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‘World’s oldest dog’ claim to be reinvestigated
GWR has been accused of insufficient verification of Bobi's age.
Vets believe that Bobi was not 31 years old.

A Portuguese dog’s Guinness World Records (GWR) title as ‘world’s oldest dog’ is being investigated, after doubt was cast on his true age.

The investigation was launched after Wired magazine suggested that GWR’s verification of the age of Bobi, a rafeiro do Alentejo, was insufficient.

Bobi was awarded the title of ‘oldest dog ever’ and ‘oldest dog living’ in February 2023, when his owner claimed he was 30 years and 266 days old. He took the title of oldest living dog from a 23-year-old Chihuahua named Spike.

Although he passed away at the age of 31 last October, he still holds the title of world’s oldest dog.

However, Wired magazine has since accused GWR of insufficient verification of Bobi’s claim. Their article suggests that GWR failed to contact Portugal’s pet database to verify the claims, with a co-ordinator from the database telling their journalist that Bobi’s owner had produced no registration or data to confirm his age.

The announcement of Bobi’s accolade also received doubt from members of the veterinary community.

Speaking to the Guardian in October 2023, Danny Chambers, a veterinary surgeon and Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) council member, said that none of the members of the Veterinary Voices group believed that Bobi was 31 years old.

He said: “We are a science-based profession, so for the Guinness Book of Records to maintain their credibility and authority in the eyes of the veterinary profession, they really need to publish some irrefutable evidence.”

GWR have responded by opening a formal investigation into Bobi’s claim of the title, and the process used to verify his age. They have also temporarily paused applications for ‘oldest dog living’ and ‘oldest dog ever’ until their investigation is concluded.

A GWR spokesperson said: “I can confirm a formal review into the oldest dog record is taking place, which involves GWR reviewing evidence we have on file, seeking new evidence, reaching out to experts and those linked to the original application.
 
“While our review is ongoing, we have decided to temporarily pause applications on both the record titles for oldest dog living & ever until all of our findings are in place and have been communicated. Some of today's reporting has been a little misleading, no action has been taken in relation to any record holders yet, any actions are to be determined by the outcome of the review.”

Image © Guinness World Records

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Free CPD announced for BVNA members

News Story 1
 Zoetis is to present a CPD event for free to members of the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA).

Led by veterinary consultant Ruth Moxon, the one-hour online session is designed to help veterinary nurses discuss parasiticide options with clients. It will advise on structuring recommendations, factors for product choice and moving away from 'selling'.

'How do you recommend parasite treatments to your clients?' will be presented on Tuesday, 20 May at 7.30pm. It is free for BVNA members, with £15.00 tickets for non-members.

Veterinary nurses can email cpd@bvna.co.uk to book their place. 

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News Shorts
DAERA to reduce BVD 'grace period'

DAERA has reminded herd keepers of an upcoming reduction to the 'grace period' to avoid BVD herd restrictions.

From 1 May 2025, herd keepers will have seven days to cull any BVD positive or inconclusive animals to avoid restrictions being applied to their herd.

It follows legislation introduced on 1 February, as DAERA introduces herd movement restrictions through a phased approach. Herd keepers originally had 28 days to cull BVD positive or inconclusive animals.

DAERA says that, providing herd keepers use the seven-day grace period, no herds should be restricted within the first year of these measures.

Additional measures, which will target herds with animals over 30 days old that haven't been tested for BVD, will be introduced from 1 June 2025.

More information is available on the DAERA website.