International Zoo Veterinary Group

14/06/2024

Huge congratulations to IZVG vet Matt and his new wife, Natalie on their wedding day last month!

30/05/2024

Next up for BIAZA Love your Zoo/Love your Aquarium week it's pathologist Andy Rich telling us what he loves most about working in the industry:

'Being a zoological veterinary pathologist is a particularly unique way of caring for zoo and aquarium animals. I am involved in diagnosis and disease investigation through biopsies of alive animals, and post-mortems, allowing animals to be treated most effectively and zoos to be made aware of diseases in collections, so that changes can be made. I have always been interested in the more weird and wonderful species, and as there is such a huge diversity of animals in zoos, as a pathologist this means having to constantly think outside the box. Many of the conditions associated with these animals that I come across daily have never been seen or been reported in the textbooks. I feel that, in veterinary science, this job is at the cutting edge of zoo and aquarium disease research...the greater impact of this, as a zoo pathologist, is that I can contribute toward global wildlife conservation efforts through my experience, research, and teaching of zoological diseases.'

29/05/2024

On the third day of BIAZA's Love your zoo/Love your Aquarium we're asking IZVG clinician SJ Smith what draws her to zoos and aquariums:

'What do I love most about being a zoo vet? I don't know where to begin! Every day is different, presenting a new challenge. I feel grateful to work with a variety of incredible species - there is always something new to learn; I am never bored but often amazed and frequently amused! What more could you ask for in a job?! It has been fantastic to see the advancements in captive animal welfare in the time that I have been a vet, and the positive impacts this has on their quality of life. I have worked with some amazing people during my time as a zoo vet; from veterinary professionals to keepers and conservation biologists. Animal people are the best people, in my opinion; dedicated, professional and caring. It is a privilege to be trusted by them and an honour to work alongside them, to play an active role in making sure zoo animals have the best live possible.'

28/05/2024

Next up in BIAZA's Love your zoo/love your aquarium week, we chatted to IZVG Veterinary Pathologist Mark Stidworthy to find out why he loves working within the zoo and aquarium industry:

My interest and enthusiasm for animals grew from regular childhood visits to London Zoo and Whipsnade with my zoologist father, as well as trips to the Natural History Museum. Good zoos and aquariums give an immediacy of connection (sight, sound, smell, behaviour) between the live animal and even the youngest visitor that can’t be replicated on TV or smartphone. For some, this may stimulate a lifelong appreciation of the natural world and personal actions to care for it. My work investigating disease in anything from tiny endangered Partula snails to elephants plays a small role in supporting this and is endlessly fascinating.

27/05/2024

It's BIAZA Love Your Zoo/Love Your Aquarium week, so we've been asking members of the IZVG team what they love about their jobs. First up, clinician Matt Siddle:

"I have wanted to work with animals for as long as I can remember. People often ask me which is my favourite, and I’ve never been able to pick one! The best part of my job is the incredible diversity of animals I get to work with. Each species presents its own unique challenges, and I am constantly intrigued and inspired by them. The keepers who care for these animals are some of the most selfless and dedicated individuals I have ever met. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to collaborate with them and make a positive difference to the lives of the animals under their care."

23/05/2024

Sue, Steve, Tania and Rowena have had a busy week over in Galway for the 55th annual IAAAM conference. They’ve caught up with colleagues from the USA, Spain, Portugal, Italy, South Africa, Ireland and the UK. They’ve attended lots of excellent talks, especially a keynote presentation about deep sea corals in Ireland. Along with talks on elasmobranch neonate care and contraception, pinniped rehabilitation and the human impact on wild pinnipeds, cetaceans and fish. To top it off Tania presented two posters.

Time to relax!

23/04/2024

27/03/2024

Just a reminder to our licensed clients that you need to submit your complete 2023 animal inventory to your Local Authority by the 1st April. Happy record keeping!

25/03/2024

🐣Easter opening hours🥚

The office will be closed Friday 29th March and Monday 1st April.
Last dispatch date for medications and vitamins is Wednesday 27th March, please ensure orders are received by midday 26th March for processing.

Last submission to IZVG Pathology is midday Thursday 28th March. Please refrigerate any post mortem samples after this, for sending Tuesday 2nd April.

Clinician availability will be communicated through usual methods (directly, or through AHEF emails).

🥚We wish all our clients a very Happy Easter! 🐣

15/03/2024

We’re incredibly proud to announce that retired IZVG partner and founder Andrew Greenwood has been awarded Honorary Life Membership of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals as a result of his outstanding contribution to the field. Well done Andrew!

11/03/2024

A massive congratulations to Laura Gardner (Director of Conservation and Rewilding) at Wildwood Kent for the incredible achievement of BIAZA Woman of the Year 2024!!

https://biaza.org.uk/news/detail/biaza-woman-of-the-year-laura-gardner #:~:text=After%20showcasing%2029%20incredible%20nominees,Kent%20wildlife%20charity%20Wildwood%20Trust.

06/03/2024

This week we're pleased to announce the following publication in collaboration with ZSL.

IZVG pathologist Mark says: “I’m proud to have worked with the team at ZSL-London to help conserve the precarious populations of these iconic snails through a better understanding of their biology and histopathology. Human intervention has not always been helpful for these unique invertebrates, but the worldwide Partula conservation project, and our team’s part in it alongside many others, has been an opportunity for biologists and veterinarians to do something positive. Sadly, the success must be placed in the wider context of global warming, with rises in sea levels threatening the Polynesian islands on which these snails make their home.”

Between 2015 and 2019, a health screening was carried out annually on captive-bred Partula snails prior to export for reintroduction as part of an international effort to repopulate areas of French Polynesia, where the snails were extinct or critically endangered. In total, 129 separate tank populat...

01/03/2024

***NEW PUBLICATION***
We are excited to share a new publication written by two of our colleagues, Andy (IZVG Pathologist) and Sue (IZVG Partner and Clinician), in collaboration with aquarist Gareth Mead, describing the first reported case of "Cutaneous haemangiosarcoma with ovarian metastases in an aquarium-managed mirror carp"!

LEARNING POINTS/TAKE-HOME MESSAGES
∙Neoplastic malignancy in fish is typically based on the detection of local tissue invasion (in contrast to benign expansile growth) as metastasis is a rare behaviour.
∙Dermal haemangiosarcomas are currently considered to be rare in comparison with other tumours in fish.
∙While dermal haemangiosarcoma appears to be slower growing in fish in contrast with mammals, it still has the propensity to metastasise to visceral organs, despite current conceptions of rare metastatic behaviour in fish neoplasia.

Veterinary Record Case Reports publishes articles in all fields of veterinary medicine and surgery, providing easily-accessible information for veterinary professionals.

01/02/2024

It is always a pleasure working closely with our dedicated clients to help the animals under their, and our care.

In this case, Zaya, a 7-month old Snow Leopard cub, was suffering an aggressive infection in the eye, which required prompt surgery.

An excellent example of colleagues from different aspects of veterinary medicine working closely and collaboratively for the benefit of animal welfare.

We are wishing Zaya a speedy recovery!

Full story: https://thebigcatsanctuary.org/news/update-on-zaya-the-snow-leopard/?fbclid=IwAR1IOqgBTCGx7BZSBk4V38JjAwagBAnw0igJN1oPDY2NMofA3gIWl8XEi-k

To find out more about the Big Cat The Big Cat Sanctuary click here: https://thebigcatsanctuary.org/

30/01/2024

WVI's Sea Turtle Health and Welfare Workshop coming up in February!

26/01/2024

Happy Friday everyone!

23/12/2023

Wishing all of our wonderful clients, colleagues and friends a very Merry Christmas! 🌲 From the IZVG team 🎅

18/12/2023

We wish all our clients a very Happy Christmas and send best wishes for 2024.

Our opening times over Christmas are as follows:

Office – The office will be closed completely on Monday 25th December, Tuesday 26th December, and Monday 1st January 2024.

The office will close at 3pm on Friday 22nd December and Friday 29th December.

On the days between Christmas and New Year the offices will be open but operating on a reduced service.

Reopens, as normal, on Tuesday 2nd January 2024.

Please note, non-urgent orders will not be despatched on Thursday 21st , Friday 22nd December, Thursday 28th December and Friday 29th December.

The last date for orders of non-stock items for Christmas delivery is Tuesday 19th December at 2pm.

IZVG Pathology – The laboratory will be closed completely on Monday 25th December, Tuesday 26th December and Monday 1st January 2024.

We will close for receipt of routine samples at midday on Friday December 22nd and Friday 29th December.

The laboratory will be open as usual on Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th December with reduced staffing levels.

Please contact the pathologist if you have any questions during this time.

A normal service for all samples will resume on Tuesday 2nd January 2024.

Best wishes from all at IZVG.

04/12/2023

28/11/2023

Have you seen IZVG vets Sue and Rowena on the BBC series Secrets of the Aquarium, filmed at National Marine Aquarium?!
Episode 3 airs tonight and you can watch episodes 1 and 2 on BBC iplayer - it's definitely worth a catch up! 🐠🐡🦀🦞🐙

14/11/2023

We are pleased to see little Kumi continuing to improve, going strength to strength, following his recent urgent procedure with IZVG vet Elliott and the orthopaedic team from The Grove Veterinary Hospital & Clinics to fix his his leg fracture.

04/11/2023

Fabulous first day at BVZS British Veterinary Zoological Society conference, with pathologist Andy presenting a Masterclass on Outbreaks of Sudden Death in Captive Penguins. Now we’re all set for day two - half the IZVG team started early with a running tour of Birmingham! 🐧 🏃‍♀️

02/11/2023

We're excited to be heading down to Birmingham later today for the annual BVZS British Veterinary Zoological Society conference. There's a good crowd of us going, with Mark, Andy and Matt all giving presentations. Come over and say hello at our stand, and definitely don't miss the IZVG Pathology Photoquiz on Sunday!

10/10/2023

We are very proud to see partner and vet Sue in the Blooloop 50 Zoo and Aquarium Influencers List 2023. Congratulations Sue, well deserved!

Credit: Saint Louis Zoo

06/10/2023

We are delighted to share the release of IZVG veterinary pathologist Andy's most recent publication, titled "A retrospective study of pathologic findings in Cephalopods (extant subclasses: Coleoidea and Nautiloidea) under laboratory and aquarium management", which was supported by co-authors Mark Stidworthy, Dani Denk and Cheryl Sangster.

This publication represents the largest cohort study of Cephalopods in the current scientific literature, in which 593 specimens examined over 19 years were reviewed to identify disease trends in octopuses, squid, cuttlefish, and Nautiluses.

A lot of hard work went into this, with an amazing outcome! With the added bonus of their nautilus photo being selected as the front cover of the "Special Focus Issue on Invertebrate Pathology" in "Veterinary Pathology", the flagship journal for the specialism.

To read the article, please follow this link: https://doi.org/10.1177/03009858231186306

22/08/2023

Client alert: Bank holiday, Monday 28th August

We want to remind clients that next Monday is a bank holiday, and as such, the office (as well as our suppliers) will be closed. Please ensure any orders placed take into account the fact that we will be unable to send out orders until Wednesday 30th August for any orders placed on or after Friday 25th.

01/08/2023

Most people spend their annual leave relaxing. Last week IZVG vet Karen spent hers swimming a full length of Windermere as part of a 15 x 1 way charity relay. That’s 10.5 miles, or 17k if you prefer. The event took place over 5 days and 4 nights meaning that some swimmers (Karen included) swam through the night.
The event was the brainchild of The Aquatic Body with the aim of raising £5k for Children with Cancer UK. So far Team Windermere have raised almost £17k!

If you would like to read Karen’s personal account of her Team Windermere journey you can find it here: https://cityoflancastertriathlon.co.uk/blog/2023/07/30/team-windermere-ponderings-from-leg-13/

If you feel moved to donate then this is the Just Giving link: https://ecs.page.link/PDz9u

Come on now Karen, time to do some work!

19/07/2023

🦔🐇🦨🦥🐀🦢🐓🦩🐐🦙🦜🦦🦝🫏🐖🐏🐃🦬🦘🦧🐘🐫🦍🦓🦭🐊🐆🐅🦀🦑🦐🐢🐍🐡 🐟🦈🕷️Happy National Zookeeper Week to all our clients!!🦂🦟🦗🪰🦋🐌🐝🐴🦉🦅🦇🐺🦆🐧🐸🪿🐯🦁🐨🐼🦊🐻🐭🐻‍❄️🪱🐞🐛🐥🦞🪼🦎🦛🦏🐂🦌🦃🦫

14/07/2023

This week we all piled over to IZVG HQ at Station House for our summer practice meeting. It’s so nice for us to get together in person and have a really good catch up. We undertake CPD sessions, discuss cases and a few keen folk even do a bit of early morning exercise! 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️

16/06/2023

Meet our new addition to the IZVG clinician team, Matt! 👋

Matt graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2016 and subsequently worked for three years with small, farm, exotic, and zoo animals in Northumberland. In 2019, he moved to Canada for a one year exotic, zoo, and wildlife internship at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatchewan. In 2020, he moved to Hong Kong to work at a large, exotic animal referral hospital where he stayed for 3 years before joining IZVG.
He has completed externships at Dallas and Edinburgh Zoos as a student, published articles in peer-reviewed journals, and has attended multiple exotic and zoo conferences. He attained a post-graduate certificate in exotic animal practice in 2018 and is a RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Zoological Medicine.

Matt joined IZVG in 2023 and is based in Yorkshire.