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Persian cats at high risk of health problems
Almost two thirds of the UK's 100,000 Persian cats suffer from at least one health condition.

Study shows two out of three affected

Almost two thirds of an estimated 100,000 Persian cats in the UK suffer from at least one health condition, according to a large study of this breed published in Nature Scientific Reports.

The research, which was conducted by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, revealed that hair-coat disorders (12.7%), dental disease (11.3%), overgrown nails (7.2%) and ocular discharge (5.8%) are the most common conditions diagnosed in Persian cats.
 
Many of these health issues may be related to the long coat and flat face that is characteristic of the breed. They represent major welfare challenges for Persian cats that should be considered by breeders and future owners.
 
The results of this study will help breeders to select appropriate individuals from which to breed, veterinary professionals to spot diseases earlier, and owners to ensure that they take preventive measures for common conditions in the breed. This new information will also help the public understand more about the welfare challenges relating to owning and caring for Persian cats.
 
Other key findings from this study were that dental disease was more common in males, while claw/nail problems were more common in females. The most common causes of death were kidney disease (23.4%) and cancer (8.5%). The average lifespan of a Persian cat is 13.5 years.

The high levels of dental and eye problems seen in Persian cats are thought to result from the brachycephalic shaped heads of these cats. Previous research has shown that this abnormal head shape has been associated with various health problems in dogs, as well as cats.

Meanwhile, the high levels of hair-coat problems seen in this study are associated with the thick and long coat of the Persian cat which is prone to tangling and matting.
 
The academics behind this study analysed the clinical records of 3,325 Persian cats using the RVC’s VetCompass programme. This enabled them to identify health trends in the Persian cats that were treated under general veterinary care across the UK in 2013.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.