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Study shows meat farm dogs suffer from chronic stress
As dogs are not legally classified as livestock, dog farming is largely unregulated, jeopardising welfare.

Innovative research uses cortisol concentrations as a marker of stress

A new study from the University of Glasgow – part-funded by the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) – revealed that dogs from South Korean meat farms experience high levels of chronic stress.

An estimated 2.5 million dogs are eaten each year in South Korea. Despite wide-spread condemnation of the practice, it remains popular due to tradition and its supposed effects on health. Evidence has shown that dog meat farms are often unregulated, with animals kept in poor conditions.

This is the first study to report hair cortisol concentrations as a marker of stress, and therefore welfare status. Researchers aimed to assess if dogs surrendered from meat farms exhibited higher concentrations of the hormone in hair compared to pet dogs in the same area. The study used 84 pet dogs from Seoul and 86 dogs from ten different dog meat farms close to the city. The farmed dogs had been voluntarily surrendered to the charities Save Korean Dogs and Human Society International (HSI).

The results, published in UFAW’s journal Animal Welfare, revealed that dogs from meat farms had higher concentrations of cortisol than pet dogs, suggesting higher levels of chronic stress.

One of the authors of the study, Professor Neil Evans from the University of Glasgow’s Institute of Biodiversity, said: “While the concentration of cortisol is only one measure of stress, our research provides the first quantitative evidence that dogs in meat farms are kept in conditions associated with poor welfare and identifies the need for better welfare law to protect farmed dogs.

“Our findings could also inform those who consume dog meat of the potential long-term physiological suffering of these dogs, and could bring about a re-evaluation of the cultural beliefs regarding the consumption of dog meat.”

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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.