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Smokers urged to protect pets from passive smoking
Smoking
“Many owners who smoke have never thought about the effects of their habit on their pets" - Ross Allen, BSAVA.

Vets provide another reason to quit this Stoptober
 
Following the introduction of legislation which forbids drivers to smoke with children in their car, the BVA and the BSAVA are urging pet owners to avoid smoking for the sake of their pet's health too.

The devastating consequences of passive smoking on humans is well known, however vets are worried that many pet owners may be inadvertently harming their four-legged friends when they are together in an enclosed space.

The legislation banning smoking in cars coincides with the NHS campaign Stoptober
which encourages smokers to quit throughout the month of October.

“Most smokers understand that lighting up around children is harmful, but fewer people are aware of the impact passive smoking can have on their pets, " says BVA president and companion animal vet Sean Wensley.

"Sadly this health impact, as in people, may be cancer and owners are often understandably distressed when they realise that their pet’s cancer may be the result of secondary tobacco smoking.

"This legislation doesn’t apply to animals but we hope owners will take this opportunity to protect their pet either by quitting or by keeping their car and home smoke-free.”

A recent study clearly demonstrated a correlation between the levels of nicotine in a dog's fur and its exposure to cigarettes in the home.

The research, funded by the BSAVA's PetSavers charity, showed that many dogs are inhaling and probably ingesting cigarette smoke that is known to increase the chance of pets developing cancer.

Ross Allan, of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association, said: “Many owners who smoke have never thought about the effects of their habit on their pets, but there is evidence that tobacco smoke increases the risks of lung and nasal cancers in dogs and of lymphoma in cats.

"As veterinary surgeons we champion the prevention of illness and disease, and many owners might be more likely to give up tobacco for the sake of their pet if they realised the consequence of their smoking.”

Image (C) Paolo Neo

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.