Kennel Gazette May 2017

Crufts

Crufts special

The official publication of the Kennel Club KG Online JH NF.indd 1

May 2017 £5 00 £5.00

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Contents

Contents Opinion Viewpoint

4

Simon Parsons takes a closer look at the plight of the French Bulldog

5

News and comment

The Lord Mayor of Birmingham visits the world’s greatest dog show

Special features Miami Ink makes his mark!

6 hosts tenth anniversary 10 Crufts Eukanuba World Challenge The final line-up at Crufts

The Italians take the honours at a memorable event

14 Crufts 2017 in pictures

Highlights and unforgettable moments captured on camera at the show

19 What the papers say…

May 2017

golden envelope moments 20 No at this year’s PAWSCARS

10

Eukanuba E u W World Challenge

A glittering event brings members of the dog world together

Health matters The perils of dog walking

22

Vet Darren Barnes advises on how to deal with wounds ‘in the field’

Judges’ choice Deerhound

24

The breed standard, how the Deerhound retains its air of dignity, plus breed experts pick their three favourite dogs

Art & culture Book corner

34

Bill Moores reviews the latest addition to the Kennel Club library and Björn Fritz provides a continental view on the Deerhound

How the media covered Crufts

6

24

Deerhound This month’s Judges’ Choice

Miami Ink makes his mark

22

Perils of dog walking

6

Miami Ink makes his mark!

The Kennel Club, Clarges Street, London W1J 8AB www.thekennelclub.org.uk Chairman: Simon Luxmoore Vice Chairman: Steve Croxford Chief Executive: Rosemary Smart Secretary: Caroline Kisko Customer services: 01296 318540 Petlog Main Number: 01296 336579 Petlog Lost & Found: 01296 737600 Library/Gallery: 020 7518 1009 Insurance Enquiries: 0800 369 9445

The Kennel Club @Kclovesdogs

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Editor: Carrie Thomas Editorial Co-ordinator: Sara Wilde Editorial Panel: Bill Moores (Chairman), Ian Gabriel, Philippa Gilbert, Robert Greaves, Revd Bill King, Gay Robertson Editorial enquiries: kennel.gazette@thekennelclub.org.uk The Kennel Club, Clarges Street, London W1J 8AB Subscriptions: 020 7518 1016 subs@kennelgazette.org.uk Kennel Gazette is published monthly on behalf of the Kennel Club by BPG Media www.bpgmedia.co.uk To advertise contact Andrea Walters a.walters@bpgmedia.co.uk Printed by Warners Midlands Plc

Kennel Gazette is the monthly publication of the Kennel Club. Views and opinions expressed within the Kennel Gazette are the personal opinions of the original authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Kennel Club.

Cover photograph: Crufts 2017 Best in Show winner, Jason Lynn from Westby, Lancashire and American Cocker Spaniel Sh Ch Afterglow Miami Ink. A delighted Jason commented: “ I am absolutely thrilled, shocked and ecstatic”.

Jason is no stranger to success at Crufts, having won Best in Show with the Standard Poodle Ch/Am Ch Afterglow Maverick Sabre in 2014.

Photographer: ©onEdition 2017

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Viewpoint

By Simon Parsons

P

ity the poor French Bulldog. Any of you who have looked at the Kennel Club registration figures for last year will have seen that they are now in third place in the ‘top 10’ list, just a smidgen behind the perennial favourite the Cocker Spaniel. And, if the number of puppies registered continues to expand at its current rate, within one or two years it could very well be rivalling the good old Labrador Retriever in the number one spot it has occupied for decades.

This is an extraordinary phenomenon considering that up to 10 or so years ago the breed was one of the dog world’s best kept secrets, bred and owned mainly by a small coterie of dedicated enthusiasts in Britain and elsewhere — and now its explosion in popularity is certainly not confined to the UK. No one knows for sure what proportion of the puppies bred or sold in Britain are Kennel Club-registered, though the Kennel Club estimates it at between 30 and 40 per cent, so the numbers may well in reality be far more than the 21,470 recorded in the 2016 record supplements.

What exactly prompted the change in the breed’s ‘fortunes’ no one has yet been able to analyse, probably a combination of word of mouth, celebrity endorsement, images in advertising and on goods available in the shops, and easier availability following the breed’s discovery by commercial puppy producers, as well as much simpler importation.

In many ways this is a tribute to the breed’s tremendously engaging character, sensible size for modern living and quaint almost human expression. But of course the disadvantages to the breed’s welfare far outweigh any benefits. From one rescue organisation, founded years ago by a far-sighted group of senior breeders, there are now four. And the breed is certainly not immune to health issues, and not just those associated with the brachycephalic breeds. There are many aspects which any

Viewpoint serious breeder needs to consider before planning a mating and it is obvious that many of those who produce puppies in quantity cannot possibly be described as ‘serious’.

The parent club has developed an excellent, wide-ranging health scheme, but using it on prospective breeding stock, let alone taking account of the results of any tests, is not compulsory, not even for Kennel Club Assured Breeders, which seems a pity, to put it mildly.

I would hazard a guess that no breed, probably not even the German Shepherd Dog, has been imported on the scale that the French Bulldog has experienced in recent years. A small proportion of these come from, and go to, ‘proper’ breeders and are top-quality animals — indeed the last time I judged the breed my four top males came from Russia, Lithuania, Portugal and Japan.

But the vast majority of the imports appear to be brought in, mainly from Eastern European countries, purely to fulfil the demand, and one strongly suspects that health issues and breed points may well not be uppermost in the minds of either their breeders or their importers.

A big complication is that a very high proportion of these, and of the puppies bred down from them, are not from the colours recognised in the breed standard — indeed this was revised a few years ago to clarify the colour question and these ‘rogue’ colours are described as ‘highly undesirable’. Some of these may derive from dilutes or mutations in litters from normal-coloured French Bulldogs; in other cases there is a suspicion that some other breed may have been introduced somewhere along the line.

These dogs are usually recorded as ‘colour not recognised’ but it is more than likely that some may be registered under the normal colours, for example a blue fawn or lilac fawn just as ‘fawn’ or a chocolate brindle as ‘brindle’. Sometimes these lines percolate into the show stock.

So what can be done to deal with this frightening situation? Some of the veterinary

bodies are trying to persuade puppy buyers to go for different breeds; others are campaigning for an end to the use of French Bulldogs, and indeed other brachycephalic breeds, in advertising or promotions. Judges are encouraged to pay more attention to rewarding dogs with good open nostrils and penalising those without. It is even suggested that the breed standards of the brachycephalic breeds should be changed to encourage a different facial conformation.

What can the Kennel Club do? Should it insist that the parents of all registered puppies (or at the very least those bred by Kennel Club Assured Breeders) have passed a health scheme, that of the parent club or something similar? Should it refuse to register dogs of incorrect colours, or perhaps put them on some sort of second class register, and punish people who register them as colours they are not? Australia is going down this route.

Should those who deliberately breed non-breed standard colours really be Kennel Club Assured Breeders? Should dogs of those colours be DNA profiled? Would that achieve anything if any doubtful parentage is now generations back? Would denying Kennel Club registration to certain dogs actually achieve anything? Would any such action be far too little and too late?

All sorts of questions remain to be answered but in the meantime the breed and its genuine enthusiasts have to deal with the fallout. Will the market suddenly collapse and huge numbers of dogs from poor breeders end up as rescue cases? Where will it all end?

SIMON PARSONS Simon Parsons has owned a variety of breeds but his first loves are the Corgis.

He is associate editor of Dog World and awards Challenge Certificates in 13 breeds.

In 2014 he instigated the revival of the Kennel Gazette

Photo: ©Rebecca Goutorbe

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News and comment

News and comment

LETTER

The Lord Mayor of Birmingham visits Crufts

Photo: ©onEdition

After handshakes and a commitment to stay in touch, we said goodbye to the first citizen of Birmingham.

A visit that was good for dogs and good for people. Our thanks must go to Rosemary Smart, the Chairman and the Chairman of Crufts Committee for facilitating the Lord Mayor’s visit.

Photo: ©onEdition

I walked through the doors of the main entrance to Crufts as the pristine black Jaguar glided to a halt in front of us. David Bell and I had the privilege of hosting the visit to Crufts by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Birmingham.

The Lord Mayor, tall, affable, resplendent in his regalia (lovers of bling, please note this mayoral chain of office has few equals!), walked with us to the ticket barrier, where he stopped, presented his tickets, and chatted with the gate team.

That simple act was to set the tone of the whole visit, for he stopped to talk with exhibitor and visitor alike — showing a real interest in the dogs, the people, and happily posing for photographs. He listened carefully noting with enthusiasm how inclusive dog showing is. A charity mascot caught his eye and a photograph of them together was duly taken to add to his personal collection.

Lunch followed with deep, engaging conversations; no surprise that his fellow table guests were the last to leave. From there we went to visit Discover Dogs where the Lord Mayor chatted affably with people on various breed stands culminating in one bemused Beagle (Lord Mayor’s favourite breed) enjoying the comfort of the mayoral lap. A quick conversation at the Animal Health Trust stand and it was time to go — they had two more engagements that day.

Photo: ©onEdition

By Revd. Bill King

I read with interest in the February edition the recent review of Margaret Barnes’ book ‘English Setters, Ancient & Modern’.

Margaret was a personal friend and I worked with her on getting her work published and on its marketing.

The book did not appeal to a commercial publisher because of the huge amount of detail and research into the breed’s early history. It had a limited market and it could not be termed a puppy buyer’s guide. It therefore had to be privately published.

Your reviewer suggested the book’s worth was not recognised at the time by those in the breed. This was not the case. Many people tried to think of ways to raise money. The English Setter Association (ESA) was asked if they would consider lending money subject to a legal document being drawn up. Profit from the book would have been used to repay any loan. Finally, a plan was drawn up using Eric Shearer (who also owned a Suntop English Setter), a local printer in Mitcham, Surrey, and ‘Muffin Books’ became the publishers. Without Eric’s printing skills and his contacts with a binder in Dorking the book would never have been published.

Margaret put all her savings into the book and I recall selling the first unreserved copies at the ESA Championship Show in 1982. The book was not designed to make a huge profit and Margaret would be amazed at some of the prices the book now commands.

I am pleased to say that the ‘Suntop’ archive is now with the Kennel Club Library and is available to aid research into the breed. The ESA did do a book of its own many years later after a sub-committee chaired by the late Gordon Williams produced ‘English Setters into the Millennium’ with chapters from various experts in their fields. It has sold well for the last 16 years and is usually bought by breeders and given to puppy buyers.

Valerie Foss Thank you for your letter and for providing more information on such a fascinating story. I am glad that you found this particular issue of interest.

Editor

From left to right: Lady Mayoress, David Bell, Revd. Bill King and the Lord Mayor

Feedback... We would appreciate any feedback you may have on the Kennel Gazette and we welcome reading your news and views.

Please write to Kennel Gazette, Clarges Street, London W1J 8AB or email kennel.gazette@thekennelclub.org.uk and put ‘Letters page’ in the subject line.

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Crufts

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Photo: ©The Kennel Club

Crufts 2017 in pictures

Scarlett Burnside, 16, from Saintfield, County Down beat representatives from 43 other countries to win the International Junior Handling competition for Ireland. Scarlett competed with a Pointer in the first round of the competition, and a Beagle in the second, before returning with the Pointer for the final judging in the evening. She was chosen as the winner by judge, Vesa Lehtonen from Finland

Ashleigh Butler and Sullivan talking to Clare Balding after winning the agility singles final. She also completed an emotional last run with 11-year-old Pudsey before his retirement

2016 Best in Show winner Marie Burns with Devon is presented with a painting by artist Anne Zoutsos (right). Also present is Tom Mather, Chairman of the Kennel Club Arts Foundation

Display by obedience dog champion Ob Ch Beckim Surprise Surprise

Photo: ©The Kennel Club

Photo: ©Martin Hill/The Kennel Club

Molly the one and only cat detective. The Kennel Gazette will be meeting Molly in an upcoming issue

Photo: ©onEdition

Photo: ©onEdition

Photo: ©onEdition

d for f business b i Ready

Winner of the Kennel Club Vulnerable British and Irish Breeds Competition Final Trevor Hayward with Smooth Collie Ch Clingstone’s Hot Shot at Foxearth and runner-up David Alcorn with Gordon Setter Sh Ch Lourdace Fulcrum JW with judge Mr S Plane and Vince Hogan Our Dogs MD The competition, sponsored by Eukanuba and supported by the competition's media partner Our Dogs, raises awareness of Britain and Ireland’s rare native breeds and recognising those breeders and owners dedicated to ensuring their continued survival. After the competition, Robert Greaves spoke to an overjoyed Trevor and Birgit Hayward, who are from Wem in Shropshire. They said just how much the win meant to them after over 40 years showing dogs. They went on to say how the Smooth Collie had progressed over the years to be no longer overlooked in competitions be it against the Rough Collie or in groups. Trevor also mentioned that Birgit had top winning Smooths in her native Sweden and this is how they met.

The gate was over 162,000 making it a record breaking year

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Crufts

Photo: ©The Kennel Club

‘Amazing’ was the verdict of 23-year-old Jodi Allen after she had piloted her parents’ Rottweiler, Jodipas Time JW, to the top spot in the Kennel Club Junior Warrant Winner of the Year final. It had been touch and go whether Jodi would be able to take part as she had broken her foot in November, running in high heels. John and Diane Allen had bred ‘Mabel’ specifically for Jodi to show so she had been determined that whatever it took, with painkillers and strapping, she would be the one to handle the bitch. The family have had previous Junior Warrant winners but this was their first in the final. Pictured here with judge Tom Mather.

Photo: ©onEdition

Photo: ©onEdition

Photo: ©onEdition

Discover Dogs stands ready to answer questions

KCAI Trainer of the Year Martha Brindley S Speaking ki about b th her award, d M Martha th said: id “It iis jjustt iincredible, dibl I am shaking, h ki it iis jjustt amazing. i I love what I do and will always continue in my volunteering. Winning KCAI Trainer of the Year is just a dream - better than winning an Oscar”! Pictured here with Paul Rawlings, Janine Beacher from City & Guilds and Kathryn Symns

Photo: ©onEdition

i n itio dition Ed onEdi ©onEd h to: ©onEd Ph Phot Photo:

Winner off the class German Wi th Gamekeepers G k l G Shorthaired Pointer Int Sh Ch Friarsbelle Marsh Mellow

YKC Handling Competition, 6-11 years winner Georgia Maskell (8) and Fred the Smooth-haired Dachshund under judge Kirsty Miller

P Proving i th thatt h hard d work k and dd dedication di ti d does pay off, Liz Dunhill and Michaella Dunhill-Hall of the Vormund Japanese Shiba Inu topped the very strong Breeders Competition under Anne MacDonald on the third day. There were 52 entries and the winning team comprised of: Ch Vormund Norma Jean, handled by Liz Dunhill, Ch Vormund Jean Paul Gaultier, handled by Jean Cooper, Ch Vormund Imagine Dragon, handled by Michaella Dunhill-Hall, and Ch Vormund Eva Green, handled by Charlotte

R k ll S ki tto Li ft th h Roskell.

Speaking Liz after the eventt she said: “Winning the Breeders Competition was a great achievement for the kennel, having won both CCs the day before. Vormund has been top breeder in the Utility group for the last three years. To win among some of our great breeders was very humbling. To produce consistently over the years and create a type is indeed the focus of the quintessential British breeder, and to be able to achieve that by maintaining genetic diversity is the key.”

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The Puppy Foundation display team always attracts the crowds around the GCDS ring

Photo: ©onEdition

Photo: ©onEdition

Seven-year old Goose Girl, handled by 16-year old Ben Alderson, was the YKC Agility Dog of the Year in an exciting final on Thursday. No stranger to the big ring, Ben had been third in the event last year. Goose Girl belongs to Ben’s father who now has younger dogs to bring on and Ben confessed afterwards that the 2016 3rd place had given him the bigger thrill because he had been handling his own dog, Imp, trained by himself.

Imp, however, tends to slip on carpet and is at his best on grass so Ben decided to enter Goose in the competition this year.

With so many people and so much noise, Crufts is not Ben’s favourite venue but he enjoys the pressure of a big event and had clearly chosen the right dog to partner.

Ben will have no shortage of big events to compete in during the coming year as he and Imp have been selected for the Agility Team GB squad and Goose will be his partner in the Young Kennel Club Agility Team GB at the European Open Junior Agility Championships in Luxembourg this year. Plenty of pressure there!

Photo: ©onEdition

Photo: ©onEdition

Crufts

The Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme celebrating 25 years, pictured here with Crufts Show Manager Vanessa McAlpine also celebrating her 40th Crufts

Photo: ©onEdition

Photo: ©Martin Hill/The Kenn

el Club

Outstanding Young Person Award Shaun McAlpine Trophy, overall winner Daisy Buckland a d Charlie C a e the t e Border Bo de Terrier e e and

M b l b t Members off th the FFour P Paws Fl Flyers celebrate victory in the Flyball Team Final in the Genting Arena

Animal Health Trust celebrating their 75 year anniversary. The Kennel Gazette will be featuring more about this in an upcoming issue

Two and a half year-old Biscuit was one of six crossbreed finalists in the national Scruffts competition, which saw hundreds of dogs compete in qualifying heats around the country. The six finalists had each won their class at the semi-finals at Eukanuba Discover Dogs in London last October, with Biscuit winning the Good Citizen Dog Scheme category in order to progress to the final.

Joshua, who is a 14 year-old Young Kennel Club (YKC) member, wanted his own dog from a very young age, and campaigned to his mum for the family to get one. In 2014 she gave in and the family went to go see a litter near to their home which had one crossbreed puppy left.

Biscuit, who was the runt of the litter, and Joshua immediately bonded and it was clear to his mother that Biscuit was the dog for him. Since taking him home, the young crossbreed has achieved his bronze, silver and gold Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme awards and regularly competes in YKC competitions with Joshua.

Joshua is currently training to become a dog trainer at his local club, the Good Companion Dog Training Club, in Prestatyn.

He helps run classes once a week with other trainers, assisting with the training of local dogs.

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As featured in the March edition the East Anglian Staffordshire Bull Terrier Display Team showcases their talents in the Genting Arena

Photo: ©onEdition

Photo: ©The Kennel Club

Photo: ©Yulia Titovets/The Kennel Club

Someone’s g got their eye y on your y snack!

In the autumn of 2016 Mary Ray finalised the choice of music for her 20th anniversary Crufts performance with ‘Lyric’. The secret is to combine a known track with a good theme, enabling the use of props plus be sympathetic to her and the dogs’ movement. January saw the routine being created, incorporating existing and new moves, however it’s the choreography and accuracy that takes the most time to perfect. Hall 5 was the venue for the main ring in 1997, now situated in the Genting Arena Mary feels that there has been a vast improvement in the lighting, sound system and the best ever non slip carpeting not to mention the atmosphere, which all culminated in the ‘Singing in the Rain’ spectacular that preceded Best in Show at Crufts 2017.

Photo: ©Martin Hill/The Kennel Club

Philippa Williams, who was featured in the November 2016 Kennel Gazette, has been carrying out gundog displays at Crufts since 2003

Photo: ©onEdition

Photo: ©Martin Hill/The Kenn el Club

Photo: ©onEdit

ion

Crufts

The winners and finalists of the heelwork to music competition who were featured in the April edition and pictured here; overall winner Caroline Garrett and Fawkes with runners up Lucy Creek and Skiffle (left) and Kathy Bates and Sybil (right)

Photo: ©onEdition

Photo: ©Martin Hill/The Kennel Club

Judges Graham and Ann Hill presenting Best Trade Stand to Lily’s Kitchen

Lucie Plevova representing Japan winner of the heelwork to music freestyle international competition with her dog Jump

C li Nokes N k (MP), (MP) top t row fifth ffrom th ft with ith th l Caroline the lleft, the Ch Chelsea Pensioners. The Kennel Gazette will be featuring an article on the Chelsea Pensioners in an upcoming issue

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Photo: ©Martin Hill/The Kennel Club

Photo: ©Martin Hill/The Kennel Club

Crufts

Best B Breed d Cl Club b stand awarded arded by b Jan Wood Wood, centre left, to the Northern Tibetan Spaniel Club

Photo: ©Mick Knowles obedienceuk.net

Eukanuba Friends For Life finalists with Annaliese Reekie of Eukanuba and Olympic Gold Medallist Crista Cullen

Photo courtesy of Ann Hurs t

Best of Breed Booth Competition winner of the Utility group-Lhasa Apso with judges Keith and June Young and Mike Bloxsome of Eukanuba

Best of Breed Booth Competition winner for the Toy group- Coton de Tulear with judges Keith and June Young and Mike Bloxsome of Eukanuba

West Midlands Police display

Photo: ©onEdition

Photo: ©Martin Hill/The Kennel Club

The dog on the March cover – Flekk with owner and photographer Ann Hurst

Photo: ©Yulia Titovets/The Kennel Club

Tracey McGowan and Chinese Crested Powder Puff Aeriel who appeared in our April edition pictured here representing the northern team in rally obedience at level five

Agility international – large agility final

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Health matters

©Eliza Ashworth/The Kennel Club

The perils of dog walking: First aid guidance for dogs with wounds

By Darren Barnes MA VetMB CertSAS DipECVS MRCVS

D

Wound classification

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type of wound cannot be decontaminated easily — consequently immediate attempts to close the wound are not advised. Rather, more intensive and long-lasting professional management is required.

It is always best to seek early veterinary attention within the golden period — even with simple wounds — to prevent establishment of infection, which potentially makes wound management far more challenging.

Broadly there are four major categories of wounds: ● Sterile surgical wounds. ● Clean-contaminated surgical wounds — this term usually applies to surgical incisions into non-sterile body parts, but may also apply to some laceration wounds such as those created by clean glass or barbed wire immediately following injury. ● Contaminated wounds — these are wounds which are soiled with dirt and debris, but which may be treated as a clean wound, allowing wound closure, if they are managed appropriately to remove contamination and if veterinary attention is sought rapidly enough.

Classically there is a ‘golden period’ for wound management of 6 – 12 hours following injury for a typical wound. ● Infected wounds — wounds that have become contaminated and then allowed the establishment of bacterial invasion into the tissue. Bite wounds involve crushing injury to the tissues underlying the skin, reducing the body’s ability to resist infection and allowing establishment of contamination deep within the damaged tissues via punctures in the surface. This

How can we best manage a wound in the field prior to veterinary attention?

Photo: ©Cat Race/The Kennel Club

Photo by williammoores.com

ogs love to be outside, running, jumping, and chasing anything which moves. For many the thrill of the chase completely overwhelms any sense of self-preservation, meaning that our pets commonly encounter any number of sources of injury, from broken glass to barbed wire, sticks, stakes and — often the most devastating — other animals or motor vehicles. The nature of accidents means that we are often unprepared and ill equipped to manage these situations, so this article aims to provide guidance on managing your pet, minimising discomfort during transport to a veterinary surgery, and providing the best possible outcome following a traumatic incident.

Urgent veterinary attention is recommended for the management of even the smallest of wounds, including cut pads, because early intervention is associated with a better chance of saving damaged tissue and allowing closure of the wound, resulting in the most rapid healing.

What dogs can encounter on their walks

Be wary of stick playing

Control bleeding: As with people, this may be achieved by application of pressure to the bleeding surface. Ideally sterile gauze should be used to cover the wound. However, if this is not available in an emergency, any clean, lint-free cloth material will suffice.

Bandages may be applied to keep a wound covering in place, but be careful to avoid doing this over the head, neck and trunk, as pressure in these areas risks restricting your dog’s breathing. When applied to a leg, it is essential that a dressing starts at the tip of the toes (see right), applying even pressure all the way up the limb in order to prevent restriction of blood flow. A poorly applied bandage will be more harmful than no dressing at all. Particularly damaging can be elastic type bandages, tapes or elastic bands wrapped around the limb as these commonly cause restriction and loss of blood supply to the foot.

Supporting fractures: Bandages may be used to support broken limbs. In this situation bandages should incorporate a rigid splint within the outer layers of the dressing to add stability. Generally bandaging is only advised for fractures below the level of the elbow or the stifle (knee joint), and should extend beyond the joints above and below the fracture site in order to provide adequate support. A bandage applied inappropriately to an upper limb fracture will merely act as a pendulum hanging from

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Photo: ŠDick White Referrals

ŠGuoda Kavaliauskaite/The Kennel Club

Health matters

Bandages applied to the foot should start from the toes and spiral upwards under even tension

the limb, causing more pain and damage to the fractured limb; hence these fractures are best supported when moving your dog, but left without a bandage.

Lavage: This is the term used for flushing a wound to reduce contamination. In most instances this can wait until veterinary attention is sought and can be performed once your patient has received appropriate pain relief. However, if the wound is grossly contaminated, rinsing it with clean tap or bottled water will help to remove some of the worst of the contamination prior to covering with a dressing and transporting your pet to a veterinary surgeon. However tempting it may be, home cupboard remedies such as tea tree oil or antiseptic creams should not be used.

Impalement injuries: Should your pet become impaled on a stick or stake, ideally that object should not be removed as this may cause further trauma to the damaged tissue/organs and may unplug damaged blood vessels leading to life-threatening haemorrhage. Where possible impaling objects should be stabilised and kept in place during transport to a veterinary surgeon.

Often the external visible wound may be only the tip of the iceberg with this type of injury.

Abdominal/thoracic wall injuries: Should your pet be unfortunate enough to suffer a wound through the full thickness of their abdominal or thoracic walls, covering the wound with a moistened lint-free cloth and maintaining gentle manual pressure over the lesion to prevent herniation is advised. â—?

For more information on Dick White Referrals please visit www.dickwhitereferrals.com

DARREN BARNES Darren Barnes graduated from Cambridge and spent five years in practice. He completed his residency training at Dick White Referrals and was awarded a Diploma of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2017

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