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Episode 17 - What impact does behaviour have on animal welfare?
With Nikki McLeod BSc(Hons) PGDip(CAB) NCert(Behav) RVN ISFM CertFN & AdvCertFB
In this episode we focus on animal behaviour and the impact behavioural problems can have on animal welfare. We consider how important it is for all veterinary professionals to understand animal behaviour both to prevent and cure problems. We also focus on veterinary nursing, and the need for veterinary nurses to play a key role in improving animal welfare through behavioral awareness and education. Along the way Nikki tells us more about her career, taking time out, and following her own path in the world of animal behaviour.
A crazy cat lady and self-confessed study geek, Nikki has been a RVN since 2000. With her fingers in many pies, she splits what little time she has, between working as the Cat Advocate, and a consulting nurse, for a small animal practice in Fife, Scotland, as well as studying for multiple certificates.
Not satisfied with gaining her first undergraduate degree at the age of 50, she has now gained a Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Animal Behaviour from the University of Edinburgh. She has a vision of becoming a practice-based Clinical Animal Behaviourist in the near future.
She is also keeping a British Veterinary Nursing Association Council seat warm for three years, while also campaigning for promoting excellence in animal behaviour and training as a trustee for the Animal Behaviour and Training Council.
When work and studies doesn’t consume her brain, her husband and kids fry it gently and keep her on her toes. Sleep is optional.
Find out more about:
https://bvna.org.uk/blog/category/protect-the-title/
https://catfriendlyclinic.org/
https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/how-we-help/professionals/vet-clinics
Vet, Medical Educator, Company Director
Dr Mary Fraser BVMS MRes PhD CertVD MAcadMEd MIoD PGCHE FHEA FRSPH FRSB FRSM FRCVS
Mary has had a varied career, starting out in mixed practice, then focussing on veterinary dermatology, veterinary nursing, medical education, animal welfare, owner support and clinical decision making. She was awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2017 for Meritorious Contributions to Practice and is a past Chair of the RCVS Fellowship Science Advisory Panel.
Working both as a clinician and academic, Mary has a PhD in immunological aspects of canine atopic dermatitis and the RCVS Certificate in Veterinary Dermatology, worked in referral practice, and also set up her own first opinion/referral small animal practice in rural Perthshire.
In between this, she had the opportunity to work in veterinary nursing at both FE and HE levels becoming a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Member of the Academy of Medical Educators, and alongside Simon Girling, setting up the Advanced Programme in Veterinary Nursing of Exotics a postgraduate training programme for veterinary nurses that has now been running for over 20 years and trained over 1000 vet nurses.
She is a accomplished researcher and author, with over 100 published articles, book chapters, books and papers. Areas of work include veterinary dermatology, medical education, preparing students for practice, the challenges of clinical decision making, providing better support in practice for clients with sight loss, and the application of evidence based medicine in practice.
During her ti…
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A crazy cat lady and self-confessed study geek, Nikki has been a RVN since 2000. With her fingers in many pies, she splits what little time she has, between working as the Cat Advocate, and a consulting nurse, for a small animal practice in Fife, Scotland, as well as studying for multiple certificates.
Not satisfied with gaining her first undergraduate degree at the age of 50, she has now gained a Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Animal Behaviour from the University of Edinburgh. She has a vision of becoming a practice-based Clinical Animal Behaviourist in the near future.
She is also keeping a British Veterinary Nursing Association Council seat warm for three years, while also campaigning for promoting excellence in animal behaviour and training as a trustee for the Animal Behaviour and Training Council.
When work and studies doesn’t consume her brain, her husband and kids fry it gently and keep her on her toes. Sleep is optional.