BVA releases statement on Crufts Veterinary Checks
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has released a statement concerning the controversial veterinary checks at Crufts 2012. Six of 15 high profile Best of Breed winners failed the new checks and, although the exact reasons will not be released on privacy grounds, the Kennel Club has divulged that eye conditions were the 'overriding issue'.
Commenting, Chief Panellist Ian Mason said “Following the veterinary checks at Crufts some confusion has arisen regarding the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme, which we would like to address. The Scheme does not currently certify adnexal problems such as entropion and ectropion, although this information may be noted and discussed during the eye examination.”
“The Eye Panel Working Party is very keen to collect data on breed-related ocular problems. We are currently finalising a new certificate to give this information more prominence, and we discussed these changes with representatives of the high profile breeds at a Kennel Club seminar in November. We hope that the increased attention on eye conditions as a result of the veterinary checks at Crufts will allow us to educate more and more breeders and owners.”
The full statement may be found at the BVA website.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
