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New health programme approved for dalmations
dalmation
The Kennel Club has established an official BAER testing health programme for dalmations.

Kennel Club approves new testing programme for deafness in dalmations

A new health testing programme for Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) testing for deafness in dalmatians has been approved by The Kennel Club.

Responsible dalmation breeders have been screening their litters for some time using BAER testing to ascertain the hearing status of the puppies in a litter.  A number of specialist centres in the UK offer this screening, and each dog tested is issued with a certificate stating the dog's hearing status as: normal, unilateral hearing loss or bilateral hearing loss.

Working with the dalmation breed clubs, the Kennel Club has established an official BAER testing health programme for the breed, with the aim that individual testing centres will eventually forward the results directly to the Kennel Club.

The results will then be recorded on the tested dog's registration record, making them accessible to the public via their Health Test Results Finder.

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: “Responsible dalmatian breeders have been testing their dogs for years, and we are pleased to be able to offer a means of centralising the data obtained through this testing. 



“The more results that are recorded, the clearer the picture will be as to the hearing status of Dalmatians in the UK.  This can help owners to identify if their dog may need special care or training requirements and could help to develop tools to enable breeders make sensible breeding decisions in the future.”

The Kennel Club say that results for dogs tested, which meet the approved the programme criteria, can be recorded now. Owners are encouraged to submit copies of the certificates directly to the Kennel Club.  For more information, email hbs@thekennelclub.org.uk.

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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. 

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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.