The Vet Times podcast is a regular show in which we speak to individuals making the headlines or providing valuable information for Vet Times readers, delving into the subjects that matter to the UK veterinary profession.
Ep 144: Defining overtreatment, with Elizabeth Mullineaux and Caroline Allen
In June, BVA Live’s Interactive Zone hosted the packed session “When is enough, enough? How do we define overtreatment?”, which made for lively and thought-provoking debate.
The session’s chairs, BVA senior vice-president Elizabeth Mullineaux and Caroline Allen, director at Pet Lighthouse and former chief veterinary officer of the RSPCA, sat down with Chris Simpson to take the discussion further.
Podcast music: “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
8 Sept 2026
Vet Times Extra: Accessible veterinary care and charity support, with Paul Manktelow
In this Vet Times Extra podcast, supported by Animal Friends Pet Insurance, Paul Manktelow, veterinary services director at Blue Cross, discusses the vital role of long-term supporters, equine welfare, and strategies for navigating and relieving the impacts of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis across the veterinary sector.
The podcast episode highlights the multi-year support provided by Animal Friends Pet Insurance. The pet insurance provider, founded in 1998 to support animal welfare, has donated more than £10 million to help support more than 830 animal welfare charities in the last 28 years*. The episode also explores how funding helps to empower charities to deliver essential services for UK pet owners, expand volunteer networks, and relieve pressure on veterinary teams.
At the core of the discussion is the critical need for accessible veterinary care. Paul explains how Blue Cross supports vets through initiatives like the Veterinary Care Fund, which now engages approximately 1,500 practices across 92% of the UK to help owners who cannot afford immediate treatment. He also addresses the introduction of discounted fees at Blue Cross hospitals to ensure long-term service sustainability, alongside the expanded role of the Pet Loss Support line in assisting owners through pet relinquishment, loss and financial strain.
For more details on the charity’s work and services, visit: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/
Paul Manktello has worked in the veterinary sector for 25 years, predominantly within the charity field alongside ongoing engagement in private practice. Having previously worked with the PDSA, he now serves as veterinary services director at Blue Cross. In his role, Paul oversees hospital operations and strategic planning to address evolving societal and industry challenges – notably driving initiatives around contextualised care, affordable treatment models, and equine rehoming expansion.
*The charitable work undertaken by Animal Friends Insurance is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Podcast music: “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
4 Sept 2026
Vet Times Extra: How speaking cat changes care: understanding lifestyle, behaviour, and well-being in the modern cat – with Séverine Tasker
As the leading global charity dedicated to feline welfare, iCatCare provides trusted, evidence-based support for veterinary professionals and cat owners. Vetoquinol UK, an animal health pharmaceutical company, shares iCatCare's commitment to improving cat health and welfare through education and engagement.
Together, iCatCare and Vetoquinol UK will support feline health initiatives, promote best practice in cat care, and raise awareness of cats' unique needs among veterinary teams and owners.
SPONSORED: Podcast funded by Vetoquinol UK (Felpreva).
Information on iCatCare education and CPD courses:
Global cat charity iCatCare runs courses including those to help us understand cats – listed on https://icatcare.org/courses.
The Cat Friendly Veterinary Professional https://icatcare.org/courses/cat-friendly-veterinary-professional and Cat Friendly Veterinary Receptionist https://icatcare.org/courses/cat-friendly-veterinary-receptionist on-demand courses are particularly useful for vet teams to help them think ‘CAT’ and reduce stress for feline patients and caregivers.
General information
• Information highlighting different feline needs: https://icatcare.org/articles/the-different-needs-of-different-cats
• Information on the 'Five Pillars' of a healthy feline environment from iCatCare & FelVMA: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1098612X13477537
• iCatCare info on Cat friendly handling & cat friendly interactions (CFI): https://icatcare.org/articles/handling-and-interactions
• iCatCare & FelVMA 2022 Cat Friendly Vet Interaction Guidelines: Approach & Handling Techniques: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1098612X221128760
iCatCare & FelVMA 2022 Cat Friendly Vet Environment Guidelines: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1098612X221128763
• Feline Grimace Scale for pain recognition is validated for non-vet professionals to use too (acute pain): https://www.felinegrimacescale.com/
• iCatCare carer guide on acute pain: https://icatcare.org/resources/cat-carer-guide-acute-pain.pdf
• Chronic pain may be more challenging, but for osteoarthritis caregivers can fill out mobility checklist: https://icatcare.org/resources/cat-friendly-clinic/cat-friendly-clinic-mobility-checklist.pdf
• Signs of pain for caregivers iCatCare infographic: https://icatcare.org/articles/physical-health
• iCatCare information on kittens e.g. https://icatcare.org/articles/helping-your-new-cat-or-kitten-settle-in and taking your cat to the vet https://icatcare.org/articles/taking-your-cat-to-the-vet?
• iCatCare information on giving cats medications: https://icatcare.org/articles/how-to-give-a-cat-medication
• iCatCare information on Cat Friendly Clinics (CFC): https://icatcare.org/cat-friendly-clinic/becoming-a-cat-friendly-clinic
About the speaker
Séverine Tasker is an RCVS recognised specialist in feline medicine and EBVS European veterinary specialist in small animal internal medicine.
After graduation from the University of Bristol veterinary school, Séverine spent time in practice before taking an iCatCare residency in feline medicine at Edinburgh’s vet school. She then returned to Bristol and completed a PhD in feline haemoplasmosis before undertaking an academic career, becoming professor in feline medicine in 2016.
In 2018, she became a medical leader for a group of veterinary clinics in the UK and Ireland, developing a medical strategy incorporating quality improvement, education and clinical research.
In 2025 she joined the charity iCatCare where she is global veterinary advisor, helping to advance feline veterinary science internationally.
Podcast music: “Funky Chunk” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
354,769
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Spotify
4.4 / 5
7 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 69 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
90
Social presence
0
YouTube
86
Engagement
31
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