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UK Pet Food campaign to improve nutrition understanding
UK Pet Food has a library of nutrition fact sheets for members of the public.
Campaign calls for clearer language on pet food.

UK Pet Food has launched a new communications campaign, designed to support pet owners with making informed choices about pet nutrition.

The Love Them Madly, Feed Them Wisely campaign calls for more accessible language to be used to describe pet nutrition. It aims to reduce the use of complex scientific terminology which could be a barrier to people’s understanding of nutrition choices.

Nicole Paley, deputy CEO of UK Pet Food, explained: “Recent research highlights that while 70 per cent of pet owners believe commercially prepared pet food is superior to a homemade diet, 62 per cent admit they don’t read or fully understand feeding guidelines.

“Additionally, 70 per cent don’t understand what by-products are, with 22 per cent finding the term ‘off-putting.’”

As part of its project to improve accessibility, UK Pet Food will be actively engaging with veterinary professionals as well as those in the wider pet industry. The campaign will be shared widely on social media.

The trade association has a library of nutrition fact sheets, including new guides on The Benefits of Prepared Pet Food, Understanding Pet Food Labelling and Understanding Feeding Guidelines, that members of the public to access. Recent updates tackle knowledge gaps that were raised in the recent survey.

UK Pet Food has also worked with social media personality Cat Henstridge, known as Cat the Vet, to produce video guides on nutrition topics. Dr Henstridge will share her expertise on essential nutrition topics, such as labelling, derivatives and by-products.

These videos are 1-2 minutes long, and free to access on Dr Henstridge’s social media channels and the UK Pet Food website. There are 15 videos and digital animations, designed to simplify complex concepts.

UK Pet Food says that its collection will make it easier than ever for owners to access reliable and impartial information and understand complicated terms.

Ms Paley said: “Our new Love Them Madly, Feed Them Wisely campaign seeks to close these knowledge gaps by providing clear, accessible information that builds confidence in pet food choices.”

The key fact sheets can be accessed here.

Image © Shutterstock

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Strangles survey seeks views of horse owners

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The survey, which has been designed by Dechra, aims to raise awareness of Strangles and promote best practices to prevent its transmission. It includes questions about horse owners' experiences of strangles, together with preventative measures and vaccination.

Respondents to the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win two VIP tickets to Your Horse Live 2025. To access the survey, click here 

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DAERA to reduce BVD 'grace period'

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From 1 May 2025, herd keepers will have seven days to cull any BVD positive or inconclusive animals to avoid restrictions being applied to their herd.

It follows legislation introduced on 1 February, as DAERA introduces herd movement restrictions through a phased approach. Herd keepers originally had 28 days to cull BVD positive or inconclusive animals.

DAERA says that, providing herd keepers use the seven-day grace period, no herds should be restricted within the first year of these measures.

Additional measures, which will target herds with animals over 30 days old that haven't been tested for BVD, will be introduced from 1 June 2025.

More information is available on the DAERA website.