RCVS Knowledge is reminding practices that the submission window for the next National Audit for Small Animal Neutering (NASAN) benchmarking report closes in February 2026 – leaving limited time for teams that still want their neutering outcomes included.
NASAN is a free national audit that helps practices benchmark post-operative outcomes after routine canine, feline and rabbit neutering. Using a standardised spreadsheet template, participating practices can compare their results with national benchmarks and use the findings to support quality improvement activity.
Why this matters in practice
Neutering is one of the most frequently performed procedures in small animal practice, and by comparing your data to national benchmarks, you can find out how your practice is doing. You'll also contribute to increasing knowledge, raising standards, and get a certificate of participation.
What practices need to do
Practices record their neutering cases and outcomes in the NASAN spreadsheet and submit the completed file online. You'll just need to record:
- date of surgery
- patient weight (optional)
- breed (optional)
- type of procedure
- the surgical outcome, choosing from:
- lost to follow-up: patients that do not return to the practice
- no abnormality present: healed as normal
- abnormal (and whether treatment was needed)
- fatality of animal
Full details – including the spreadsheet template and submission form – are available on the NASAN webpages: https://www.rcvsknowledge.org/subject/audits-and-benchmarks/national-audit-for-small-animal-neutering-nasan/
If you want your practice’s neutering outcomes included in the next NASAN benchmarking report, plan time now to pull your data together ahead of the 27th February 2026 deadline. Once you've done it, plan some time to compare your practice to national trends, and make changes as needed. Don't forget - audits also count as CPD!
