TBM September 2019

www.totalboarding.co.uk SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2019

Contents

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his issue we are looking at Rabbits and whats best for feeding. We also have some interesting information from Dean Hart. Do please keep your ideas for future articles, news about your business or feedback coming. We would love to feature your kennel or cattery, so don’t be shy, contact me at editor@totalboarding.co.uk , I am waiting to hear from you.

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Sleeping lion

Contents Editor www.totalboarding.co.uk

Editor

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News

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News

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News

16 Gastric dilatation/volvulus (GDV) Dr Vicki Adams brings us up to date with the latest research on this distressing emergency condition.

22 Finding a professional canine behaviourist Dean Hart MCFBA, AABCP untangles the hotchpotch.

Hayley Waters – editor@totalboarding.co.uk

James Taylor – james@cimltd.co.uk Lisa Humphrey - lisa@cimltd.co.uk T: 01795 509108

Commercial Director

Credit Facilities Manager

Mike Smith – mike@tgmpublishing.co.uk T: 01795 509110

Natalie Murray – creditcontrol@cimltd.co.uk T: 01795 509103

Design and Production

Chief Executive

Grant Waters – grant@cimltd.co.uk

John Denning – jdenning@cimltd.co.uk

© 2019 TGM Publishing Limited, The Goods Shed, Jubilee Way, Whitstable Road, Faversham, Kent ME13 8GD. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form – electronic, mechanical or physical – without express prior permission and written consent of the publisher. Contributions are invited and when not accepted will be returned only if accompanied by a fully stamped and addressed envelope. Manuscripts should be type written. No responsibility can be taken for drawings, photographs or literary contributions during transmission or in the editor’s hands. In the absence of an agreement the copyright of all contributions, literary, photographic or artistic, belongs to TGM Publishing Limited. The publisher accepts no responsibility in respect of advertisements appearing in the magazine and the opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the Publisher. The Publisher cannot accept liability for any loss arising from the late appearance or non publication of any advertisement.

Total Boarding Magazine | 3

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Latest news and product round-up Breakthrough in treatment of deadly ‘Alabama rot’

‘Look before you lock’

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esearchers have made a ground-breaking discovery in the treatment of Alabama rot, a deadly disease that affects

dogs.

Alabama rot – properly known as cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy or CRGV –first emerged in Alabama in the 1980s, giving it its nickname. The lack of understanding on how it spreads or can be stopped has led to high fatality rates for dogs that develop it. The reason for its sudden appearance in the UK six years ago also remains a mystery.

It causes small clots in blood vessels, which eventually result in skin ulcers, tissue damage, and kidney failure in many cases. Many theories have been put forward about the cause; anything from E. coli-produced toxins to parasites and bacteria. But without knowing the exact source it is

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impossible to develop an effective cure.

The breakthrough treatment offered by the Royal Veterinary College’s Queen Mother Hospital for Animals is known as therapeutic plasma exchange or plasmapheresis. This method involves filtering all the patient’s blood so that toxic substances, including whatever causes CRGV, are removed.

Once filtered, the blood is returned to the patient.

Its development was made possible by the discovery of the similarities between Alabama rot in dogs and thrombotic microangiopathy in humans, which is also treated with plasma exchange.

The QMHA academics reported that two out of six dogs that underwent plasmapheresis made a full recovery.

The full findings of the research have been published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

plea for the public to check their sheds and garages for cats has been issued following a rise in the number of missing felines this summer.

Cats Protection is asking people to ‘look before you lock’ to avoid curious kitties becoming trapped after receiving a spike in missing cat reports during the last month.

The charity’s national information line handled nearly 250 missing cat calls during July –- a 60% increase on the monthly average – because cats are more likely to roam during warmer weather.

“The tendency for cats to wander further away from home when the weather is warm explains why there has been an increase in reports of missing cats during this recent heatwave,” said Nicky Trevorrow, Cats Protection’s behaviour manager.

“They are notoriously curious creatures that like to investigate their surroundings and unfortunately this can result in them getting trapped in outbuildings. And because cats won’t always meow for attention if they are afraid, the risk is they go unnoticed so we’re asking people to have a really good check before locking up, particularly if you are aware of any cats missing in your area.”

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Latest news and product round-up Call to tighten up on animal cruelty

Whats in a name?

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he Government must make good on its commitment to embed animal sentience in law pre-Brexit, vets say.

The British Veterinary Association has responded this week to the Government’s update following a consultation on the Animal Welfare (Sentencing and Recognition of Sentience) Bill.

The announcement centred on a pledge to introduce tougher sentences for animal cruelty, with those who commit the most serious offences facing up to five years in prison compared to the current six-month maximum.

The response also contains a commitment to working with welfare organisations to ensure that animal sentience is properly recognised in legislation after the UK has withdrawn from the EU.

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The BVA has been campaigning hard for animal sentience to be enshrined in UK law before Brexit and co-ordinated an open letter on the subject from more than 1,200 vets, vet nurses and students towards the end of last year.

John Fishwick, president of the BVA, said: “It’s of course encouraging to see that the government is committed to enshrining animal sentience in law before we leave the EU, but with time running out the government must ensure that these words are translated into decisive action.

“Recognising animals as sentient beings sends a strong signal to the global community that the UK continues to be a world leader when it comes to animal welfare. It’s imperative that the government earmarks enough time in an increasingly-crowded legislative agenda to bring it into law.”

igger and Daisy are the most ‘purr-fect’ cat names in the UK, according to research released this week.

A survey commissioned by natural and raw cat food business Natures Menu in celebration of World Cat Day tomorrow (August 8), found that Tigger was the most popular name for a male cat, while Daisy was the top choice for our female furry friends.

It seems that cat owners could be inspired by A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh when it comes to choosing a name for their male cat. For the shes, Daisy comes out top, just one of many human-sounding names that is proving to be a hit.

Celebrity cat names feature on the list, with both Olivia and Meredith, Taylor Swift’s cats’ names, making it into the top 10. Elsa and Belle also appeared in the list showing that Disney film favourites continues to be as popular as ever with families.

Harry and Meghan both feature in the top 10 – could it be that the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan, now the Duchess of Sussex, has sparked a new kitten-naming trend.

Garfield and Simba are also a common choice, with Tiddles still clinging on by its claws!

Melanie Sainsbury, veterinary education manager at Natures Menu, said: “It’s a lot of fun to see which names come out on top and how we are inspired by celebrities, the royals and ourselves. We love to humanise our family cats with names like Meredith, Harry and Olivia, but it’s important to remember that cats have different needs from us…although we all love a nap!

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Latest news and product round-up The Strange Sleeping Habits Of Animals

Calling all dog owners

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n online site has launched that allows Britons to learn about how animals get some shut eye and decide for themselves what type of animal they’re most like when it comes to their sleeping patterns. Baby dolphins, for example, don’t sleep very much, if at all, for the first few months, whilst tigers are known to sleep for 18 to 20 hours a day.

The team at home interiors specialist, www.hillarys.co.uk, has created the Sleeping Habits Of Animals online site [www.hillarys.co.uk/static/sleepinghabits-of-animals/] that allows Britons to find out more about how the animal kingdom sleeps, with it exploring 17 varieties of critters.

Sleeping Habits Of Animals was created as part of an ongoing sleep campaign by the home interiors brand.

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Users can visit the site and find out how their favourite creatures manage to get their shut eye when they are in the wild.

It also gives them the chance to decide for themselves which animals they are most like.

With family pets, dogs in particular like to stay close to their family, hence many climb into bed or sleep on laps.

Cats like to sleep for up to 20 to 24 hours a day, but their sleeping patterns are also affected by the weather, hence they can be known to sleep more during rainy days.

Lions are known to have it good when it comes to getting shut eye; male lions can sleep between 18 to 20 hours a day (sometimes up to 24 after a hearty meal), whilst females sleep slightly less as they’re typically the ones out hunting and taking care of the cubs.

cademics from the University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Sciences are asking for dog owners to take part in a new research study that could help to improve dog welfare.

With a population of nine million, dogs are the UK’s most popular pet and 26 per cent of household’s own dogs.

The study conducted by PhD student Izzie Philpotts, and researchers at Bristol’s Vet School, aims to improve their understanding of how best to look after dogs.

Dr Nicola Rooney, Teaching Fellow in Animal Welfare and Behaviour at the University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Sciences, and one of the researchers on the project, said: “With dog ownership on the rise and dogs being the UK’s favourite pet, we are keen to hear from dog owners about all aspects of their pet’s life.

We have completed similar research about rabbits and guinea pigs which produced some important findings.

Now it’s time to turn our attention to man’s best friend – the dog.

“We want to know all about dog ownership practices such as, what breed or type of dog people have, how their dog behaves, reasons for getting a dog and what influences an owner’s decision. We hope this will be the biggest survey of UK dog owners ever - so please help by sharing it.”

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To complete the survey please go to ‘Dog owner survey’ or for more information, contact Dr Nicola Rooney on tel: 0117 928 9469.

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PFMA Rabbit Nutrition & Welfare Symposium 2019 – It’s Hay All The Way

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he Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) hosted its second Rabbit Nutrition and Welfare Symposium in central London on 21 June. The event brought together over 60 pet food manufacturers, retailers, welfare organisations, vets and academics to discuss the latest science on rabbit welfare topics and how the sector can work together to improve the wellbeing of the 900,000[1] pet rabbits in the UK. The collaborative event was a great success with renowned rabbit experts including Dr Nicola Rooney, Richard Saunders MRCVS and Molly Vagra MRCVS, presenting on all aspects of rabbit welfare before agreeing three key messages for rabbit owners.

1. A rabbit sized bundle of good quality hay a day Hay was the buzz word of the day with 12 | Total Boarding Magazine

all delegates in agreement that every rabbit should have a rabbit sized bundle of hay a day. Rabbits need a high level of fibre in their diet, and hay is the most common source of this for them.

[2] Hay quality is important too but a clear and simple message on quantity is needed for rabbit owners as a first step.

2. Commercial rabbit food has a role to play The experts agreed that commercially prepared rabbit food has an important role to play in supplementing a pet rabbit’s diet but

portion control is vital. How to feed is considered as relevant as what to feed.

Food provides nutrition but also creates opportunities for a rabbit to express natural behaviour through foraging (scattering feed, puzzle feeders) and bonding with owners (hand feeding), both enhance well-being.

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3. Fit bunny, not fat bunny Rabbit obesity is an issue that needs to be addressed. Education on what is a healthy body shape for rabbits, increased opportunities for exercise and following feeding guidelines on rabbit food packets are the practical steps needed. Food (taken from the daily portion) can also be used to encourage activity, for instance, digging and foraging for food, reaching for food on higher platforms and in hanging devices.

Michael Bellingham, PFMA Chief Executive explained: “This seminar has been a highlight in our year. The range of delegates from industry to vets and welfare bodies, quickly reached consensus in all areas. Without doubt it is ‘hay all the way’ and there is a need to collaborate on education. We have all been working to improve rabbit welfare and what has become very clear today is the potential for us to do this more effectively if we all have a collaborative approach. We look forward to bringing the next steps to life.”

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References: The session was opened with a series of presentations from an expert panel, which included: Event Chair, Chris Laurence FRCVS (Chairman of Canine & Feline Sector Group), Dr Ambrose Tinarwo (Hadlow College), Molly Varga MRCVS (Rutland Veterinary Referrals), Dr Nicola Rooney (University of Bristol), Richard Saunders MRCVS (Bristol Zoo and RWAF Veterinary Adviser) and Dr Wanda McCormick (Anglia Ruskin University). PFMA coordinated the event with support from the Pet Industry Federation (PIF) – the membership organisation for the pet industry specialist in the UK. For more information, please visit http://www. petcare.org.uk/

Useful resources: The Importance of Hay poster is a visual chart that shows the essential components of a rabbit’s diet and what quantities need to be fed: https:// www.pfma.org.uk/_assets/posters/

importance-of-hay.pdf The PFMA Rabbit Size-O-Meter is a simple chart to help owners assess whether their rabbits are a healthy size. This is free to download at: https://www.pfma.org.uk/ rabbit-size-o-meter

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Bloat and Gastric Dilation Volvulus (GDV) in Dogs

Bloat is a condition that occurs when the stomach fills with gas and this may develop into gastric dilatation/volvulus (GDV) or gastric torsion when the stomach twists on itself. Although all breeds have been reported to have suffered from some sort of bloat, GDV is most common in the deep chested and larger breed dogs; this is thought to occur because these breeds have more room inside the abdomen for the stomach to fill with gas, move and potentially twist. Vicki J Adams, BSc DVM MSc PhD MRCVS explains.

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he Canine Gastric DilatationVolvulus Research Program at the School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University (https://www.instituteofcaninebiology. org/bloat-purdue-study.html) has led the way in GDV research in many breeds, including the Akita, bloodhound, collie, Dobermann pinscher, Great dane, Irish setter, Irish wolfhound, Newfoundland, Rottweiler, St. Bernard, standard poodle and weimaraner breeds. Whilst the exact cause(s) of GDV is still not well understood, several dietary and nondietary risk factors have been identified (Raghavan, 2006). Early studies showed that there is an increased risk of GDV with increasing age, having a firstdegree relative with GDV and being fed from a raised food bowl. More recent studies have also identified an increased risk associated with the feeding of dry foods containing fat among the first four ingredients or citric acid whilst there is a decreased risk of GDV associated with the feeding of dry foods containing a rendered meat meal with bone product among the first four ingredients. Moistening of dry food alone did not change the GDV risk, although dry foods containing citric acid that were moistened prior to feeding increased the risk. About

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Deep chested dogs are more prone to bloat and gastric torsion

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Feeding too soon before or after exercise may cause problems

one-third of all cases of GDV in one study could be attributed to consumption of dry foods containing fat among their first four ingredients or citric acid, respectively (Raghavan, 2002). It is hoped that owners and others who care for dogs can use these findings to reduce the risk of GDV in affected breeds.

A common non-dietary trigger that is considered to contribute to the development of GDV is anxiety.

When a dog, or even a human, becomes anxious they tend to swallow more air (aerophagia) and this can cause the stomach to fill and swell in size. It is common for stressed dogs in kennels to become anxious so this something to watch out for. Dietary factors include the type of food fed as well as the feeding routine. Large, less frequent meals may be a factor because, if a dog is very hungry and gobbles their food, they are likely to take in more air. Also, when dogs are fed too soon before or after exercise, problems may develop.

If dogs are switched from one type of food to another that is made up of very fermentable foodstuffs which they are not used to, gas may be produced at an 18 | Total Boarding Magazine

abnormal rate that can overwhelm the ability of the dog to pass the gas into the oesophagus or intestines. When a gastric torsion occurs, the spleen may also be involved in the twisting and this will result in more swelling and pain; this can be confused with a neoplastic growth or cancer, especially in older dogs.

Bloating in dogs is a serious emergency although it may not require emergency surgery. If the stomach twists, it then develops into what can become a rapidly fatal emergency without the appropriate treatment.

Time is crucial. If you think your dog is showing any of the signs below, then contact your veterinary surgeon for advice immediately.

Clinical signs can range from mild discomfort that shows itself as pacing or just being unsettled to repeated retching without vomiting and, eventually, to shock and collapse. The signs of bloat/GDV may be subtle or overt and diagnosis is not always straightforward as the textbooks would lead us to believe. Some dogs may have waxing and waning signs over several hours or even days before it

becomes more evident that there is a problem. Successful treatment requires early detection and intervention. It is important to be familiar with a dog’s normal behaviour and to know how to detect when something is wrong (see Box for signs that may help you to recognise if a dog has a problem).

An affected dog 1. That is anxious may pant, pace around or try unsuccessfully to vomit (retching) – these are early warning signs 2. May also swallow too much air when anxious or if they eat too fast 3. May be feeling nauseated with resulting excessive salivation that may lead to drooling if the dog cannot vomit or swallow down the saliva 4. May show signs of pain by looking at or trying to bite their abdomen; in severe cases, dogs may press their head against a wall with acute severe pain

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Difficulty breathing may also occur with GDV as the expanded/twisted stomach pushes against the diaphragm, preventing the lungs from expanding to their normal size; this may cause more discomfort, anxiety and panic. It may also cause the whole body to suffer from decreased oxygen intake, leading to the death of cells in many tissues.

Once at a veterinary clinic, a full physical examination will often show raised heart and respiratory rates, poor pulse quality, abnormal mucous membrane colour and poor capillary refill time. Often a blood sample is taken for a full blood count to check the condition of the vital organs. Sometimes, depending on the respiratory situation the dog is given oxygen to help them breathe. The next step is usually to x-ray the dog to determine the position of the stomach and if surgery is required. During this time, intravenous fluids and medications may be given to help stabilise the dog’s condition and give some pain relief. A stomach may be passed through the mouth, down the oesophagus and into the stomach to decompress the stomach and relieve the pressure; alternatively, a small patch of fur from the left flank may be clipped and prepped to allow penetration of the abdominal wall with a catheter to release the excess gas. If surgery is required, it will involve an exploratory laparotomy to open up the abdomen and allow assessment, decompression and repositioning of the affected organs. More often than not the dog’s stomach is sutured to the abdominal wall to prevent a reoccurrence of the torsion.

Mortality associated with gastric torsion have been reported to be as high as 15-30%, with complication and death rates increasing as severity of signs and time from onset increase. Death is more likely to occur if dogs with GDV have been showing clinical signs for > 6 hours, have heart problems prior to surgery, require removal of part of the stomach due to loss of blood supply and/or removal of the spleen. Once a dog has recovered from anaesthesia and surgery, complications may occur during the convalescent phase of 20 | Total Boarding Magazine

Great Dane’s and Weimaraner’s are amongst the breeds included in the research

recovery: an infection or breakdown of the external wound or internal suture site may occur; toxins may be released from traumatised tissues that were deprived of blood flow and may cause major complications such as peritonitis, abnormal heart rhythms or even sudden death.

Most dogs will be kept in hospital for at least 48 hours for monitoring.

Exercise should be restricted for a few weeks whilst the dog is recovering from any surgery. Dietary changes may be recommended and may include feeding a different type of food, feeding in three or four smaller meals as opposed to one large meal or not feeding just dry food on its own (either soaking it or adding in wet food).

Some breeds of dog that have had relatives suffer with GDV can have the stomach sutured to the abdomen wall during neutering or as a separate procedure (called prophylactic gastropexy) to prevent the problem occurring later in life.

You can help raise awareness of canine bloat and GDV by telling your clients about this distressing emergency condition. You can ask for a PDF copy or a free pack of leaflets written by Gill Arney and Derek Hamilton, together with input from veterinary surgeons, by e-mailing email

info@safedog.co.uk. These two owners of Beau the Dobermann pinscher set up the Canine Bloat Awareness campaign and Facebook page their dog survived an episode of gastric torsion in 2008. Their message is very simple: if you see any signs of bloat/GDV, then get your dog to a vet practice as soon as possible.

References Raghavan M, Glickman NW, Glickman LT. 2006. The effect of ingredients in dry dog foods on the risk of gastric dilatation-volvulus in dogs. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. Jan-Feb;42(1):28-36.

Raghavan M. 2002. Diet -related risk factors for gastric dilatation -volvulus in dogs of high -risk breeds: A nested case-control study (Dissertation abstract). Purdue University available at https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/ dissertations/AAI3099198/ Dr Vicki Adams MRCVS is a Veterinary Epidemiology Consultant, Editor of the Veterinary Record Open and Acting Chief Executive, Animal Cancer Trust. Vicki has recently joined the committee of ALiKC as Veterinary Advisor.

For further information on ALIKC membership, benefits and details of the conference please visit: www.alikc.org.uk

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Navigating the ‘’Pet Professional’’ minefield When I was asked to write something on ‘what is needed to be canine behaviour counsellor’, the first thing I thought is just how many words do I have? Dean Hart MCFBA, AABCP talks us through the complexities of choosing a professional canine behaviourist.

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his is such a huge and controversial subject. I am certain I will include something to offend somebody in just the few words I have. Lets’ just think for a moment. What is the goal of a professional canine behaviourist? They should have a driven desire to help and support the owner, the owner’s family and the dog. This career path is not a crusade or an ego trip or a power game. It shouldn’t be an opportunity to slate owners either, although you do meet the most ridiculous sometimes! I have worked as a canine behaviourist over the last 22 years I have seen many people set up as dog trainers, call themselves behaviourists, they have come and gone. Ultimately because the job itself is tough and I don’t just mean physically, if you possess empathy and you should, this career brings its own emotional strain. When I chat to potential students and they say: - ‘I don’t like people, but I love dogs’ I think ‘Really, which bit of you wants to counsel a distressed owner then?’

I don’t waste my time anymore; my students need to care about people too if they want to enter this career.

So just what skills and knowledge should a behaviourist possess? This is where I need more words! Firstly, let’s bring in animal welfare, a behaviourist must comply with relevant animal health and welfare legislation, I am not going to discuss rehabilitation methods, this is another huge topic for debate, just that there must be an

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Learning theory needs to be linked to effective practical application

understanding and ability to assess and provide for the short term and longer welfare needs of any animal.

This also means that a behaviourist needs knowledge of physiology, has an ability to health check and assess canine physical conditions and recognise signs of pain. With this is a need to handle dogs with compassion, suitability and safety. To do this appropriately they must possess an in-depth knowledge of canine communication and how to adapt their own body language to work with anxious, fearful, aggressive, playful, excited, maternal and other canine emotional states and bear in mind this may be while being watched by the client and family! There is the owner’s non-verbal communication to consider, a recognition of human emotional states and how to adapt to the client’s emotional needs is

paramount to a successful outcome. An understanding of the family’s dynamics will enable a good behaviourist to develop an appropriate rehabilitation plan. There can be personality clashes between a behaviourist and their client, they need to be professional, if this cannot be overcome then they should know their limitations and support their client by providing details of another suitable behaviour consultant and explain ‘tactfully’ while this may be a better route. This clash should not be just a difference of opinion on canine behaviour, the behaviourist skills should include an ability to work through issues with their client for a positive outcome. Some clients are really hard work, and often it is not their intention or normal personality but where owners experience behaviour problems with their pet this can

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A behaviourist must be able to work with the dogs owners too

‘light the touch paper’ for emotional outbursts, professional behaviourists understand and can work with this.

Although a prospective client can’t ask a behaviourist if they have these skills, when they first make telephone contact they will gain an impression from the initial call. If a client expresses how they are feeling, how the family is coping, talks about the emotional difficulties they may be experiencing in addition to describing the problem they are experiencing with their dog, the response from the behaviourist should give away everything at this point about how they work! What empathy did they demonstrate, were they supportive? or did they point blame? Did they seem ‘flippant’ or rushed? If they were busy did they apologise and offer to call the client back? A behaviourist should not provide an assessment or rehabilitation advice, by telephone, this would be unfair and, in my opinion, professionally incompetent but they should be supportive, encouraging and possess good listening skills. Often the initial assessments can be straight forward and the dog’s behaviour, drive states and triggers can be clearly identified, then the demand for additional skills starts here. Just how do you overcome 24 | Total Boarding Magazine

behaviour problems? Not everybody and every situation is the same, so attending College and gaining a qualification in animal behaviour and welfare may not be of any advantage if the behaviourist cannot apply the theory. Yes, behaviourists must possess an understanding of animal learning theories and canine behaviour but in addition to this they need to be able to think ‘outside’ of the box. We can all read how to overcome behaviour problems, so if a behaviourist tries to apply a method and it doesn’t work they should know how to assess why, evaluate and reapply or apply another method. I have been to clients where previous behaviourists have effectively ‘written off ’ their dog and the owners are in floods of tears. If the behaviourist is inexperienced but qualified they should have the strength to recognise their limitations and at these times work with others more experienced. Interpersonal skills are essential at all levels. A professional behaviourist will also need to take and maintain appropriate records and work within the Data Protection Principles, be able to produce appropriate written reports and rehabilitation plans and communicate these to the

A knowledge of physiology and animal welfare legislation is fundamental

referring vet surgeon. They also need an understanding of risk and risk assessment. Just who knows what or who what may be coming around the corner! Many canine behaviour associations list their Code of Ethics, a professional behaviourist should belong to a suitable association and adopt best practice, should include their own policies and procedures on their web site or in their brochure. For detailed information visit www.ukstandards. org and search for ‘canine behaviourist’, within Occupational Standards.

Dean Hart MCFBA, AABCP is a Clinical Behaviourist and Consultant with Behaviour and Training Referrals. www. cbt-referrals.com.

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