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Surgical AI in dogs prohibited, college confirms
Canine surgical AI is not listed as one of the exemptions allowed by law.
Supporting guidance updated in line with legislation 

Surgical artificial insemination (AI) in dogs is prohibited by animal welfare laws, the RCVS has clarified.

The college has updated its supporting guidance to the Code of Professional Conduct following a meeting of the Standards Committee last month.

Section 27, titled ‘Miscellaneous procedures: legal and ethical considerations’ has been amended to make it clear that the procedure is not allowed under animal welfare legislation, specifically the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which prohibits mutilations.

Prohibited procedures are defined as those which interfere with sensitive tissue or bone structure. Canine surgical AI is not listed as one of the exemptions allowed by the Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) Regulations 2007.

RCVS registrar Eleanor Ferguson said in a statement: “Due to an unfortunate oversight, the guidance had not been updated following this legislative change, although, in the interim, the guidance still made it clear that surgical AI in dogs was unlikely to be in the animal’s best interests and could only be carried out and justified in very limited circumstances and for exceptional reasons.
 
“However, we apologise for the oversight, and as soon as the College was made aware that the guidance on surgical AI did not conform exactly with the legislation and regulations, a paper was prepared for the Standards Committee to consider as soon as possible and update the guidance accordingly.”

Members of the profession with questions about the code or its supporting guidance can contact the RCVS standards and advice team on advice@rcvs.org.uk
 

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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.