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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 24th February 2016
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New dog health report published
labrador
The Kennel Club contacted 385,000 owners of registered dogs from 215 recognised dog breeds.
Results highlight common conditions and causes of death
 
Lipoma and skin cysts are the two most common conditions affecting live dogs, according to the Kennel Club's latest breed health survey.

Other conditions in the top five were hypersensitivity (allergic) skin disorders, arthritis and otitis externa (ear infection).

The survey received responses about more than 43,000 living dogs and over 5,600 deceased dogs, making it the largest of its kind. It aimed to identify the most common conditions affecting living pedigree dogs, as well as the most prevalent causes of death and reasons for euthanasia.

In total, the Kennel Club contacted 385,000 owners of registered dogs from 215 recognised dog breeds. Of those to respond, more than 65 per cent of living dogs were said to be unaffected by any disease conditions.

The top five most frequently reported causes of death were old age, unspecified cancer, unknown conditions, cardiac heart failure and kidney failure. The average life span was 10 years.

Aimee Llewellyn, head of health and research at the Kennel Club, commented: "The information collected from the survey is invaluable in prioritising health concerns for pedigree breeds as a whole as well as on a breed by breed basis.

"This will help everyone from owners and breeders to vets and researchers identify any potentially inherited conditions across different breeds and help improve the health of future generations of dogs.

"These results give an idea of where progress has been made, where it still needs to be made, and how it is best to make appropriate changes."

The survey was carried out in 2014, a decade after the Kennel Club's 2004 Purebred Dog Health Survey. A more in-depth study of the results will hopefully be published as a scientific paper later in the year.

To read the full report, visit: http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/vets-researchers/pedigree-breed-health-survey-2014

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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.