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Vet squad to tackle pet welfare issues
vet squad
The PDSA vet squad consists of over 50 vets and nurses who will educate pet owners on the importance of preventative healthcare.

Charity initiative hopes to educate pet owners
 
A new charity vet squad is on a mission to tackle some of the UK's troubling pet health and welfare issues.

The team consists of over 50 vets and nurses, one for each of the PDSA's pet hospitals.

They will educate animal owners on preventative healthcare, with the aim of boosting the uptake of vaccinations, neutering, parasite treatments and microchipping.

Figures from the latest PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) report show more than 6 million pets are not receiving their booster vaccinations, while 4.1 million dogs, cats and rabbits have not been neutered, leaving them open to a number of potentially deadly, preventable diseases.

Furthermore, the report found 6.3 million pets in the UK are not microchipped. Many owners remain unaware of upcoming legislation making this procedure compulsory for all dogs in England.

The PDSA formed the vet squad with the help of a £550,000 funding award from the People's Postcode Lottery.

Nicola Martin, the charity's head of pet health and welfare, said the money will make a huge difference in addressing some of the main welfare issues affecting our pets.

Funds will also enable the charity to hold open days at its hospitals to engage with the public, as well as developing a new range of pet health advice materials and hosting live Q&A sessions on social media with vets and nurses.

Image courtesy of PDSA

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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.