The Nupsala Podcast

In this episode, recorded live at VOACON 2026, Meg is joined by Dr Lauren Davis, a vet and canine sleep expert, to explore the powerful two-way relationship between sleep and musculoskeletal disease.
 
Lauren shares fascinating insight into what normal sleep looks like in dogs, the early sleep-related changes owners might notice as chronic conditions like osteoarthritis take hold, and the neurobiology linking poor sleep to heightened pain perception. The conversation turns to new research tracking quality of life and sleep scores in dogs undergoing regenerative medicine treatments such as PRP and stem cell therapy, revealing sustained improvements in comfort and rest over weeks and months.
 
Lauren and Meg also cover practical, low-cost ways owners can support better sleep at home, from routine and environment to bedding and monitoring tools like the Snore Score, and why psychological safety is just as important as physical comfort when it comes to a good night's rest.
 
A must-listen for anyone interested in the connection between pain, inflammation, sleep and quality of life in dogs living with osteoarthritis.

Recorded live at VOACON, this episode brings together two leading voices in musculoskeletal veterinary medicine. Dr. Jason Lowe, Chief Veterinary Officer at Contura Vet, and Dr. Alex Keller, specialist in ultrasonography and canine rehabilitation, sit down to explore the growing role of 2.5% polyacrylamide hydrogel (iPAAG) in the management of canine osteoarthritis.
Drawing on decades of experience across equine and small animal medicine, Jason and Alex discuss why iPAAG is increasingly being recognised as a mechano-modulating synovial implant rather than a conventional drug, and what that distinction means for how vets should be thinking about it. They cover everything from early diagnosis and case selection, to dosing, longevity of effect, and how to have the conversation with clients.
The episode also tackles some of the biggest barriers to adoption, including fear of intra-articular injections, the lack of canine-specific research to date, and the myths surrounding the product's safety profile. With data now emerging from studies in Australia, the US and beyond, both speakers make a compelling case for why now is the time for general practitioners to get comfortable with this approach.

In this episode of The Nupsala Podcast, host Meg Brady, BSc (Hons), RVN, PGCert, is joined by Dr James Guthrie BVM&S MBA CertAVP(GSAS) PgCertVBM CCRT DipECVS DipACVSMR DipECVSMR MAcadMEd FRSB FRSA FRCVS, Senior Orthopaedic Surgeon at Fitzpatrick Referrals, for an in-depth discussion on treatment decision-making in canine joint disease.
 
Together, they explore one of the most common challenges facing veterinary professionals managing musculoskeletal conditions: when is surgery the most appropriate option, and where might orthobiologics fit within the treatment pathway? Drawing on his experience in orthopaedic surgery, sports medicine and rehabilitation, James shares practical insights into balancing risk, reward, disease stage, and patient-specific factors when developing treatment plans.
 
This episode covers:
• How treatment goals and decision-making change throughout the progression of joint disease• When surgery may be indicated and when alternative approaches may be considered• The role of PRP, stem cells, and other intra-articular therapies in clinical practice• The importance of diagnosis, disease staging, and patient selection• Combining surgery, rehabilitation, medication, and orthobiologics within a multimodal treatment plan
 
Whether you're working in general practice, referral practice, rehabilitation, or sports medicine, this episode offers practical insights into navigating an expanding range of treatment options for dogs with joint disease.
 
Disclaimer:
This podcast is intended for veterinary professionals. While members of the public are welcome to listen, please note that discussions are designed with a clinical audience in mind and may include technical or treatment-related content.
 
Connect with Nupsala:
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nupsala
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NupsalaVeterinaryServices/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nupsala.uk
 
Jingle Credit:
https://www.bensound.com
Artist: Lunar Years

In this episode of the Nupsala Podcast, host Meg Brady, BSc (Hons), RVN, PGCert, is joined by Andy Green, BVetMed MRCVS, veterinary surgeon and founder of Andy Green Consulting, for an in-depth conversation on building healthier, more effective workplace cultures within the veterinary profession.
Together, they explore the critical role of communication in practice life, and how understanding individual personality profiles can transform team dynamics, reduce conflict, and improve collaboration. Drawing on real-world experience, Andy shares practical insights into why communication breakdowns occur- and what teams can do to address them.
 
This episode covers:
How different personality profiles influence communication and teamwork
Common causes of communication breakdown in veterinary practices and how to overcome them
The key characteristics of a healthy, supportive workplace culture
The impact and risks of blame culture within clinical teams
An overview of personality profiling tools and how they can be applied in practice
Strategies for maintaining autonomy, clarity, and structure in high-pressure environments
Whether you’re part of a clinical team, a practice leader, or simply interested in improving workplace culture, this episode offers practical, actionable insights to help create more cohesive and resilient veterinary teams.
Disclaimer:This podcast is intended for veterinary professionals. While members of the public are welcome to listen, please note that discussions are designed with a clinical audience in mind and may include technical or treatment-related content.
Intro music by Lunar Year.

In this episode of the Nupsala Podcast, we’re joined by Dr Jason Lowe, equine veterinarian and Chief Veterinary Officer at Contura, to take a deep dive into his 2024 paper examining the histologic and cytologic response of normal equine joints following injection with 2.5% injectable polyacrylamide hydrogel (iPAAG).
With over 30 years of global clinical experience, Dr Lowe walks us through the rationale, design and key findings of this in vivo safety study, explaining what a low-level macrophage-driven foreign body response actually means in practice, and why it should not be confused with fibrosis, granuloma formation, or adverse inflammatory reactions.
The discussion explores:
How iPAAG integrates into the synovium and restores joint biomechanics
Why a transient macrophage response is part of normal tissue integration
What scanning electron microscopy revealed about gel behaviour and stability
Practical clinical takeaways around case selection, dosing, timelines for response, and managing post-injection flares
How this work fits into a broader shift towards viewing the synovium as the key organ of the joint
Dr Lowe also looks ahead to emerging research into macrophage phenotypes, transcriptomics, and how restoring joint biomechanics may influence downstream inflammatory pathways in osteoarthritis.
This episode is essential listening for equine vets using (or considering) iPAAG as part of long-term osteoarthritis management, and for anyone interested in the evolving science behind synovial-focused therapies.
References mentioned:
Lowe, J., Clifford, L. de, Julian, A., & Koene, M. (2024). Histologic and cytologic changes in normal equine joints after injection with 2.5% injectable polyacrylamide hydrogel reveal low-level macrophage-driven foreign body response. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 262(5), 649–647.
Tnibar, A. et al. (2015) International multi-centre prospective study on the efficacy of an intraarticular polyacrylamide hydrogel in horses with osteoarthritis: a 24 months follow-up. Acta veterinaria scandinavica. [Online] 57 (1).
Menarim, B. C., MacLeod, J. N., & Dahlgren, L. A. (2021). Bone marrow mononuclear cells for joint therapy: The role of macrophages in inflammation resolution and tissue repair. World journal of stem cells, 13(7), 825–840.

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/

Meg Brady, Nupsala Account Manager, is joined by Dr Simon Constable, Advanced Practitioner in Equine Orthopaedic and Soft Tissue Surgery and owner of Simon Constable Equine Vets in the northwest of England. Simon shares his real-world experience using undifferentiated equine umbilical mesenchymal stem cells across both soft-tissue and early-onset joint cases.
 
He talks through how he selects cases, why timing and diagnostics matter, and how he manages owner expectations in disciplines where competition schedules and performance pressure can shape clinical decisions.
 
Simon also discusses client communication, insurance hurdles, alternatives to steroids in laminitis-prone ponies, and some of the more memorable cases he’s worked on, including a Horse of the Year Show winner.
 
Simon is not endorsed by or affiliated with Nupsala or Equicord.

In this Pain Awareness Month special, Meg Brady (RVN, BSc, PGCert, EQ.Sci) speaks with Dr. Matt Gurney, internationally respected anaesthetist, co-founder of the Zero Pain Philosophy, and past president of the European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia.
 
Matt shares his journey into anaesthesia and analgesia, the inspiration behind the Zero Pain Philosophy, and how his team supports vets, nurses, and physios worldwide in improving pain management. He discusses practical tools for acute and chronic pain, including the Glasgow Pain Scale, Feline Grimace Scale, LOAD, and the Canine Brief Pain Inventory, and explains how caregiver-reported outcomes can shape effective treatment plans.
 
This episode also highlights the role of community, clinical audits, and checklists in improving standards of care, and why vets should embrace a multimodal, evidence-informed approach to pain management in practice.
References discussed:
www.zeropainphilosophy.com
Animal Pain – www.animalpain.org/en/home-en/
University of Glasgow - www.gla.ac.uk/research/impact/painassessmenttools/
Modified Canine Brief Pain Inventory - www.edwebcontent.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/atoms/files/modified_canine_brief_pain_inventory_1.3.17_edinburgh.pdf
www.knowledge.rcvs.org.uk/home/
Brown DC, Boston RC, Coyne JC, et al. (2013). Ability of the canine brief pain inventory to detect response to treatment in dogs with osteoarthritis. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 233. P1278–83.

In this Pain Awareness Month special, Amber Weinrich (RVN, Nupsala Account Manager) speaks with Meg Brady (RVN, Nupsala Senior Account Manager) about recognising pain in dogs and how subtle behaviour changes can be key indicators. They explore how pain influences behaviour, how vets and owners can work together to detect it, and which clinical tools are available to support diagnosis and monitoring.
Meg discusses the link between pain and problem behaviours, the "ladder of aggression," and concepts such as trigger stacking, central sensitisation, and owner perception of pain in younger vs. older dogs. This episode highlights the importance of asking the right questions, using structured assessment tools, and revisiting pain as a possible underlying cause when behavioural modifications are unsuccessful.
 
References discussed:
Mills, D. S. et al. (2020). Pain and Problem Behavior in Cats and Dogs. Animals (Basel). 10. 2. P318.
Shepherd, K. Ladder of aggression. In BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Behavioral Medicine; Horwitz, D.F., Mills, D.S., Eds.; BSAVA: Gloucester, UK, 2009; Chapter 2 p13–16.
DogMA (Liverpool University) https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/life-course-and-medical-sciences/research/dogma/
Brown DC, Boston RC, Coyne JC, et al. (2013). Ability of the canine brief pain inventory to detect response to treatment in dogs with osteoarthritis. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 233. P1278–83.
Demirtas, A. et al. (2023). Dog owners' recognition of pain-related behavioral changes in their dogs. Journal of Veterinary Behavior. 62. P39-46
Mills, DS, Coutts, FM & McPeake, KJ. (2024). Behavior Problems Associated with Pain and Paresthesia. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice. 54. 1. P55-69
Mondino, A. et al. (2023). Development and validation of a sleep questionnaire, SNoRE 3.0, to evaluate sleep in companion dogs. Scientific reports. [Online] 13 (1), 13340–13340.
Walton MB, Cowderoy E, Lascelles D, et al. (2013). Evaluation of construct and criterion validity for the ’Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs’ (LOAD) clinical metrology instrument and comparison to two other instruments. PLoS One. 8. e58125.

The Nupsala Podcast | Episode 1
HorStem
Welcome to the very first episode of The Nupsala Podcast! In this episode, we sit down with Almudena Pradera, founder of Equicord, to explore the science behind Horstem, a cutting-edge veterinary stem cell therapy derived from umbilical cord tissue.
Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for veterinary professionals. While members of the public are welcome to listen, please note that the discussions are designed with a clinical audience in mind and may include technical or treatment-related content. If you’re a horse owner with questions or concerns, we always recommend speaking directly with your own veterinary surgeon, who knows your animal best.
For more information, contact a member of our sales team or reach out to customer services at: info@nupsala.com
Or visit www.equicord.com to learn more about Equicord and their work.