Richard Hooker, PDSA’s Director of Veterinary Services, said: “Every day, PDSA vets are confronted with the health and welfare issues arising from selective dog breeding. These include behavioural issues and problems associated with the dog’s overall appearance, which can be extreme in some breeds.

“Seeing a pedigree dog with health problems resulting directly from selective breeding is very disheartening. So we warmly welcome any recommendations that can reassess dog breeding as a whole and change the culture which seeks to define an ‘ideal’ shape, size and look of a pedigree dog.”

Mr Hooker added: “The health and welfare of pedigree dogs is rightly at the forefront of today’s report. It offers considered recommendations that aim to address the problems associated with irresponsible breeding. It also stresses the importance of educating prospective buyers so that they obtain their puppy from a reputable source, thereby creating demand for healthy animals.”

PDSA leads the way in providing information for pet owners with initiatives such as the charity’s online tool, Your Right Pet: designed to help prospective pet owners make an informed choice.

Richard adds: “The proposed changes recommended in the report are inevitable and long overdue. If new regulations are introduced it will understandably take time, but it’s a major step in the right direction for pedigree dogs, that all deserve a happy and healthy life.

“All parties must now work together to ensure these recommendations lead to significant and lasting benefits in animal welfare.”

• The Bateson report recommends that all dogs should be permanently identified. PDSA has always supported permanent identification and believes microchipping is particularly effective. Making it compulsory would be a step in the right direction to ensure that dogs can be individually traced.

Though an extreme example, this preference of pets over partners isn’t as uncommon as you might think. We recently ran a facebook survey asking if people preferred their pets to their partners – and the majority of respondents confirmed they did, writes Elaine Pendlebury, Senior Veterinary Surgeon at the PDSA.

Our pets, it seems, are regarded by many as more loyal, loving, trusted, cute and loveable. They give us unconditional love and are always there for us. On the other hand, some respondents did comment that, despite all this, pets can be demanding and ‘messy’.

So there we have it. Pets are preferred to partners. But as we at PDSA are at pains to point out, pets are a big responsibility and ownership should not be undertaken lightly. We would always recommend that people do thorough research before getting one, to make sure they can offer what a chosen pet type or breed would need.

Looking after a crocodile is very specialised and therefore a dog seems far more suitable! But that’s not always the case. If you don’t particularly like going out in all weathers, it might be better if you got a cat or a small furry pet. Whatever your circumstances, PDSA’s online tool, ‘Your Right Pet’, on www.your-right-pet.org.uk can help you make the best choice for you – and your partner!

To find out more about PDSA, visit our website at www.pdsa.org.uk

Does your dog get down in the dumps? Your cat more ‘clingy’? Or your bunny get the Winter blues?

Whatever pet you have, PDSA is urging owners to share their thoughts:

http://k9m.ag/moods

Watch this space for the results in a few weeks!

Senior Veterinary Surgeon at PDSA, Elaine Pendlebury, said: “Toxins produced by, or contained within, some types of algae are extremely poisonous and death is common and rapid – symptoms occur within 15 minutes to one hour of exposure. Death can happen within 10 to 30 minutes of this and usually within 24 hours of swallowing the toxin.”

Algae can be more concentrated at water edges and even small amounts of water can contain lethal doses. In some instances, dogs have been found dead at the edge of the water.

The first signs of a problem include severe vomiting which may contain blood which then can lead to more serious symptoms. With the more toxic algae, breathing difficulties, collapse and death can develop within 15 minutes of exposure to the toxin. Although affected dogs can survive if treated quickly, clinical effects may show over a longer period of time and they may develop kidney or liver failure.

Elaine concludes: “Blue-green algae is particularly prevalent at this time of year, especially with this late summer sun we are currently enjoying. So we want dog owners to be aware of just how dangerous it can be. Dogs are particularly at risk when they drink from watering holes like ponds where the algae has spread rapidly, usually when it is sunny and the water has a high temperature.”

* Owners should beware of any stagnant pools. Algae can live on the surface or the bottom of the water, so the pond won’t always have a scum on the surface.

** Though known as blue-green algae, it can vary in colour – some are red and some are black as well as blue-green.

Since 2002, there has been a startling 73% increase in the number of cases where PDSA vets have had to refer to the Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) – a national resource providing information to vets about poisons and the associated treatment.

In response to the growing problem, PDSA has produced a list of the top five* most common and often fatal pet poisons their vets have seen. The charity’s vets believe greater awareness can help reduce the number of accidental pet poisoning cases they treat each year.

The five most common causes of accidental pet poisonings seen by vets:
1. Incorrect use of flea treatments in cats (using too much or using treatments intended for dogs)
2. Rat and mouse poisons
3. Human medication such as paracetamol
4. Slug and snail killer
5. Antifreeze

PDSA data shows that the most common type of poisoning involves the incorrect use of flea treatments in cats. This is where cats are either accidentally treated with spot on flea treatments designed exclusively for dogs, or where too much of a flea product is used. Some flea treatments contain a chemical called permethrin which can be toxic to cats and can prove fatal. This is why it is so important to use the correct flea treatment product and dosage for your pet as advised by your vet.

“In most cases, owners simply do not realise that there is a difference between dog and cat flea treatments,” said PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon, Elaine Pendlebury. “Cats can become ill when they groom their fur and ingest the potentially fatal substance. Even if cats come into close contact with another pet that has been treated, such as the family dog, they can still be exposed to permethrin. Discussing flea control with your vet is strongly recommended, and is the best way of ensuring you use a product that is safe and effective for your pet.”

Across the UK, PDSA vets see an average of two cats daily diagnosed with permethrin poisoning, amounting to over 600 each year. Without prompt treatment, the fatality rate in cats is very high.

The second most common pet poison encountered is rat and mouse poison, which pets may accidentally eat when out and about. Third is human medication – including ibuprofen and paracetamol – which curious pets may get their paws on if packets are left around the home. In addition, some owners believe that these drugs are safe to give to pets. In fact, some can prove fatal (cats in particular are very sensitive to paracetamol – about 25% of cases seen are fatal).

Slug and snail killer, which people often spread in their gardens, is in fourth place. In fifth place is antifreeze which can contain a range of toxic substances such as ethylene glycol, methanol or other toxic chemicals. Ethylene glycol in particular has a taste that often proves irresistible to cats and dogs, who will happily lap it up despite the fatal side-effects.

One item which just misses out on the top-five list is chocolate (in sixth place), which can poison dogs and other pets due to the toxic effects of theobromine – a component of chocolate. PDSA vets often see an increase in cases at Easter and Christmas.

There are many other potentially fatal substances hazardous to our furry friends. PDSA vets are seeing an increasing number of bizarre pet poisoning cases including dogs that have accidentally got their paws on herbal medicines, marijuana, nicotine-gum, sugar substitutes and raisins.

Elaine Pendlebury added: “Most pet poisoning cases are accidents caused by inquisitive pets getting their paws on dangerous substances, or owners innocently administering products which they don’t realise are harmful.”

PDSA’s data and warning message is backed up by the VPIS, which is part of the Medical Toxicology Unit at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and provides poisons advice to over 1000 veterinary practices, including PDSA’s 43 PetAid hospitals, across the UK.

VPIS Spokesperson, Alexander Campbell, says: “At the VPIS we see a very similar pattern in terms of the most common types of poisoning as PDSA is seeing. Sadly, many of those on the PDSA list such as permethrin, human medications such as paracetamol, slug pellets and antifreeze can prove fatal, so it is vitally important that owners keep any substances that can harm pets well out of reach and react quickly and responsibly if they suspect poisoning might have occurred.”

Elaine Pendlebury said: “What all this tells us is that there is a real need for owners to take extra care when it comes to their pet’s safety. Most cases of poisoning are due to a pet accidentally eating a substance or owner error. But the only way of reducing the number of such poisoning cases is to highlight the dangers to owners and urge them to exercise caution.”

Poisons case study

Cat owner, Joanna Doran (40) from Caerphilly in Wales, was distraught when her beloved cat, Spider (2) had a severe reaction to a dog flea treatment.

Recalling the ordeal, Joanna says: “Within 15 minutes of my using the flea treatment on Spider she was convulsing and writhing around. I called PDSA and they told me to come down straight away.

“I felt awful when the vets told me that Spider had been poisoned by the dog flea treatment. It was a complete accident, but that didn’t make me feel any better; I just wanted Spider to be okay. I’m sure there are many other pet owners out there who don’t realise there is any difference between dog and cat flea treatments.”

Thankfully, PDSA Veterinary staff were able to save Spider and she has gone on to make a complete recovery.

“I feel it is important for me to share my experience with other pet owners to try to prevent this from happening to anyone else. Now, whenever I need to use a flea treatment on Spider I always ask my vet for advice, and would recommend that other owners do the same so they know they are using the right product and right amount.”

*Poisons data sourced from a survey of PDSA’s 43 PetAid hospitals

LINKS:

Your Dog and Poisons – Life Saving Advice Available for Free

Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a highly infectious disease that can lead to death. It mainly affects younger dogs and in advanced stages, can kill nine out of ten animals.

Some dogs can survive the infection with intensive veterinary and nursing care. But with over 25 per cent of cases proving fatal, PDSA is urging all dog owners to vaccinate their pets to prevent them from contracting the disease and risking death.

PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon Sean Wensley said: “Parvovirus makes dogs extremely ill which is distressing for both them and their owners. PDSA staff at some PetAid hospitals have seen a large influx of very sick pets over the past few weeks.

“The virus normally affects a dog’s intestines, causing signs such as vomiting and diarrhoea. The faeces will also often contain mucus or blood. Dogs with parvovirus can also become subdued and lethargic very quickly, and go off their food. If a dog develops any of these signs, they should receive immediate veterinary attention.”

Some dogs will recover but others can die within hours of showing signs.

Checks carried out at around half of PDSA’s 47 PetAid hospitals in recent weeks revealed that at least 160 new canine parvovirus cases had been seen in a single month, so the actual number seen by the charity could be double this.

Information* gathered by the charity also show stark regional variations in the prevalence of parvovirus. Samples were taken from over 350 dogs suspected of having the disease: In northern England, 78 per cent of dogs sampled tested positive, compared to Scotland where it was just 13 per cent. In Wales 70 percent of suspect cases proved positive, along with 65 per cent in the Midlands.

The information gathered also confirmed that unvaccinated dogs were more likely to test positive for the virus.

Sean Wensley added: “Ensure your puppy receives their vaccinations to provide good protection against this disease. Follow your vet’s advice on booster injections, which are usually once a year, because an animal’s immunity to the infection decreases over time.”

Jack’s owner, Emma Keers, said: “After Jack’s surgery, he was sleepy after the anaesthetic so I put him in the kitchen to recover overnight. The next morning I noticed the whole alphabet was missing from the fridge though Jack wasn’t showing any signs of being ill. He can be quite greedy though and I suspected straight away that something was up so took him back to PDSA where x-rays showed he’d eaten something he shouldn’t have!”

The senior veterinary surgeon, Robert Newcombe, at Plymouth PetAid hospital, said: “We had to operate straight away with both a gastrotomy where we opened up his tummy and an enterotomy to remove more pieces of fridge magnets that had made their way to his intestine. The letters were well chewed and not easy to identify and as well as finding around 30 pieces of chewed plastic, he had eaten some white rubbery cloth!”

Jack stayed in for a couple of days to recover and within a week was back to his normal self. Emma said he now sleeps in the utility room well away from the fridge though she admitted she’s not buying any more fridge magnets!

Plymouth PDSA PetAid hospital provides free veterinary treatment for the pets of owners who are unable to afford private vets fees. For more information on PDSA services, log onto www.pdsa.org.uk or call freephone 0800 731 2502.
You can also download free copies of PDSA’s Responsible Pet Care leaflets, including the PDSA Safety Indoors leaflet. Leaflets can also be picked up from PDSA PetAid hospitals and shops nationwide.

The medal was awarded to Rip in July 1945 for “Locating many air raid victims during the Blitz of 1940”.

Medal specialists Spink of London dropped the gavel on lot 1229 after fierce bidding for the large bonze medal saw it exceed its estimated catalogue price by over £14,000. The highest price previously recorded for a PDSA Dickin Medal at auction was £23,000 for the medal presented to Simon, ship’s cat on the HMS Amethyst.

Speaking about the sale, PDSA Corporate PR Manager Caroline Garbett said: “All of the PDSA Dickin Medals are very special items and their real value is in the story of the animal recipient. Rip was a life-saving dog, locating people buried in the ruins of the Blitz. To the people he saved and their families he was a true hero. This Medal is a testament to his bravery in the face of danger.”

Scruffy stray terrier Rip was adopted by Mr E King, an Air Raid Precaution Warden (A.R.P.) on duty in Poplar, East London. Rip was soon adopted as the team’s mascot and unofficial search dog. He was not trained for the work but began digging instinctively, pausing to let Mr King know when he had located a victim in the rubble. Many people owed their lives to Rip and his dogged determination.

Rip was not a young dog when he began his search and rescue career, although he served throughout the five years of the war. In 1946 he became ill and unfortunately did not survive. He was buried in the PDSA Animal cemetery in Ilford, North London and is one of 12 PDSA Dickin Medal recipients buried there – all animal heroes of WWII.

Rip is among 62 animals to have received the PDSA Dickin Medal, between 1943 and 2007. The other recipients are 32 Second World War messenger pigeons, three horses, 26 dogs and one cat, Simon the ship’s mascot of HMS Amethyst during the Yangtze Incident. Some of those dogs honoured have been recognised for bravery while on duty with British forces in Afghanistan and Iraq during more recent conflicts.

Toby was eight months old and living with the family at the Leconfield Army Barracks in Yorkshire when the incident happened.

As the intruder proceeded through the house he collected three knives from the kitchen. As soon as he set foot upstairs he was faced with Toby, who barked and ran at him.

Toby was stabbed four times in the chest and legs. Woken by the dog’s barking, Jonathan Morton found Toby in a pool of blood.

“Toby is our hero,” said Jonathan. “I dread to think what could have happened if he had not intervened that night. I’m so pleased PDSA have honoured him today.”

Five-year-old Buster’s owner, Brenda Dawes, from Derby, brought the chocolate eggs as an Easter treat for her grandchildren. She hid them away in her spare bedroom, but didn’t count on mischievous Buster sniffing them out.

Brenda says: “When I arrived home one afternoon, Buster came down the stairs, wagging his tail and licking his lips. I knew immediately he’d been up to something. He’s a terror and chews everything he gets his paws on – mobile phones, video tapes, the remote control.”

Brenda went upstairs to investigate and found her Easter presents missing and just one empty box lying on the floor – Buster had eaten all 12 chocolate eggs, their foil wrapping and one of the cardboard containers!

“I knew you shouldn’t give dogs chocolate, but I didn’t realise it was poisonous,” continues Brenda. “Buster was fine the rest of the night and we went to bed without any problems so I thought he was going to be fine. But at about 5am he woke me up howling in pain. He couldn’t stand up; his back legs just kept buckling underneath him. His stomach was swollen and he was obviously in a lot of pain. Panicking, I called PDSA and they told me to bring him straight in.”

Brenda struggled to carry five stone Buster to her car and rushed him straight to Derby PDSA PetAid hospital. Once there he was treated with fluids and placed in intensive care for round-the-clock observation.

Senior Veterinary Surgeon, Vicky Sims, says: “Buster was quite lucky. Cream eggs have a fairly low theobromine content because they’re half fondant. Higher quality ‘posh’ chocolates are the most dangerous as they have high concentrated doses of theobromine – which poisons pets.

“Many people are simply not aware that even small amounts of human chocolate can kill a little dog. If you want to indulge your pet you should opt for a healthy pet treat instead.”

As Brenda found out, despite owners best intentions, our four-legged friends will outsmart us and get their paws on sweet treats, as Vicky explains: “Owners may think that they have put chocolate in a safe place, but it’s not unheard of for pets to open cupboards and doors to feast on naughty treats. PDSA’s advice is to make sure unsuitable foods are kept well away from prying paws – especially Easter eggs.”

Thanks to Derby PetAid hospital’s quick treatment, Buster has now made a full recovery. Brenda concluded: “I can’t thank PDSA enough for their help, the idea of losing Buster is just unimaginable. He doesn’t seem to have leant his lesson though. He’s already tried to eat a bag of crisps and a toilet roll since he’s been home – I’ll have to keep a close eye on him from now on to keep him out of trouble.”

The effects of chocolate poisoning in dogs usually appear within 6 to 12 hours of ingestion, and can last as long as 72 hours. Symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal tenderness, restlessness and increased heart and breathing rate. In severe cases there may be fits, heart beat irregularities or coma. If dogs ingest a large quantity of theobromine and are left untreated, the poisoning can prove fatal.

For more information on pet health log onto www.pdsa.org.uk.