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A new study from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has revealed a unifying mechanical principle that explains why animals as different as pike, tuna, vultures and swifts have evolved such vastly different shapes for flight and swimming. The findings suggest that the same equations used when designing propellers apply to swimming and flapping flight.

New research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has revealed that when dinosaurs leapt into the air, they may have used their tails as well as their legs. The study concludes that long-tailed, bipedal carnivores (like Velociraptor ) could have powered higher jumps by swinging their massive tails - a strategy that was later lost as birds evolved shorter tails and had to adopt different jumping techniques.

New research from the Royal Veterinary College has uncovered how the way chickens are produced, traded and transported in northern Viet Nam can contribute to the spread of avian influenza viruses. As chickens move through farms, markets and slaughter points, they mix at multiple stages, creating hotspots for viral transmission.

A new study led by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and Imperial College London has revealed how dragonflies use a small number of strategically positioned sensors on their wings to monitor wing shape in real time. This simple but highly effective biological system enables the insects to remain exceptionally stable or manoeuvre in flight, despite having comparatively tiny brains.

Last Updated: 22 Oct 2025 19:00:03 New collaborative research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), along with the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (Beijing, China) and Clemson University (South Carolina, USA), has revealed how more upright limb postures helped ancient reptiles overcome the biomechanical constraints of body size, paving the way for the evolution of larger sizes in archosaurs - a group that includes crocodylians, dinosaurs and birds.

Last Updated: 15 Oct 2025 19:00:10 Novel research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), in collaboration with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Utrecht University, has revealed the epidemiology of phaeochromocytoma, a rare adrenal tumour, in dogs. The new study uncovers previously unreported breed predispositions and other demographic risk factors, which will contribute to improved recognition of canine phaeochromocytoma in general veterinary practice and deepen the understanding of the cancer.

A novel study by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has revealed new insights into how the highly contagious disease strangles spreads amongst horses in the UK. This research marks a significant step forward in understanding how owners and veterinarians can more effectively manage and prevent outbreaks of this devastating equine disease, through targeted interventions and outbreak management protocols.

Two new studies from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) have revealed widespread public misunderstanding about the importation of puppies from countries within the European Union (EU). With growing concern about the scale and impact of this trade, including puppy welfare and illegal imports, the research highlights the need for greater education and policy change to tackle the growing risks.

A new VetCompass study from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has confirmed the findings of previous studies, showing positive outcomes for pimobendan treatment in dogs with heart disease. The results - using a successful application of "target trial emulation," - showed pimobendan prescription within six months of a newly diagnosed grade IV/VI heart murmur in dogs delayed the onset of congestive heart failure (CHF) and improved survival compared to not prescribing the medication.

New research from the Royal Veterinary College's (RVC) VetCompass Programme has revealed scavenging, digestive diseases and gastroenteritis as some of the most common causes of diarrhoea amongst dogs in the UK. The study sheds light on how frequently the condition occurs in different breeds, as well as on commonly used veterinary treatments and aims to help owners understand the condition more.

New research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has identified a set of key recommendations to further improve canine health and welfare research in the UK. This includes the need for more efficient grant applications, stronger collaboration between funders and research institutions and the prioritisation of research that has direct welfare benefits for dogs.

New research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), in collaboration with Utrecht University, is the first of its kind to report on the epidemiology of canine insulinoma. Findings reveal that Boxers, German Pointers, Flat Coated Retrievers and West Highland White Terriers are among the breeds at greatest risk of developing the condition.

New research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), in collaboration with the West Bengal University of Animal & Fishery Sciences (WBUAFS), explored antibiotic use in chicken farming in eastern India, revealing how poultry companies play a significant role in influencing the way antibiotics are used during food production compared to chicken farmers.

Last Updated: 29 Oct 2024 13:48:07 A new study from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and the University of Southampton have suggested that flatter-shaped saddles may better fit horses that spend most of their ridden time in motion. From observing significant changes in the shape of horse backs when stationary and during locomotion, the study found that horse backs become much flatter during movement compared to when stood still.

The RVC has undertaken the world's largest study into the health of designer crossbreed dogs and revealed that the overall health of three common designer crossbreeds (Cockapoo, Labradoodle and Cavapoo) is largely similar to their parent purebred breeds. These findings debunk common public beliefs about the superior health of these designer crossbreed dogs and provide vital information to assist potential dog owners when deciding which type of dog to acquire.

New study reveals need for greater One Health understanding in antimicrobial resistance management A new study from researchers at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC); Massey University; and AgResearch, a leading agricultural research institution in Aotearoa New Zealand, has found a need for greater engagement and collaboration between veterinarians, farmers and regulators to improve understanding and management of antimicrobial resistance and One Health amongst Aotearoa New Zealand dairy farmers.

Researchers from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and UCL have uncovered anatomical differences between species of frogs specialising in different locomotor styles. Jumping, swimming, burrowing, walking and climbing frogs were all found to differ significantly in the size of their small hip and shank muscles.

Researchers from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), as part of a team from Cornell University, have identified chromosomal errors as a common cause of pregnancy loss in mares. Whilst chromosomal abnormalities are widely acknowledged as a common cause of human miscarriage, responsible for up to 82 per cent of pregnancy loss, there have been limited reports in other species until now.

New research led by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) into the spread of MERS-CoV, the virus carried by camels which causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), has found that young camels present a high risk for human exposure to the virus, with kissing and petting young camels found to be an important route of viral transmission.

A new study from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has revealed that delaying spaying of bitches until between seven and 18 months causes a 20 percent reduction in the risk of early-onset urinary incontinence, compared with early-age spaying between three and six months. The findings will help vets make evidence-based recommendations on the timing of spaying, whilst taking into account other spaying considerations.