Diseases sweep Britain's pets after dog and cat owners refuse to inoculate their animals due to anti-vax conspiracies being spread online

  • British Veterinary Association is warning of 'anti-vax' theories on the internet 
  • They say not vaccinating could lead to outbreaks of diseases such as hepatitis 
  • Cases of diseases such as parvovirus and leptospirosis are increasing in Britain 
  • An increasing number of dog owners now think there is a link between animal vaccines and 'canine autism' - which has not been proven to even exist. 

British pet owners are refusing to vaccinate their animals due to conspiracy theories being spread online, experts say.  

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has warned that 'anti-vax' conspiracies which are perpetuated on the internet are leading pet owners to not inoculate their animals - which could lead to outbreaks of diseases such as hepatitis and distemper. 

A BVA spokesperson said that an increasing number of dog owners now think there is a link between animal vaccines and 'canine autism' - which has not been proven to even exist. 

Recent figures from the Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey revealed that 98 per cent of vets have been questioned by their clients on the need for vaccination.  

A BVA spokesperson said that an increasing number of dog owners now think there is a link between animal vaccines and 'canine autism' - which has not been proven to even exist (stock image)

A BVA spokesperson said that an increasing number of dog owners now think there is a link between animal vaccines and 'canine autism' - which has not been proven to even exist (stock image)

Commenting on these recent figures, BVA Junior Vice President Daniella Dos Santos said it was 'concerning' that almost every companion animal vet had been questioned on the necessity of vaccination.

She said: 'We know from the example of the MMR vaccine and its now disproven link to autism in children that scaremongering can lead to a loss of public confidence in vaccination and knee-jerk reactions that can lead to outbreaks of disease. 

'We would hate to see a similar trend against vaccination of pets, based on no scientific evidence, take root in animal healthcare.

'Vaccination is vital. Pets in the UK have been amazingly well-protected from many terrible diseases such as parvovirus, hepatitis, distemper and leptospirosis, all of which used to be endemic here, through the power of vaccination and ''herd immunity''. 

'As a vet, it is hugely concerning to consider the future for pets in this country if owners begin to move away from regularly vaccinating.' 

Cases of diseases such as parvovirus, which causes vomiting, bloody diarrhoea and weight loss in dogs, and leptospirosis are increasing in Britain, reports indicate, and figures from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals reveal that roughly 2.2 million dogs do not receive a primary course of vaccinations, according to the Telegraph.

Parvovirus attacks the dog's stomach so they cannot absorb nutrients, and there is no cure, meaning inoculation is critical.  

Reports also indicate that 3.6 million cats are not receiving primary vaccination courses - with the number increasing from 28 per cent in 2011 to 35 per cent in 2017.

The BVA said dozens of sites and social media groups remain dedicated to discussing these theories and 79% of vets say that it has become more common for their clients to question the need for vaccinations (stock image)

The BVA said dozens of sites and social media groups remain dedicated to discussing these theories and 79% of vets say that it has become more common for their clients to question the need for vaccinations (stock image)

Of the vets who had been questioned 95 per cent said that their clients' questions had been influenced by their own internet research, and 90% of those felt that clients were finding their information about vaccinations mainly from non-veterinary sources. 

The BVA said dozens of sites and social media groups remain dedicated to discussing these theories and 79% of vets say that it has become more common for their clients to question the need for vaccinations.

The vaccine-autism link in humans was first suggested in a now-debunked research paper by physician Andrew Wakefield 20 years ago, which fuelled the anti-vaccination movement within human medicine. 

There had been a crisis in public confidence in the Measles, Mumps and Rubella jab after Dr Wakefield published research linking it to autism, but the discredited 1998 Lancet paper was subsequently withdrawn and the doctor was struck off.  

The BVA last year issued a statement stressing the importance of having pets vaccinated after a tweet by ITV's Good Morning Britain asked pet owners to contact the channel if they believed their dogs had developed autism as a result of vaccines.  

Gudrun Ravetz, Senior Vice President of the British Veterinary Association, said: 'There is currently no reliable scientific evidence to indicate autism in dogs or a link between vaccination and autism.

'Vaccinations save lives and are an important tool in keeping our pets healthy. All medicines have potential side effects but in the case of vaccines, these are rare and the benefits of vaccination in protecting against disease far outweigh the potential for an adverse reaction.' 

Ms Ravetz added: 'We know from the example of the MMR vaccine and its now disproven link to autism in children that scaremongering can lead to a loss of public confidence in vaccination and knee-jerk reactions that can lead to outbreaks of disease. 

'Distemper and parvovirus are still killers in pets – and the reason we no longer see these on a wider scale is because most owners sensibly choose to vaccinate.' 

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