Eurogroup supports research on companion animal diseases

Posted on 16/01/2013

Eurogroup for Animals recognises the need for increased information on disease levels of companion animals and has issued a statement of support for a research project which is collecting data on companion animal health directly from veterinary practices. Results of this research project may be used to improve the lives of millions of companion animals.

The VetCompass project is led by the Royal Veterinary College in the UK, in collaboration with the University of Sydney. It currently collaborates with over 200 UK veterinary practices sharing clinical data on over 400,000 animals. At the moment, VetCompass covers the UK but Eurogroup is keen to support and encourage the establishment of the project across further European countries.

Eurogroup believes that VetCompass data will provide critical information on the prevalence and risk factors for companion animal diseases. Several recent reports have highlighted the substantial welfare impacts of inherited disease on dogs (see the related links below) and this is also a serious welfare concern in cats. The data collected by VetCompass is needed to enable effective health reforms and to monitor the effectiveness of any control strategies implemented.

Eurogroup believes that extending the VetCompass project across further European countries would allow disease surveillance at an international level and greatly improve the welfare of the estimated 124 million owned dogs and cats in the European Union.

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