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Horse healthcare survey receives outstanding response
Horses in stable
Over 7,000 horse owners and non-veterinarian service providers completed the online survey this year.
More than 7,000 horse owners and non-veterinary service providers completed online survey

A survey coordinated by BEVA to discover more about the use of non-veterinarian procedures in equine healthcare, has received an outstanding response from the equine industry.  Over 7,000 horse owners and non-veterinarian service providers completed the online survey this year, as part of Defra's Review of Minor Procedures (RMPR) project.

The anonymous survey was directed at musculoskeletal and dental care practitioners, as well as horse owners to discover more about why, when and how non-veterinarians are used for equine healthcare services.  Together with representative associations, approximately 6,000 horse owners, 600 individual musculoskeletal practitioners, and 400 equine dental care providers took part. BEVA say that the results will provide a framework to help determine how equine healthcare services undertaken by non-vets should be managed in future, in order to best protect the health and welfare of horses in the UK.

There has been an increasing concern over recent years that the number of individuals offering equine healthcare services, and the range of those services, has expanded without there being any system for making sure that the standards of care offered are what owners expect and horses deserve.  BEVA say that current regulations were drawn up decades ago - before many of today's services were routinely available - and there is now an opportunity to review whether of not the current controls are fit for purpose.

The chief executive of BEVA, David Mountford, said: “The results will paint a clearer picture of how healthcare is currently provided for horses in the UK, which groups and individuals carry out these services and what the horse owners’ perceptions are in relation to qualifications and regulations. The next steps will be to consider how the system could be improved to best protect the health and welfare of horses."

The full results of the survey should be available by the end of the year. 

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.