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New tools help vets promote nutrition
Dr Marge Chandler

WSAVA Nutrition Toolkit extended

New tools have been added to a Nutrition Toolkit, launched to help the veterinary team promote the importance of nutrition to pet health.

The toolkit was introduced at the recent British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) Congress in April, having been developed by the WSAVA's Global Nutrition Committee (GNC).

Since then, body condition score charts for cats and dogs have been added to the toolkit. Further, a body condition video - currently available in English, Spanish and Japanese - demonstrates how veterinary staff or owners can carry out a body condition check.

A new muscle condition score chart has also been included to help the veterinary team to assess muscle condition.

Co-chair of GNC, Dr Marge Chandler, noted the importance of measuring this as muscle loss has a negative impact on strength, immunity and wound healing.

Commenting on the response to the toolkit so far, Dr Chandler said: "Veterinary staff tell us that the tools are helping them to provide better care for patients.

"[It helps them] to feel more confidant in answering questions about pet food and to suggest useful and accurate nutrition websites to which they can direct owners."

Dr Chandler says that the GNC will continue to add further tools and translate them into more languages to benefit owners and vets across the world.

The launch of the toolkit followed the GNC's creation of Nutrition Guidelines in 2011, which aimed to improve pet nutrition.

Click here to download the toolkit. The Nutrition Guidelines are also available here.

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.