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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 24th February 2016
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New dog health report published
labrador
The Kennel Club contacted 385,000 owners of registered dogs from 215 recognised dog breeds.
Results highlight common conditions and causes of death
 
Lipoma and skin cysts are the two most common conditions affecting live dogs, according to the Kennel Club's latest breed health survey.

Other conditions in the top five were hypersensitivity (allergic) skin disorders, arthritis and otitis externa (ear infection).

The survey received responses about more than 43,000 living dogs and over 5,600 deceased dogs, making it the largest of its kind. It aimed to identify the most common conditions affecting living pedigree dogs, as well as the most prevalent causes of death and reasons for euthanasia.

In total, the Kennel Club contacted 385,000 owners of registered dogs from 215 recognised dog breeds. Of those to respond, more than 65 per cent of living dogs were said to be unaffected by any disease conditions.

The top five most frequently reported causes of death were old age, unspecified cancer, unknown conditions, cardiac heart failure and kidney failure. The average life span was 10 years.

Aimee Llewellyn, head of health and research at the Kennel Club, commented: "The information collected from the survey is invaluable in prioritising health concerns for pedigree breeds as a whole as well as on a breed by breed basis.

"This will help everyone from owners and breeders to vets and researchers identify any potentially inherited conditions across different breeds and help improve the health of future generations of dogs.

"These results give an idea of where progress has been made, where it still needs to be made, and how it is best to make appropriate changes."

The survey was carried out in 2014, a decade after the Kennel Club's 2004 Purebred Dog Health Survey. A more in-depth study of the results will hopefully be published as a scientific paper later in the year.

To read the full report, visit: http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/vets-researchers/pedigree-breed-health-survey-2014

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.