We’ve joined forces with the University of Surrey School of Veterinary Medicine to provide fourth year students a ‘hands on’ experience performing neutering procedures at our Community Vet Clinic in London.

Our clinic hosts students for two semesters per year, where they have the opportunity to learn how to perform neutering procedures under the close supervision of surgical and anaesthesia specialists from the University. The students operate on animals that come into our clinic, enabling them to build vital skills to prepare them for their future veterinary careers. This training will see all of Surrey’s 134 fourth year veterinary medicine students visit our clinic until June this year. The partnership will then continue for future fourth year students.

The importance of pet neutering

Neutering is an essential part of responsible pet ownership. It has both behavioural and health benefits, and also plays an essential role in reducing pet abandonment. Our Community Vet Clinic provides free veterinary care for those who are eligible to receive it. Additional preventative care services also include vaccinations, microchipping and parasite control.

Melanie Blevins, Teaching Fellow in Small Animal Surgery at the University of Surrey says,

“The neutering clinic days hosted by Mayhew are an invaluable opportunity for our students to put all of their training into practice in a real-life environment with the full support and supervision of the University team. It not only allows them to utilise their practical skills in surgery and anaesthesia but to be involved in all the aspects of veterinary care that they have been training towards, patient care, communicating with owners and working as part of the veterinary team.  It forms a vital part of their training and prepares them for their final year workplace-based rotations.”

Veterinary Student at the University of Surrey, Annie Walters adds,

“I am so grateful to all of the Mayhew and University staff, the lovely pets, and their owners for such an amazing experience. To be able to provide care to an animal from the moment they’re admitted, throughout their procedures, until they go home is invaluable. It’s a crucial opportunity to put all our years of teaching, theory, and clinical skills into a real-life setting. Giving us the opportunity to practice with expert supervisors, and leave with the confidence to perform vital surgical and anaesthetic skills, the necessary patient care, and all aspects of communication required for the job.”

If you have a cat that needs neutering please click here to see if you are eligible for our free neutering or the C4 scheme.

For more information please contact Esther Porta, PR and Media Officer, on 07870 439158 or email [email protected]