Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Fifty-three per cent of Rottweilers affected by elbow disease
rottweiler
Fifty-three per cent of Rottweilers had elbow scores of more than zero.
Kennel Club releases annual dog health report

The Kennel Club's Dog Health Group has released its annual report for 2013, providing an update on canine health and developments from the past year.

Last year, the club's charitable trust donated £536,205 in grants to support dog health research. Funding was awarded to BVNA, Animal Health Trust, PDSA, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the Universities of Bristol, Cambridge, Glasgow and Nottingham.

In October 2013, the French bulldog was removed from the list of high profile breeds - those breeds with visible exaggerations causing pain or discomfort - in recognition of the work being done to improve the health of the breed.

This includes the French Bulldog Health Scheme, developed in 2010, which involves a breed-specific health screen for dogs over the age of one.

According to the report, 19.7 per cent of dogs screened for elbow dysplasia last year had a score of more than zero.
 
Breeds with a particularly high percentage of above-zero scores included the Bernese mountain dog (38.3 per cent), otterhounds (59.1 per cent) and Rottweilers (53 per cent).

2013 saw the lowest number of dogs screened under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme in eight years. Of the 8,977 screened, 1.8 per cent were affected.

Finally, of those dogs screened under DNA testing schemes, 16.3 per cent were found to be carriers and 1.4 per cent affected.

To read the full report, click here.
 

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.