Novel procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) recognises that novel procedures may be necessary both in the interests of the individual animal and to improve the future veterinary care of animals. The treating veterinary surgeon is responsible for ensuring that they understand the difference between routine veterinary practice, clinical veterinary research and experimental procedures. They must ensure that their practice operates within the relevant legislation, including Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA).

The BSAVA recommends that veterinary surgeons considering the use of novel procedures should ensure that they have the relevant knowledge, skills and facilities to carry out the procedure as well as any emergency, palliative or salvage procedures that may be required.

The BSAVA recommends that the veterinary surgeon makes clear to the owner the nature of the procedure, including predicted outcomes in terms of clinical objectives and anticipated risks using the best available evidence. Realistic likelihood of expected benefits to the patient (not the owner, nor the clinician) can then be weighed against the likelihood and magnitude of potential harms. The owner should be aware of other accepted treatment options and should understand that the procedure is “novel”, in order to give informed consent. Ethical oversight could be provided by practice-level Clinical Veterinary Ethics Committees if available.

May 2026

A therapy may be considered novel if it fulfils any of the following criteria:

• The therapy is completely original, that is, it has never previously been performed for a particular condition affecting the species;
• The therapy has previously been performed by a limited number of veterinary surgeons on animals of this species affected by a specific disease;
• The therapy has previously been performed in a limited number of cases of this disease affecting this species;
• The therapy involves a novel combination of previously accepted therapies (e.g. a new protocol);
• The therapy involves significant modifications to accepted treatments;
• The therapy involves the application of an accepted therapy to a condition for which it is not accepted as a treatment in a particular species (Yeates et al., 2013).

Laboratory Animals in research
Referral

The RCVS provide guidance on:

• Routine veterinary practice and clinical veterinary research
• Informed Consent
• Ethical review for Practice-based research

Yeates JW (2016) Ethical principles for novel therapies in veterinary practice. Journal of Small Animal Practice. 57, 67-73. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsap.12402  

Yeates J, Everitt S, Innes JF and Day MJ (2013) Ethical and evidential considerations on the use of novel therapies in veterinary practice. Journal of Small Animal Practice. 54 (3), 119-123. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsap.12031

Reviewed by members of BSAVA Scientific Committee (Nikki Bentley, Laura Copley, Gillian Diesel, Ben Garland, Macauly Gatenby, Peter Graham, Rachel Lumbis, Jasmine Malm, Michael Rampersad, Caroline Scobie, James Warland) 2026