For more than 40 years, veterinary surgeons dealing with poisoning incidents have had access to a dedicated telephone helpline run by staff at the Medical Toxicology Unit of Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospitals in London. The Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) provides a vital service to the profession and thanks to an authoritative voice answering queries from veterinary practitioners faced with an incident involving an unfamiliar poison, many animals have been saved from certain death in the last four decades.

For both general and specific enquiries, telephone: 44 (0)20 7188 0200, email: vpis@gstt.nhs.uk (for non urgent advice) or visit www.vpisuk.co.uk

Clinicians may also write to:
Mr A Campbell
Head of Service
Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS)
Mary Sheridan House
Guy's Hospital
13 St Thomas' Street
London SE1 9RY

• The VPIS is a 24-hour telephone emergency service for veterinary professionals and those working for animal welfare organizations providing information on the management of actual and suspected acute poisoning in animals.
• Advice for every consultation is tailored to the specific case in question and can include a risk assessment, information on anticipated clinical effects, a suggested treatment protocol and prognostic advice, and therefore ensuring that the animal receives appropriate and optimum treatment.
• It is a subscription based service.
• The VPIS is not a service for access by the general public.
• In addition VPIS undertakes research by following up many of the cases referred to it and collecting and collating these and other published data to constantly refine and improve its recommendations and advice. The information sources and advice provided to VPIS’ veterinary clients is also reviewed and audited by the VPIS’ external veterinary consultants.
• The VPIS has input to the undergraduate courses of many of the UK veterinary colleges and also provides some CPD training for veterinarians and veterinary nurses already in practice. It collaborates with many other veterinary associations and animal welfare groups producing leaflets and other publications on poisoning themes.
• Registration with the VPIS fulfils the requirement of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Practice Accreditation Scheme for practices to “have access to advice from a service providing veterinary specific advice on management of poisons”.

The VPIS website at www.vpisuk.co.uk  is the place to find their seasonal newsletters offering helpful advice about common poisons.

The latest VPIS newsletters, Toxic Times can be downloaded below and covers such topics as;

• The hidden dangers of ethylene glycol
• Veterinary Poisons Information Service acquires new owners
• Death by chocolate?
• Intravenous lipid rescue
• How VPIS helped a Greek dog called Carpos!
• Interesting case: 5-Fluorouracil in a dog
• Meet the Team - Katherine Kennedy

Download the autumn poisons newsletter.

The BSAVA/VPIS Poisons Triage Tool is your first-stop guide to suspected poisonings in dogs and cats. Access is exclusive to BSAVA Members (login required).

Find out more about the BSAVA/VPIS Poisons Triage Tool