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BVA calls for urgent action on ear cropping
"The government needs to work with vets and animal welfare charities to find a way to stop this abhorrent practice." Daniella Dos Santos, BVA senior vice president.

Association urges MPs and wider public to #CutTheCrop

The BVA has expressed concerns over a rise in cases of dogs with cropped ears being seen in practice and has called for immediate action to stop this worrying trend.

In a blog post, BVA senior vice president Daniella Dos Santos said: “In recent years, vets in the UK have seen a dramatic increase in the number of dogs with cropped ears, marking a frightening trend towards the normalisation of a mutilation that is horrific, unnecessary, and rightfully illegal in this country.”

The RSPCA has reported a 236 per cent increase in the number of reports of ear cropping received in the last five years, despite ear cropping being illegal in the UK.

Ms Dos Santos theorised that the increase in cases is either the result of cropped-ear dogs being imported from countries where it is still legal, or dogs bred in the UK being taken overseas specifically to have the procedure done.

The BVA has also been made aware of unscrupulous breeders carrying out ear cropping procedures illegally in the UK using crude instruments and likely without any anaesthesia or pain relief.

Ms Dos Santos concluded: “Ear cropping is illegal and it’s time for action to stop it happening in the UK. The government needs to work with vets and animal welfare charities to find an effective way to stop this abhorrent practice.

“We need to educate ourselves and each other. We have to stop normalising this mutilation. Celebrities who post pictures with their cropped dogs need to be called out for perpetuating the trade and told to #CutTheCrop.”

A petition which calls for a ban on the importation of dogs with cropped ears can be accessed here.

Under the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct, veterinary professionals can break client confidentiality and disclose information to the authorities where necessary.

Veterinary professionals concerned about seeing a case of ear cropping or illegal importation in practice should contact their local authority animal health and welfare team.

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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."