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Guidance to help tackle extreme conformation
The BVA’s new position statement comes amid increasing concerns over breeding and conformation-related problems.

Document sets out principles to enable healthier future generations of animals

A set of guiding principles and recommendations to help tackle extreme conformation across all animal species has been published by the BVA.

The principles form part of the BVA's new policy position on the vital role of vets in preventing, reporting and treating instances of extreme conformation across all species. They call on society, including vets and veterinary nurses, academics and breeders, to work together to:

  • ensure healthier future generations of animals that currently experience extreme conformation
  • reduce the negative health and welfare impacts of extreme conformation
  • increase awareness about these issues across different species
  • encourage research to better understand and address the prevalence of conformation-related ill-health
  • encourage research to better understand and address the prevalence of the welfare impacts resulting from extreme conformation
  • develop objective, robust measures to contribute to the assessment of problematic conformation.

The BVA’s new position statement comes amid increasing concerns over breeding and conformation-related problems. In a recent BVA Voice of the Veterinary Profession Survey, breeding and hereditary defects emerged as vets’ top animal health and welfare concern.

Almost half (45 per cent) of companion animal vets surveyed chose conformational deformities and pedigree breeding, particularly of brachycephalic breeds, among the three welfare issues that concern them most.

Exaggerated conformation across species was identified by BVA and its specialist divisions as a key focus for advocacy following the launch of BVA’s Animal Welfare Strategy in 2016. Since then, BVA has worked closely with its specialist divisions to compile six principles and ten recommendations spanning both companion and farm animal practice.

The recommendations include supporting breeders to make responsible breeding decisions, performing corrective surgical procedures and monitoring health records and reports, such as abattoir and Food Standards Agency reports, to identify the impact of extreme conformation in livestock.

BVA president Simon Doherty said: “This position was developed in close consultation with our specialist divisions and comes at a time when vets in various areas of practice are voicing concern about health and welfare issues resulting from poor breeding.
 
“While the veterinary profession is relatively small, its reach is significant and its role is critical to the health and welfare of not only animals but the rest of society too. We hope this document sets out some helpful principles and tips to enable vets as well as other stakeholders to strive for healthier future generations of animals across all species together.”

 

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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.