The Kennel Club has launched online reporting forms for vets to
report operations and caesarean sections carried out on Kennel Club
registered dogs, in order to make it easier for both to continue
helping the Kennel Club monitor and improve dog health and
welfare.
The new online reporting forms have been launched in order to
simplify the reporting process and make it easier for vets to
submit information that will ultimately help to improve the health
of pedigree dogs, as it provides information on breeding lines
which may pass on certain defects and helps to deter breeders from
breeding from animals with hereditary problems.
As part of registration with the Kennel Club, any operations which
alter the natural conformation of a dog registered with the Kennel
Club should be reported by the dog's owner or their vet. Owners who
wish to compete at Kennel Club licensed shows with dogs which have
undergone such operations must apply for permission to do so. Vets
and breeders are also asked to report caesareans as the Kennel Club
will not register a litter from a bitch that has already had two
caesarians.
Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: "The veterinary
profession and the Kennel Club both hold valuable information about
pedigree dogs and by sharing this information we can get a much
more accurate picture about dog health.
"We have created the online reporting forms to make things as easy
as possible for vets to report surgeries and caesarean
sections. Although many responsible owners and breeders, and
some vets, already report operations to the Kennel Club, this is
not a uniform practice and we hope this new simpler way to do so
will help to ensure that we work more closely together in the
future."
When registering a litter with the Kennel Club, breeders sign a
declaration which means that the vet will never be breaching
confidentiality when reporting such operations. The declaration
says:
"I/we confirm and agree that any veterinary surgery performing a
caesarean section and/or operation on any of my/our dogs in such a
way that the operation alters the natural conformation of the dog
or any part thereof may submit a report to the Kennel Club."
The declaration regarding the reporting of operations which change
natural conformation was made a condition of Kennel Club
registration in 1990 and caesareans were added to the declaration
in 2010.
Further information and the online reporting forms for vets can be
found at
www.thekennelclub.org.uk/vets-researchers/caesarean-operations-and-procedures-which-alter-the-natural-conformation-of-a-dog.
The BVA's guidance on veterinary reporting can be found at
www.bva.co.uk/Workplace-guidance/Ethical-guidance/conformational-changes-caesareans/.