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Kennel Club warns on extinction risk
English Setter at risk due to changing fashions

The Kennel Club has warned that the English Setter is at risk of extinction for the first time after a shift in fashions away from Native Vulnerable Breeds and towards more exotic animals. The English Setter is one of Britain's oldest native breeds, but it is currently in dramatic decline. Only 234 animals were registered with the Kennel Club last year, which was a decline of 33% on 2010's figure and a decline of almost two-thirds compared to ten years ago.

The English Setter now joins another 24 breeds on the Kennel Club's Native Vulnerable Breeds list. A breed qualifies for such status when less than 300 puppies are registered in a year. Last year around 3000 dogs were registered across all 25 designated Native Vulnerable Breeds. As a standard of comparison, 1940 Siberian Huskies were registered in the same period.

By contrast, dog breeds such as the Chihuahua are booming due to the influence of celebrities such as Paris Hilton. More than 6000 long and short coated chihuahuas were registered in 2011, a figure which is up a quarter on 2010.

Commenting, Kennel Club Secretary Caroline Kisko said “Celebrities, popular culture and fashion play a big part in today’s society and unfortunately, dogs are not immune from our fickle tastes. The latest victim is the English Setter, a wonderful and loyal breed, while the number of Siberian Huskies have more than trebled in this county in the last 10 years. This unfortunately is reflected in the growing number of exotic breeds seen coming in to our breed rescue societies, as people realise that they can’t give them the exercise, grooming or other care that they need.

Happily, exposure in the media may have had a positive effect for at least one Native Vulnerable Breed. The Cardigan Welsh Corgi, a close relation to the Pembroke Welsh Corgi which is famously a favourite of HM The Queen, saw a boom in registrations last year when registrations shot up 134%. The increase is attributed to the 'Royal Wedding Effect'.

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Webinar to explore AMR in vet dentistry

News Story 1
 The WSAVA has invited veterinary professionals to a webinar on responsible antibiotic usage in dentistry.

On 19 November 2025, at 1am, Dr J Scott Weese and Dr Brooke Niemiec will share the latest advice for antimicrobial use. They will present research on oral bacterology, and explain how attendees can choose appropriate antibiotics.

The session will cover pre-, intra- and post-operative guidelines, with recommendations for various pathologies.

The webinar is designed to support veterinary professionals to make informed decisions and tackle antimicrobial resistance.

Attendees can register here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Dechra launches checklist for veterinary sustainability

Global animal health specialist Dechra has announced the world's first Veterinary Green Theatre Checklist (VGTC) to help make surgery more sustainable.

Endorsed by leading veterinary organisations, including the BEVA, BVNA and RCVS Knowledge, the checklist is designed to reduce the environmental footprint of veterinary care, while supporting better animal health outcomes.

The checklist was launched at the World Congress of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia in Paris and will be followed by an internal training and awareness campaign. For more information, visit dechra.com