Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 23rd May 2017
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Police horses line up for equine health survey
The police horses of Hyde Park lined up to get their hooves, eyes and teeth checked.
Data used to inform priorities for future research

The Metropolitan Police Mounted Branch in Hyde Park has joined forces with Blue Cross to encourage horse owners to take park in a leading survey on equine health.

Taking place this week (22-29 May), The National Equine Health Survey seeks to uncover common health issues in horses, directly from the horse owners themselves. Results help to establish a picture of horse health in the UK and inform priorities for future research.

Kickstarting the event, the police horses of Hyde Park lined up to get their hooves, eyes and teeth checked, while Blue Cross staff clambered up ladders to check their vital statistics.

“These majestic police horses have taken part in our survey and we hope that they will encourage others to follow suit and be ambassadors for horse welfare,” commented Blue Cross education officer Gemma Taylor.

“The more data we can collect from the National Equine Health Survey the more robust our results will be, helping us to steer equine awareness, education and research to keep our nation’s horses healthier.”

For more than six years, the survey - in partnership with the BEVA - has grown to become the UK’s leading endemic disease monitoring initiative. The results are regarded as valuable for our general knowledge of horse health and are referenced in leading veterinary and equestrian publications.

Last year, the survey assessed some 17,000 horses, ponies, donkeys and mules. The six most notable disease syndromes identified were: lameness (32.9 per cent); skin diseases (25.5 per cent); laminitis (6.8 per cent); PPID (Equine Cushing’s Diseases) (6.6 per cent); Recurrent Airway Obstruction (5.6 per cent); and back problems (5.5 per cent).

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

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. 

Click here for more...
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.