University of Liverpool professor Alex German and veterinary nurse Josephine Oakden will be debating ways to understand and tackle the pet obesity crisis in a BVNA Congress Fringe session chaired by the Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) on October 12, the day after World Obesity Day.

‘The elephant in the consult room – we are failing obese pets’ will discuss varying approaches to understanding pet obesity and collaboratively explore ways in which the veterinary professions can tackle the issue.

While Dr German, a Professor of Small Animal Medicine at the University of Liverpool, will argue for obesity to be understood and treated as a disease, British Veterinary Nursing Association council member Ms Oakden will explore obesity as a symptom of malnutrition.

AWF chair of trustees Chris Laurence said: “The AWF session at BVNA Fringe promises lots of interesting and stimulating conversations, so I’d like to invite all those attending BVNA Congress to drop in.”