Obesity is one of the biggest health and welfare concerns facing our nation’s pets.

Fringe session will explore various ways to tackle the problem 

A debate on ways to understand and tackle the pet obesity crisis will go under the spotlight in a BVNA Congress Fringe session, chaired by the Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF). 


The session entitled ‘The elephant in the consulting room - we are failing obese pets’, will explore the various approaches to understanding pet obesity and how the veterinary professions can tackle the issue.

Dr Alex German from the University of Liverpool will argue for obesity to be understood and treated as a disease, while veterinary nurse Josephine Oakden will explore obesity as a symptom of malnutrition. AWF Trustees Julian Kupfer and Rebecca Schofield will facilitate the discussion. 


“The AWF session at BVNA Fringe promises lots of interesting and stimulating conversations, so I’d like to invite all those attending BVNA Congress to drop in,” said AWF chair of Trustees Chris Laurence.


“Recent research funded by AWF and surveys of the veterinary professions have identified obesity as one of the biggest health and welfare concerns facing our nation’s pets. Through this session, we want to not only challenge delegates’ own opinions on the subject but also to share potential actions that can be employed in practice, including how to have supportive and non-stigmatising conversations about pet obesity with clients.”

The session will take place on Saturday, 12 October, 2 pm-3.30 pm, in Beckbury Suite and is open to all BVNA Congress delegates. For more details, please visit bvna.org.uk/cpd/fringe-events.