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One in three vets suspect illegal imports
French bulldog pups
Half of vets raised concerns about illegal imports of French bulldog puppies.

Suspicions raised by foreign microchips

A third of vets who treat small animals have seen puppies they suspect to be illegal imports, according to new figures.

Sixty-nine per cent of vets who responded to the BVA’s Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey said their suspicions had been raised by foreign microchips and the puppy’s age not matching the date in its passport.

Some vets also cited the puppy’s health as a problem after seeing cases of kennel cough and parvovirus.

The most common breeds vets presumed to have been illegally imported were those used in advertising or made popular by celebrities. Half of vets raised concerns about illegal imports of French bulldog puppies, with pugs (29%) and chihuahuas (16%) coming in as the second most common.

“Illegal importers only care about profit, not puppy welfare. As vets, we’ve heard awful stories of people buying puppies only for their puppy to be dead 24 hours later because of the way it was bred and cared for in its early days outside of the UK,” commented Gudrun Ravetz, president of the BVA.

“It’s extremely concerning that we’re seeing so many flat-faced breeds, like French bulldogs, being brought into the country given the serious breathing and health issues that they already suffer from, let alone the added disease risks associated with illegal imports.”

To prevent illegal profiteering practices and ensure the purchase of a healthy puppy, the BVA is advising anyone considering buying a dog to conduct their research and wait until the New Year.

“It’s a life-changing commitment and we'd advise anyone thinking about getting a dog to speak to their local vet first and use helpful tools like the online ‘Puppy Contract’ to make sure they buy a happy, healthy puppy,” Ms Ravetz added.

More than 1,000 veterinary surgeons and veterinary students took part in BVA’s Voice of the Veterinary Profession bi-annual survey.

The survey captures the professions’ views and experiences by asking questions about animal health and welfare, public health and trends in the veterinary profession. 

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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.