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: 29th November 2018
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

WSAVA issues position paper on extreme breeding
The position paper was released in response to the continued increase in the popularity of pets with exaggerated traits.
Vets and breeders urged to make use of advances in genetic testing 

WSAVA has released a new position paper calling on vets and breeders to make use of advances in genetic testing, to reduce the suffering caused by extreme breeding.

The paper was released by the WSAVA Hereditary Disease Committee, in response to the continued increase in the popularity of pets with exaggerated traits.

It recommends a ‘health conscious’ approach to breeding and urges vets and breeders to ensure criteria used to select breeding animals include the ability to reproduce naturally and exclude extreme conformation, such as size, skin folds, brachycephaly and angulation.

Breeders are encouraged to use pre-breeding health screening to ensure only healthy animals are bred, while vets are urged to ensure they are up to date with advances in the available genetic tests.

Individual tests should also be validated for specific diseases and the breed being tested, the paper continues. It is also recommended that genetic counselling should be tailored to the animal and its circumstances, including the mode of inheritance, penetrance of mutation being tested for, the breed being tested and the frequency of mutation within the breed.

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.