In this episode of the Nupsala Podcast, we’re joined by Ross Allan BVMS PGCertSAS MRCVS, RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery and Clinical Director of Referrals at Pets’n’Vets, Glasgow.
Ross shares his approach to managing canine osteoarthritis in first-opinion practice, with a focus on intra-articular diagnostics and therapies, collaborative team-based care, and realistic long-term management for osteoarthritic patients.
He introduces the Joint Organ Concept, which views the joint as a living system of interacting tissues, helping clinicians better understand disease progression and treatment effects.
The episode also covers Ross’s work with the Veterinary Osteoarthritis Alliance (VOA) and the RCVS Knowledge Cruciate Registry, a free quality-improvement initiative using real-world data to improve outcomes for dogs undergoing cruciate surgery.
Links mentioned:
- RCVS Knowledge Cruciate Registry: https://ccr.rcvsknowledge.org/
- Veterinary Osteoarthritis Alliance: https://vet-oa.com/
- VOACON tickets: https://vet-oa.com/voacon-2026/
| Time | Chapter Title |
|---|---|
| 00:37 | Introduction to Ross Allan, his background, and role at Roundhouse Referrals |
| 02:30 | Importance of OA knowledge for first-opinion vets |
| 04:03 | Collaborative approach to managing OA in practice |
| 05:44 | Introduction to intra-articular therapies in small animals |
| 07:54 | Overcoming fear and practical tips for joint injections |
| 10:30 | Benefits of intra-articular vs systemic treatments |
| 13:30 | Case example: Labrador with elbow OA |
| 15:48 | The Joint Organ Concept: definition and application |
| 19:53 | Using visuals, emojis, and models to explain OA to clients |
| 22:41 | VOACON 2026: upcoming lectures and seminar topics |
| 24:03 | RCVS Cruciate Registry: enrolling vets and pet owners, data collection, and benefits |
| 28:26 | How real-world data can improve patient management and OA care |