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Survey launched on pedigree dog heart health
“The results will allow us to direct new research to areas that require further attention” – Charlotte McNamara.

The Kennel Club and the Veterinary Cardiology Society want to hear from owners. 

A survey has been launched to learn more about the types of heart disease affecting pedigree dog breeds and their prevalence.

Developed by The Kennel Club and the Veterinary Cardiology Society, the online survey is open to owners of any breed of dog.

Owners can compete one survey per dog, includings dogs that are living or have passed away. The dog does not need to have been affected by heart disease.

The information gathered through the survey will be used by researchers to better understand the need for heart testing across different breeds and to discover breed-specific nuances that could have an influence of the development of heart disease.

The results will also help researchers to decide on future areas of study. Such research plays an important role in the development of the The Kennel Club’s Breed Health and Conservation plans, which are based on thousands of research papers.

All personal information collected in the survey will remain confidential and the findings presented anonymously.

Charlotte McNamara, head of health at The Kennel Club, said: “We are asking dog owners to kindly spend a few minutes to complete the survey for all dogs owned, either now or in the past, even if they have never been affected by heart disease.

“The results will allow us to direct new research to areas that require further attention. We thank everyone for taking the time to contribute to this research and for help in improving canine heart health.”

The survey can be completed here.

Image © Shutterstock

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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.