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BVA urges pet owners to be mindful of festive hazards this Christmas
Chocolate was reported as the top festive hazard for dogs. Followed by raisins or sultanas and then xylitol.

Eight in ten vets report seeing cases of toxic ingestion in 2019

BVA has issued a warning to pet owners about keeping pets away from chocolate, mince pies, Christmas puddings and decorations across the festive season, in response to findings from it's Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey.

The survey showed that 82 per cent of UK veterinary professionals working with companion animals saw at least one case of toxic ingestion across Christmas last year.

The most commonly reported cases involved a dog ingesting something dangerous. With chocolate ranking as the top edible hazard. 94 per cent of veterinary professionals reported seeing cases of chocolate ingestion in dogs during the Christmas break last year.

BVA's survey also found that cats were the most common animal to need veterinary treatment for ingesting non-edible items. 52 per cent of veterinary professionals who saw cases of toxic ingestion in cats last year stated that the animal had ingested seasonal plants like poinsettia, holly and mistletoe.

More than half of the veterinary professionals surveyed also treated cats for antifreeze poisoning.

BVA senior vice president Daniella Dos Santos said: “My advice to owners is to keep all edible goodies safely out of reach of inquisitive noses and to keep pets to their normal diets, avoiding feeding them any human food treats. If you are concerned that they have eaten something they shouldn’t, consult your vet straight away.

”With COVID-19 restrictions in place this year, many pet owners may be travelling away from home to spend Christmas with family and friends in their ‘bubbles’. So it is important to plan ahead for accessing emergency care if needed with practices who aren’t your local vets.”

 

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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
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."