Vets reminded to report operations

The Kennel Club (KC) are reminding all vets to report caesareans and operations on KC registered dogs.

A letter has been sent out to veterinary surgeries across the country asking them to ensure they provide information on operations to the KC. It is hoped that by doing so, the health of pedigree dogs can be monitored and improved.

Any operations which alter the national conformation of a KC registered dog should be reported, as well as caesareans, as the KC will not register a third litter from a bitch that has already had two caesareans.

The KC say that the vet-reporting system "provides information regarding breeding lines which may pass on certain defects and helps to deter breeders from breeding from animals with hereditary problems."

When breeders register their litter to the KC, they sign a declaration which states that the vet will never be breaching confidentiality when reporting such operations. This was made a condition of KC registration in 1990, with caesareans being added in 2010.

KC Secretary, Caroline Kisko, said: "The veterinary profession and the Kennel Club both hold valuable information about pedigree dogs, but by sharing this information we will get a much more accurate picture about dog health."

Reporting forms can be downloaded here, and the BVA have compiled a list of frequently asked questions here.