Since 1981 this award has been presented annually by Royal Canin for meritorious contributions by veterinary surgeons to small animal veterinary practice. The award, which takes the form of a scroll, is open only to veterinary surgeons in general practice.

The 2009 Melton Award was presented to Clive Elwood. A Cambridge graduate, Clive has published and presented definitive works throughout 2008 which include Keeping it clean: further lessons for infection control (In Practice), and Hypoalbuminaemia in dogs with hypoadrenocorticism: a marker of disease (BSAVA Congress); he is also a member of the Editorial Panel of the BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 6th Edition and the European Emesis Council.

In 2007 Clive was elected to the Board of Management of the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Companion Animals). Clive has lectured and published widely and maintains his clinical activity and interest in many areas of canine and feline internal medicine as Head of Medicine at Davies Veterinary Specialists in Hertfordshire.

As an alternative to the online form, you can make 2010 nominations for this award by downloading a nomination form here. Once completed, nomination forms must be signed by a member of the Association and must be returned to the Honorary Secretary at Woodrow House, by the 13th November 2010. If you have any further enquiries about the BSAVA Awards, please contact the Honorary Secretary, Alison Speakman, email secretary@bsava.com.