FREE BVA & KC webinars about common joint and eye problems

FREE webinars about common joint and eye problems in dogs and available screening schemes.

In partnership with the British Veterinary Association’s (BVA) Canine Health Schemes, The Kennel Club’s (KC) health team is hosting a series of free webinars for anyone wishing to find out more about the following health screening schemes: 

• BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme
• BVA/KC Elbow Dysplasia Scheme
• BVA/KC/ISDS (International Sheep Dog Society) Eye Scheme

A webinar about the BVA/KC Hip and Elbow Dysplasia Schemes will take place on Tuesday 14 November (from 7pm to 8:15pm), and will be joined by specialists Dr Jerry Davies (Chief Scrutineer of the BVA/KC Hip and Elbow Dysplasia Schemes) and Mrs Elizabeth Baines (in-coming Chief Scrutineer). Those interested in attending this webinar can register here.

The second webinar about the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme will take place on Tuesday 28 November (from 7pm to 8:15pm), and will be joined by veterinary ophthalmologist, Mr Benjamin Blacklock. Those interested in attending this webinar can register here.

Hip and elbow dysplasia are complex inherited conditions where the hip or elbow joint does not develop correctly. As a dog gets older, the joint undergoes wear and tear and deteriorates, leading to a loss of function. This can cause varying degrees of pain, discomfort, stiffness and lameness. Although hip and elbow dysplasia are controlled by a number of different genes and influenced by several environmental factors, some breeds and types of dog have a higher risk of developing these conditions. The BVA/KC Hip and Elbow Dysplasia Schemes were established to reduce the incidence of severity of these conditions. They use X-rays to identify abnormalities in the joints and help breeders to make informed breeding decisions to lower the risk of producing affected puppies.

Several known hereditary eye diseases, whether present at birth or emerging later in life, can seriously impact a dog’s health and welfare, causing pain, blindness and/or the need for lifelong medication. The BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme is a physical eye examination carried out by expert veterinary ophthalmologists to identify inherited and non-inherited eye conditions in dogs. This screening scheme allows breeders to better understand the genes a dog may pass on to its puppies and reduce the risk of inherited diseases in future generations.

The webinar series aim to enable owners, breeders and anyone interested in dog health to learn more about what research has told us to date, including causes, symptoms, available screening schemes, and best practice in breeding. Both webinars will include a 45-minute presentation from specialists in hip/elbow dysplasia and eye diseases. This will be followed by a 30-minute question and answer session, giving attendees a chance to put forward their queries and experiences for discussion (questions can also be pre-submitted at the time of registration).

More information about the BVA/KC Canine Health Schemes is available at thekennelclub.org.uk/health or bva.co.uk/canine-health-schemes.

The Kennel Club has hosted a series of health-focused webinars this year, which have so far explored canine conditions such as epilepsy, intervertebral disc disease, colour dilution alopecia, osteosarcoma, and brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, as well as the science of DNA testing for health, with experts, researchers, owners and breeders. The webinars aim to raise awareness of various canine health concerns, explore research and future studies, improve diagnosis and outlook, and support dogs affected with the condition, and their owners.

Past webinars can be watched on The Kennel Club’s YouTube channel.