Vets call for tighter control of imported dog diseases
Most infected dogs had either been imported, travelled from overseas, or bred with an imported dog.
National veterinary associations are urging the UK government to tighten its control over the import of dogs from countries with high levels of disease.
The organisations have called for the government to introduce mandatory pre-import disease testing, and to tighten the movement of dogs from places with high levels of disease.
The joint position, from the British Veterinary Association (BVA), British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA), Society for Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS) and British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA), is in response to an increase of Brucella canis cases in the UK.
The collective has recommended that the government restricts movement of dogs from places which are endemic for diseases that are not considered endemic in the UK. They say this should be implemented following a risk assessment to identify for which countries and diseases testing should be conducted.
The policy suggests that the government makes it mandatory for all dogs brought into the UK to be tested for any relevant diseases.
They have also asked that border controls are more tightly enforced to prevent puppies and pregnant bitches being imported. This is because of a heightened risk of Brucella canis transmission associated with pregnancy and abortion, and also since disease testing is less reliable in younger dogs.
The joint policy position comes as cases of Brucella canis increase in the UK.
Contact with the bacteria Brucella canis can cause dogs to develop canine brucellosis, an infectious disease that results in pain and chronic illness. As treatment is often unsuccessful, the only option to protect animal welfare is often euthanasia.
Brucella canis is not currently widely present in the UK, and cases had previously been sporadic and isolated. However, data released from the government reveals an increase in confirmed Brucella canis cases in the UK.
Cases have risen from just three before 2020 to 240 cases in the past three years. Most infected dogs had either been imported, travelled from overseas, or bred with an imported dog.
The zoonotic capabilities of Brucella canis have also come into question, after the first case of dog-human transmission was reported in 2020. This has suggested risks, although relatively low, to those handling and treating infected dogs.
BVA president Anna Judson said: “By taking proactive measures to minimise its introduction, we can better protect the health and welfare of the UK dog population and minimise the challenges of dealing with suspected cases once they have already reached our shores.”
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Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
