Dog owners may be worried and upset by the BBC Panorama report It Shouldn’t Happen at a Vets’, in which a reporter went undercover at a private vet surgery.

Vets are in a position of trust and have a responsibility to ensure that their practices are beyond reproach in order to ensure the best possible result for the animals in their care. Thankfully, the vast majority of vets fall overwhelmingly into this dependable category.

The Kennel Club cannot speak for the actions of a few who may wrongly abuse their position of responsibility and trust – they must be dealt with robustly by the relevant authorities, and the veterinary practices within which they work. The RCVS has announced that it will be working closely with the BBC to get the information necessary to take these investigations forward.

Dog owners who are concerned about the quality of care that their pet receives are advised to talk to their vet, who will be able to discuss the steps they are taking to ensure that pets gets the best possible care and treatment.

There is no doubt that the veterinary profession as a whole operates with professionalism and integrity in order to improve the health of dogs. In particular, the Kennel Club would like to commend the veterinary profession for its good work with dogs generally, and for its work with the Kennel Club on numerous health screening schemes and other projects, over many years.  The profession’s dedication to these schemes has been central to improving the long term health of dogs.

In particular, the British Veterinary Association has worked with the Kennel Club on the development and delivery of hip scoring, elbow grading and eye testing , which not only help to reduce the incidence of inherited disease but also add to our understanding of breed related conditions generally. The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has also worked as part of the Kennel Club Scientific Committee and took part in the design and conduct the world’s largest survey into pedigree dog health, in conjunction with the Kennel Club, in 2004. These are rich testament to the profession’s overarching commitment to improving dog health.

It is critical that all relevant organisations working for the benefit of animals should continue to work together, without self-interest and with transparency, in order to prove their commitment to the improvement of dog health on a continual basis. Future opportunities will include individual vets inputting details about surgery or procedures that they have carried out into the Kennel Club’s various databases including the revolutionary new Mate Select programme, which will further assist in our understanding of, and ability to help combat, canine disease. The Kennel Club looks forward to this future co-operation with the veterinary profession.

For further information about the veterinary professions’ response to the Panorama programme please visit:

www.rcvs.org.uk

www.bva.co.uk

www.bsava.com

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