The Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG), which is comprised of representatives from the UK's leading animal welfare organisations, has launched a set of minimum standards for websites that advertise pets for sale.
PAAG says the new standards have been developed to improve the welfare of the pets and to protect members of the public from the risk of ending up with sick, dangerous or even illegal animals. The standards have also been endorsed by Defra and Lord de Mauley, the Minister for Animal Welfare, who has been discussing the need for improvement with the leading online pet classified websites.
The Group points to Kennel Club research which shows that one in five puppies bought online are dying before they reach six months, together with some of the worst adverts the organisation has seen online, as evidence for the urgent need for these new standards:
PAAG says it is working with the Government to remind consumers and websites that an animal is not a commodity like a washing machine or a car, and should not be advertised or bought in the same way. Websites in compliance with the standards will be identifiable to consumers on the PAAG website as the ethical and safer choice when deciding to find a pet online. The group is encouraging the public to stay vigilant to ensure that websites meet the standards consistently, and not to use sites that don't apply the Minimum Standards.Caroline Kisko, Secretary of the Kennel Club, said: "Whilst we recognise that puppies are commonly advertised online, it is still shocking to know that there are between 100,000 and 120,000 pet advertisements appearing on UK websites each day. The research undertaken by PAAG has revealed some truly terrible examples where animal welfare was clearly the last thought in the mind of the advertiser. Every day we hear from people who have bought a puppy online only for it to fall sick or die soon after, and the Kennel Club's research for its Puppy Awareness Week shows that one in five pups bought online die before they're six months old. "We hope that the Minimum Standards will be just that, a minimum standard that a website must reach before posting advertisements for pets. In an ideal world we would prefer people not to buy pets online but would advise that if you are doing so that you check the website adheres to PAAG's Minimum Standards. We urge people to go to a member of the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme if they want the best chance of getting a healthy and well cared for puppy, as this is the only scheme in the country that sets standards for and monitors breeders."
Lord de Mauley, Minister for Animal Welfare at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said: "It is vitally important that advertising websites do all they can to ensure the welfare of animals sold on their sites and to prevent the sale of banned breeds. I fully support PAAG's Minimum Standards and would encourage all advertising websites to sign up to these."
PAAG says that the Minimum Standards are just the first step to improving how pets are advertised online, and that it will work closely with websites including Gumtree, Loot and Preloved to provide support on the reporting of suspicious adverts and the moderating of such ads. A team of volunteer moderators will also be created to provide further support for the websites and ensure that if anyone is turning to the internet to buy an animal they can do so with more confidence that they are buying a healthily bred pet.PAAG has compiled a video of case studies showing the impact of inappropriate online advertising on members of the public, the veterinary profession and animal welfare authorities. See: http://www.paag.org.uk.
PAAG comprises: Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Blue Cross, British Veterinary Association, Cats Protection, Dogs Trust, The Kennel Club, Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA), One Kind, PDSA, RWAF, Raystede, Reptile and Exotic Pet Trade Association (REPTA), Wood Green the Animals Charity, World Horse Welfare.
Research on ovine parasite Toxoplasma gondii, carried out at the University of Salford, could have a significant economic impact on the sheep farming industry - potentially saving the lives of 5% of the UK lamb population.
Postgraduate student Emma Morley has been working as part of a large research team, looking at the importance of transmission routes of T. gondii (the cause of the disease toxoplasmosis) within different mammalian groups.
A scholarship from the Perry Foundation, which funds research benefiting the farming industry, allowed Emma to launch her own study at the School of Environment & Life Sciences.
Salford parasitologist Professor Geoff Hide said: "Emma's research may have some significant impacts on sheep farming. Nearly 5% of lambs are lost to Toxoplasma in the UK so it's of major economic importance as well as an important animal welfare issue."
He said that one of the key things Emma's research has shown is that the advice currently given to farmers may be causing an increase in the level of the disease rather than controlling it. "Farmers are advised to breed from ewes that have lost lambs to Toxoplasma but Emma's results show that what farmers should be doing is breeding from ewes that do not have the parasite," he said.
CEVA Animal Health has joined forces with PDSA, Feline Advisory Bureau (FAB) and the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC) to launch a ‘Remember, remember your pets this November' campaign to provide owners with hints and tips on how to look after their pets during the firework season and the precautions they should take to help them cope with their fear of fireworks. As part of this year's campaign, CEVA will again be running the ‘Promote Your Practice' competition, to help practices get the most out of PR and marketing opportunities in the run up to Bonfire Night.
Lucy Brett, product manager at CEVA Animal Health said: "Nearly 90 per cent of veterinary professionals believe that owners could do more to protect their pets from the stress of fireworks. It is therefore important that veterinary practices provide pet owners with the best advice on how to prepare their pets for Bonfire Night and ensure that the firework season is as stress free as possible."
Vets are being urged to discuss behavioural modification programs for noise phobic pets well in advance of Bonfire Night and to recommend that dog owners create comforting ‘dens' for their pets. The benefit of the dens should be maximised by plugging D.A.P.® Diffusers in the rooms where the dogs usually retreat when frightened. Switching the D.A.P. ® Diffuser on around a week before Bonfire Night will allow the pheromone to build up to significant levels and ensure the animal is as relaxed as possible before, during and after the firework season. In addition, D.A.P.® Spray can be applied to a dog's bedding to give further support on the night of the event. D.A.P.® is also available in a collar formulation, designed to reduce the dog's general level of stress.
Cats appear generally more capable of managing their fears. However, owners should ensure that cats can access their favourite boltholes and plugging in a Feliway® Diffuser 48 hours before the festivities will increase the sense of security.
To request a copy of the Promote Your Practice information pack, please call Lucy Brett at CEVA on 01494 781510.
The researchers say that although increased appetite has been reported as a side effect of many AEDs in veterinary literature, the effect had not been quantified or studied in detail.
To assess the phenomenon in greater detail, the research team analysed food motivation through a validated Dog Obesity Risk Assessment questionnaire created by University of Cambridge1.
The study compared 222 dogs diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy with a control population of 7,086 healthy dogs.
The survey was designed to determine if epilepsy and AEDs were associated with increased food motivation, weight gain and decreased activity, and to assess if and how caregivers managed weight gain in this population.
The data revealed that dogs with idiopathic epilepsy receiving AEDs had significantly higher food motivation in comparison to healthy dogs – they had increased interest in food, were less selective about food, were more interested in food between meals, and wanted more food than usually offered.
In response, carers of dogs on medication put greater effort into restricting how much their dogs ate, particularly of human food.
Despite this, these dogs had significantly greater fat mass.
More than half of owners of dogs with epilepsy always used treats to administer their dog’s ASD medication (53%) and did not compensate for it by reducing the dog’s main food ration (34%).
Given the epilepsy treatment often involves medication two or three times a day, this has the potential to increase calorie intake substantially, an issue compounded by epileptic dogs also being less active.
The researchers say it's important that vets and nurses advise owners to monitor their dog's weight and help them manage it.
Dr Anna Morros-Nuevo of the University of Cambridge, and primary author of this study, said: "Idiopathic epilepsy, and in particular seizure episodes, have such an overwhelming impact on these dogs' families that side effects such as weight gain often get overlooked, both by vets and the pet's families.
"But unfortunately, obesity has lifelong negative impact on health and quality of life, since it predisposes dogs to suffer from joint problems and respiratory diseases, as well as metabolic disorders and urinary incontinence.
"Obese dogs have also been shown to have a shorter lifespan than dogs with a normal weight.
"While ASD are non-negotiable for many of these dogs, their caregivers and veterinarians should be aware of the lifelong impact of their side effects and manage them carefully.
"We hope these findings will help to increase awareness for both veterinary professionals and dog carers of the side effects of ASD and their impact for the patient."
Reference
The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh has awarded its 2007 Marbocyl Achievement Award to Geoff Culshaw, BVMS, CertVC, MRCVS, Head of the School’s small animal cardiology unit, and Diane MacDonald, VN, Head Nurse in the Hospital for Small Animals.
Dechra Veterinary Products is celebrating sales of 100 million sachets of Equipalazone® Powder with a campaign in which customers will get a special deal, and the chance to enter a draw for a VIP, 3-day trip to Badminton 2008.
The Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) has launched its "Report on the implications of castration and tail docking for the welfare of lambs".
The report considers the implications of castration and tail docking for the welfare of lambs and reiterates FAWC's earlier view that castration and tail docking of lambs are mutilations which should not be undertaken without strong justification.
Professor Wathes, Chairman of FAWC, said: "FAWC believes that scientifically based advice can now be given that will minimise the suffering arising from castration and tail docking."
He continued "If castration is warranted, some methods cause more suffering than others and pain relief should be given once practical methods of delivering local anaesthetics and analgesics have been developed."
The full report is available for download at: http://www.fawc.org.uk/
Veterinary surgeons who intend to conduct research in the field of gastroenterology in dogs or cats can apply for a grant of up to €20,000 awarded by the European Emesis Council (EEC).
The New Clinical Investigator Grant is open to qualified veterinarians who have obtained their degree within the last seven years and are working in Europe. The award will be made to support an original research into naturally occurring gastrointestinal disease - for a period of up to two years.
The European Emesis Council is a science-driven, non-charitable, not-for-profit group dedicated to promoting best practice in the management of canine and feline emesis and in the wider field of gastroenterology. It consists of specialists from France, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and the UK, who are acknowledged experts in veterinary gastroenterology.
The EEC has decided to award the research grant as part of its on-going commitment to building and developing better practice in the management of canine emesis and associated causes. The group is supported by Pfizer Animal Health.
Applications will be evaluated by the EEC and must be conducted in strict accordance with the highest standards for animal care, including the standards of applicant's national animal research legislation and other relevant European laws, regulations and guidelines.
The New Clinical Investigator Grant recipient will be presented at the ECVIM Congress in September 2010. Closing date for entries is 1 July 2010.
Further details and an application form are available online: www.emesiscouncil.com/eec-grant.
Ricochet, one of the UK's leading TV production companies, is on the hunt for dogs with unique personality traits or unusual talents for a forthcoming ITV television documentary.
The hour long programme will look into the characteristics, heritage and personality traits of the most popular dogs in the UK. It'll revolve around dog owners and the extraordinary stories they have about their pets.
Ricochet says it is looking in particular for funny, heart-warming or poignant tales highlighting the bond between dogs and their owners - dogs with unique personality traits or unusual talents, and dogs which have performed amazing feats or changed lives.
If you have an extraordinary dog, or think a client might like to take part, call the Assistant Producer, Beth, on 01273 224800 or email: dogbreeds@ricochet.co.uk
Following a five-year review of the Practice Standards Scheme, new standards will take effect from 1 April 2010, and be formally launched at the British Small Animal Veterinary Association Congress in Birmingham (8-11 April).
The Scheme, to which around 50% of practice premises are now signed up, exists to raise standards for the benefit of the public, as well as employees. The review was undertaken by the Practice Standards Group, which includes representatives from all of the key veterinary and veterinary nursing organisations. Its objective was to ensure that standards remain relevant and achievable, while representing better practice. The Group took on board improvements in practice over the last five years, and feedback from inspectors and practices.
Practice Standards Group Chairman, Jill Nute said: "It was important that the Group took account of what the public might reasonably expect of a well-equipped, professional practice. We have made some adjustments to the original standards, placing greater emphasis on clinical outcomes and training."
She added: "To ensure the Scheme goes beyond a 'box-ticking exercise', the emphasis for inspectors has moved towards assessing how standards are applied. For example, not just noting whether a protocol exists for the servicing of anaesthetic equipment, but asking staff involved how this is carried out and what checks are made on a daily basis to ensure the equipment is satisfactory."
The numbered 'tiers' have gone, as these were shown to be confusing. The descriptive categories (Core, GP, Hospital), together with differentiations (equine, small animal, farm animal, emergency services clinic), remain. In addition, to encourage more farm animal practices into the Scheme at GP level, 'where applicable' has been added to certain GP standards, so that those without small animal or equine facilities can comply.
There are some new standards - such as the requirement for annual appraisal systems for all clinical staff. In other cases, as expectations of better practice increase, standards that were previously for Hospitals must now be met by General Practices, and some of those for GPs now apply across the board.
Another change has been in the Manual (see www.rcvs.org.uk/newPSSmanual), which now incorporates guidance alongside the standards rather than in a separate document. The new format clarifies the derivation of each standard, so that legislative requirements are distinguished from those required under the RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct and those indicated by better practice.
Practices already on the Scheme will be given plenty of time to comply.
Visit stand 911 at BSAVA Congress for more information, or attend Hall 6 at 3.30pm on Saturday 10 April for a presentation on the changes.
Vets Now, the UK's only national dedicated out-of-hours veterinary emergency care provider, is set to open its 33rd clinic in July.
The clinic will be located in Portsmouth and will operate from the premises of the Harbour Vet Hospital, 251 London Road, Northend, Portsmouth, PO2 9HA.
Prior to the clinic opening Vets Now will be holding an open evening on the 22 July 2008. The evening is an opportunity for practices in the area or veterinary professionals thinking about working within the clinic to come down and find out more about Vets Now.
Richard Dixon, Managing Director of Vets Now said, "The open evening is an excellent opportunity for the practices in the area who have already subscribed to the service to come down to the host clinic, the Harbour Vet Hospital, and see the facilities that Vets Now will be using. Likewise for those who are interested in using Vets Now as their 0ut-0f-hours provider it is an ideal opportunity for them to come and meet the team, see the facility and find out a little bit more about the service we'll be providing.
He continued, "With regard to staffing the clinic, the open evening is also an opportunity for veterinary professionals who are interested in working with Vets Now either on a permanent or occasional basis to call in and meet our recruitment team and discuss the opportunities which are available."
The open evening on the Tuesday 22 July will be held in the Harbour Vet Hospital, 251 London Road, Northend, Portsmouth, PO2 9HA and will be running from 7.30pm - 9.00pm with drinks and nibbles provided. Vets Now has asked that anyone planning to attend the open evening email marketing@vets-now.com
A new scholarship on Equine Emergency and Critical Care has been started at a specialist equine hospital in County Kildare, at the heart of Ireland’s horse-racing district. Anna Hollis is the recipient of the scholarship, which is the first of its kind in Europe.
The scholarship gives her the opportunity to specialize in the field of emergency and critical care and to be Board Certified by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (ACVECC). The scholarship has been funded by a grant from Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health.
Anna Hollis (BVet Med, MRCVS) will receive the scholarship, for a duration of two years. Hollis just completed a residency in Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (New Bolton Center) and already has several publications. She will be under the supervision of Kevin Corley (BVM&S PhD DECEIM DACVIM DACVECC MRCVS), an expert in the field of equine medicine and Board Certified by the ACVECC who is in charge of emergency and critical care at a large equine hospital in the Curragh area of County Kildare, Ireland.
Anna Hollis will be spending several rotation periods in various institutions in Europe and the USA, before taking the board examination for the ACVECC. This is the only equine Emergency and Critical Care residency in the European Union that is recognized by the ACVECC and one of the few in the world taking place at a private institution.
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health is supporting this two-year initiative, “We are very excited to be working with Dr. Corley to establish this scholarship,” said Roberto Ragni-Alunni, Global Technical Manager for the equine business in Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health. ”The research offers the possibility to reach a rare level of specialization. This will benefit critically ill horses and help push the boundaries of equine medicine even further.”
Research from Bristol University confirms that Angiostrongylus vasorum is spreading in the UK, with 16 per cent of dogs involved in a recent study testing positive for the parasite’s larvae.
The nationwide survey, funded by the RCVS Trust and Novartis Animal Health, was set up to determine the geographical distribution and typical presentation of angiostrongylosis in UK dogs and to elucidate risk factors for infection. The findings are based on examination of 630 faecal samples from dogs (500 sick and 130 healthy) around the country which presented in practice with a wide range of clinical signs for which there was no other obvious diagnosis.
"We received faecal samples from dogs with respiratory and cardiovascular disease, bleeding, neurological and gastrointestinal disorders," explained Eric Morgan, Veterinary Parasitology and Ecology Research Group, University of Bristol School of Biological Sciences. "We also received samples from a smaller number of apparently healthy dogs and examined all of them in the laboratory using the Baermann’s test. The sample was analysed alongside an accompanying questionnaire that recorded history, clinical signs and the vet’s index of suspicion that A. vasorum was the cause of the disease."
More than half (60 per cent) of the dogs that were positive displayed respiratory signs, including coughing. The next most common signs were cardiovascular (including syncope, lethargy and exercise intolerance). The most widespread combination of clinical signs was respiratory and cardiovascular. However, several dogs also presented with haemorrhagic signs and no respiratory involvement, and a wide spectrum of other signs such as diarrhoea, lameness and neurological disease.
Eric said: "Angiostrongylus vasorum is a great imitator and our research proves it can present in a wide variety of ways. Prompt diagnosis is vital but relies heavily on vets being aware of A. vasorum involvement. They should be especially suspicious of dogs that are coughing, lethargic, prone to collapse and presented in practice with unexplained bleeding."
Geographical extent Due to the survey relying on voluntary vet involvement, there was a strong bias in the regions represented, with high numbers of samples coming from South Wales and Surrey. Eric said: "Although these are known hot spots for A. vasorum, there were also positive samples from across southern England demonstrating that the parasite is much more widespread than we previously thought. It’s important that vets outside of the known endemic areas regard this disease as a real threat, to ignore it because you believe dogs outside these areas are not at risk would be a very dangerous assumption indeed. You could already be missing cases."
Risk factors The most significant risk factor was age, with younger dogs more likely to be infected although cases were found in dogs up to 11 years old. “The age profile of positive cases did not vary by region, suggesting that there is no significant build-up of immunity in the dog population,” Eric continues. "Several dogs became re-infected which also suggests that strong immunity does not develop following infection."
More than 40 breeds were represented in the survey with Staffordshire Bull Terriers and Jack Russell Terriers more commonly infected than other breeds. However, when considered alongside all the other risk factors the difference was not significant. "There are certainly no breeds which are resistant to infection, all of them can get it and are therefore at risk!"
Dogs that had not been wormed in the past six months were more likely to be positive (17 per cent of these were positive) than those dogs that had been regularly wormed (12 per cent). "It’s important to realise that even in dogs that are regularly wormed, incidence is still high," concludes Eric. "Vets should pay particularly attention to the worming regimes that they routinely recommend and ensure that the products they prescribe have some activity against A. vasorum. They should also be prepared to consider A.vasorum as a diagnosis even in dogs that are routinely wormed. What we have to remember is that this is a tough worm to get rid of and one we need to take seriously if we are to prevent its spread."
A new study of 1,000 children aged between nine and 10 years old, conducted by Mars Petcare in conjunction with the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition and The University of Liverpool, with partners Liverpool John Moore's University and Liverpool City Council, has revealed the depth of the bond between children and their pets.
The research revealed that:
The research looked at the ownership of a range of pets - including dogs, cats, rabbits, rodents, horses and fish - and revealed that more than 50% of children consider their dog to be their "favourite" pet, followed by cats (15%).
The research also looked at the impact that pets have on children who do not have siblings, showing a strong attachment between single children and their pets. Lead researcher Dr Carri Westgarth from the University of Liverpool's Institute of Infection and Global Health said: "In the absence of siblings, pets offer children the chance to care for and nurture others; a vital skill in a child's learning and development. The youngest siblings in a family also had stronger attachment to their pets which can be attributed to a lack of younger, more dependable siblings to care for. "
Dr. Sandra McCune, Scientific Leader for Human - Animal Interaction at WALTHAM, said: "Pets play a crucial role in the development of children; allowing them to socialise, care for and nurture others. This is particularly important for children who do not have siblings to learn from and play with, and for the youngest siblings in the family who do not have a younger, more dependable sibling to care for. Children often yearn to own a pet and the developmental impact that they have for kids is significant. Not only are they good in terms of exercise and responsibility, but also helping children understand relationships. Playing, taking care of and talking to animals can have a really positive impact on a child's development."
The European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases (ABCD) has issued new guidelines concerning rabies in cats.
The organisation, which is made up of 17 independent veterinary experts, meets 3 times a year to discuss major infectious feline diseases. The rabies guidelines are the latest in the series, which are available for download at: http://www.abcd-vets.org/guidelines/index.asp
A Government decision not to embark on a badger cull in England, as reported today, will be the correct one for both badgers and cattle, says the RSPCA.
"This would be the right decision based on compelling evidence, particularly because the most authoritative scientific research ever undertaken on the subject recommended against badger culling as an effective way of controlling TB," said Dr Rob Atkinson, RSPCA Head of Wildlife Science.
"Evidence indicates that the vast majority of badgers are not infected with TB. Our opposition to a badger cull is based on solid science not sentiment. The RSPCA cares as much about cattle welfare as badgers. We are keen to work with farmers and governments to find positive solutions to the challenge of TB in cattle."
In the online survey of 392 dog owners, which was conducted Companion Consultancy, 64.5% of owners said their dog has suffered from gastrointestinal upset.
51.8% said they used home cooked chicken and rice to manage their dog's digestive upset.
28.6% sought veterinary advice.
18.8% used a pre and probiotic, despite half of the respondents thinking they would be useful.
Veterinary nurse and sales manager at Vita, Tara Evans, said: “We know that digestive upset is very common in dogs, and almost two thirds of the survey respondents identified that scavenging was the primary cause of upset.
"We want to help support pet owners in knowing how they can best look after their pet in these situations, and provide them with both educational resources and an effective product.
“Education is key in helping owners make the best choices for their dogs.
"Changing their diet in a time of digestive upset isn’t always the best option, so it’s important that we provide owners with up-to-date information."
www.vitaanimalhealth.com
The March 2025 Cattle Highlights Report from the Royal GD in the Netherlands has revealed that the proportion of paromomycin-resistant isolates has jumped from 48% in 2021 to 72% in 2024.
The report also highlights an increase in the detection of cryptosporidiosis in calves up to 14 days of age.
MSD says that while it is unclear whether paromomycin is being used to treat E.coli or cryptosporidiosis, the rising use of the antibiotic could be contributing to greater exposure and increased resistance in E.coli K99.
Kat Baxter-Smith MRCVS (pictured), a vet advisor at MSD Animal Health, said: “What we need now is a mindset shift—moving away from routine antibiotic use and towards a more robust, preventative management strategy.
“It’s not about eliminating treatment altogether but using it only when it is really needed.”
“Vaccination, clean pens, and ensuring that every calf receives the right volume and quality of colostrum are the real cornerstones of effective scour control.
“Using vaccines such as Bovilis Rotavec Corona for rotavirus, coronavirus, and E.coli and Bovilis Cryptium for Cryptosporidium parvum is one of the most effective ways to reduce the incidence of neonatal diarrhoea.
"By vaccinating the dam, we ensure the calf has the best possible immunity at birth by ingesting the fortified colostrum and transition milk in the first days of life, which significantly reduces reliance on antibiotics and minimises disease risks.”
The report emphasises best-practice principles such as effective colostrum management, good hygiene and housing, balanced dry cow transition and strategic vaccination of the dam.
The report also recommends halofuginone (Halocur) as the first-line treatment for cryptosporidiosis, due to its targeted action and significantly lower risk of contributing to AMR.
Kat added: "By embracing these proactive strategies, vets and farmers can take a crucial step towards safeguarding calf health, reducing reliance on antibiotics, and combating the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.”
https://issuu.com/gezondheidsdienstvoordieren/docs/highlights_report_cattle-march_2025
Research published online in the Veterinary Record has revealed that one in four dogs competing in Crufts is overweight, despite the perception that entrants are supposed to represent ideal specimens of their breed1.
The researchers based their findings on 1120 online images of dogs from 28 breeds —- half of which are prone to obesity — that had appeared at Crufts, the largest dog show of its kind in the world.
Only adult dogs that had been placed between first and fifth in their class between 2001 and 2013 were included in the study.
The images were coded and anonymised, and 960 were deemed suitable for assessment. A second person then graded the body condition of each dog in one sitting, using a previously validated method. One in four (252; 26%) was found to be overweight.
Pugs, basset hounds, and Labrador retrievers were the breeds most likely to be assessed as being overweight. Dogs were overweight in 80% of the pug images, 68% of the Basset Hound and 63% of the Labrador images.
The researchers said that the three breeds with the highest prevalence of being overweight among the online images are prone to excess weight. Nevertheless, since pugs were originally bred to be a companion dog, while hounds and Labradors were bred for hunting and fieldwork respectively, being overweight would not be advantageous.
Standard poodles, border terriers, Rhodesian ridgebacks, Hungarian vizlas and Dobermanns were the least likely breeds to be overweight.
The prevalence of being overweight among the show dogs was less than that reported generally for pet dogs in the UK. Nevertheless, the researchers say the fact that a quarter were above ideal weight is still a cause for concern: “These dogs showcase the ideal characteristics of the pedigree breed, and there is a danger that widespread media exposure might adversely influence owner perception of optimal body shape.”
The Kennel Club has recently introduced changes in policy for judging criteria, to emphasise characteristics that promote good health in dogs. However, the researchers say that breed standards of optimal condition should be reinforced for competition, to ensure consistency: “Further effort is now required to educate owners, breeders and show judges so that they can all better recognise overweight condition, thus helping to prevent the development of obesity.”
Best in show but not best in shape: a photographic assessment of show dog body condition doi 10.1136/vr.103093
Acoording to news reports, a government minister has said that a package of measures to encourage responsible pet ownership is on the way, and that may include compulsory microchipping.
Replying to a question in the House of Lords, Lord Taylor of Holbeach said the government would put forward its arguments for and against microchipping when it announces its new strategy on dog ownership.
However, according to the BBC report, Conservative peer Lord Renton said ministers must think "carefully before" taking such a step: "There are many dogs that take very badly to having a chip in them," he said. "They get very sore."
Who ever said the Lords were out of touch, eh?