Pets: The United Kingdom Reports an Alarming Decline in Vaccination Rates

Millions of dogs, cats, and rabbits are unprotected against disease across the Channel due to a significant decline in vaccination rates, according to the 2017 PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) report. In light of these findings, the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) believes this trend is concerning for the health and animal welfare of pets in the United Kingdom. The annual PAW reports, produced in collaboration with YouGov, have surveyed more than 63,000 pet owners since 2011, providing detailed statistics to support this finding.   The 7th PAW* report reveals a significant decline in the number of British animal owners who have their young pets vaccinated. The latest results show that only 75% of puppies (7 million) and 65% of kittens (6.7 million) received their initial vaccinations this year. These are the lowest rates recorded in seven years, compared to the 82% of dogs and 72% of cats that received their initial vaccinations in 2011. Furthermore, only 66% of pet owners surveyed in 2017 protected their pets (5.6 million cats, 7.3 million dogs, 500,000 rabbits) with an annual booster shot. While 92% of dogs are registered with a veterinarian , it is concerning that 2.3 million (25% in 2017, compared to 12% in 2016) were not vaccinated during their first year. Cats are also at greater risk of disease, as 3.6 million did not receive their initial vaccination (35% in 2017, compared to 18% in 2016). Pet rabbits remain the most neglected pets, with only 50% of young rabbits receiving their initial vaccination (down from 63% in 2016) and 45% of adults regularly vaccinated. The new president of the BSAVA, John Chitty, expressed concern about these vaccination rates among dogs, cats, and rabbits, which are well below the levels required to ensure effective herd immunity nationwide. Consequently, this hinders significant reductions in the diseases targeted by the vaccines, while unvaccinated animals are at greater risk of infection and transmission. In particular, the drop in the number of vaccinated rabbits is concerning. Yet recent advances in myxomatosis vaccines have made it much easier and less expensive to protect these animals against a common and deadly disease. Similarly, the emergence of the rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus variant (RHVD-2) over the past two years does not appear to have convinced more animal owners of the importance of protecting their animals, despite awareness campaigns by the veterinary profession.   Several causes identified Among the animal owners surveyed, the high cost of the vaccination regimen is cited as one of the main reasons for their decision not to have their pets vaccinated. This reason for not vaccinating is given by 20% of dog and cat owners and 10% of rabbit owners. In addition to cost, the report reveals that, among those reluctant to vaccinate, 14% of dog owners, 22% of cat owners, and 32% of rabbit owners believe that vaccination is unnecessary or even pointless. Furthermore, 24% of animal owners who skipped vaccination believe that their pet is not at risk if it has no contact with other animals. These results clearly demonstrate the need for public education to better explain the importance of vaccination. PAW’s latest report also highlights that many pet owners continue to underestimate the costs associated with owning a pet. While the total cost of caring for a dog can reach up to €24,000 depending on its size and breed, the report reveals that 98% of owners surveyed significantly underestimate the expenses to be expected over the dog’s lifetime. For the Bsava, this shows that the veterinary profession and animal protection associations must raise awareness and foster greater responsibility among future pet owners—including regarding financial aspects (preventive care and veterinary care)—before they decide to adopt a pet. In fact, only 7% of prospective pet owners consult a veterinarian to choose the pet that will best suit their circumstances or lifestyle.   * The survey was conducted between February 23 and March 6, 2017, among 4,153 dog, cat, and rabbit owners aged 18 and older residing in the United Kingdom. https://www.bsava.com/Portals/0/about/documents/PDSA%20PAW%20Report%202017_online.pdf?ver=2017-05-31-102023-257  

> 51% of British households have a pet. > 25% of Britons own a dog (9.3 million dogs in total) or a cat (10.3 million cats). > 2% of the British population owns a rabbit, which amounts to approximately 1.1 million rabbits.