The first ever UK Guinea Pig Welfare Forum held in September brought vets and small animal specialists together in Birmingham to highlight the vital need for increased owner awareness and understanding of the particular care requirements of these very special animals.
Delegates gathered at the eagerly anticipated event in Birmingham, and heard from a panel of expert speakers on how there is a clear need for education across the board; from owners to vets, to adoption and throughout the popular pets’ lifespans.
Greater understanding is required on the five welfare domains of these frequently misunderstood animals, which was a key driver for creating this event to bring together the UK guinea pig community. The event brought together delegates with a wide range of expertise, one of whom described the day as “crucial in getting the message out, as guinea pigs are vulnerable to having their requirements overlooked”.
Reflecting on the inaugural event, forum chair John Chitty, BVetMed, CertZooMed, MRCVS, said: “This was a hugely successful day, and it was great to see the energy and enthusiasm in the room to improve the welfare of pet guinea pigs.
“The delegates highlighted a range of immediate welfare needs and pulled together possible routes to improving these. It will be very exciting to publicise these and start seeing the conversations turned into action, thanks to the dedication of the guinea pig community.”
The morning session heard from several keynote speakers, including Dr Sean Wensley, BVSc, MSc, FRCVS, senior veterinary surgeon at PDSA, on addressing pets’ welfare needs; Rae Walters from RWAF who advised on forming a welfare association; Dr Megan Kiln BVM&S, MRCVS, AFHEA, from the University of Edinburgh, who discussed diet; Professor Anna Meredith OBE, Executive Dean at Keele University, who spoke on natural history, behaviour and social needs; Adina Valentine, RVN, CertECC, NCert, from Origin Vets, Cardiff, on husbandry and Mary Coles, BSc (Hons) from the University of Liverpool, who covered disease.
The afternoon leveraged the breadth of knowledge in the room as a discussion panel addressed stand-out themes from the earlier presentations.
Held ahead of guinea pig awareness week, as a poignant precursor to what has become an established annual event, pet food manufacturer Burgess Pet Care – the organiser behind the forum and a driver of the week – now want to establish this knowledge exchange in the annual calendar with planning for the 2025 event now underway.
Thrilled with the initial success and level of attendance at the event, Peter Lancaster, head of marketing at Burgess Pet Care, said: “We were proud and delighted to create a dedicated space and platform for the guinea pig community to come together to address some significant challenges and to be part of the solution – ensuring better welfare conditions of guinea pigs across the UK.”
The forum was filmed, and footage is available upon request.
