A vet nurse at a top animal hospital has been named among the profession's elite.

Bryony Gilder, a registered veterinary nurse with Linnaeus-owned Cave Veterinary Specialists, near Wellington, has been recognised with prestigious veterinary technician specialist (VTS) status in internal medicine (neurology) - one of just six nurses in the UK, and 35 worldwide, to hold the qualification.

During her 12 years at Cave Veterinary Specialists, Ms Gilder has been progressively deepening her skills in neurology.

Ms Gilder said: "I have always wanted to achieve veterinary technician status since starting at Cave and it wasn’t until I did a postgraduate certificate in small animal rehabilitation and started working with neurology patients that I knew I loved the discipline.

"Cave began to offer neurology as a service, I became senior neurology nurse, and the enjoyment I got from nursing and supporting the patients was undeniable.

"My main reason for doing it was personal achievement, I wanted to prove I was able to work at the top of my licence and be the best I could possibly be for the patients.

"Having a better understanding of conditions neurology patients present with allowed me to better support them through procedures and nurse them, as well as support their owners once they are discharged.

"It allows Cave to support neurology patients in the best way possible.

"I have shared my knowledge with the nursing and patient care assistance team ensuring we provide five-star treatment.

"I have also provided continuous professional development (CPD) training to other Linnaeus nurses with a plan to present at the Small Animal Medicine Society CPD event next year.

"It has been a long journey for me.

"The team at Cave have been incredibly supportive, many of them were my biggest cheerleaders and I cannot thank them enough.

"To even begin the application process, you have to have worked in the discipline for three years, have 40 hours of CPD in the speciality and have had two letters of recommendation from a specialist.

"The application then involved submitting 60 case logs, four longer reports and three example exam questions.

"You collect the cases over 12 months, then once accepted take the final exam.

"I always like to have a focus and a challenge.

"Now being head of nursing services at Cave, I plan on developing my knowledge and skillset in leadership so I can support the nursing, patient care assistance, and imaging team to the very best of my ability.”

Ms Gilder will collect her award at a conference in Kentucky in the USA next year, where she will meet other successful candidates.

Cave offers comprehensive, specialist-led services in anaesthesia, cardiology, dentistry and oral surgery, dermatology, internal medicine, neurology and neurosurgery, oncology, orthopaedic surgery, and soft tissue surgery.

For more information visit https://cave-vet-specialists.co.uk.