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BSAVA publishes WSAVA Animal Welfare Global Guidelines
The guidelines help vets to tackle the moral issues and ethical dilemmas which impact welfare.
Guidelines bridge differing perceptions of welfare across the world

The BSAVA has published the World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s (WSAVA) Animal Welfare Guidelines to encourage its members to “adopt best practice and set the highest standards”.

The Animal Welfare Global Guidelines for Companion Animal Practitioners and the Veterinary Team feature in the May issue of the Journal of Small Animal Practice, the official scientific journal of the BSAVA and the WSAVA.

First launched during WSAVA World Congress 2018, the guidelines aim to bridge differing perceptions of welfare around the world and help vets to tackle the moral issues and ethical dilemmas which impact welfare. They also include guidance to ensure that vets can advocate for their psychological, social and environmental wellbeing.

“The BSAVA is very supportive of the comprehensive approach taken by the WSAVA Animal Welfare Guidelines Group,” commented BSAVA President Sue Paterson. "They not only promote the understanding of contemporary animal welfare concepts and related science but also provide important guidance on addressing potential animal welfare challenges across diverse global cultures.”

WSAVA president Shane Ryan added: “As veterinarians, our responsibility extends far beyond the physical health of our patients. Animal welfare as a science is a new and rapidly developing discipline and veterinarians need current, evidence-based information to enable them to maintain the highest welfare standards and to provide knowledgeable, accurate advice for pet owners and communities.

“Our new Guidelines provide recommendations, checklists and other tools to promote optimal levels of welfare throughout the veterinary visit. They also offer guidance on increasing welfare beyond the doors of the clinic through outreach activities.”

He continued: “As levels of pet ownership increase in many regions of the world, including Asia, it is essential that veterinarians champion animal welfare and the WSAVA hopes that these new Guidelines will encourage our members to adopt best practice and set the highest standards.”

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.