, vets, policymakers, and human doctors to explore the idea of animal welfare and their relationship with the human world.
Gain knowledge and insight for your own practice
Our chats will open up new ideas and ways of thinking and give you a fresh outlook on working with animals in modern times. Lightbulbs and ideas are one thing, but you’ll also get practical steps and actions to start implementing change, too.
Work together to bring about real change in animal welfare
You already do so much to improve the industry, but it’s when we come together that we can really impact change. Animal Welfare Conversations will highlight some areas that need to be addressed. We’ll talk about how change can happen and what you can do to get involved.
Stay informed, stay involved
To make sure you don’t miss any of the new episodes as they’re released, make sure you subscribe to the podcast and sign up to our mailing list where you’ll get more information about the episode and some behind-the-scenes insight, too.
We hope you can join The Animal Welfare Conversation.