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Rise in hospital admissions for dog bites
aggressive dog
Over a 10-year period, hospital admissions due to bites or strikes from dogs and other mammals have risen by 76 per cent respectively.
NHS figures "very concerning" - Battersea Dogs & Cats Home

Hospital admissions for injuries caused by dogs and other mammals are continuing to rise, according the the latest NHS figures.

Bites or strikes from dogs accounted for 7,227 admissions between March 2014 and February 2015 - a rise of 6.5 per cent.

Meanwhile admissions due to other mammals (which covers farm animals, horses, foxes, cats and rats) rose by 10.3 per cent.

Over a 10-year period, hospital admissions due to bites or strikes from dogs and other mammals have risen by 76 per cent respectively.

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home said the figures were "very concerning" but could be greatly reduced through better understanding of dogs' habits and body language.

Key figures published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre:
  • Admissions due to dog bites were generally higher in the summer months and lower in winter
  • Children aged 0-9 were most affected, with 1,159 admissions from March 2014 to February 2015
  • Admission rates due to dog bites were two to three times higher in the 10 per cent most deprived areas of the country, than the 10 per cent least deprived areas
  • The most common types of injury caused by dog bites were open wounds to the wrists, hands, forearms and head. Children suffered more injuries to the head than other age groups


Battersea's community engagement manager, Sharon Sealey, said: “A lot of people and especially young children don’t really know how to behave around dogs or how to read a dog’s body language.

"This is why a child should never be left alone with a dog. We know the consequences of this can be serious and sometimes even fatal."

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.