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Compulsory microchipping in Wales
Welsh Government follow suit with dog law

Following in the footsteps of both England and Northern Ireland, the Welsh Government has announced that dog microchipping will be made compulsory.

As of March 1, 2015, all dogs in Wales must be chipped – a move welcomed by animal organisations and charities alike.

"For many years Dogs Trust has led the campaign for the introduction of compulsory microchipping" said the charity's CEO, Clarissa Baldwin OBE, in response to the announcement.

"We are delighted with the decision the Welsh Government has made on this important issue for dog welfare."

Meanwhile, Peter Jones, president of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), commented: "Microchipping is a safe, effective and permanent way to link dogs to their owners and is an essential part of responsible ownership.

"We are delighted that the Welsh Government will bring in new legislation soon."

The move follows law that came into effect in Northern Ireland last year, as well as the decision by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to make microchipping compulsory in England from April 2016.

"We will continue to lobby the Scottish Government to ensure that the whole of the UK has compulsory microchipping in place," added Mr Jones.

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.