Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons ob Fox (wildlife) "Initial and essential welfare needs"

 

Apparently certain vets still being awkward over treating foxes.

This was the reply to my questioning this -from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (2022)

"Dear Terry,

Thank you for your email, which has been passed to me.

I can confirm that paragraph 1.4 of the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct (the “Code”) states that all veterinary surgeons in practice must take steps to provide 24-hour emergency first aid and pain relief to animals according to their skills and the specific situation.

This is further clarified in Chapter 3 of the Supporting Guidance (the “Guidance”). More specifically, paragraph 3.7 provides that the purpose of first aid and pain relief is to attend to the initial and essential welfare needs of the animal. The primary consideration of the veterinary surgeon should be to relieve the animal’s pain and suffering. In some cases, euthanasia may be appropriate. As per paragraph 3.8, a veterinary surgeon on duty should not unreasonably refuse to provide first aid and pain relief for any animal of a species treated by the practice during normal working hours. For other species not typically treated by the practice, the veterinary surgeon should not unreasonably refuse to facilitate the provision of first aid and pain relief for all other species until such time as a more appropriate emergency veterinary service accepts responsibility for the animal.

Turning to consider euthanasia, you may find it helpful to review Chapter 8 of the Guidance. Whilst a veterinary surgeon’s primary obligation is to relieve the suffering of an animal, the decision to euthanise an animal will be based on an assessment of many factors. These may include the extent and nature of the disease or injuries, other treatment options, the prognosis and potential quality of life after treatment, the availability and likelihood of success of treatment, the animal’s age and/or other disease/health status and the ability of the owner to pay for private treatment (para. 8.5). As such, a veterinary surgeon may refuse to put to sleep an animal if they consider it not to be in the best interest of the animal.

In case you are interested, Chapter 11 of the Guidance also provides more information on consent to treatment of a wild animal.

I hope the above information is of assistance and thank you again for contacting the RCVS.

Kind regards,

Vivian Kwok​​

Standards and Advice Officer

Professional Conduct

Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

The Cursitor, 38 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1EN

T

+442072273503

www.rcvs.org.uk