Tool offers ways to track carbon cost of vet surgery

A carbon calculator has been developed to enable vets to assess and potentially reduce the environmental impact of procedures on animals.

Judicious use of anaesthetics and other veterinary drugs could help reduce the carbon footprint of animal surgery, the research suggests.

A study of the carbon footprint of procedures on dogs by a team from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies found that the bulk of emissions were attributable to pharmaceuticals together with owner travel to and from hospital, highlighting opportunities to cut these.

The average carbon footprint for each patient was 103kg of CO2 equivalent – about the same as driving 250 miles in a petrol car.

Researchers calculated the environmental impact of breed-related surgeries on 41 dogs over an 8-month period. They noted the type of procedure and associated diagnostic imaging, anaesthesia and pharmaceutical use. They also quantified the footprint of surgical waste, personal protective equipment, and related travel distance.

Using their results, the team developed a database of carbon footprints related to various common procedures.

Analysis of the figures indicated that careful consideration of the type and quantity of anaesthesia administered, and mindful prescription of pharmaceuticals, could collectively have the biggest impact on reducing the environmental impact of surgery.

Owner travel, associated with bringing animals to hospital and taking them home, was the next biggest contributor. Vets recognise that opportunities to reduce this are limited, but suggest that virtual consults, especially in the initial stage of treatment, may help to curb this figure.

The study was published in The Veterinary Journal.