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Persian cats at high risk of health problems
Almost two thirds of the UK's 100,000 Persian cats suffer from at least one health condition.

Study shows two out of three affected

Almost two thirds of an estimated 100,000 Persian cats in the UK suffer from at least one health condition, according to a large study of this breed published in Nature Scientific Reports.

The research, which was conducted by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, revealed that hair-coat disorders (12.7%), dental disease (11.3%), overgrown nails (7.2%) and ocular discharge (5.8%) are the most common conditions diagnosed in Persian cats.
 
Many of these health issues may be related to the long coat and flat face that is characteristic of the breed. They represent major welfare challenges for Persian cats that should be considered by breeders and future owners.
 
The results of this study will help breeders to select appropriate individuals from which to breed, veterinary professionals to spot diseases earlier, and owners to ensure that they take preventive measures for common conditions in the breed. This new information will also help the public understand more about the welfare challenges relating to owning and caring for Persian cats.
 
Other key findings from this study were that dental disease was more common in males, while claw/nail problems were more common in females. The most common causes of death were kidney disease (23.4%) and cancer (8.5%). The average lifespan of a Persian cat is 13.5 years.

The high levels of dental and eye problems seen in Persian cats are thought to result from the brachycephalic shaped heads of these cats. Previous research has shown that this abnormal head shape has been associated with various health problems in dogs, as well as cats.

Meanwhile, the high levels of hair-coat problems seen in this study are associated with the thick and long coat of the Persian cat which is prone to tangling and matting.
 
The academics behind this study analysed the clinical records of 3,325 Persian cats using the RVC’s VetCompass programme. This enabled them to identify health trends in the Persian cats that were treated under general veterinary care across the UK in 2013.

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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.