VetIT is launching a new suite of practice management software this month, which it claims will wipe out IT support worries while also giving vets secure access to their records wherever there's an internet connection.

Designed for practice-based and mobile vets, its developer says the near-universal access of the system will make VetIT ideal for the progressive and forward-thinking veterinary practice, particularly those with multiple locations.  Early clients are already seeing the benefits of the system, which has been four years in development.

VetIT's Tony Houghton said: "The software offers practices a host of new features, all of them designed to increase usability, enhance revenue, reduce running costs and eliminate IT concerns. And because the new system has been developed in partnership with a well-established veterinary practice, VetIT sees and does things from a vet's perspective.

"During the development phase, our practice partner told us that existing packages were unwieldy - whether in their day-to-day operation, the ability to see and share data, or the 'back office' administration required. So we designed VetIT from scratch, to work in the most user-friendly manner."

According to Mr Houghton, the most significant difference is in how the software works - and in recognising that most practices expect IT systems to 'happen' in the background, rather than devouring precious time.  "Existing packages are physically located in your practice - usually on a dedicated server, requiring daily back-ups and maintenance.

"VetIT, conversely, is a 'web-hosted solution' - like Sage Online or for that matter, Facebook - which means it's accessible to users wherever there's a browser and an internet connection: main or branch practice, home or out in the field.  Log in from anywhere and you'll always see the same data.

 "Practice data is held securely at a remote location and, with automatic back-up systems, some of the biggest worries about onsite IT systems - theft, fire, flooding and protection from computer viruses - are removed immediately.

"In the event of system maintenance or issues, customers talk to a friendly, UK-based support and development team, who can access and modify the system in real time; practices won't have to wait for an engineer to attend.  In fact, we have a very content practice in Oman now running the system; the installation and set-up has all been carried out from a distance."

By removing the 'IT headache', Mr Houghton says practices choosing VetIT will be able to run their businesses more effectively, while developing closer, more valuable relationships with customers.

He said: "The web-based system allows vets' customers to log-in to 'their' VetIT, where they can check records, pay bills, or place orders. Practices can also maintain and build a relationship with customers via e-mail and SMS reminders of appointments, check-ups, treatments due and so on."

As for running costs and pricing, Mr Houghton cites pre-launch studies showing the potential for productivity gains in practices deploying VetIT, while the system's clear pricing - from low-cost start-up practices to corporate licensing for multi-site operations - gives peace of mind with smooth, predictable costs through the system's life.  "You don't have to buy expensive computer hardware like servers and back-up systems, and pay-as-you-go pricing eliminates up-front software licensing costs."

Mr Houghton says users in so-called 'notspots' - areas of the country where broadband connections run at less than 2Mbps or are non-existent - need not feel left out, either.  "We've designed the system to be as fast as possible, with no heavy data-transfer requirements.  In fact, data transfer within the system is so well optimised that it will even work with a dial-up connection or mobile broadband."

More information about VetIT is at http://www.vetit.co.uk/, or contact Nick Cole.

Vetoquinol has revamped its Epiphen complimentary voucher scheme for testing serum levels of phenobarbital, and is offering vet practices a chance to win £100 of high street vouchers.

New voucher pads will be posted to participating veterinary practices in August.  The re-vamped scheme also includes freepost envelopes to make the free serum monitoring programme more user-friendly.

Practices are being asked to send back the old vouchers, which can be found in both the 30mg and 60mg Epiphen packs, to take part in a monthly prize draw to win £100 of high street vouchers.  To enter, return the vouchers with the practice name on the back of each voucher.  There will also be a quarterly prize draw for a "Touch Screen" client education tool.

The old vouchers should be sent to: Voucher Amnesty, Vetoquinol, Vetoquinol House, Great Slade, Buckingham Industrial Park, Buckingham, MK18 1PA.

Boehringer Academy has joined forces with Andy Durham from Liphook Equine Hospital to launch a series of short webinars covering recent updates in laminitis laboratory tests and common FAQs on the management of PPID in horses.

The webinars each last between three and five minutes and are part of the 2016 ‘Talk About Laminitis’ disease awareness initiative to help detect, manage and monitor PPID.

The webinars can be viewed on the Boehringer Academy website – www.boehringer-academy.co.uk - and podcast versions are also available enabling veterinary professionals to listen to them ‘on the go’. 

The first series includes:

• Why have the ACTH normal reference ranges changed at Liphook Equine Hospital?
• How should I approach cases where the change in reference ranges has resulted in a change in my diagnosis?
• What is the Adiponectin test and when should veterinary surgeons use it?’.

The second webinar series covers:

• How should I monitor my PPID patients being treated with Prascend?
• What management recommendations should I make for horses with PPID?
• Should I seasonally alter the dose of Prascend in my PPID positive patients?
• Should I monitor horses over the age of 15 for PPID?’.

For further information on the webinars or podcasts visit www.boehringer-academy.co.uk or contact your local Boehringer Ingelheim territory manager.

The Disciplinary Committee of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has suspended a veterinary surgeon from the Register for nine months for convictions regarding docking puppies' tails and driving offences, and for failing to obtain a client's consent to treatment or explore other treatment options.

At the conclusion of the four-day hearing, Dr Adetunji Ayinla Jolaosho, formerly principal veterinary surgeon at City Vet Clinic in Syston, near Leicester, was found unfit to practise following two convictions for tail docking plus 17 driving and related offences, which also brought the profession into disrepute. 

They further found that he failed to obtain consent to remove tissue from Jemma, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier owned by Mrs Hill, and to discuss a reasonable range of treatment options with her, and that this also amounted to serious professional misconduct.

In December 2008, Mrs Hill brought Jemma to Dr Jolaosho to have a lump on her flank drained.  Mrs Hill said she made it clear that she had limited finances and nothing other than this treatment should be done without her consent.  Dr Jolaosho undertook a biopsy and removed tissue. He told the Committee that he asked his practice manager to contact Mrs Hill and obtain her consent, however, this was not consistent either with the clinical records or a letter sent to Mrs Hill in December 2008. 

Caroline Freedman, Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee said: "The Committee is satisfied that Dr Jolaosho did not seek to obtain consent from Mrs Hill before he decided to carry out exploratory surgery. It does not consider that there was any attempt to explore treatment options with Mrs Hill before the surgery other than draining the mass."

On 16 June 2009, Dr Jolaosho pleaded guilty at Market Harborough Magistrates Court to two offences of docking the tails of Rottweiler and Doberman puppies.  He was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay court costs of over £3,000.  During 2003 to 2008, he was also convicted of 15 driving and related offences and twice of obstructing a police officer.

At the outset of the hearing, Dr Jolaosho admitted his criminal convictions, telling the Committee of his difficulties following the death of his wife in October 2002 and subsequent sole responsibility for his three teenage children.  He also said that the tail docking resulted as an oversight on his part and that as the puppies were docked within five days of birth, there were no welfare issues.  He emphasised that he had not carried out tail docking since being visited by the RSPCA in July 2008.  He also drew to the Committee's attention the fact that, until 2003, he had been of good character.

The Committee accepted that for at least part of the period in question he was suffering from emotional problems following his wife's death, and his continuing financial responsibility for two of his children.

It was however, concerned, that having received a custodial sentence for driving whilst disqualified, he committed further driving offences on release. Nor did they accept that the tail docking was an oversight: in 2006 the RCVS advised Dr Jolaosho to comply with the RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct and not dock dog's tails unless for "truly therapeutic or prophylactic reasons." In view of the seriousness of the charges admitted and proved, the Committee concluded that a  period of nine months suspension from the Register would be a proportionate penalty.

Mrs Freedman said: "The primary purpose of the sanctions is not to punish but to protect the welfare of animals, maintain public confidence in the profession, and declare and uphold proper standards of conduct." 

She added: "Bearing in mind the financial consequences of the suspension of Mr Jolaosho, the Committee does not consider that any useful purpose would be served by imposing a longer period of suspension. However, Mr Jolaosho should be aware that any further convictions or failure to observe the College's Guidelines are likely to lead to the removal of his name from the Register."

The University of Bristol's Langford Veterinary Services (LVS) has announced the completion of its new clinical facilities.

The first phase of the £13 million development includes a new small animal surgery building, comprising five theatres, an ICU, a dedicated anaesthesia induction and recovery and an imaging suite.

The imaging suite comprises a 16-slice CT scanner, for small animals and horses, conventional digital radiography with a DR system, a high-resolution fluoroscopy, diagnostic ultrasound, echocardiography, scintigraphy and a high resolution 1.5 tesla MRI scanner available seven days a week.

Lynne Hill, Chief Executive of LVS, said: "The new facility provides state-of-the art diagnostic imaging facilities at all times, to help the animals under our care."

LVS highlights the case of Gainsborough, an eight-year-old Irish draught gelding, to illustrate the benefits of its new facilities. The horse, used for jumping and endurance, was initially presented to the Equine Hospital in October 2010, with clinical signs including nasal airflow obstruction and discharge, which was limiting his athletic capabilities.

Using videoendoscopy and radiography, a space-occupying mass was diagnosed in the paranasal sinuses impinging into the nasal cavity. With the horse conscious, but sedated, using regional local anaesthetic nerve blocks, the bulk of the mass was removed and he returned to work. However, the owner reported a recurrence of the clinical signs and he was returned to the clinic for reassessment.

The new imaging suite, only one of a few such units in the UK, has been adapted to enable the imaging of a horse's head while conscious using a frictionless air plinth. The adaptation allows detailed imaging of both bone and soft tissue structures within a horse's head, without requiring a general anaesthetic.

Using the new imaging suite, Gainsborough's CT examination revealed a portion of the mass, which had been inaccessible to the previous keyhole surgery, had expanded into the nasal cavity. The detail of the images enabled careful planning of a second operation that facilitated removal of the large remnant of the mass, which appeared to be benign, with minimal collateral trauma.

In addition to imaging the heads of conscious horses, dogs and cats are able to undergo complete body scans using the same unit while anaesthetised. As well as enabling detection and diagnosis of lesions without invasive or painful tests at an earlier stage, the unit will facilitate operative planning and add to the body of knowledge of disease pathogenesis.

For more information about LVS, visit: http://www.langfordvets.co.uk/

Ceredigion veterinary surgeon Robert Alun Merfyn Evans has been suspended from the Register for six months by the RCVS Disciplinary Committee after he admitted to misconduct relating to tuberculin testing for cattle he owned and failing to register the births and deaths of cattle.

Mr Evans appeared before the Committee on the 11th February, when he admitted the two heads of charge of misconduct against him.

The first head of charge related to the fact that, between 24 June and 29 June 2013, he deliberately failed to bring to attention of Wyn Lewis MRCVS, an Official Veterinarian (OV) and fellow director of Mr Evans’ practice in Cardigan, the cattle on his farm requiring intradermal comparative tuberculin tests; that he tested certain of the cattle himself despite not being the OV for those tests and having a conflict of interest; and that he provided inaccurate and incomplete information to his practice for the completion of a report on the testing to be sent to the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA). This misconduct was then repeated the following year between 19 June and 1 August 2014.

The second head of charge against Mr Evans related to breaches of the Cattle Identification (Wales) Regulations 2007 between 4 July 2005 and 20 June 2014, namely the fact that he failed to register the birth of five calves and the death of nine cows. These were accepted as being specimen charges reflecting a much larger total number of breaches over the whole nine year period.

Mr Evans’ misconduct first came to light when a late return was sent to the AHVLA in August 2014 regarding the TB testing of 51 live animals on his farm in June 2014. When the report was scrutinised the AHVLA noticed that 26 animals shown on the return as dead were still registered, while 20 animals that were tested were not registered. When the AHVLA investigated, Mr Evans immediately admitted that he had misled Mr Lewis on two occasions and carried out his own testing despite not being the OV.

The Committee heard that he did this because he did not want it to be found out that he had unregistered cattle on his farm. Regarding the unregistered cattle, the Committee heard that this stemmed from a mistake made by Mr Evans in 2005 or 2006 whereby he mislaid a batch of around nine bovine passport application forms sent to him to register the birth of calves on his farm, a legal requirement for the purposes of animal health, disease control and safeguarding the food chain.

As a result of poor IT skills and being profoundly deaf, Mr Evans felt unable to seek support online or by telephone, was too embarrassed to tell others and, furthermore, felt that it was impossible to correct his mistake without being in breach of the law. So, for a period of nine or 10 years, he failed to register the birth of calves on his farm. His failure to register the deaths of cattle, was also caused by administrative failings. His breaches of the cattle registration regulations were subject to criminal proceedings and on 14 October 2015 he plead guilty at Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire Magistrates Court  to 14 offences for which he was given a conditional discharge for 18 months and ordered to pay costs of £1,000.

The Committee considered that a suspension from the Register would be in line with the seriousness of the charges against Mr Evans. Professor Alistair Barr, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "The Committee agrees that the lengthy period over which these offences took place, his betrayal of his colleague, and the undermining of the reputation of the profession and of the system of disease control, taken together with his dishonesty, make it impossible to impose a lesser sanction than suspension.

"The Committee finds that the respondent, who is a man of good character, has fully accepted his guilt, and has real insight into the seriousness of his conduct. He cooperated fully with the investigations and with the County Council who prosecuted him in the Magistrates [Court], and with the College. He made an open and frank admission about his misconduct from the outset.

"The course of conduct on which he embarked and which has led to these charges was the result of a simple mistake at a time of considerable stress to him. He was not guilty of deliberate misconduct at the outset but… what started as an innocent mistake took on a life of its own and led him to deliberate and dishonest misconduct because he did not know how to get himself out of the predicament he was in."

Professor Barr also said that there was no financial gain in Mr Evans’ actions and that animal welfare had not been compromised as the cattle were well cared for and in good health and that Mr Evans’ actions in carrying out the tuberculin tests on the unregistered cattle himself demonstrated that he was concerned about identifying any disease in his herd.

He added: “In all the circumstances the Committee has decided a proportionate sanction is that the respondent’s registration should be suspended for a period of six months.”

The Committee’s full findings and decision are available on the RCVS website (www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary).

MSD Animal Health, the maker of Nobivac(r) Respira Bb, has launched a new risk assessment campaign for Contagious Canine Cough (CCC), to direct dog owners to ask their local vet for protection.

The company says that with an estimated 3.2 million UK households welcoming a new pet into their family home during lockdown¹, many experienced and new dog owners will be unaware of the risks to their dog of CCC when it socialises, hence the new risk assessment tool, which is available at: https://www.msd-animal-health-hub.co.uk/KBPH/contagious-canine-cough-risk-assessment. 

The risk assessment campaign will be supported with 'Does your dog ...' posters for vets, information and advice for dog owners on the website and a social media campaign encouraging dog owners to spread the information to other dog owners.

Carley Chutter, Nobivac(r) Product Manager at MSD Animal Health said: "With so many new dog owners now socialising more, taking their dogs on holiday and even considering taking their dogs into the office, protecting their dogs as they socialise is vital.

"Currently only an estimated 1 in 3 vaccinated dogs in the UK are also covered against Bordetella² so the 'Ask us to protect your dog' resources offers the chance for practices to start the conversation about protection with clients.

"A common barrier to vaccinating against CCC is the belief that it is only necessary for dogs going into kennels, rather than all social dogs. Most dogs meet others, however, while out walking, during training, or while attending the vets, CCC is infectious even at low levels. Indeed, dogs can be asymptomatic but infectious.

"So, improving protection levels against this disease which is distressing for both the owner and dog, is important in both reducing the risk of outbreaks and the need for antibiotic treatment."

Nobivac(r) Respira Bb injectable vaccine against Bordetella bronchiseptica, gives 12 months protection when used as a single-dose booster in dogs previously vaccinated with Nobivac(r) KC. Dogs not previously vaccinated against Bordetella bronchiseptica require two doses administered four weeks apart. Duration of immunity is 7 months after the primary course and 12 months after a booster with Nobivac(r) Respira Bb. It may also be given 12 months after a primary course in cases where the 7 months dose is missed.

To support the use of Nobivac(r) Respira Bb a range of tools are available to practices and further information can be found at www.nobivacrespiraBb.co.uk, or contact your MSD Animal Health account manager.

References

1. Pet Food Manufacturers' Association
2. Nobivac L4, Nobivac Lepto 2 & Nobivac KC, number of doses, Kynetec VetTrak Data (calendar year November 2020)

Zoetis, the maker of UlcerGold, has announced the launch of a digital tool to support veterinary surgeons with the diagnosis of Equine Gastric Ulceration Syndrome (EGUS).

The new tool is part of a package that also includes posters and SMS texts to support veterinary practices in raising awareness of gastric ulcers to horse owners.

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) is a serious and common condition and any type of horse can be at risk.¹ EGUS can have a profound impact on a horse’s condition and performance and can be life threatening in foals. It is a challenging condition to diagnose as the clinical signs are often vague and not always present.¹

Gastroscopy is the only method currently available for a definitive diagnosis. Of the two types of disease equine squamous gastric disease is graded on a numeric scale with 1 being the least severe and 4 being the most serious. Equine glandular gastric disease can be very varied in terms of location and type so grading this disease on a score system is no longer recommended. Instead it is now usually described in terms of location, severity and appearance.²

The new tool has been designed to help vets to map the area affected by gastric disease and record the details in an accessible format. This information, together with treatment and management recommendations, can be shared easily with the client. Posters explaining gastric ulceration have been designed to help increase awareness and understanding of EGUS amongst horse owners. 

Zoetis says effective treatment usually involves a combination of management and medical treatments. UlcerGold is indicated to treat and prevent the recurrence of gastric ulcers in horses, administered once-daily for 28 consecutive days at the full dose of 4mg/kg bodyweight followed by the reduced dose of 1mg/kg bodyweight for a further 28 days.³ It contains omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor that suppresses gastric acid secretion.^3,4 One syringe contains enough UlcerGold for a daily dose for a horse weighing up to 700kg. It can be used for foals as young as four weeks of age that weigh over 70kg and for breeding stallions.

References

1. Picavet M-Th. EQUINE GASTRIC ULCER SYNDROME. Proceedings of the First European Equine Nutrition & Health Congress. February 9 2002. Antwerp Zoo, Belgium.
2. Sykes BW, et al. ECEIM Consensus Statement. J Vet Intern Med 2015; 29: 1288-1299.
3. UlcerGold Summary of Product Characteristics. May 2014.
4. Bell RJ, et al. Equine gastric ulcer syndrome in adult horses: a review. NZ Vet J 2007; 55 (1): 1-12.

BEVA has opened the box office for its 60th Congress, taking place from 8th–10th September 2022 at the ACC in Liverpool.

This year’s programme includes five live streams running in parallel throughout the conference with clinical research presentations also returning after the Covid-enforced hiatus.

The first plenary lecture will be presented by Pat McCue who will review events that have shaped current practice in equine reproduction before looking at what the future holds.

The second plenary lecture, being delivered by Celia Marr, will look at 'evidence in perinatology'.

David Lloyd, Congress Scientific Programme Chair, said: “Whilst we are sure most delegates will be clamouring to attend the lectures and discussions in Liverpool in person, the programme also includes a virtual stream available live online. 

“Also, to help reduce our carbon footprint, we are holding one virtual session concurrently across all lecture theatres.

"Global leaders in the field of infectious disease, imaging, nursing, reproduction and sports medicine and rehabilitation, will present virtually to the lecture hall rather than travelling to the congress.

"This session will have 25 of the “best of the best” speakers, presenting and discussing topics that challenge us in practice.”

Early bird tickets for BEVA Congress are available from 28th February 2022.

Early bird BEVA member prices are £499 for vets and £187 for vet nurses for all three days (with concessions available for those in their first three years post graduation or on a lower salary).

Virtual tickets are £199 for vets and £40 for nurses.

BEVA has a 'peace of mind' bookings policy to reassure those who are concerned that the Covid-19 situation may change between booking their ticket and the event.

For more information, or to book, visit http://www.bevacongress.org/ 

Dechra Veterinary Products has published a new series of video presentations about the diagnosis and treatment of canine hypoadrenocorticism to help veterinary surgeons who are prescribing Zycortal for the condition.

The six videos, which were recorded by Dechra's technical team, range in length from 10 minutes to 37 minutes.

Episode one describes the pathophysiology of Addison’s disease, different types of Addison’s disease and helps veterinary surgeons recognise the common clinical presentations of chronic hypoadrenocorticism.

Episode two examines the similarities in clinical presentation between hypoadrenocorticism and other disease processes.

The third episode looks at the changes commonly seen in the haematology, biochemistry and urinalysis of Addison’s patients. This section also covers how to perform and interpret hormone testing with the knowledge of the common causes of false positive results.

The fourth looks at a clinical presentation of an acute Addisonian crisis and best practice for emergency treatment of these patients, as well as the transfer of an acute patient onto maintenance treatment with Zycortal.

The final two films explore the treatment and monitoring of a patient on Zycortal and how to switch existing Addisonian patients from fludrocortisone acetate to Zycortal. It also documents the help which is available for those more complex cases.

Dechra Brand Manager Craig Sankey said: "These short films are an important support tool for any veterinary professional who is treating patients with hypoadrenocorticism or who may be presented with cases in their practice.

"Addison’s disease can be very hard to diagnose as it mimics so many other illnesses and we hope these presentations will give insights into a complex disease. The introduction of Zycortal has been a vital development in the treatment of the disease and we hope the new resources will be beneficial to veterinary professionals."

The presentations complement resources that Dechra has already produced for dog owners, including a website -www.myaddisonsdog.co.uk - which provides information and resources to help dog owners understand the condition and monitor their pet's progress.

Veterinary Evidence, RCVS Knowledge’s peer-reviewed, open access journal, has launched its new website.

The journal provides free access to critical summaries of the best available evidence, called Knowledge Summaries, to help practitioners make informed evidence-based decisions in practice.

The new website has several new features, such as author and reviewer hubs, which contain information to guide contributors through the process of writing or reviewing papers for the journal.

A new ‘answer me’ button allows potential authors to pick a clinical query they are interested in answering and email it straight to the Editor, streamlining the process.

The new site also includes a new submission system, Editorial Manager, which streamlines the editorial process, communications with authors and reviewers, and the management of articles.

Kit Sturgess, Editor-in-Chief of Veterinary Evidence, says: “I am really excited by the new website; its look and functionality will significantly improve rapid access to information and further boost the engagement of the veterinary team with EBVM.

"After an impressive year for Veterinary Evidence, we have also moved to a new submission system, Editorial Manager, aimed at making the experience of submitting and reviewing papers easier and more efficient.

"Through the new website and publishing platform, the journal can get better metrics of how well we are supporting our readers, authors, and reviewers so we can use evidence to drive Quality Improvement.” 

veterinaryevidence.org

Jinx, a 9 month old black Labrador, has become the first patient at Peterborough's recently-opened NuVet practice to undergo pioneering 'single port' keyhole surgery for a retained testicle

The operation was performed by Marwan Tarazi, owner of the NuVet practice, using Biovision SurgAssist laproscopic equipment.

Marwan said: "When we opened the NuVet practice in May, we wanted to offer our clients the option for less invasive surgical techniques wherever possible. Jinx's condition made him a good candidate for keyhole surgery, and the 'single port' approach we use reduces the risk of post-operative infection and speeds up recovery time. His owner nursed another dog through serious complications following more traditional cryptorchid surgery twenty years ago, so she was very keen to try a less invasive approach. This time the procedure went without a hitch and Jinx was very quickly back to his old self, helped by plenty of love and attention from all our staff". 

Jinx's owner is delighted with the results. She said: "I had heard that NuVet were doing procedures through keyhole surgery and so I took Jinx along to the practice in Bretton. All the staff were very welcoming and helpful, and the vet explained the procedure thoroughly beforehand, showing me both the theatre and the equipment he would use, which helped to reassure me. When I went to pick Jinx up after the surgery, he came out wagging his tail, and two days later he was back to his normal self - running around and jumping over impossibly high fences!

"20 years ago I had a German Shepherd with the same condition. Then the vet had to open him up with a large incision, and it was very stressful and uncomfortable for the dog. The recovery time for him was 10-14 days, compared to Jinx's of around 2 days. The difference was amazing."

Marwan is one of a very small number of vets in the UK to use the 'single port' technique. He has invested tens of thousands of pounds in training and equipment to allow the NuVet practice to offer this specialised service to the pets of Peterborough and beyond.

If you want to know more about this procedure and the equipment being used, click here to talk to Marwan!

See also: www.nuvet.co.uk

BVA President Gudrun Ravetz has been on Radio 4's Today programme, doing her bit to educate the public about the health problems suffered by brachycephalic breeds.

In the piece, which starts at 1:22:54 here, Gudrun explained that what is seen as “normal” and cute for these dogs, such as snorting and snuffling, is in reality a result of debilitating respiratory problems caused by the squashed faces that have made them so fashionable.

Today also highlighted the fact that flat-faced breeds have experienced a huge boom in popularity recently, driven by celebrity owners, advertising and the media. According to the Kennel Club, the French bulldog is set to knock the labrador off its perch as the UK's most popular breed.

Following the interview Gudrun said: "We shouldn’t be buying and breeding dogs on the way we want them to look - it should always be about prioritising welfare above appearance.

"These are breeds that can suffer just by walking around or eating, which is why we’re calling on the media and advertisers to stop using them in their adverts.

"It is also difficult to turn on the TV, check Instagram or see a celebrity photo without also seeing a brachycephalic breed so it’s not surprising that demand for these dogs is rising."

Gudrun urged anyone thinking about buying a brachycephalic breed to talk to their local vet and think about choosing a healthier breed or crossbreed instead.