Vets’ health warning over ‘designer’ horses

Leading vets have raised concerns that those buying “designer” animals including miniature horses may not be aware of the associated health and welfare issues.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has released a statement urging people to “pick health over looks”, and “avoid the internet-fuelled craze” for cats, dogs, equines and other animals with “cute” or extreme features.

“Vets are concerned that many pet owners may not be aware of health and welfare issues that animals bred with extreme features suffer from,” the statement read. “These problems may not be immediately obvious, but often cause life-long misery for our pets.”

In a recent BVA survey of the profession, breeding and hereditary defects was vets’ top animal health and welfare concern.

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Article written by: Eleanor Jones