Celebrating and encouraging collaboration: What the ideal vet-SQP relationship looks like

This week marks the first-ever National SQP Week (5-12 June), a nationwide celebration of the vital role that Suitably Qualified Persons (SQPs), also referred to as Animal Medicines Advisors, play in safeguarding the health and welfare of animals across the UK. It’s also the perfect moment to shine a light on something that elevates animal care even further: a strong, collaborative relationship between SQPs and veterinary surgeons which supports responsible medicine use, disease prevention, and animal welfare.

At their best, vets and SQPs form a seamless, professional, partnership. Each brings distinct perspective, and when these combine, the result is better outcomes for animals, more informed owners, and a more resilient animal health system.

The role of SQPs

SQPs are trained, regulated professionals with animal medicines advice as the cornerstone of their role. Under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations, they can prescribe and supply certain types of veterinary medicines that do not need a prescription issued by a vet. They work in veterinary practices and business such as pet shops, agricultural merchants and equine suppliers.

A growing number of SQPs- around 1,800 of them- work directly within veterinary practices, and many more work in SQP business settings. By being embedded in practice teams, SQPs bring their medicines expertise, client-facing skills, and preventive care focus directly into the vet team’s daily work. This means SQPs aren’t just an external support- they are part of the practice’s core engine, enhancing capacity, improving client education, and ensuring responsible medicine use is woven into every interaction. Their presence helps practices operate more efficiently, more proactively, and with a broader skill mix that benefits both vets and clients.

However, their expertise, and the value of engaging fully with their advice, is often under-recognised by animal owners – whether pet owners, horse owners or livestock farmers.

Why the vet-SQP relationship matters

A strong relationship between veterinary practices and SQP businesses benefits animals as well as clients, by:

· Ensuring owners receive consistent, evidence-based advice

· Improving antimicrobial and anthelmintic stewardship

· Supporting early identification of animal health and welfare concerns

· Strengthening communication between practice teams and clients

· Helping busy veterinary practices extend their reach and capacity

There are many ways in which vet practices could consider working together with SQPs, among them the development of joint parasite control protocols, advising farmers, and educating pet owners. In fact, many practices have already adopted some of these models. of teamwork either within the practice environment with their own SQPs or with SQP businesses.

Parasite control planning: This is a great model which practices can adopt to ensure consistent messaging and approach to responsible medicine use. Under this approach, vets and SQPs work together on developing a joint parasite control protocol in practices, with vets setting the clinical framework while SQPs lead on client conversations, seasonal reminders, and product selection within the agreed guidelines. SQPs are trusted with handling routine parasite discussions with clients, and they escalate unusual cases or those with clinical signs to the vet immediately. As a result, clients receive consistent advice for all team members, the practice can reduce the need for unnecessary prescriptions, and there’s a greater overall focus on a risk-based approach to parasite control.

Supporting farmers with practice advice: SQPs regularly discuss ongoing farm health with their farming clients, which complements the work of vets undertaking routine herd health planning. While vets focus on diagnostics and long-term strategy, SQPs can provide guidance on product use, storage, record keeping and administration, as well as their expertise and daily focus on parasite control, nutrition, and biosecurity.

This partnership approach is a great way to strengthen trust and improve herd outcomes.

Enhancing client education in companion animal practices: Small animal practices may wish to empower their SQPs to run “Ask the Advisor” drop-in sessions to cover flea and worm control, nutrition, and preventive care. This would free up vets’ valuable time for complex cases while ensuring owners are receiving clear and accessible advice, with a focus on the responsible use of parasiticides.

Joint training and continuous professional development: Some practices may want to schedule quarterly CPD sessions where vets and SQPs learn together about new product updates and emerging disease trends. It ensures alignment on best practice and more effective team communication. This shared learning culture is a great way to strengthen the practice from within.

Looking ahead: National SQP Week as a catalyst

As AMTRA, our fellow regulators VetPol and VetSkill, SQP businesses, vet practices, and other key stakeholders continue to champion the profession, we hope National SQP Week inspires even more collaboration, recognition, and shared success between vets and SQPs.

Because when vets and SQPs work together, animals thrive - and that is something worth celebrating. If you’re a vet practice, you can download the National SQP Week toolkit to celebrate your SQP teams and to share resources, stories and examples of best practice on social media.