A NEW survey has revealed that 98 per cent of vets have been asked to put down a healthy pet at some time.

Almost all companion animal vets have been asked to euthanise healthy pets, with half (53 per cent) saying this was not a rare occurrence.

The pet’s behaviour was the most common reason cited by owners for asking for their animal to be destroyed, say the British Veterinary Association (BVA).

Problem behaviours included persistent barking and howling, destructive chewing and “inappropriate toileting”.

The owner’s poor health or unsuitable accommodation is also often cited as a reason.

Aggressive behaviour, towards both people and other pets, is also a problem, with the PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) report revealing that a third of pet owners have been attacked or bitten by a dog.

The figures, obtained during BVA’s Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey, which polled over 700 vets across the UK, also highlight the burden placed on vets every day when they are faced with putting down healthy animals.

The BVA says these figures show the importance of adequate socialisation of animals at an early age – many veterinary practices now offer puppy socialisation classes to help with this.

BVA president Sean Wensley said: “These figures are stark and are likely to come as a shock to members of the public.

“But this is the sad reality of a failure to socialise animals from the earliest possible age – a specific time in a puppy’s development, which has a significant impact on their future temperament and behaviour.

“With dogs, this process starts from before a puppy is even seen by a potential owner.

“In recent months there has been a litany of news stories about the illegal importation, breeding and trading of puppies through puppy farms.

“This is no way for a family pet to start life and we urge potential owners to thoroughly research where a puppy has been born and reared, using the AWF/RSPCA Puppy contract to help.”

Mr Wensley said owners were putting vets in stressful situations by asking for healthy pets to be destroyed and that vets would often seek an alternative course of action to save the animal in question.

“Vets are not required to euthanise healthy animals at an owner’s request, but sometimes, having carefully considered all options and given the circumstances the pet finds themselves in, it may be in an animal’s best interests to do so.”