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Blue Cross reminds cat owners to microchip their pets
Microchip cat
Blue Cross has seen many happy cases of reunions after a long stretch of time because the cat does have a microchip.
78 per cent helped by charity last year were not microchipped

As National Pet Microchipping Month reaches its half-way point, Blue Cross is reminding owners to microchip their pets or risk losing them forever if they stray.

Between May 2016 and May 2017, some 5,760 cats were admitted to the charity’s rehoming centres. However, a staggering 78 per cent of these cats were not microchipped or had to be microchipped by Blue Cross staff.

While many of the cats admitted to the charity are stray, some are in good condition, suggesting they are likely to be a family pet which had gone for a stroll.

Caroline Reay, clinical lead at Blue Cross, commented: “Particularly in the summer months, with cats going out for longer and wandering further, there is a higher risk of straying and of accidents.

“This is why it’s so important to microchip your cat; even if the cat is an indoor cat as there is still risk of them escaping – in fact, indoor cats are more at risk of getting lost if they do escape. So please, be safe and chip your cats.”

As there is no way for Blue Cross staff to contact the original owners of the un-microchipped cats, many will need to be re-homed.

But the charity has also seen many happy cases of reunions after a long stretch of time because the cat does have a microchip.

One lucky feline managed to stray 20 miles from his home, but thankfully his microchip details were up-to-date, so he was able to be reunited with his family.

 

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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. 

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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.