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Campaign to educate pet owners on feeding habits
The campaign includes two short films sharing the weight loss journey of 'Poochini' and 'Moto'.
“People simply don’t realise there is a problem” - Michael Unsworth, Hills Pet Nutrition.

A nationwide campaign to educate pet owners on feeding habits and nutrition has been launched to tackle the growing problem of pet obesity.

Hill's Pet Nutrition's 'Feed the Love, Lose the Weight' campaign comes in response to new figures that show obesity is one of the top five welfare issues amongst UK pets, with the coronavirus lockdowns being recognised as making the situation worse. 

Worryingly, the data reveals that 84 per cent of dog owners and almost 73 per cent of cat owners think their animal is an ideal weight. A further 16 per cent of dog owners and 17 per cent of cat owners admitted to feeding their animals more treats over lockdown.

Hill's veterinary affairs manager, Michael Unsworth, said: “We know that at least 50 per cent of pets in the UK are currently clinically overweight or obese and that this is becoming a serious welfare issue. We also know that during lockdown periods exercise may be limited and bad food habits creep in, and if left untreated, can have a hugely detrimental effect on the animal’s health and quality of life going forward. 

“People simply don’t realise there is a problem. Most pet owners do not have the education or the recognition to make these informed decisions themselves, and when it comes to their pets, owners can often have their blinkers on. As the animal’s advocate, we are committed to raising awareness of this serious issue and supporting pet parents through that education process.”

Through a suite of free tools and resources, the campaign aims to educate pet owners on the many aspects that make up their pet's health and nutrition, specifically the negative effects of too many treats. It also aims to support veterinary professionals in their conversations with clients about diet.

Mr Unsworth added: “Our free resources will also allow Vet Pros to tackle this issue head-on, without having to wait to see the animals in person. This is a growing epidemic that we as a country need to address right now, and this emotive and informative campaign will help drive awareness amongst owners all over the UK to be more mindful of their pet’s nutrition and eating habits.”

Finally, the campaign also includes two short films sharing the weight loss journey of ‘Poochini ‘and ‘Moto’. The short films will be rolled out across social media, highlighting the change in pets’ quality of life as their weight increases and how a healthy meal plan can support their best friend to live their very best life. 

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.