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Heart-test programme launched for six dog breeds
Great Danes are one of the breeds the programme will look at.
Boxers and Dobermanns among the breeds to be tested.

A new programme to improve the heart health of six pedigree dog breeds has been launched by The Kennel Club and the Veterinary Cardiovascular Society (VCS).

Over the next five years, the programme will offer discounted heart testing for boxers, Dobermanns, Irish wolfhounds, great Danes, Newfoundlands, and bull terriers. All six breeds are known to be at risk of heart problems.

There will also be a survey for owners to fill in to gather more information on overall heart health.

The research will help inform The Kennel Club’s Breed Health and Conservation Plans, which are based on a review of more than 4,000 research papers. The Kennel Club uses the plans to track the progress of bread health and make changes.

The programme could potentially lead to the development of a formal screening scheme. Such a scheme was launched by The Kennel Club and VCS in 2019 for the cavalier King Charles spaniel. By 2023, 41.5 per cent of cavalier King Charles spaniel litters had at least one parent whose heart had been screened.

In the last couple of years, The Kennel Club and VCS have also worked together to carry out exploratory heart testing sessions for whippets and chihuahuas.

Hannah Stephenson, cardiologist at VCS, said: “The VCS are delighted that further progress is being made to identify heart disease in different pedigree dog breeds. As a society, we are keen to reduce the incidence of canine heart disease and look forward to our continued collaboration with The Kennel Club.”

Charlotte McNamara, head of health at The Kennel Club, added: “The Kennel Club is committed to improving heart health and identifying and addressing breed-associated issues for these wonderful breeds and hopefully others in future.”

The Kennel Club is also planning to hold a free webinar in February 2025 about heart problems in dogs. The session will be aimed at owners and breeders of all levels of experience. More details about the event will be released nearer the time.

Image © Shutterstock

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
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For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.