New calculator to track carbon cost of vet surgery
Reducing use of anaesthesia and pharmaceuticals could have a big impact on carbon footprints.
A carbon footprint calculator is expected to support veterinary surgeons with reducing the environmental impact of surgery.
The new tool is the result of a study from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, which sought to create a database on carbon emissions from surgery.
Researchers particularly focused on procedures performed on dogs, examining surgeries on 41 dogs over an eight-month period. They noted the type of procedure, associated diagnostic imaging, anaesthesia and pharmaceutical use.
This was used to quantify a carbon footprint based on surgical waste, personal protective equipment and related travel distance.
The average carbon footprint for each canine patient was 103kg of CO2 equivalent. This is about the same as driving 250 miles in a petrol car.
The resulting database demonstrates that consideration is needed on the type and quantity of anaesthesia administered. It also calls for the mindful prescription of pharmaceuticals.
The reduction of such drugs is recognised as having the most significant impact on reducing the environmental impact of surgery.
Following this, the next highest contributor to the carbon footprint was owner travel, in regards to bringing the animals to hospitals and back home. Although opportunities to reduce this were limited, veterinary surgeons suggested that some virtual consults might cut down on some appointments.
Rachel Nixon, from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, said: “By applying this methodology and the accompanying ECO-SURG calculator, veterinary teams can evaluate their own surgical practices, highlight high-emission areas, and implement targeted, sustainable changes without compromising patient care.
“This study also prompts broader ethical reflection on the environmental cost of inherited breed disorders, offering a new dimension to discussions on animal welfare, responsible breeding, and sustainability in companion animal medicine.”
The full study can be found in The Veterinary Journal.
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Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.
