A new report from veterinary charity, PDSA, which for the first time measures the wellbeing of our most popular household pets today reveals that the health and welfare needs of over ten million cats, dogs and rabbits across the UK are not being properly met.

The PDSA Animal Wellbeing Report, produced in conjunction with YouGov, is the largest report of its kind. Over 11,000 owners were ‘scored’ (out of a possible 100) on how well they are looking after their pets according to the five welfare needs, that is environment, diet, behaviour, companionship and health, as defined by the Animal Welfare Act* . As a nation, owners scored an average of 63 out of a possible 100, with 48% of participants falling under the average which highlights a significant need for improvement in certain areas of animal health and welfare.

According to the report around four million dogs could be suffering, mentally and physically because they are not receiving all the essential health and welfare requirements necessary for their happiness and wellbeing. Indications are that five million cats and over 700,000 rabbits could be experiencing the same.

By lifting the lid on the health and welfare standards of pets in the UK today, as well as gathering the opinions and knowledge of pet owners, PDSA has been able to deliver the most comprehensive evidence-based measure of pet wellbeing.

And which pet is looked after best?

It seems dogs may no longer be man’s best friend. Despite there being much need for improvement in many areas of wellbeing for all three of the species assessed cats appear to be the best cared for pet, closely followed by dogs and hopping into third place are rabbits, whose wellbeing needs are the least understood of all the companion animals surveyed.

But it’s not all bad news. The report shows that the UK is a nation of animal lovers; but, unfortunately, the affection owners have for their pets can be misguided and sometimes detrimental to the animal’s  welfare. 

The PDSA Report has been structured around the Animal Welfare Act which not only identifies the fundamental health and welfare requirements pets need for long-term physical and psychological health, it puts the onus on owners to fulfil those requirements. 

PDSA believes that its groundbreaking report will help owners to be more aware of what really makes their pet healthy and happy. PDSA Director of Veterinary Services, Richard Hooker, says: “Nationally, the overall awareness of the existence of the Animal Welfare Act is just 45%. The Act outlines the five basic and guiding principles designed to safeguard the wellbeing of pets and the fact that so many owners are not familiar with it is extremely worrying.

“Our report reveals that there is much work to do to raise awareness of what pets need to live health and happy lives. Only by doing this, can there be a positive impact on the standard of wellbeing for animals in the UK. This is not a finger wagging exercise, it’s about finding out how pets are living today, identifying areas of concern, and supporting owners who want to do the best for their pets.”