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Pet obesity named top welfare concern
obese dog
"Obesity is a potential killer for pets and we know more and more practices are seeing overweight animals coming through their doors".

Two-thirds of vets most worried about obese pets - survey
 
Obesity or overfeeding has been named the top welfare concern facing UK pets, in a new survey by the BVA.

In a poll of over 1,600 vets, nearly two-thirds said obesity or overfeeding was their greatest welfare concern. The figures were released to coincide with World Obesity Day.

Pet owners failing to follow or understand pet food feeding guidelines, giving too many treats and snacks and lack of exercise, are all playing a part the rising problem of pet obesity, BVA says.

While owners may feel they are being kind, BVA president Gudrun Ravetz said often it is a case of "killing with kindness" and is contributing to poor health and limited life spans.

"Obesity is a potential killer for pets and we know more and more practices are seeing overweight animals coming through their doors," she added.

Pet owners are urged to seek advice from their local vet on how much to feed and how to recognise a healthy body shape.

BSAVA president Susan Dawson believes vets and pet owners must work together to help keep animals healthy.

"All companion animals deserve a nutritionally balanced diet; in fact it is a requirement of the Animal Welfare Acts.

"Of course it is tempting to give too many treats and easy to forget to weigh food out, but because obesity can cause serious health and welfare problems for companion animals BSAVA strongly recommends that bodyweight and body condition are monitored regularly and diets modified to maintain a healthy weight."

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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.