The Veterinarian Magazine January 2024

TheVeterinarian ■ January 2024

■ www.theveterinarian.com.au

CVA elects first female president Animal Poisons

Olatunji Nasir and Sarah Wilkinson-Eytl

The Commonwealth Veterinary Medical Association (CVA) has elected its first female president, with Sarah Wilkinson-Eytle taking over the role from Olatunji Nasir of Nigeria in January 2024.

“It is an honour and a privilege to take on this role and I look forward to the challenge. I hope to represent Jamaica and the wider Caribbean to the best of my ability,” Eytle said.

Eytle is originally from Guyana, but has lived in Jamaica for over three decades, where she took over the management of several veterinary clinics in the cities of Kingston and Mandeville in 2007 and was appointed the first female president of the Jamaica Veterinary Medical Association (JVMA).

The CVA was founded in 1967, with membership open to national veterinary associations of Commonwealth member countries, and it currently has 54 full members. A new executive is elected every four years, which for the 2024-27 term includes secretary Jeff Cave (Australia), treasurer Dianne Philips (Australia), and executive director Abdul Rahman (India).

The aim of the association is to promote the veterinary profession within the Commonwealth by encouraging the highest professional standards of education, ethics and service in order to advance animal health, productivity and welfare so as to improve the quality of life of all its peoples.

The association offers study grants of up to $AU5000 for successful applicants from countries which are current financial members of the CVA, as well as grants for small projects, and training programs throughout Commonwealth nations.

Hotline receives $50,000 grant At the close of 2023, the Western Australian Government announced more than $1m in funding from its Animal Welfare Grant Program, including a grant of $50,000 for the nationwide Animal Poisons Hotline.

The hotline, based in Perth, provides free risk assessment and phone advice to pet owners whose animals may have eaten or encountered a toxic substance, and fields around 1000 calls each month, providing referrals to vets where necessary.

■ JULIA GARDINER

A federal helping hand for the red handfish Support for the critically endangered red handfish continued shortly before Christmas when Tanya Plibersek, the federal Minister for the Environment and Water, provided a national interest exemption under national environment law that allowed scientists to collect up to 25 red handfish to take back to the University of Tasmania’s Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies.

The decision was taken following fears the estimated 100 adult handfish remaining in the wild could be wiped out during the summer’s predicted extreme marine heatwaves.

A captive breeding program held for the second year running saw 21 red handfish successfully hatch last year (The Veterinarian, December 2023).

The federal government has also invested $239,650 to improve the condition of the species’ wild habitat and recover the health of captive animals. The funding is on top of more than the previous $600,000 provided for the species captive breeding and habitat remediation to ensure the red handfish does not become extinct.

In announcing the funding Plibersek said the Albanese Government set a goal of no new extinctions, and this intervention was critical to save Tasmania’s handfish.

“This amazing species gets its name from using over-sized fins for hands to walk across the sea floor rather than swim. We’ve worked with experts to authorise the collection of an initial 25 handfish to give this unique

species the best chance of recovery,” she said.

Over summer IMAS will continue to monitor the remaining wild red handfish for signs of stress, and if necessary, will collect the remaining fish and relocate them to the Institute’s facilities. Once the threat of marine heatwaves is over, the red handfish habitat will be assessed to determine if they can be safely returned to the wild.

“This grant will allow the Helpline to raise awareness of the life-saving service that it provides amongst WA pet owners, particularly those in rural and remote areas of the state. The grant will also enable the Helpline to provide poisons prevention education to pet owners over 2024, helping to reduce animal illness and death that is associated with poisoning,” the organisation said.

The registered animal welfare charity aims to promote animal poisoning prevention and increase the public awareness of animal poisoning, with its helpline staffed by consultants who all have prior experience as senior emergency veterinarians or as clinical pharmacists.

The organisation also plays a toxicovigilance role, reporting poisoning trends to relevant professional bodies.

The hotline provides 24-hour service to registered vet practices, and pet owners can contact the hotline for free assistance between 9:00am and 5:00pm, seven days a week, with after-hours consultation available for a fee.

■ ANNE LAYTON-BENNETT

■ JULIA GARDINER

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Australia’s new chief vet appointed Recycling building waste Beth Cookson has been appointed to the position of Australia’s chief veterinary officer (ACVO), following the retirement of Mark Schipp.

The ACVO works to address major animal health issues of national interest, with the support of a team of scientists and policy makers who form the Office of the Australian Chief Veterinary Officer (OCVO).

Schipp’s retirement was announced in August last year after a 30-year tenure with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and having held the role of ACVO since 2011. During Schipp’s time as ACVO, the role developed a particular focus on biosecurity, One Health, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), international engagement in the Pacific and south-east Asia, and advocacy for the veterinary profession.

Cookson was appointed deputy chief veterinary officer in March 2022, and was based in Cairns, from where she led a team of specialists in setting up the OCVO - Northern Australia, to support the large agricultural industry in the region, including working with neighbouring countries including Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Indonesia in managing the regional risk of animal diseases.

Before her time with the OCVO, Cookson worked for more than 15 years in biosecurity policy and operations at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; as well as a stint leading frontline community engagement and recovery support functions at the National Recovery and Resilience Agency.

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benefits wildlife sanctuary

Beth Cookson

Australia’s history of governmentemployed vets stretches back to 1883, and by the 1900s most states had appointed a vet to take charge of disease control and quarantine, due to the emergence of several serious contagious diseases.

In the 1920s, government vets were also appointed to Commonwealth government positions, which led to the creation of the OCVO, which now represents the Australian Government on animal health issues of national interest and coordinates with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) on a global scale.

With her appointment to the role of ACVO, Cookson is now also Australia’s delegate to WOAH and Murray Watt, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said Cookson will continue her focus on northern Australia in her new role, working with industry and strengthening partnerships with neighbouring countries.

■ JULIA GARDINER

Tasmania’s Bonorong wildlife sanctuary in the state’s south is to benefit from the removal of building materials from Hobart’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies’ fisheries and aquaculture facility at Taroona as it prepares for an upgrade.

Sean Tracey, IMAS Fisheries and Aquaculture Centre Head, said the reusable structures and materials from the former state government’s wildlife centre will be donated to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary.

“Rather than being sent to landfill, the materials will be repurposed into new animal enclosures and facilities at Bonorong, and I couldn’t think of a better way to give these materials new life,” Tracey said.

Mesh screens and roofing, an aviary shed, fencing and a demountable toilet block will all be used at the Bonorong

Picture Louise Creely

sanctuary, at Brighton north of Hobart. Director Greg Irons said the materials would be used to build an enclosure for animal rehabilitation, research or sanctuary spaces at the sanctuary, which will enable hundreds of animals to benefit from the IMAS donation.

“We really appreciate IMAS allowing us to sustainably repurpose this equipment for a cause close to all our hearts. It’s allowed us to save money and continue the vital work we do,” Irons said.

Tracey said the aviaries and other structures were originally built for the conservation of Tasmania’s native terrestrial animals, including the captive breeding of the endangered orange-bellied parrot.

“At the new facilities, this vital species conservation work will continue, this time with captive breeding of endangered marine species like handfish and Maugean skate. It’s a great outcome for Tasmanian biodiversity as the site will once again help our native animals – with a shift in focus from the land to the sea,” he said.

■ ANNE LAYTON-BENNETT

JANUARY 2024 TheVeterinarian 3

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News

study could aid Passport2Recovery in its third year New wildlife disease estimation The Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20 burned through 38 per cent of South Australia’s Kangaroo Island, but a federally funded citizen science project to help Kangaroo Island monitor its recovery, has now seen it rated second in the 2024 Lonely Planet travel guide’s ‘must-see’ destination category.

The Flinders University citizen science Passport2Recovery project is now in its third year.

Designed as a phone app, residents, businesses and visitors to the island are invited to download it for free and use it to help support the recovery and conservation of flora and fauna with the data they collect. The program features up to 12 activities to engage tourists and locals in the science of recovery and incorporates relevant Indigenous cultural knowledge.

Project leader Karen Burke da Silva from FU’s College of Science and Engineering said the app enabled people to get involved in a novel citizen science project that helps collect important data for the conservation and recovery of wildlife and ecosystems.

“It’s an ideal way for everyone to arrive as a tourist and leave as a scientist, learning more about the island’s natural features, and helping with post-bushfire recovery on Kangaroo Island and collecting data for our research studies,” she said.

The focus this year is gathering photographic data on the endangered Australian sea lion, Cape Barren geese, plastic waste on beaches, and the animals that are killed by cars. It will add to the four initial P2R projects currently underway: monitoring koala survival, native bees and oysters, and vegetation dieback.

This year’s participants are asked to photograph plastic waste on nine beaches for FU’s microplastic research data collection, while a partnership with the Seal Bay Conservation Centre will help conservation managers assess

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the impacts of ecotourism at Seal Bay by recording disturbances of sea lion behaviours as tourists move along the boardwalk.

Cape Barren geese are one of the world’s rarest and most under-studied goose species and in common with humans they prefer facial symmetry in their mates. The P2R project’s Love Birds calls for close-up recordings of Kangaroo Island’s population to assess their mating, breeding and distribution, as well as determine whether the geese with more symmetrical facial features have more ‘luck in love’. Special facial recognition software was developed at FU’s BirdLab and has been incorporated into the P2R app.

The Road 2 Recovery module invites those travelling along Kangaroo Island’s roads to ‘slow down for those who can’t speed up’ by repor-ting roadkilled wildlife. The data will help roadkill hotspots and inform future management strategies.

More information can be found at the P2R website www.passport2recovery.au/road-2-recovery.

A new study from Cornell University, co-authored by members of its veterinary and agricultural colleges, has developed a new method for estimating the prevalence of disease in freeranging wildlife, which would help determine how many samples are needed to detect disease.

Currently, some widely used formulas for determining sample sizes are based on the assumption that animals in a population contract diseases independently.

The method used in the Cornell study is based on the likelihood that proximity leads to the spread of contagious diseases amongst animals.

The researchers focused on Chronic Wastage Disease (CWD) in deer and found that sampling an individual animal in a cluster can suggest whether the rest of the family is also infected.

The new method can be used in instances where the species of interest have a known tendency to cluster, the disease being monitored for must be contagious, and samples should be randomly taken from individuals in as many different clusters as possible for the procedure to be most effective.

The main outcome of the study is that if random sampling is possible, it suggests bio-logists could collect fewer samples to predict disease prevalence.

“The framework is so flexible we can use it for any animals. If we think about birds migrating and being in huge flocks, versus a moose that might be solitary and not interacting in groups, that impacts what our sample size should be,” Krysten Schuler, co-author of the study said.

The research comes on the back of the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted an increasing need for key species to be monitored for emerging diseases that can cross from animals to humans.

■ ANNE LAYTON-BENNETT

■ JULIA GARDINER

Karen Burke da Silva

JANUARY 2024 TheVeterinarian 5

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News

WA-first knee-specific clinic opens Chewing it over Chad Marriott

Perth has become home to Western Australia’s first dedicated knee-specific vet clinic. The Perth Pet Knee Centre recently launched, accepting referrals from other veterinary clinics to perform a range of specific services, including orthopedical knee procedures in dogs, providing second opinion consultation for atypical hindlimb lameness cases, and a stifle radiograph interpretation service.

The clinic has been established by Chad Marriott, who spent the past five years as a senior surgeon across 16 clinics within the Vetwest group, during which time he performed over 600 tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO) cruciate repairs in dogs.

Marriott’s business partner Trevor Pavey believes the specialist clinic provides benefits both to clients, to referring veterinarians, and to the clinic itself.

“One advantage is the ability to carry a reduced inventory of implants geared to a limited number of procedures compared to a practice that might be doing a full range of orthopedic procedures,” Pavey said.

“This approach also allows us to keep waiting times for clients to a minimum, whereas other referral practices that are offering many different surgeries have higher caseloads and inevitably longer waiting times.”

According to the clinic, cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) damage in dogs most commonly occurs from a degenerative change within the ligament, and the ligament continues to weaken until normal activity causes the ligament to tear.

TPLO surgery offered by the clinic cuts the bone below the knee and rotates its position to alter the way it moves, meaning it no longer requires an intact cruciate ligament for stability.

“For me, the biggest advantage in doing a small number of procedures repetitively is that it allows us to be very good at what we do, both with regards to clinical outcomes but also to address an unmet need to improve client communication and education,” Marriott said.

■ JULIA GARDINER

A biting discovery The emergence of the facial tumour disease almost 30 years ago, that subsequently ravaged populations of Tasmanian devils in the wild, has resulted in numerous studies about the species that previously had been the subject of comparatively little research.

Menna Jones, Professor of Zoology at the University of Tasmania’s School of Natural Sciences, was among the first to observe and record DFTD in the mid-1990s. She has been at the forefront of research into both devils and the disease ever since. Results of her latest study, published recently in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, has confirmed devils have a significant, fundamental morphological difference to most other animals: they only get a single set of teeth. Jones said the information will help researchers determine the age of animals they are studying, including those monitored in the wild for DFTD. “Unlike humans or dogs, or many other animals that have a baby set and a second adult set of teeth, we know that devils only have one set that serves them through their entire lives.

When a devil joey is very young it has very small teeth that fit its small body. Devils are weaned from their mothers when they’re just onethird of their adult size, and it’s at this point they have to become independent and feed themselves,” she said.

Using museum specimens researchers measured canine and molar tooth dimensions of four species of marsupial carnivores: thylacine, Tasmanian devil and two quolls. Canine dimensions were measured in a time series on live wild-living individual devils and quolls. They found canine teeth, and to a lesser extent the molar teeth of marsupial carnivores, continue to erupt through life, resulting in a net increase in tooth height and diameter, a phenomenon not evident in placental carnivores. www.theveterinarian.com.au

As all dog owners know, dogs love having something to chew on. While no object is safe from the jaws of inquisitive puppies and young dogs, more mature dogs are often content to stick to gnawing on a bone.

Scientists led by Paul McGreevy, Professor of Animal Behaviour and Welfare at the University of Sydney’s School of Veterinary Science, suspect there could be functional reasons why dogs continue to chew bones, sticks, shoes – or anything they can get their mouth around.

To help them better understand the significance of chewing, the scientists are seeking input from dog owners in a survey to try and find out if chewing could have potential as an indicator of welfare problems.

“Gnawing is a common element of the canine behavioural repertoire, with feral dogs spending much more time chewing than hunting. So, the influence of gnawing on domestic dog welfare is likely to be highly significant. At first glance, we get the sense this activity keeps a dog’s teeth clean, but despite the importance dogs place on gnawing, the activity has largely been overlooked by science,” McGreevy said.

In veterinary behavioural medicine gnawing is reported in association with distress and anxiety and can be part of destructive behaviour that can occur either when dogs are left alone or being confined – regardless of the presence of owners.

McGreevy said that gnawing the wrong items could cause physical injuries to teeth and gums and may also result in the ingestion of foreign bodies if dogs chew inappropriate objects such as stones, sticks or fabrics. Understanding the significance of chewing could also benefit the development of new technologies to assist anxious dogs.

“Here at Chew HQ, as we’ve informally called ourselves, we’re asking owners to tell us all about the types of chewable items they give their dogs to chew, tear and gnaw. We want to hear how often dogs are given these goodies and how they behave before and afterwards. We’re also interested in the state of the dogs’ teeth and their gut function,” he explained.

The survey is available at sydney.au1.qualtrics.com/ jfe/form/SV_9pHXiHv8c3qtytM. ■ ANNE LAYTON-BENNETT

Picture Menna Jones

“Instead of losing time changing over to a set of adult teeth like humans do, the devil’s teeth simply ‘erupt’ gradually out of their jaws and gums, pushing further out to fill the devil’s larger mouth and head, allowing the growing animal to hold meat and prey and defend itself,” Jones explained.

The over-eruption in marsupial carnivores may be a compensatory response for tooth size limits imposed by monophyodont tooth replacement, ensuring that an animal’s teeth are scaled to jaw size from juvenile to adulthood.

“This is a very cool fact about a very cool species, and it shows a completely different evolutionary solution to having teeth in growing animals than what we’re familiar with,” she said, adding that the same phenomenon is seen in quolls and thylacines locally, and also in some ancient marsupial species like giant borhyaenids and sabre tooths from South America.

Jones said future research could explore this phenomenon across a broader range of marsupial and placental mammals that exhibit different patterns of tooth replacement.

More information is available at di.org/10.1098/ rspb.2023.0644.

■ ANNE LAYTON-BENNETT

Qld vets call on government to save industry In December the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) led calls for the Queensland government to consider veterinary student debt support, with practices in the state under pressure from a workforce shortage.

With vet clinics across Australia have been closing their doors, Veterinary Schools of Australian and New Zealand (VCANZ) released a landmark report, ‘Rethinking Veterinary Education’ mid-last year, which called for an overhaul in how tertiary education is delivered and funded.

“The funding shortfall facing universities with veterinary science programs – and the financial pressures on vet practitioners after graduation – mean that without structural change, there will be increasing sustainability pressures for the veterinary industry, impacting domestic pets and agricultural industries,” Jacqueline Norris of the Sydney School of Veterinary Science said at the time of the report’s release. To page 30 JANUARY 2024 TheVeterinarian 7

Mark Bryan qualified in Glasgow in 1988, and moved to New Zealand in 1995.

Kiwi Post

Many years ago in our vet practice, we were enthusiastically captured

by Yvon Chouinard’s book Let My People Go Surfing.

Chouinard was the founder of the clothing company Patagonia, and in his early years was an oustanding pioneering climber, putting up hard new routes in places like Yosemite, the Canadian Rockies and in Patagonia.

He began his entrepreneurial career in the 1970s, creating pitons for climbers. He then decided that pitons and pegs, which comprised 70 per cent of his income, were not good for the rock, and took an ethical decision which was quite likely to harm his business by moving away into making different climbing protection.

Instead of harming his business, it grew it. And Chouinard continued to follow those same ethical principles by placing what’s right for the environment ahead of his business. Ironically, in doing so, his business grew beyond anything he imagined. He recently committed to giving 1 per cent of Patagonia’s revenue (not profit) to environmental causes; and a couple of years ago he essentially gave away his company to an environmental trust.

The essence of his book- and of his business- was captured in a quote he used from François-René de Chateaubriand which stated: ‘A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play; his labor and his leisure; his mind and his body; his education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing, and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself, he always appears to be doing both.’

The concept of not being able to tell the difference between work and play has been very important to us as vets over the years. Being a vet is not a 9-to-5 job. Being a rural vet even more so. Not only are you an integral part of the community; but we all know that animals don’t keep 9-to-5 hours. So switching off from a job is not really an option.

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If you divide your life into two parts one of which is play – the other, by definition, is much less fun. And as vets, that means a significant part of your life is less than enjoyable. As Francois said all those years ago, we need to consider that the twin acts of work and play should both be equally inspiring and satisfying. Then we really are mastering living.

Given that, as vets, we probably spend a good third of our lives working, the idea that work could

be play transforms a third of your life in an important way.

The concept of switching off from work has always seemed to me wrong- a third of your life is something you want to close a door on and forget about?

Anyway, all of this is by way of introducing a bit of a climbing theme into this month’s column.

I was fortunate recently to get back out on the sharp end of a rope- something I haven’t had a chance to do for a while. And

it made me think how a climbing perspective can be quite aligned to vetting.

Firstly, climbing takes a while to get good at. You generally can’t just go out and lead vertical rock or ice. There’s quite a lot of boring fundamental stuff – the physiology and histology equivalents to learn before you can safely let yourself loose on the world. And even when you do finally get to break free on anything clinical and think you’re getting the hang of it, you’re often humbled by nature’s vicissitudes.

This period of learning seems to go on forever. And by the time you’ve amassed enough experience to consider yourself good at it and be able to handle any situation, you’re usually too old and knackered to be any good.

And, like surgery, climbing has periods of deep – almost mind altering – intensity. You find yourself completely absorbed in focusing on the job at hand it may be something as tiny as a small move of millimetres, or placing a critical ice screw. It absorbs all your concentration and focus. You drill yourself into that moment to the exclusion of everything else. Your whole body is like a prism, bending everything towards a single point of focus.

Climbing can also be utterly absorbing… but also exhausting.

The intensity of a moment gives way to another and another as the challenges of the day come at you from various directions. You can become immersed in problem solving, moving from one scenario to the next. Sometimes the weight and responsibility of the whole process can press hard on your aching shoulders and back.

But similarly, every now and then, you get to look up and scan the horizon. It might be the end of a long day in surgery or a short but intense farm call. You pause, rest, exhale, soak up the view, look at the horizon and the bigger picture.

You look back to what you have achieved that day. You shrug and adjust the weight on your shoulders – and it feels lighter.

For both activities you may get home at night, exhausted but better for a day intensely spent.

A mixture of terror, joy, trepidation, fatigue, physical exertion, mental gymnastics, concentration, focus. And you hold onto that stramash of feelings, sleep well, and want to do it all again. The intensity of what some call work is blended into the exhilaration of what some call play and it all becomes one. There is no distinction.

JANUARY 2024 TheVeterinarian 9

FACE TO FACE

with a lot of world events as well. It’s history: it’s personal history, it’s world history, it’s Australian history and it’s also veterinary history.” As autobiographical memoirs, the books are comparable to James Herriot’s famous All Creatures Great and Small series, though with distinctly Australian flavour and content. Oddly enough, Fenny finds himself recounting his life and veterinary career from a similar temporal vantage point: Herriot wrote in the 1970s about his experiences from the 1930s onwards, and Fenny is writing now about his life from around the 1950s onwards – with some extra family history thrown in for posterity.

Fenny’s story began in Mahogany Creek on the outskirts of Perth, where he grew up with his parents and sisters. At around the age of eight, Fenny and his family moved to Albany, and he spent the rest of his boyhood there, right up until he finished his schooling. It was, quite naturally, a formative period, during which his parents were instilling in him the values that have served him throughout his life. “One of the main things I have carried with me from that time and from my parents were the ethics, especially work ethics, and traits they were continually teaching me – sometimes without me realising I was being taught,” Fenny said.

“Most of these I then passed onto my children, and they are subsequently passing them onto their children, so the legacy goes on.”

In addition to valuable life lessons, Fenny’s childhood was filled with exploration of the natural world and escapades and encounters with various animals, often with his beloved dog Pip in tow. That said, when writing about this period of his life in his first Red Dog Vet book, Fenny realised that there were all sorts of

RED DOGS AND ROAD TRIPS: RICK FENNY REFLECTS ON FIVE DECADES OF WORKING IN THE WEST

V

eterinarian Rick Fenny is up to his ninth red dog. The fourth one was easily the most famous – being the subject of the 2011 feature film Red Dog – but as anyone who has watched the movie knows, that particular red dog didn’t really belong to anyone, and chose to spend time and hitch rides with a select few. Red Dog is how Fenny is best known outside of Western Australia, and even though the role of the vet was played by actor Neil Pigot (of Blue Heelers fame, as quirk of fate would have it), he did make a cameo appearance on the big screen in addition to acting as a consultant on the film.

To this day, Fenny remains a custodian of tall tales and true relating to the celebrated canine who captured the hearts of movie fans around the world. But as it turns out, that particular Red Dog is only a small part of Rick Fenny’s story.

Although he would likely be the last person to admit it, Fenny has contributed an enormous amount to the veterinary profession in Western Australia. Over the past five decades, he has built a network of veterinary practices servicing regional and remote areas of the state, forging connections with existing local communities and with those that sprang up as the mining boom began. Fenny has witnessed the transformation of his home state and his chosen profession over the years, responding to changes in both by finding new ways to serve pastoralists and the pet-owning public, and employing hundreds of veterinarians along the way. He has grown his 10 TheVeterinarian JANUARY 2024

veterinary practice from humble beginnings operating out of a sixteen-foot caravan in Roebourne near Karratha in the Pilbara to what is now known as the Pets and Vets group, which has veterinary hospitals and clinics all over Western Australia.

Aside from his veterinary pursuits, Fenny has involved himself in numerous side ventures which fall under the umbrella of the Rick Fenny Group, many of which are aimed at showcasing and protecting the natural beauty of his home state. These include Ocean Park Aquarium in Shark Bay, Maitraya Private Retreat in Albany, and Vlaming Charters, which hires out a handsomely restored wooden boat in Fremantle.

Fenny has starred in his own television show, Desert Vet, which gave him the opportunity to combine his professional skills with his deep love of the native wildlife and unique landscapes of Western Australia. He is also halfway through writing a series of books, two of which he has already published: Red Dog Vet: Pip, my First Red Dog and Red Dog Vet: Kelly, my Second Red Dog. The third and fourth instalments of the series are still being penned, which happens whenever Fenny has a spare moment – which is usually if he finds himself unable to sleep at around three in the morning.

“I had an epiphany when I was writing these books,” Fenny said. “I’m setting down the record for the future, so whoever is related to me in the future can read it. It’s my story, but I pepper it

interesting and memorable things that had happened to him that he had no photographs of. “There were certain adventures and episodes in my boyhood that were pretty unique, and I write about them as descriptively and colourfully as I can, but there was no one there with a camera to take a photo,” he explained. “Then I had the inspiration to get an illustrator to draw pictures of those scenes that I remembered vividly. I also realised that all these unique experiences would be incredibly difficult to photograph – how do you take a picture of coming face to face with a tiger shark for the first time? Or of having an octopus squirt me with its ink? Those sorts of things would never have been recorded, but the illustrator has managed to capture them beautifully.”

While the first book in Fenny’s series records the stories of his childhood, the second volume recounts his university days and is, in his words, “a manual for students at vet school.” Strangely enough, Fenny’s own journey to earning a degree in Veterinary Science began completely by accident. “I had just finished my Leaving Certificate and I realised I had got the marks to get into university, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” he said. “I came from a big family of teachers, but I didn’t really want to do that, and I saw some advertisements in the paper the same day the school results came out for these cadetships.” Recognising his upbringing www.theveterinarian.com.au

and interests best suited him to working outdoors and possessing a vague notion that outdoor work would likely involve animals of some sort, Fenny applied for cadetships in Agricultural Science, Marine Science and Veterinary Science. “I applied for all three, thinking that whatever one I got would do the trick,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting them to ask me to take my pick.” During what he described as the most bizarre interview of his life, Fenny – somewhat stumped by the life-changing nature of the on the spot decision being demanded of him – turned the question of which career path he should choose back onto the interview panel, and asked them what they recommended.

“The public servants all started arguing among themselves,” Fenny recalled. “Then the Chief Vet jumped to his feet, thumped the table and said: ‘Shut up, you lot! Vet Science is the best degree you can possibly have. We need vets, and you can start your practice when you’re not working for us any more. Vet Science is the best degree in the country. Just do Vet, son!’ – and so I did.”

The state government cadetship Fenny was awarded gave him access to tertiary education he would not otherwise have gained, but the opportunity came with strings attached. In return for putting him through the five-year Veterinary Science degree, providing him with a meagre sustenance allowance and paying for his interstate travel fares to and from university, Fenny was required to return to Western Australia and work for the government for five years following graduation. “At the age of seventeen, I signed ten years of my life away,” he said. “I didn’t mind because it was the only way I could afford to do it. My parents didn’t have the money to send me to university, and most other vets from Western Australia did it the same way, too.”

After successfully completing a common first year biological science degree at university in Perth, Fenny and his fellow vet cadets headed for Brisbane. At the time, there were only three Veterinary Science schools in Australia – none of which was situated in Western Australia – and the University of Queensland was the only program that accepted interstate students.

Heading east to study was, as Fenny recounts in his second Red Dog Vet book, not the easiest time of his life. “For nine months of the year I was alone and lonely and outside of my friendship group, and was struggling with finances and vet school, and it was quite tough,” he said.

“Then I would come home to Albany and be with friends and family and would usually manage to engineer a romance for the summer, and I’d have a wonderful time and then head back to the grind again. The difference was stark.”

Upon graduating from the University of Queensland, however, Fenny’s next move was literally decided by the toss of a coin – or the best of three coin tosses. He had returned to Western Australia to fulfil the conditions of his cadetship along with five other freshly minted veterinarians, the biggest influx of new graduates the cadetship program had ever had. Four of the cadets were offered plum jobs in places like Albany, Esperance, Geraldton and Merredin, all of which were well-established government veterinary services with great facilities and experienced mentors. The remaining two posts were in Moora, north of Perth, and in Derby, way up in the Kimberley, and it was these two posts that Fenny and fellow veterinarian Brent Hunt tossed a coin to choose between. “I secretly wanted Derby, so it was a toss I didn’t want to lose. I tend to do that, to step outside my comfort zone. I’m a risk taker, and my father and grandfather were like that too; it’s in my genes,” Fenny admitted.

“I ended up getting Derby, and that was the toughest of all the postings, but it was the making of me. I’m writing about it now, in my third Red Dog Vet book.”

The Kimberley was a whole new world for www.theveterinarian.com.au

Fenny, who had never ventured north of Perth before. “It was also the end of an era,” he said.

“It was 1972, and over a century of horsemen working on stations was coming to an end; they were bringing in planes and helicopters.” Drovers were also being replaced by trucks, and these shifts were occurring alongside major changes for the First Nations communities of the region, many of whom were moving from stations into the towns. “You could see the whole world was changing at a very fast pace, and I was there to experience that,” Fenny said. “You could see the old way disappearing and the new way coming in and see the resistance to things changing as well.”

Travelling through the Pilbara en route to his posting in Derby, Fenny also spotted another rapid transformation occurring – one which had a direct impact on his future success as a veterinarian.

“Going through the Pilbara towns on the way to the Kimberley, I could see the first mining boom was happening. They were building these new houses, and the old locals weren’t very happy about it. Whole towns were springing up, and it gave me the idea that when I finished my bond with the Department, I would go and set up my practice in Port Hedland or Karratha, or somewhere near there.”

Fenny spent five years working off his bond, gaining valuable experience in the process.

“They’re all experienced cowboys up there in the Kimberley, and it was very hard,” he said. “You still had a lot of stations and far more traditional old towns that were the sorts of places where if your horse was crook, you shot it. If your dog was old, you shot it. If something was no good, you shot it.” This mentality was well entrenched and, quite obviously, one that Fenny had to come to terms with – particularly since it was at odds with the prevailing mindset he had encountered while studying at university. As a result, Fenny now has what he describes as a “pretty open view” on euthanising animals. “It doesn’t worry me putting animals down, but often people think they should put an animal down simply because it’s old,” he explained. “But if it’s still got a bit of life in it, and you’re happy to nurse it and look after it, you’ll probably get another year or two out of it, especially with modern medication to decrease pain and prolong life. These days, we cling to life a lot more, and to our animals as well.”

Once Fenny was free to get on with the next part of his own life, he decided to capitalise on the opportunities he had spied in the developing Pilbara region which, unlike the wild and remote Kimberley, was becoming far more populated by this time. “The towns were basically full of suburban people who had been transported into the bush and were given a nice house and supermarket,” Fenny said. “Karratha was almost like a city suburb transported into the Pilbara.” Alongside this rapid socio-economic development, he also perceived another shift – one which directly affected his professional life. “In suburban areas, including the new towns springing up in the Pilbara, pets were starting to become members of the family,” he said. “I’ve seen that change with the humanisation of animals gradually take hold during my time as a vet, and it informed the way I expanded my veterinary business.”

Opening his first veterinary practice, however, did not go entirely to plan: unlike the miners and their families, Fenny was not able to find living accommodation or clinic premises in Karratha. As a result, he headed 35 kilometres out of Karratha to Roebourne, where he ended up living in single men’s quarters and practicing out of a caravan.

“My main modus operandi, because there wasn’t enough work in any one town to support me back then, was to travel around to various towns and I would mostly use the mortuaries in the hospitals to practice in,” Fenny said. “I would talk to the administrator of the hospital, who was often the matron in charge, and I got a good reception from them as they considered I was

bringing a much-needed service to the town, and they allowed me to use the morgue. So, I did that in every other town other than Roebourne, where I had the caravan, and I had a second caravan in Tom Price where the mortuary was too busy for me to operate from. At one stage I had three caravans, but mostly I used the mortuaries.”

While the term pioneer does not sit easily with him, the fact remains that Fenny was able to grow his business by recognising opportunities for growth, by providing essential and reliable veterinary care to regions that had been vastly under-serviced, and by improvising when necessary. “The beauty of my job was that I had a foot in each camp,” Fenny said. “I still did a lot of station work, treating cattle and horses and that sort of thing, but I also knew where my bread was buttered, and that was with the cats and dogs in the towns. It was incremental growth.

People say I built an empire, but I didn’t really.

It evolved.” From his humble beginnings in Roebourne, Fenny gradually expanded his business, finding ways to bring veterinary services to people in far-flung communities across Western Australia and into South Australia as well. He acquired clinics and hospitals in Perth, which not only provided the community with access to quality veterinary services, but also gave his staff the ability to transfer back to the city if they wished to after working in more remote practices. Up until the Global Financial Crisis hit, Fenny even had a handful of overseas veterinary clinics in England and Wales and was also operating a locum service placing Australian veterinarians in practices across the United Kingdom.

Fenny genuinely believes in the importance of establishing veterinary practices in regional and remote centres in a state as vast as Western Australia, particularly in the current era of Fly In Fly Out (FIFO) employment – which represents yet another change he has witnessed in his five decades of being a veterinarian. “Companies and even governments are not looking after the regions as well as they could,” Fenny said. “FIFO gives people an air ticket but not a home, and I think it causes all sorts of social problems.”

In stark contrast to the FIFO model that now predominates in some of the more remote parts of his state, Fenny has put his money where his mouth is and deliberately established practices in regional centres of Western Australia and has employed hundreds of veterinarians and veterinary support staff along the way. Significantly, he has also ensured that housing has either been bought or built for his staff, which he believes is critical to them being able to make a life outside of the city. “It’s a very expensive business, especially to get vets to go to these more remote places,” Fenny admitted. To page 30 JANUARY 2024

TheVeterinarian 11

■ EDITED BY JENI HOOD BSc (Hons) BVMS PhD

Abstracts Declining engagement of veterinary services in Australian animal production systems: why has this occurred and what are the risks?

The provision of veterinary services is essential to deliver animal health and welfare outcomes, but over the last several decades demand for veterinary services in animal production systems has broadly declined in Australia. Reduced demand is closely related to a decline in the size of the production animal veterinary workforce, and there is evidence that the percentage of veterinarians participating in the delivery of veterinary services to animal production systems has lessened. Reduced demand for veterinary services in the production animal sector is likely to be attributed to several factors, including challenges around widespread adoption of preventive veterinary services, improved self-efficacy of producers through advancement of knowledge, and potential concern by producers over the role of veterinarians in production animal systems. Declining veterinary engagement results in increased risk at both the individual farm level (diminished expertise to deliver reactive and proactive veterinary services) and at a population level (increased biosecurity risk and risk to social licence to operate).

The current environment and the community trust in the profession should be seen as an opportunity to develop and implement a strategy to halt and reverse the decline in demand for production animal veterinary services. Such a strategy will require significant and sustained collaboration between the veterinary profession, Industry and government.

C J Secombe1 2 Aust Vet J. 2023 Dec 27.doi: 10.1111/avj.13302.

1Veterinary Policy and Advocacy, Australian Veterinary Association, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.

2School of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia.

Alternative slaughter procedures: on-farm slaughter and transport system for broilers This paper focuses on "alternative methods for initial broiler processing" and exploration of alternative processing including slaughter at the farm immediately after catching. On-farm slaughter and transport (FSaT) is envisioned as a mobile unit that stuns, slaughters, and shackles the broiler carcasses at the farm. A separate trailer-unit then transports the shackled broiler carcasses to the processing plant. Once at the processing plant carcasses are mechanically transferred into plant shackle lines and moved into processing.

The hypothesis is that the FSaT approach will dramatically improve overall bird welfare and well-being by reducing live handling and eliminating live transport from the farm to the processing plant. In addition, ancillary impacts could include: improving yield efficiencies by eliminating dead on arrivals, potentially reducing water and energy consumption, reducing labour requirements at the processing plant with the elimination of live rehang, and offering an economically sustainable alternative. The FSaT approach represents a radical change from traditional processing, and its effects on poultry processing need to be evaluated. This paper presents results of experiments conducted at a commercial poultry processor to evaluate feather picking efficiency, carcass bacteriological loading, and meat quality for delayed processed carcasses.

A V Samoylov1, K Schwean-Lardner2, T G Crowe2, W Daley3, A Giorges3, B Kiepper4, D Bourassa5, B Bowker6, H Zhuang6, K Christensen7, R J Buhr6 Poult Sci. 2023 Dec;102(12): 103137.doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.103137.

1Georgia Tech Research Institute, Atlanta, GA, USA. Electronic address: alexander.samoylov@gtri.gatech.edu.

2Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.

3Georgia Tech Research Institute, Atlanta, GA, USA. 4Department of Poultry Science, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA. 5Department of Poultry Science, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA. 6USDA-ARS U.S. National Poultry Research Center, Athens, GA, USA. 7Tyson Foods, Springdale, AR, USA. Free PMC article

12 TheVeterinarian JANUARY 2024

Silent killers? The widespread exposure of predatory nocturnal birds to anticoagulant rodenticides Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) influence predator populations and threaten the stability of ecosystems. Understanding the prevalence and impact of rodenticides in predators is crucial to inform conservation planning and policy. We collected dead birds of four nocturnal predatory species across differing landscapes: forests, agricultural, urban. Liver samples were analysed for eight ARs: three First Generation ARs (FGARs) and five SGARs (Second Generation ARs). We investigated interspecific differences in liver concentrations and whether landscape composition influenced this. FGARs were rarely detected, except pindone at low concentrations in powerful owls Ninox strenua. SGARs, however, were detected in every species and 92 per cent of birds analysed.

Concentrations of SGARs were at levels where potential toxicological or lethal impacts would have occurred in 33 per cent of powerful owls, 68 per cent of tawny frogmouths Podargus strigoides, 42 per cent of southern boobooks N. bookbook and 80 per cent of barn owls Tyto javanica. When multiple SGARs were detected, the likelihood of potentially lethal concentrations of rodenticides increased. There was no association between landscape composition and SGAR exposure, or the presence of multiple SGARs, suggesting rodenticide poisoning is ubiquitous across all landscapes sampled. This widespread human-driven contamination in wildlife is a major threat to wildlife health.

Given the high prevalence and concentrations of SGARs in these birds across all landscape types, we support the formal consideration of SGARs as a threatening process. Furthermore, given species that do not primarily eat rodents (tawny frogmouths, powerful owls) have comparable liver rodenticide concentrations to rodent predators (southern boobook, eastern barn owl), it appears there is broader contamination of the food-web than anticipated. We provide evidence that SGARs have the potential to pose a threat to the survival of avian predator populations.

Given the functional importance of predators in ecosystems, combined with the animal welfare impacts of these chemicals, we propose governments should regulate the use of SGARs. Raylene Cooke1, Pam Whiteley2, Clare Death3, Michael A Weston4, Nicholas Carter4, Kieran Scammell4, Kaori Yokochi4, Hao Nguyen5, John G White4 Sci Total Environ. 2023 Dec 15:904: 166293.doi: 10.1016/ j.scitotenv.2023.166293.

1Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood 3125, Vic., Australia. Electronic address: raylene.cooke@deakin.edu.au.

2Wildlife Health Victoria: Surveillance, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee 3030, Vic., Australia.

3Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Vic., Australia.

4Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood 3125, Vic., Australia.

5National Measurement Institute, 1/153 Bertie Street, Port Melbourne 3207, Vic., Australia.

Free article

Behavior problems associated with pain and paresthesia Pain is a subjective, aversive sensory and emotional experience and can cause or exacerbate problem behaviors. In this review, the biobehavioral model of pain is introduced and used to improve understanding by veterinarians of pain mechanisms and their relationship with problem behaviors. A range of potential indicators of discomfort are presented, illustrated by selected cases from the authors' behavior and pain referral clinics.

Various myths exist around pain resulting in barriers to reporting assessment and treatment. Veterinarians should always To page 30

■ www.theveterinarian.com.au

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the second most common form of acquired heart disease in dogs1

Treating early with VETMEDIN® is proven to delay the onset of clinical signs by 63% and extend life in preclinical DCM.1 To learn more about identifying preclinical DCM in dogs, scan the QR code to visit Boehringer Ingelheim Cardiology Hub. If you do not have an Animal Health Academy account, please register using the access code “myAcademy”.

For more information talk to your Boehringer Ingelheim Territory Manager today or call our Customer Care Team on 1800 808 691.

Reference: 1. Summerfield N.J., Boswood A., O’Grady M.R., et al. (2012) Efficacy of pimobendan in the prevention of congestive heart failure or sudden death in Doberman Pinschers with preclinical dilated cardiomyopathy (the PROTECT study). J Vet Intern Med, 26(1):1337–1349.

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Australia Pty. Ltd. Level 1, 78 Waterloo Road, North Ryde, NSW 2113. Toll Free 1800 808 691. Vetmedin® is a registered trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH – used under licence. AU-CAN-0058-2023

T

E F I L E H T N I A DAY E L D D I S S S O OF M TECH ENTREPRENEUR

his month, A Day in the Life heads to the town of Olinda, in the Dandenong Ranges on the eastern outskirts of Melbourne.

Olinda is a small town, home to a population of less than two thousand people, and most afternoons this is where you will find veterinarian Moss Siddle working in the award-winning practice he founded in 1999.

The rest of the time, however, Siddle is occupied by pets and vets much further afield than the Dandenong Ranges: as a tech entrepreneur, he has spent the past decade harnessing technology and a global workforce to solve problems and create solutions for veterinarians and pet owners around Australia – and beyond.

Siddle grew up in North Queensland and went to university in Brisbane. Upon graduating, he spent three years working in a small beef and mining town called Moura, a couple of hours inland from Rockhampton. He then headed overseas and worked for another three years in various locum positions all around the United Kingdom before returning to Australia, settling in Victoria. Siddle worked in mixed practice in Melbourne for a couple of years before striking out on his own, founding Dandenong Ranges Vet Centre in an old hardware store in Olinda.

In 2003, he shifted the practice into bigger premises on Olinda’s main street, conveniently located next to the Mt Dandenong Hotel. Five years later, Dandenong Ranges Vet Centre was presented with a Practice of Excellence Award by the Practice Management Special Interest Group of Australian Veterinary Association (which is now part of the Veterinary Business Group).

Never one to rest on his laurels, Siddle has always striven for excellence in his profession and sought to make work and life more manageable for those around him by taking advantage of technological advances. In 2012, Siddle recognised that smart phones were not just increasing in popularity but were assuming ascendency over other communications devices.

A mere five years after the first mobile phone apps were launched, Siddle developed an app called VetCheck, which functions as a pet diary and record keeping system. In addition to providing pet owners with the ability to record their pet’s basic details such as microchip numbers and pedigree, owners can also keep track of veterinary appointments and access useful links, pet tips, medical information and even pet trivia. (Did you know Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare and Napoleon Bonaparte all suffered from ailurophobia, or fear of cats?

Now you do.) “VetCheck is still available at the App Store and Google Play Store,” he said.

“One of my favourite things about that app is that I produced an algorithm that converts the pet’s age into the equivalent in human years – it's a bit of fun. I just realised that my nine-year-old Cavalier is currently about the same age as me!”

In 2018, six years after his initial foray into the tech sphere, Siddle founded a veterinary telemedicine platform called Medechat. “The reason why I developed Medechat was to solve the problem of having a part time workforce,” he explained. “We could see emerging trends within the profession and realised there were going to be a lot of vets with families who did not want to work in full time practice any more.

So I developed this platform where they could work remotely from home and do consults with pet owners.” Siddle followed Medechat with the development of an after hours triage service company called VetCheck 24/7 in 2021. The service responded to the challenges thrown up by the coronavirus pandemic, particularly in relation to movement restrictions and veterinarians’ burning out and provides after hours care and support for subscribing practices.

■ www.theveterinarian.com.au

Most recently, Siddle has created another app, PetCheck 24/7, which provides a similar service to VetCheck 24/7 but is for pet owners – particularly those who may not be able to access regular veterinary services due to personal circumstances such as mobility issues, or because they are living or holidaying in remote areas. Pet owners can pay to access the app via subscribing or, if their veterinary clinic has a subscription, they access the service for free by calling the clinic (though obviously in the latter instance the clinic pays the subscription fee). So, what does a typical day look like for Moss Siddle? As you might imagine, many meetings are required to keep all his tech products and services functioning at their best, in addition to working at and

managing his veterinary clinic. Siddle generally has breakfast around 7:00am and then kicks off his workday at around 7:30am on screen, checking his emails and social media channels for anything that has come through overnight that he may need to attend or respond to.

At 8am he has a management meeting, which could involve any number of managers from the VetCheck 24/7 service and PetCheck 24/7 app. “We have a vet manager, a general nurse manager and some assistant managers who help her, we have a recruitment manager, a roster manager, an accounts manager and a clinic support manager,” he explained.

“Not all of them are at the meeting every day, but we will generally have a bit of a chat and see how everything is going.”

Part of the reason why there are so many managers involved in the VetCheck 24/7 service – and now the PetCheck 24/7 app – is that to staff both enterprises around the clock, Siddle employs veterinarians and veterinary nurses from countries and time zones around the world. When a request comes through to either service, it is triaged by a team of vet nurses. “We find about 70% of the calls can be looked after by the nurses and are nonurgent cases, and about 20-25% of the calls are emergencies, so the nurses contact the on-call vets straight away or refer them to the nearest emergency centre,” Siddle explained.

“The remaining five to 10 per cent of cases are from people who need advice, but it may not be desperately urgent. They then access one of our vets, and since we have vets from all over the world working with us, they may end up speaking with a vet who is in South Africa, or the UK or Perth or Brisbane or New Zealand.”

After his daily management meeting, Siddle moves on to meetings with other individuals who help keep the various ■ www.theveterinarian.com.au

businesses humming. On the day we interviewed him, for example, he had a marketing meeting followed by an IT development meeting, and then began working on a legal contract for a large corporate client who wants to sign up to their services. “When I don’t have meetings, I’ll be calling for finance applications to fund further development, or doing compliance work, or preparing for presentations or speaking at conferences – something like that,” Siddle said. “I’ll usually do that from 11:30am to around 2:00pm.”

Every afternoon from 2:00pm to 6:00pm, Siddle puts his veterinarian hat back on and consults in clinic at

Dandenong Ranges Vet Centre – but even these hours are not devoid of meetings.

“Most days I’ll take a break around 3:00pm and have a meeting with my actual bricks and mortar practice manager,” he said. “We run through what’s been happening, any staff issues, stock control, anything that needs attention.” Then, after he finishes consulting at the clinic, Siddle often heads into yet more meetings at around 7:00pm, because he is an executive committee member and former chairperson of the Australian Veterinary Association’s Business Group, a VetExpo board meeting, a veterinary industry representative for the Australian Taxation Office’s Small Business Stewardship Group, and an all-ability advocate. Finally, at around 9pm each night, Siddle heads home to spend time with his family.

Not surprisingly, with so many projects requiring his input, Siddle cites time management as being the most difficult aspect of balancing his various roles. “The biggest challenge is allocating enough time and attention to various things: because while I have a lot of managers working with me, they all need to ask my advice about things at various times,” he said. “For instance, we have just been preparing for the Dog Lovers Show, followed by the VetExpo, at which I’m presenting – so we’ve been trying to get the stand ready and work out who is going to work on the stalls, all that sort of thing.

Trying to get everything we need to a chieve done each day can be challenging.”

Siddle notes that balancing clinical work with his tech ventures can also be a struggle, particularly as VetCheck 24/7 has gained popularity. There are now more than 90 clinics in Australia and New Zealand who are using the service, and Siddle is aware that the workload will only increase now that

PetCheck 24/7 has launched. Even so, he is reluctant to give up his clinical hours in the vet centre he founded because he believes it keeps him more in touch with what animal patients and human clients need.

On the flipside, Siddle derives great satisfaction from the rewarding parts of his job, which he identifies as helping take the load of veterinarians in practice as well as the flow on benefits reducing that load produces.

“By taking care of those after-hours calls, whether they’re trivial or emergencies, hopefully we’ve helped take care of the mental health and physical health of veterinarians,” he said. “Hopefully we’re helping vets to get a good night’s rest.

But also, we’re helping pet owners at times they really need it if their vet does not offer an after-hours service.”

Siddle also gets a kick out of is the diversity of his team. “It’s just amazing in this day and age that we can work with vets and vet nurses from England, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, America and Canada and have them all in one team,” he said. “The clinical challenges are the same, and the knowledge is the same, so they can still give advice about a snake bite in Australia, for example. The world has become such a small place now.”

And now, we conclude our Day in the Life with Moss Siddle with our Creature Questions: Do you currently have any pets?

Yes, I have a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Nala and we also inherited a ginger cat who was already called Herod who, despite his name, is meek and mild and very snuggly.

What is your favourite animal?

I’ve got a few favourite animals, but I would probably say a whale, because they’re so spiritual and majestic, and they’re also harmless. I also like lions and how self-assured they are; I love that they are real kings of the jungle. And then there’s meerkats, who are such funny, crazy little creatures – I could watch them for hours.

If you could transform into any animal, what would you be and why?

Well, I reckon if there’s anything to this reincarnation thing, I’d come back as a domestic cat, because I could live in the belly of a pampered household and, like all cats, have my staff pander to my every whim and need.

But I would also be happy to come back as a feral cat, because you’d have so many weapons at your disposal – acute hearing an eyesight, speed and strength, all that. Part of the reason they’re such a problem in Australia is that they can survive and thrive.

The psychology of cats is amazing!

■ JAI HUMEL JANUARY 2024 TheVeterinarian 15

ESSAY

Advances in equine welfare at every level: owning, training and riding Explores welfare issues caused by less-than-ideal housing and advances in thinking on the importance of a basic understanding of the equine ethogram and of learning theory in training and the relative stress of using positive or negative reinforcement.

Introduction Because so many owners are unwilling or do not perceive the need to change from tried and truetraditions, many methods of housing, training and riding place a considerable amount of unnecessarystress upon horses and thus have become prominent welfare concerns.

A variety of the interactionshumans have with horses, particularly riding, fall outside the natural equine ethogram (McGree vy eta l., 2009), thus we are expecting the horse to make significant behavioural changes. Understanding natural horse behaviour and learning theory is imperative for all those involved with horses – not justthe riders – in order to improve equine welfare ( Hawson et a l., 2010).

Discussion Housing is a basic element of horse ownership, but there is yet to be a consensus on what is best. A study conducted by Lee et a l. (2011) aimed to assess the motivations and preferences of stalled horses for turnout and exercise and whether these preferences changed with no turnout for 48 hours. Nine mares (aged 1019) were trained using operant conditioning to test the motivation for turnout (release, food or companionship). A further nine horses (aged 3-15) were given a two-choice preference test to assess preference for returning to their stalls or engaging in 20 minutes of treadmill exercise. Eight horses (median age 11.5 years) were also given a two-choice test to assess preference for returning to their stalls or being turned out (in isolation or in a group).

This preference was also measured after 48 hours of stabling without turnout. The authors found that the primary motivation for release was food. Interestingly, they showed that while horses prefer voluntary exercise (i.e., turnout) for at least 15 minutes, most choose staying in their stalls over forced exercise (i.e., treadmill work) for 20 minutes.

Perhaps the most interesting and unexpected result was that after 48 hours in stalls, horses preferred to spend longer turned out in a group but show no such compensatory behaviour when turned out alone. While many people avoid housing or turning out horses in groups because of predicted aggressive behaviour ( Hartmann et a l., 2012), perceived risk of injury or decreased motivation/willingness to perform ( Werhahn et a l., 2012), this and other studies show that group housing can significantly benefit horses. These benefits include progressing further in training (Søndergaard & Ladewig, 2004), demonstrating “natural” behaviours, showing no stereotypies ( Visser et a l., 2008; Heleski et a l., 2002), and promoting an “urge to move” during exercise (Werhahn et a l., 2012). Thus these conclusions have significance in the design and decisions regarding equine housing and turnout, particularly in group arrangements.

While housing can impact how a horse 16 TheVeterinarian JANUARY 2024

performs during training, the training method itself is also vital. A study by Hendriksen et a l.

(2011) analysed the effectiveness and relative stress of using positive versus negative reinforcement in training. Twelve horses (aged 7-20) with a history of trailer-loading issues were trained to load, six with negative reinforcement (pressure from lead rope/whip) and six with positive reinforcement (food = primary reinforcer, clicker = secondary reinforcer).

Heart rate was measured and discomfort behaviour (eye and nostril widening, tail whipping and avoidance) observed throughout each training session. The results showed that while heart rate was similar between treatments, discomfort behaviour was significantly higher in negatively reinforced horses. In addition, the total time taken to train horses was shorter using positive reinforcement. These results suggest that horses trained with positive reinforcement learn faster, with less stress, creating a calm and motivated horse that is less likely to be dangerous ( Heleski et a l., 2008). These results are widely mirrored (Heleski et a l., 2008; Innes & McBride, 2008; Sankey et a l., 2010) and support the movement away from incorrectly administered negative reinforcement (McGreevy & McLean, 2009) in favour of positive reinforcement when easily applicable in training.

Arguably the most important and complex elements of horse welfare involve interactions between horse and rider. Munster s et a l. (in press) aimed to quantify the influence of the rider on the horse when encountering a challenging object. Sixteen horses (average age 14) faced three “challenging objects” (blue sail, red ball, narrow passage) in a single test. Each horse underwent the same test with three different, randomly selected riders (21 riders total). The heart rate and heart rate variability of horse and rider were measured throughout testing and the behavioural score of the horse recorded for each rider and object. The horserider combination was graded as a “match” or “mismatch” on the basis of discomfort behaviours exhibited by the horse (e.g., ears turned backwards). The results showed that “matching” horse-rider combinations significantly reduced the horse’s heart rate and discomfort behaviours, effectively reducing apparent stress in a horse presented with a novel situation. Where the rider matched the horse, responses arose from consistent signals, whereas mismatches reflected an inability of the rider to respond to the horse’s behaviour, with subsequent inappropriate timing and use of cues. The correct use of cues and particularly of negative reinforcement are a current focus of equine welfare research and education (McGreevy & McLean, 2009). As shown in this study, the ability of a rider to respond to a horse’s behaviour and use cues promptly and appropriately can greatly influence the amount of stress placed upon the animal

in an unfamiliar situation. Thus constant diligence and continued training of the rider are important in ensuring equine welfare and rider safety.

Conclusions The welfare of the horse is influenced by many factors, from stabling to contact with the rider.

Studies regarding the preference of horses for group turnout and its benefits mark a significant step forward in understanding the best arrangements for horse housing. On the next level, research into the value of positive reinforcement has provided important information for trainers to consider, and prompted many researchers to develop and implement practical reward systems (Warren-Smith & McGreevy, 2007). Finally, studies into the complex horserider dyad reinforce the importance of a basic understanding of learning theory and the equine ethogram to promote a higher standard of both horse welfare and rider safety.

■ TAYLOR PINI References Hawson, L.A., Mclean, A.N., McGreevy, P.D. (2010) The roles of equine ethology and applied learning theory in horse-related human injuries. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research 5, 324-338.

Heleski, C., Bauson, L., Bello, N. (2008) Evaluating the Addition of Positive Reinforcement for Learning a Frightening Task: A Pilot Study With Horses. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 11, 213-222.

Heleski, C.R., Shelle, A.C., Nielsen, B.D., Zanella, A.J. (2002) Influence of housing on weanling horse behavior and subsequent welfare.

Applied Animal Behaviour Science 78, 291-302.

Hendriksen, P., Elmgreen, K., Ladewig, J. (2011) Trailer-loading of horses: Is there a difference between positive and negative reinforcement concerning effectiveness and stress-related signs? Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research 6, 261-266.

Innes, L., Mcbride, S. (2008) Negative versus positive reinforcement: An evaluation of training strategies for rehabilitated horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 112, 357-368.

Lee, J., Floyd, T., Erb, H., Houpt, K. (2011) Preference and demand for exercise in stabled horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 130, 91-100.

McGreevy, P.D., Mclean, A.N. (2009) Punishment in horse-training and the concept of ethical equitation. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research 4, 193-197. To page 30

This essay is one of a number selected for The Veterinarian magazine Prize for Written Communication for Sydney University third-year veterinary science students.

■ www.theveterinarian.com.au

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2023 THE YEAR IN REVIEW A look back at the past twelve months TheVeterinarian January/February 2023

Fireworks’ negative impacts confirmed ON THE INSIDE

3

JANUARY/FEBRUARY

NEWS Canine crisis looms

5 Despite their popularity the world over research published recently in the journal Pacific Conservation Biology has confirmed the shortterm noise and light disturbances from firework displays has a ‘highly damaging’ impact on wildlife, domestic pets, and the environment more broadly.

Lead author Bill Bateman, an Associate Professor at Western

Australia’s Curtin University’s School of Molecular and Life Sciences said popular fireworks should be replaced by cleaner drone and laser light shows which would provide a safer and more ecologically friendly alternative.

“Fireworks cause distress in domestic animals that may be managed before or after a fireworks event, but the impacts to wildlife can be on a much

larger scale. The annual timing of some large-scale firework events coincides with the migratory or reproductive movements of wildlife and may therefore have adverse long-term population effects on them,” he said.

Researchers examined the ecological effects from fireworks at Diwali festivities in India, Fourth of July celebrations across To page 30

NEWS End to rodeo roping

16

A giraffe calf for Taronga WSAVA Executive Board Director announced

Nalinika Obeyesekere, a veterinarian from Sri Lanka and WSAVA Award winner, has joined the Executive Board of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA).

Obeyesekere co-founded the first multi-veterinarian companion To page 30

In a record-breaking event, a healthy giraffe calf was born on January 23 at Taronga Western Plains Zoo. “This little male is the fifth calf to be born here at the Zoo since June last year, and this is the first time we’ve had five calves so close together in age,” giraffe keeper Bobby-Jo Vial said,

After a smooth delivery, the calf was standing and suckling within an hour, and was named Shomari, which is a Swahili name meaning ‘forceful’.

“Shomari is thriving, meeting all his early milestones and settling into the herd,” Vial said. “As he grows in confidence over the coming To page 30

2022 THE YEAR IN REVIEW

21

CLINICAL REVIEW Naomi Hansen

Nalinika Obeyesekere

MANAGEMENT

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KIWI POST

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ESSAY

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ABSTRACTS

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www.theveterinarian.com.au

Renowned Sri Lankan veterinarian and recipient of the 2018 WSAVA Award Nalinika Obeyesekere, joined the World Small Animal Veterinary Association's Executive Board. Co-founder of Pet Vet Clinic and SCAP, she led the Blue Paw Trust. Appointed under a by-law, she represented the Asia-Oceania region for a one-year term. WSAVA President Ellen van Nierop welcomed her and new members in Therapeutic Guidelines Group and Global Pain Council, recognising their valuable contributions to global veterinary standards.

Veterinarians warned of a canine welfare crisis caused by a rapidly increasing number of brachycephalic dogs, characterised by exaggerated

a few practices, increasing stress levels. Veterinarians stress the importance of shared on-call responsibilities and mandatory after-hours care to mitigate mental health risks.

Taronga Western Plains Zoo welcomed a healthy giraffe calf on January 23. The male calf, named Shomari, is the fifth born at the Zoo since June, marking an unprecedented clustering of births. Giraffe keeper BobbyJo Vial expressed delight at Shomari's smooth delivery, rapid

progress, and integration into the herd. With 14 giraffes in the main herd and seven in the African Savannah section, the Zoo's breeding success is crucial amidst declining giraffe numbers in the wild. Habitat encroachment, snares, civil unrest, and poaching have contributed to a significant decrease, with fewer than 117,000 wild giraffes estimated to remain.

CLINICAL REVIEW - Naomi Hansen Snakes: an envenomation update

In 2022, two studies shed light on the prevalent issue of occupational burnout among veterinary care providers, emphasising the need for professional help to manage stress. One study particularly highlighted the mental health challenges linked to heavy caseloads faced by veterinarians.

A proposal by the Veterinary Board of Tasmania to amend after-hours animal care services standards raised concerns.

The proposal suggests that veterinarians exercise judgment regarding their well-being, potentially shifting the after-hours care burden onto

A UniSA-led study supports the health benefits of companion animals in aged care, emphasising the rarity of multi-species sharing. The Foster Cat Project demonstrated positive outcomes despite pandemic disruptions, highlighting pets' potential to alleviate loneliness and boost well-being in aged care.

Researchers call for federal funding to make pets an essential part of aged care, ensuring happy and meaningful older years for pet-loving individuals.

A two-year collaborative project led by the University of Sunshine Coast and Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation underscores the benefits of incorporating Aboriginal knowledge in bushfire management. Conducted on Minjerribah/North Stradbroke Island, post-2019/2020 bushfires, the study reveals positive outcomes for koalas with

cultural burns. Aboriginal practices, cooler and slower than hot fires, aid plant regeneration and control species, reducing risks for koalas. Drones with thermal cameras monitored koala populations, with hormone analysis indicating low stress levels. The research highlights the potential of cultural burns in mitigating wildfire risks for vulnerable species.

Representatives from the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) participated in a briefing

by Senator Murray Watt on the phase-out of live sheep exports. The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry announced the commencement of consultation, inviting views on a transition plan from stakeholders, including the AVA. An expert panel, chaired by Phillip Glyde,

TheVeterinarian March 2023

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Rehoming animals amendment praised RSPCA appoints

Alex Greenwich and Max. Picture Facebook

RSPCA NSW has commended the passing of the Companion Animals Amendment (Rehoming Animals) Bill 2021 as an important step towards safeguarding impounded animals in the state.

The amendment outlines measures councils must take towards rehoming a seized or surrendered animal, including working with rehoming organisations to provide impounded animals the chance to be rehomed.

The proposed reforms include councils giving written notice to at least two rehoming organisations to inform them that the animal is available for rehoming, and to take steps to advertise the animal’s availability.

If a rehoming organisation provides written notice it can rehome an animal, councils are not to euthanise the animal.

Councils must also keep records that identify animals that have been rehomed and must keep records to identify those that have been destroyed, including a record of the actions taken towards rehoming, as well as alternative actions considered.

The Bill passed the NSW Legislative Assembly on February 18, and RSPCA NSW praised the Hon. Emma Hurst from the Animal Justice Party and Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich for championing the issue.

Greenwich told the Legislative Assembly the issue is close to his heart as his dog, Max, is a rescue animal.

“Had it not been for the proactive work of Monika’s DoggieRescue, Max would not have been with us, would not have given us the joy he does every day and would not have kept me in good shape.”

RSPCA NSW CEO Steve Coleman said the Bill will help build on good work done by many councils.

“Every animal deserves a fair go at a second chance, and we can only achieve this by working together,” he said.

“More than anything, this Bill sets up the framework for a solid network dedicated to saving more animals lives.”

RSPCA NSW is also anticipating working on the implementation of the Bill with the Minister for Local Government, aiming to balance the intent of the Bill with the resources available to shelters and councils.

The welfare organisation said this includes highlighting key welfare considerations, and it proposes the onus be on councils to ensure a rehoming organisation has capacity to take animals given to them, to avoid overcrowding, and to ensure responsible rehoming practices.

They have emphasised the need data to be sent from councils to rehoming organisations including microchip numbers, weight, age, breed, condition and behaviour assessments, and information about how the council came to possess the animal.

The RSPCA has also stressed the need for underresourced shelters to be able to opt out of the scheme if necessary.

The Bill can be accessed on parliament.nsw.gov.au.

SAM WORRAD

new Chief Science Officer

Following the departure of Bidda Jones AM who stepped down from the role of RSPCA Australia’s Chief Science Officer in December last year, the organisation has appointed Suzanne Fowler to the position. She was previously the Australian National University’s Senior Veterinarian and Head of Animal Services.

In welcoming Fowler RSPCA’s CEO Richard Mussell said her experience in animal welfare, and her passion and drive to improve the lives of animals was impressive. He said Fowler would play a key role in ensuring the RSPCA was able to continue improving the lives of animals by using animal welfare science to inform the organisation’s policies, positions, and campaigns, and working with stakeholders to achieve better animal welfare outcomes.

“The RSPCA is a science-based organisation, and we rely on animal welfare science to inform everything we do – from the advice we provide to the community on our Knowledgebase, to our advocacy for laws that better protect animals, to the rigorous standards we develop for the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme,” Mussell said.

Fowler said she was ‘delighted’ to be joining the RSPCA team, and to lead the organisation’s science and policy work.

“Animals enrich our lives in many ways. From our pets to farm animals to our amazing native wildlife, we owe it to them to ensure they live the best possible life, and I’m looking forward to working with the RSPCA team to advocate for continual improvement in the welfare of all animals,” she said.

ANNE LAYTON-BENNETT

Cat Management Act finally updated After being under review for several years changes to Tasmania’s Cat Management Act 2009 have finally been introduced. The new legislation came into effect on March 1 and will now require all cats four months and older to be desexed and microchipped.

It also limits to four the number of cats an individual can keep on their property unless they have a Multiple Cat Permit. Some exceptions to this include people who are fostering a cat for a cat management facility or an approved organisation, cat boarding facilities, and veterinary establishments.

Before a cat is sold or given away, the new rules state it must be at least eight weeks old, desexed, microchipped, wormed and vaccinated.

New owners must also receive written evidence a general health check of the cat has been performed by a veterinary surgeon. Exemptions include MCP holders, registered cat breeders, or where a vet has certified desexing may adversely affect the cat’s health and welfare.

While it is hoped the revised legislation will help reduce feral cat populations, unless the changes can be enforced, RSPCA Tasmania’s CEO Jan Davis said there would be challenges.

“A lot of people don’t believe cats should be registered, or that there should be a limit on keeping cats. But the biggest challenge is having no clear pathway to police these changes,” she said.

Although initially there will be no cost involved in applying for a MCP, this may change after 2022. Failing to desex or microchip a cat aged over four months could attract a fine of up to $8650.

Additional information is available at nre.tas.gov.au/ invasivespecies/cat-management-in-tasmania/ cat-management-act-amendments.

ANNE LAYTON-BENNETT

FACE TO FACE 6 I PIGEON POST 11 I MANAGEMENT 12 I ASTRACTS 14 I ESSAY 15 I CLINICAL REVIEW 19

will advise on the phasing-out process. Vets Against Live Export (VALE) supports the announcement, advocating for a swift cessation of live export, citing concerns about animal welfare standards regularly breached in the industry.

CLINICAL REVIEW – Penny Linnett: Liver fluke – diagnosis, treatment and control

MARCH

East Asia's drive to eradicate malaria by 2030 received a substantial boost with over $1.3 million in new funding for groundbreaking research.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) allocated nearly $1 million to develop the world's first point-of-care rapid diagnostic test for Plasmodium parasites causing malaria.

Part of the funding supported establishing a laboratory version in the Philippines, a region that faced recent malaria outbreaks.

Led by Ivo Mueller from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, the innovative test aimed to identify Plasmodium vivax infections and predict relapses within nine months, offering a breakthrough in malaria control efforts. The research team anticipated that their findings would play a crucial role in supporting past malaria eradication initiatives across East Asia.

anatomical features with potential health impacts.

Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) emerged as a major concern.

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association's Hereditary Disease Committee (HDC) produced an educational video, featuring experts highlighting the health issues faced by brachycephalic breeds such as French bulldogs, English bulldogs, and pugs. The HDC, in the past, called on stakeholders breeders, owners, veterinarians, regulators - to collaborate for the welfare of these breeds, urging health-focused breeding initiatives to prevent the passing on of BOAS and related health issues.

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TheVeterinarian April 2023

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Animal Justice party has greyhound win ON THE INSIDE

3 NEWS Devil’s diet

APRIL

5 Whole-of-life digital tracking technology for greyhound protection \will proceed in Victoria following a successful motion from the Animal Justice party.

The technology will monitor greyhound puppy births and prevent the animals from going missing from records, and thus vulnerability to illegal export and euthanasia.

On March 22 Animal Justice party MP Georgie Purcell told Victorian parliament that dogs are “routinely going missing and being illegally

exported and killed,” and advocated for a digital system to improve traceability through the whole of life.

“To this day, in Victoria greyhounds are not afforded the same protections as every other breed of domestic dog,” she said.

Purcell added that the number of dogs reported as rehomed was exaggerated, “when in fact, they are killed in pounds, buried in shallow graves, starving, living in their own excrement hoping to be rescued or in concrete cells breeding hundreds and

hundreds more greyhounds offshore.”

The motion received unanimous support from the parliament.

Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) said in a statement that it welcomes support for digital tracking to better monitor the location and welfare of registered greyhounds in Victoria.

GRV said whole-of-life tracking is already undertaken by the industry.

“We monitor dogs from when they are born, are microchipped and vaccinated, when they move to training properties and between To page 30

NEWS Little penguins

9

Four meerkat pups born A new disease

threat for birds

Taronga Western Plains Zoo has several exciting new additions sure to thrill guests.

The Zoo, located in Dubbo in the Central West region of NSW, welcomed a litter of new meerkats in March, with the tiny pups weighing just over 110 grams each. The pups will soon be able to be seen by guests.

“We’re really excited to welcome three baby girls and one little boy to our meerkat family,” the Zoo’s senior keeper Karen James said.

“They don’t have names yet, but they are starting to show their little personalities, with the little boy a lot bolder than his sisters to go out and explore their habitat.” To page 30

With the prevalence of plastic waste, and the widespread threat plastics pose for the environment and ecosystems globally, it is perhaps unsurprising a new disease linked to plastic has been identified. Scientists from the Adrift Lab have found the overall health of seabirds is declining due to extensive scar tissue found within their stomachs caused by ingesting plastic. Dubbed plasticosis the disease develops when plastic has repeatedly injured the birds’ soft tissues after being consumed.

The study was published recently in the Journal of Hazardous Materials.

The Adrift Lab’s researchers include marine scientists, and graduate and post-doctoral students from around the world who study ‘all things adrift in the ocean’. Their aim is to ‘drive positive change for the ecology of our world’s oceans’, and for over a decade these scientists have studied Lord Howe Island’s flesh-footed shearwaters. To page 30

FACE TO FACE Ameliah Scott

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CLINICAL REVIEW Penny Linnett EAGLE POST ABSTRACTS

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www.theveterinarian.com.au

Victoria implemented whole-of-life digital tracking technology for greyhound protection following a successful motion from the Animal Justice Party. The technology aimed to monitor greyhound puppy

births, preventing them from going missing in records and being vulnerable to illegal activities such as export and euthanasia. Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell highlighted the then-lack of protections for greyhounds in Victoria, emphasising the need for a digital system to enhance traceability throughout their entire lives.

Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) welcomed the support for digital tracking, stating it would update and enhance existing systems to ensure real-time monitoring of every registered greyhound in Victoria.

Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, NSW, delighted guests with the arrival of a litter of meerkat pups, each weighing

just over 110 grams. The zoo's senior keeper, Karen James, expressed excitement about the three baby girls and one little boy joining the meerkat family, soon to showcase their unique personalities. Guests will have the opportunity to observe these playful meerkats engaging in typical activities like digging and sentry duty. Additionally, the zoo now offers visitors a close-up experience with their lion pride through the Lion Pride Lands Patrol truck. The specially constructed, lion-proof tour bus provides an ideal vantage point to witness cubs playing, exploring, and learning from their parents, Marion and Lwazi.

ingestion, causing a decline in seabird health. The study focused on Lord Howe Island’s flesh-footed shearwaters, revealing extensive scar tissue in their stomachs due to plastic consumption. Plasticosis resulted from repeated injuries caused by plastic, leading to inflammation, tissue damage, and fibrosis in major organs. The disease negatively impacted the birds' physiology, making them more vulnerable to external threats and less adaptable to environmental changes. The study emphasised the urgent need to understand the sub-lethal impacts of plastic pollution on diverse ecosystems.

Scientists from the Adrift Lab identified a new disease, plasticosis, linked to plastic

CLINICAL REVIEW - Penny Linnett: Kennel cough: an overview

P

Recent research, published in the MDPI veterinary sciences journal, revealed that female koalas were more affected by

stress, particularly when injured or diseased. Led by Australian koala researcher Flavia Santamaria from CQUniversity, the study analysed the faecal samples of 234 koalas to measure stress levels using a koala-specific enzyme immunoassay. The findings indicated that stressed koalas, especially females, exhibited higher levels of cortisol metabolites, emphasising the impact of injuries and diseases on their emotional well-being.

The Tasmanian salmon farming industry faced scrutiny from scientists and professionals over its impact on coastal wildlife. The Tasmanian Independent Science Council (TISC) called for a pause on industry expansion until robust scientific and regulatory frameworks were established. TISC's water quality expert, Christine Coughanowr, highlighted pollution issues from salmon cages

TheVeterinarian June 2023

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Partnership aids racehorse retirement ON THE INSIDE

3

NEWS Sophie’s Legacy

JUNE

Racehorses are on track for a better retirement thanks to subsidised vet care made possible through a new partnership between the University of Adelaide and Racing SA. Owners of retired racehorses will be able to save 20 per cent on selected vet treatments at Roseworthy Veterinary Hospital within the first 12 months of adopting a horse.

“Retired racehorses have quite specific care requirements and after years of following a high energy

diet and lifestyle, it can take some time for them to adjust to the slower pace of life off the track,” University of Adelaide’s David MacPhail, Director of the Roseworthy Veterinary Hospital, said.

“Through this vet care program, we can help guide new owners about their healthcare needs, including dietary and dental care.

“We hope this program will encourage the adoption of racehorses, who are often still young when they

retire and have many years of life ahead,” he said.

The program also gives veterinary students the opportunity to assist with the general inspections of horses to see if there any ongoing medical issues, including conditions such as lameness and stomach ulcers.

“This partnership gives the next generation of veterinary students real life experience working with horses in a healthcare setting and provides newly retired To page 30

4 NEWS Saving red handfish

A new Australian study has found that nearly 80 per cent of coral in reefs will be diseased within the next 80 years, a prediction which would have devastating impacts on aquatic wildlife and communities reliant on fishing and tourist industries.

Coral disease is caused by infectious pathogens like bacteria and fungi; however, the meta-analysis by resear-

chers from UNSW Sydney indicates warmer ocean temperatures may be a contributing factor to stress in coral, which makes the animal more vulnerable to infection.

The research shows deadly coral disease has increased as global temperatures have warmed, tripling over the past 25 years to 9.92 per cent globally. To page 30

Nationally consistent title protection and regulation for vet nurses and technicians is one step closer, with the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC) and the Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia (VNCA) resolving to collaborate and progress the issue.

The agreement was reached at a recent workshop attended by stakeholders from across Australian and New Zealand, inclusive of registrars from each of the eight Australian veterinary board jurisdictions.

In a statement, the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) said a shift towards consistent national regulation and title protection for nurses and technicians will benefit veterinarians by providing a skills boost to ease the workforce shortage, with animal welfare standards also improving in the process.

To page 30

Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo achieved a significant milestone in its conservation efforts for the endangered chuditch, with the successful translocation of 10 individuals from Southern and Western Australia. The zoo's conservation breeding program, initiated in 2022, received a generous donation from the Kinghorn Foundation. The chuditch, also known as the western quoll, has seen a drastic reduction in its range and is extinct in the wild

stress, influenced by warmer ocean temperatures, increases vulnerability to infectious pathogens, leading to the rise in deadly coral diseases. Over the past 25 years, global coral disease prevalence has tripled to 9.92 per cent. Conservative modelling suggests it could reach 76.8 per cent by 2100 if temperatures continue rising.

8

Coral stress increases as water warms Collaboration

agreed for title protection

affecting water quality and native species. TISC member Lisa Gershwin noted the impact on the Critically Endangered Burrunan dolphin due to noise pollution and explosive deterrents. TISC Chair Jamie Kirkpatrick urged a reassessment of salmon farming principles amid climate change, pollution, and pest pressures.

A DAY IN THE LIFE

17 CLINICAL REVIEW Richard Malik WELLNESS MANAGEMENT

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BUSINESS

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A study by UNSW Sydney warns that nearly 80 per cent of coral in reefs could be affected by disease within the next 80 years, posing severe threats to aquatic life and communities dependent on fishing and tourism. Coral

A study by Royal Canin revealed a concerning disconnect among Australian and New Zealand pet owners regarding their pets' healthy weight. The survey of over 8,000 participants indicated that 87 per cent don't consider their pets overweight, although global estimates suggest 50 per cent of pets are overweight or obese. While 96 per cent recognise pet obesity as a serious health issue, 35 per cent are unsure how to check their pets'

weight. The rise in treating pets contributes to the problem, making dietary decisions challenging. Royal Canin's weight webinar series emphasises the need for better education about pets' dietary requirements to address this growing concern.

The New Zealand government affirmed its commitment to animal welfare by concluding the final live export sea voyage from the country. Following a review of the live export sector, New Zealand decided to phase out live exports by sea over a twoyear period, culminating on April 30. Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor cited consumer concerns about the ethics of live exports as a driving force behind the decision.

Research conducted by the CSIRO suggested that a locally

TheVeterinarian May 2023

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Custodial sentence for animal cruelty Vets acting on

climate change

A 28-year-old Condobolin woman has been sentenced to custodial time for aggravated animal cruelty and other charges relating to the death of five dogs.

The woman pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated cruelty leading to the death of five dogs on her property.

She also pleaded guilty to one count of failing to provide proper and sufficient food, and two counts of failing to provide veterinary treatment to the one surviving dog found on her property.

The woman was sentenced at Queanbeyan Local

Court on May 9, and will serve an aggregate term of 18 months’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of nine months.

She is forbidden to own or care for any animal for 10 years.

In February last year, RSPCA NSW inspectors searched the defendant’s property alongside police and local council rangers.

In the lounge room, inspectors discovered the remains of two white dogs covered in maggots.

The remains of one of one of their legs was beneath rubbish left on the floor. To page 30

With an increasing focus on the impact climate change is having on animals, birds and insects, and with veterinarians being among the first to witness these impacts on our wildlife, and our companion and farmed animals, it is perhaps no surprise that an advocacy group has been established to highlight the risks to animals from a warming planet.

The idea for Veterinarians for Climate Action came from Jeannet Kessels, now Chair of the VfCA Board. In August 2019 she asked those in a veterinary Facebook group if they would like to join her in, ‘doing something about climate.’

The response was swift and enthusiastic and by the end of that year the fledgling group had a website, was a formally registered charity, and had received its first donations. From its initial small group of volunteers VfCA continued to grow and expand and it now has around 1500 members and a five-member team of paid staff.

Kessels said she was inspired by the work of Farmers for Climate Action, which was established three years earlier than VfCA, and which has since grown to be a powerful and respected climate organisation. It continues to build strong relationships with key animal welfare organisations that include the RSPCA, Taronga Zoo, Animal Health Australia and the Australian Veterinary Association. Nobel Prize-winner and veterinarian Peter Doherty is VfCA’s patron.

“We work closely with 33 former Chief Veterinary Officers and have a productive relationship with the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer of Australia.

We’ll be launching our Climate Care Program in May. This was developed by our passionate volunteers and staff, and it’s a groundbreaking program that provides practical steps for vet To page 30

Pet ownership barriers to be broken down Charity Paws for a Purpose are conducting a national survey to learn about the key factors that may be preventing wider pet ownership in Australia.

Pet ownership provides valuable social and health benefits to both the pet and their owner, yet many people, including the vulnerable and elderly, are often unable to experience pet ownership.

Mark Kelman, co-founder and CEO of Paws for a Purpose, said discovering why people are unable to own pets is key to finding ways to help spread the benefits of pet ownership – with “pets” defined as any domesticated creatures ranging from insects to horses.

“Pets provide unconditional companionship and owning one can improve wellbeing and alleviate loneliness and isolation in our communities,” Kelman said.

“Yet if you are vulnerable, elderly, disadvantaged or on a low income, pet ownership can often be out of reach, due to a plethora of circumstances.

“We’ve designed this Pet Ownership Survey to better understand how and why people can and can’t own pets, as first step towards developing projects to support those most in need of help to own a pet or keep their current pets.

“We need your help. Please take a few minutes to complete our confidential Pet Ownership Survey as we strive to understand barriers to more people owning pets.”

To complete the survey anonymously, visit www.paws forapurpose.org/petownershipsurvey.html.

Mark Kelman

KIWI POST 9 I MANAGEMENT 10 I ASTRACTS 12 I CLINICAL REVIEW 21 I ESSAY 19 I BUSINESS 29

in NSW. The translocated individuals aim to introduce fresh genetics for the program, doubling the breeding capacity in Dubbo.

CLINICAL REVIEW – Naomi Hansen: Respiratory emergencies: a review

found pathogenic fungus, Beauveria australis, might have contributed to the failure of some imported dung beetle species to establish in Australia.

The CSIRO has been studying and utilising imported dung beetles since the 1960s and, for the first time, observed the fungus infecting imported dung beetles with their spores.

This finding highlights a potential challenge for the establishment of newly introduced dung beetle species, and further research is needed to understand the prevalence and impact of these native Beauveria species.

CLINICAL REVIEW – Richard Malik, Patricia Martin, Patrizia Danesi, Lydia Tong, Mark Krockenberger: Sporadic fungal diseases: practical approach to diagnosis and treatment

MAY

Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, NSW, celebrated the birth of a rare black rhino calf, marking a significant breakthrough in reproductive treatment for the critically endangered species.

The male calf, born to mother Kufara, was conceived through a world-first reproductive treatment after fertility issues.

The collaborative rhino research program involved partners like Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium and SeaWorld USA’s Species Preservation Lab. The success highlights the importance of science in managing zoo-based rhino populations, aligning with Taronga's commitment to conservation and breeding of threatened species.

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TheVeterinarian July 2023

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Cats under attack in the Australian European virus outbreaks ecologist wins US Quest Award

JULY

Feline coronavirus is to blame for the death of thousands of cats in Cyprus, according to experts.

The virus which does not infect people and is not linked to COVID-19, appears to be a more virulent strain and is causing more severe illness than previously outbreaks.

Charalampos Attipa, a senior lecturer in veterinary clinical pathology at the University of Edinburgh and one of the scientists investigating the outbreak, said that although the number of deaths has not been confirmed, the development was “very alarming”.

COVID-19 can infect cats and may have potentially led to the indirect changes in the feline virus,

due to antibodies carried by cats previously infected with the virus. Researchers have conducted gnome testing to determine if the feline virus has mutated.

Meanwhile, Polish authorities are investigating an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu in domestic cats. Although sporadic infections of H5N1 influenza in cats have previously been reported, “this is the first report of a high number of infected cats over a wide geographical area within a country”, the World Health Organization said.

JULIA GARDINER

Ecologist Terry Ord, an Associate Professor and Director of Research at the University of NSW’s School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences is the recipient of the US Animal Behavior Society’s Quest Award.

He is the first Australian to win this Award, which is based on multiple nominations from senior researchers and discipline leaders across the US, and recognises scientists making an outstanding seminal contribution in animal behaviour. Ord is only the second Australian to win any ABS award.

Although the win took Ord by surprise, he said he was thrilled to receive such validation for his behavioural observation fieldwork that has provided a detailed understanding of why animals behave the way they do, and why that behaviour may vary among closely related species.

“Studying animal behaviour and evolution in the wild can be really hard. Sometimes you wonder whether it’s all worth it, especially when you’re struggling with conditions in the field.

If you’re not soaked to the bone, you’re sweltering in the heat, so to have some of the world’s leading scientists tip their hat to you like this is validation that what I’m doing really is worth all the hard work. It means everything when others recognise you’ve done something of value,” he said. To page 30

senior researchers and discipline leaders across the US and acknowledges scientists making an outstanding seminal contribution in animal behavior.

Ord, the first Australian to receive this award, is known for his behavioral observation fieldwork that has provided a detailed understanding of animal behavior and its variations among closely related species.

Sudden horse deaths under investigation Veterinarians are working with Agriculture Victoria to examine the cause of several sudden deaths in horses that have occurred on separate properties since early July.

The state’s Chief Veterinary Officer Graeme Cooke said an investigation is underway to understand why 13 horses have died on five separate properties in south-east Melbourne (two properties), Mornington Peninsula, Colac and Ballarat.

“The investigation is in the early stages. It is not yet known what has caused these deaths and to date common links are not evident,” Cooke said in a statement.

It is believed the horses died quickly with short term

non-specific indications of illness.

Agriculture Victoria is calling on any owners who have not reported deaths to contact them or their veterinarian to assist with investigations.

Cooke said early testing for some known diseases in horses has been negative.

“Comprehensive testing for a range of disease, and importantly, non-disease causes, is underway,” he said.

“I thank those owners and veterinarians who have been affected for their assistance in providing information to date.”

Cooke said early assessment and collection of a range of samples is

critical to this type of investigation.

“We know this is a difficult time for horse owners, that’s why we are working with veterinarians and a range of experts to find answers," he said.

“Please do not share unconfirmed information online or on social media.”

Agriculture Victoria said investigations into multiple horse deaths on a single property focus on infectious causes and ingestion of toxins.

Horse owners have been reminded to ensure their Property Identification Code details are up to date.

SAM WORRAD

DAY IN THE LIFE 9 I MANAGEMENT 12 I ABSTRACTS 14 I EAGLE POST 17 I CLINICAL FEATURE 19

Ecologist Terry Ord, an Associate Professor and Director of Research at the University of NSW’s School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, was awarded the US Animal Behavior Society’s Quest Award. This recognition is based on multiple nominations from

Experts revealed that a more virulent strain of feline coronavirus was responsible for the deaths of thousands of cats in Cyprus.

This virus, unrelated to COVID-19 and not affecting humans, caused more severe illness than previous outbreaks. While the exact number of deaths wasn't officially confirmed, scientists investigating the situation found it "very alarming." Genome testing was conducted to determine if the feline virus had mutated.

Additionally, Polish authorities investigated an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu in domestic cats, a rare occurrence with a high number of infected cats over a wide area.

Two veterinary practices in Queensland emerged victorious at the 2023 Australasian Veterinary Leadership Awards.

Animal Options Vet Clinic in Ormeau, Queensland, received the Best Led Practice Award, recognised for its outstanding performance across various criteria, including workplace culture and business acumen.

Tanya Kunzel from Ripley Vet Hospital in Ipswich, Queensland, won the Best Team Leader Award for exceptional leadership in practice life, managing client demands, and navigating challenges in the veterinary industry. The awards aim to highlight effective leadership

and inspire positive change within the veterinary profession.

A study published in the Science of the Total Environment revealed high levels of toxic chemicals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), in the livers of wild tiger snakes in Perth's urban wetlands. These synthetic chemicals, previously used in firefighting foam and common household goods, pose risks to both humans and wildlife. The chemicals were banned, but their persistence in the environment raises concerns.

The affected snakes exhibited poor health, including weight loss and decreased energy levels.

Researchers emphasised the need for further studies to assess the long-term effects of PFAS exposure on wildlife.

CLINICAL REVIEW – Penny Linnett: Review of grass tetany

P

A study published in the international journal Marine Ecology Progress Series highlighted the impact of marine heatwaves (MHWs) on seabirds. Marine ecologist Eric Woehler, the lead

author, emphasises that MHWs are a global phenomenon increasing in frequency and intensity, affecting fish stocks, marine invertebrates, water temperatures, and seabirds.

Migratory species like albatrosses and shearwaters are more likely to survive MHWs compared to nearshore species like penguins.

The study suggests that seabirds act as indicators, offering critical insights into the impacts of MHWs on marine ecosystems and emphasises the need for urgent interventions to protect seabirds.

Over 90 grebes, native waterbirds resembling ducks, were mysteriously stranded in Victoria.

The strandings, occurring away from their usual freshwater habitats, have led to concerns among veterinarians and wildlife experts. Many of the rescued birds, debilitated or injured, are receiving rehabilitation at Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open

Range Zoo, and Healesville Sanctuary before being released back into the wild. The unusual strandings, happening during the traditional migration period, are speculated to be linked to climate change and population boom caused by wetter conditions.

Australian researchers are conducting scientific studies on the diet of native stingless bees to understand its impact on hive health and pollination effectiveness. The study is prompted by the discovery of Varroa mite in NSW in 2022, which poses a threat to honey bees and crop pollination. The Varroa mite outbreak has led researchers to explore alternative pollinators like stingless bees. The research, led by Western Sydney University and Griffith University, aims to identify the nutritional choices of stingless bees and optimise hive health.

TheVeterinarian August 2023

www.theveterinarian.com.au

The evolutionary fight against megafires The northern hemisphere summer this year has seen out-of-control wildfires raging across parts of Europe, while scientists warn Australia faces an El Niño event in coming months, increasing the risk of severe and destructive bushfires such as those experienced in 2019/2020 that resulted in the loss of an estimated three billion animals, birds and reptiles.

A multidisciplinary team of ecology experts reviewed nearly 100 papers to identify examples of animal evolution in response to fire, and to analyse and categorise the different ways in which this evolution can take place. This growing body of evidence for fire as a ‘force in animal evolution’ provides an insight into the implications and impacts fire has for wildlife and conservation due to climate change. The results of the study were published recently in the journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution.

Researchers found fires were burning more frequently, more severely, across larger areas, and with different seasonality, and they identified over 4400 species across the world that were vulnerable to extinction because of changing fire regimes. These included 1000 species of birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals.

Lead author Gavin Jones, a Research Ecologist for the US Department of Agriculture’s Forest Services, said there was a wide range of animal adaptations to fire and that evolution was happening – and will continue to happen – ‘right in front of our eyes’.

“The Australian frilled lizard, for example, hid in trees to escape grassfires, which is behavioural adaptation, but this behaviour could turn deadly when larger, modern fires burn their once-safe hiding places. Other species such as the Temminck’s courser, a wader bird from subSaharan Africa that lays its eggs the colour of

Laurel Kaddatz

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) have announced the recipients of several of their annual awards ahead of this year’s WSAVA World Congress in Lisbon, Portugal in late September.

recently burnt ground, has evolved by changing its basic biological characteristics,” he said.

Jones said a better understanding of the variations in how animal species are evolving was important as it would enable more effective conservation efforts.

“We must acknowledge that fire is not just a process that influenced evolution long ago.

We need to incorporate evolutionary thinking into approaches for conserving populations

under changing fire regimes, including detecting symptoms of fire naivety, and identifying potential fire savvy-traits that could be leveraged for conservation. Doing so will allow for improvements to conservation efficacy,” he said.

Further reading: doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2023.06.003 ANNE LAYTON-BENNETT

WSAVA award winners named WSAVA was established in 1959 and has grown to include 115 veterinary association members globally, representing more than 200,000 small companion animal veterinarians.

The 2023 WSAVA Award for Global Meritorious Service has been awarded to Laurel Kaddatz, a veterinarian from Florida. Kaddatz spent 25 years of his career as a senior partner in a large hospital group in Rochester, New York, before serving in the tole of Hospital Director in a practice he bought.

Kaddatz has also been committed to promoting the wider work of veterinarians, publishing articles in the media, making presentations to community groups and organising initiatives such as shadowing programs for high school students.

“Community-building is at the heart of everything the WSAVA does and, in bestowing this prestigious Award on Mr Kaddatz, we are recognising an individual who has personally exemplified community-building throughout his career,” WSAVA President Ellen van Nierop said.

Meanwhile, Brendon Laing, a Canadian veterinarian and co-owner of several clinics in Ontario, is to receive the 2023 WSAVA Future

Leader Award in recognition of his strong contribution to the veterinary community in Canada, in particular his work to highlight issues around mental health in the profession and to promote technological innovation in the sector.

In his role on the board of the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA), Laing has been an advocate for technological advancements and updates to regulations which allowed the industry to adopt telemedicine to treat animals during the COVID pandemic.

Commenting on the Award, Mike Topper, Chair of the WSAVA Membership and Nomination Committee, said: "Mr Laing stood out because of his engaged leadership at the provincial and national levels of organised veterinary medicine; his continuous efforts to improved wellness and wellbeing in his small animal hospitals, and his on-going promotion of telemedicine to improve the accessibility of veterinary care."

The WSAVA World Congress is hosted by a member association and rotates yearly through three regions of the world – the Americas, Europe/Middle East and Africa and Oceania.

JULIA GARDINER

KIWI POST 8 I FACE TO FACE 10 I ABSTRACTS 16 I MANAGEMENT 19 I CLINICAL REVIEW 23

CLINICAL REVIEW – H. M. Wilson-Robles, T. Bygott, T. K. Kelly, T. M. Miller, P. Miller, M. Matsushita, J. Terrell, M. Bougoussa and T. Butera: Evaluation of plasma nucleosome concentrations in dogs with a variety of common cancers and in healthy dogs.

AUGUST

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has revealed the winners of several annual awards ahead of the WSAVA World Congress in Lisbon, Portugal. The 2023 WSAVA Award for Global Meritorious Service goes to Laurel Kaddatz, a Floridabased veterinarian, recognised for his contributions to the profession, including publishing articles and organising initiatives for high school students. Canadian veterinarian Brendon Laing will receive the 2023 WSAVA Future Leader Award for his advocacy on mental health issues in the veterinary community and his efforts to promote technological innovation in the sector.

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TheVeterinarian September 2023

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SEPTEMBER

Cruel Sea’s kind hearts benefit Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital One of Australia’s best-known bands will play their first show in 10 years as part of a fundraiser for the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital, after the hospital lost a $6 million NSW funding grant.

The Cruel Sea, led by wildlife ambassador Tex Perkins, will headline the fundraiser, Wild Aid 2023 on Saturday 21 October at the Green Room at Byron Events Farm, with the event aiming to raise awareness and funds for the hospital, which was opened in 2020 after the Black Summer bushfires and has treated over 4,000 animals since it was launched.

The hospital’s services, which are under threat since the loss of the funding grant, are provided by licensed wildlife carers, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and members of the community, seven days a week, free of charge.

Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital CEO Stephen Van Mil said his entire team were deeply grateful for the support of such a brilliant group of musicians.

“We were left reeling after the NSW government told us they wouldn’t approve the funding they announced in February. Having The Cruel Sea play their first show in ten years to help raise money for us is mind-blowing.”

Licenced by the Veterinary Practitioners Board of NSW, the hospital is the only all species wildlife hospital in NSW outside of Taronga Wildlife Hospitals in Sydney and Dubbo.

Developed to mee the need for a large-scale mobile clinic to respond to natural disasters, the hospital was custom built inside a semi-trailer and is capable of being deployed anywhere in NSW or interstate to provide emergency triage, treatment and care for native animals.

Perkins said he was shocked when he heard the hospital had lost the funding and contacted the hospital’s management team offering his support.

The Cruel Sea

“I’ve seen what these incredibly caring humans do to help wildlife,” Perkins said. “Losing that vital funding was a brutal shock, and I really wanted to help,” he said. “The Cruel Sea had started to jam again, it feels and sounds really good, the guys were keen, so playing a benefit gig made sense to kick start getting back on the road to play a bunch of shows.”

Bluesfest Executive Chairman Peter Noble

Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital, welcomed the review’s recommendations, after learning in June that a $6 million, four-year funding grant for the hospital, announced by the NSW Government in February, was not approved, citing inadequate value for money.

“This review is very timely because Australian wildlife is in crisis,” Van Mil said.

Australia has the world's highest mammal extinction rate and the review notes that only 50 per cent of NSW threatened species are expected to survive in 100 years.

Environmental impacts on wildlife, such as wildfires, flooding and storm events, add to the workload of volunteers and vets, as well as to the out-of-pocket expenses they

JULIA GARDINER

Australians support a legislated end date for the live sheep export trade

Review of funding comes as Australian wildlife is in crisis The NSW Government needs to consider changing finding models to support vets, volunteers, wildlife hospitals, and accredited specialist rehabilitation hospitals, according to an independent review of the Biodiversity Conservation Act. The review, led by Ken Henry AC, was tabled in NSW Parliament in September and made 58 recommendations to conserve biodiversity more effectively at a state scale.

Legally, native animals are the property of the State, yet the State bears little of the cost for rehabilitation of sick, injured and orphaned animals, which the review found come at a great financial and emotional cost to professional service providers and volunteers.

Stephen Van Mil, CEO of

said he was delighted to provide the venue for the fundraiser for an important cause.

“Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital is unique in Australia, and we’re lucky to have it in the richly biodiverse Northern Rivers. We simply cannot let more wildlife suffer and die needlessly in our backyards,” Noble said.

Stephen Van Mil

are left to cover, often without government assistance.

“Volunteer carers and veterinarians with the skills and knowledge of the physiology and anatomy of wildlife are demonstrably effective in rescuing, treating, caring for and releasing native animals into the wild. These people are doing essential work to prevent further loss of biodiversity and species extinction. They need support,” Van Mil said.

A Parliamentary e-petition that called for a legislated end date to live sheep export, and that was initiated by the RSPCA, has received almost 44,000 signatures, making it the fifth largest e-petition in the 47th Parliament.

Richard Mussell, RSPCA Australia’s CEO said the petition showed there was overwhelming community support for the phase out of live sheep export particularly since the petition was only open for a four-week period in August.

“It builds on recent surveys showing 78 per cent of Australians would support a phase out if farmers were supported through the transition.

Given there are clear signs of strong political will from this government, and its continued commitment to improve animal welfare, the next step is to legislate the end date in the current parliamentary term so there can be certainty for farmers, and the community’s expectations are met,” he said.

In its May submission to the independent panel the RSPCA made 17 recommendations.

This included legislation being passed in the current parliamentary term that To page 30

PIGEON POST 10 I MANAGEMENT 12 I ABSTRACTS 14 I CLINICAL REVIEW 20 I BUSINESS 29

The Indonesian government halted live cattle imports from northern Australia due to concerns over lumpy skin disease (LSD). Indonesia took this action after reporting eight

cases of the highly infectious virus in imported cattle. This move followed Indonesia and Malaysia ceasing imports from four Australian export yards due to a small number of cattle testing positive for LSD after reaching their destination in June. Australia's chief veterinarian stated that the country remains free of LSD, emphasising robust monitoring systems. However, the livestock industry, facing challenges like floods and the COVID pandemic, is concerned about potential export bans impacting the already struggling sector.

A study published in Austral Ecology highlights potential risks associated with the increased use of artificial habitat structures for wildlife conservation. While such

structures are intended to supplement destroyed critical habitats and aid in species recovery, researchers caution against their indiscriminate use. Without proper planning and ecological considerations, artificial structures may lead to increased predation, exposure to fatal environmental conditions, disease spread, invasive species invasion, and a decline in genetic diversity. The study emphasises the need for careful planning, long-term monitoring, and addressing underlying threats causing species decline.

The Cruel Sea, led by wildlife ambassador Tex Perkins, performed their first show in a decade as part of a fundraiser for the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital.

The event, Wild Aid 2023, aimed to raise awareness and funds

for the hospital after it lost a $6 million NSW funding grant.

The hospital, established in 2020 after the Black Summer bushfires, provides free services seven days a week, supported by licensed wildlife carers, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the community. The fundraiser raised over $100,000 to support the hospital's critical services.

CLINICAL FEATURE – Rebecca Traub: Demystifying deworming: a parasitologist’s perspective CLINICAL REVIEW – Heather Wilson-Robles, Tasha Miller, Jill Jarvis, Jason Terrell, Theresa Kathleen Kelly, Thomas Bygott and Mohammed Bougoussa: Characterising circulating nucleosomes in the plasma of dogs with hemangiosarcoma

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TheVeterinarian October 2023

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OCTOBER

Peregrine falcon chicks off to a cracking start A water tower in Orange, in the Central West of NSW, became the unlikely centre of international attention in October, when its resident peregrine falcons welcomed their latest arrivals.

The nesting box was set up in 2007 when Charles Sturt University staff noticed the falcons in the area, and the first chick hatched in December 2008. Live streaming of the nesting box was introduced in 2011, and since then the audience has grown, with some 900 viewers accessing the stream at any one time.

In parts of the world, the impacts of the use of certain pesticides saw the peregrine falcon become extirpated; however, recovery efforts proved successful, and the species is now found on every continent except Antarctica, having adapted well to man-made environments and the presence of humans.

The FalconCam Project in Orange is run by a volunteer group of staff and ex-staff. It relies on donations and fundraising to cover the costs of the technical requirement and research.

The current pair of mating falcons are thought to be around 10 years old, and in total, as of 2023, the project has tracked over 20 hatchlings, most of which survived to become fledglings.

To view the webcams visit science health.csu.edu.au/ Julia Gardiner

Picture Charles Sturt University

JULIA GARDINER

Cat curfews considered to curtail killings In early September the Australian government released its threat abatement plan for predation by feral cats for public consultation. The plan, which has public backing from the Country Women’s Association (CWA), aims to implement measures to protect native animals, including giving councils the power to restrict pet numbers, ban cats outdoors and impose nighttime curfews on cats.

The move comes after research has found that cats kill more than 500 million native animals each year and focuses on ways to manage Australia’s estimated 5.3 million pet cats, as well as the millions of feral cats.

Domestic cats have come under scrutiny as they are typically found in higher densities than their feral counterparts, and therefore have a greater impact on their local environments.

Non-desexed pet cats can also contribute to the feral cat population with unregulated breeding.

One of authors of an Australian study into the environmental impact of cats, Sarah Legge of the Australian National University said Australia’s mammal extinction rate is the highest in the world, with cats being the leading cause of two-thirds of Australia’s mammal extinctions over the past 200 years.

“On average, each feral cat in the bush kills a whopping 740 animals per year. In a year with average conditions there are about 2.8 million feral cats, but that figure can double when good rain leads to an abundance of prey animals,” Legge said.

“On average each pet cat kills about 75 animals per year, but many of these kills are never witnessed by their owners.”

Sarah Legge

The NSW arm of the CWA announced earlier in the year that feral cats were their current pest project, working to raise awareness of the damage they caused to native species.

“Domestic cats, for their own protection from feral cats and disease, as well as their contribution to the hunting of mammals and other native animals should, as a minimum be curfewed at night,” said CWA’s Heather Martin.

“It is a huge task to eliminate feral cats but we can collectively reduce the native wildlife impact of cats generally by desexing our domestic cats and housing them at night.”

The Australian government’s 10-year plan will have an estimated cost of $60 million in the first five years and is a significant element in the government’s global commitment to end extinctions.

Training to halt infectious disease progress The University of Sydney-led Asia Pacific Consortium of Veterinary Epidemiology (APCOVE) has launched a field training package to halt the progress of infectious diseases.

The 36-module eLearning package was launched in Berlin in October, and it is designed to help vets and handlers detect and prevent diseases in the field before they potentially emerge as pandemics.

The launch occurred during the Global Field Epidemiology Partnership (GFEP) meeting as part of events around the World Health Summit.

APCOVE leader Navneet Dhand from the Sydney School of Veterinary Science announced the training modules at the meeting, and said they are the biggest resource for field veterinary epidemiology training, and they are now available “free of cost for anyone.”

The risk of zoonotic diseases transferring from livestock and wildlife to humans is increasing, as shown by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Funded by the Indo-Pacific Centre for Health Security and DFAT, the training units have been prepared over three years and include modules on risk assessment, outbreak investigation, surveillance, biosecurity and communication.

The modules include interactive features, case studies and scenarios to maximise engagement.

They have been tested and developed in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Timor-Leste and Vietnam, and are available in several languages.

More information, visit www.apcove.com.au/resources.

SAM WORRAD

FACE TO FACE 12 I ABSTRACTS 17 I MANAGEMENT 21 I CLINICAL REVIEW 23 I BUSINESS 29

International investment firm EQT revealed its agreement to acquire VetPartners, the largest veterinary services provider in Australia and New Zealand. The deal, expected to conclude by the end of 2023, involves EQT making significant investments in VetPartners, founded in 2016. VetPartners,

with over 1,300 veterinarians and 3,000 clinical support staff, is a leading provider of veterinary services in the region and has a growing presence in Singapore.

EQT aims to support VetPartners' growth and commitment to delivering high-quality healthcare.

The acquisition will focus on providing VetPartners' clinical teams with the latest medical equipment and digital tools.

EQT also plans to address industry challenges, such as staff shortages and mental health issues, through substantial investments in recruitment initiatives, training, professional development, and mental health programs.

The Animal Hospital at Murdoch University (TAHMU) has inaugurated Western Australia's most advanced equine diagnostic imaging facility, the Standing Advanced Imaging Suite. This facility is equipped with a

Qalibra standing computerised tomography (CT) machine, uniquely designed to scan the head, neck, and lower limbs of standing, lightly sedated horses.

The gantry's adjustability based on the horse's height makes it the largest available scanner of its kind.

The Asia Pacific Consortium of Veterinary Epidemiology (APCOVE), led by the University of Sydney, introduced a field training package aimed at impeding the spread of infectious diseases.

The 36-module eLearning package, launched in Berlin, provides training for veterinarians and handlers to detect and prevent diseases in the field before they escalate into pandemics. The initiative is crucial in addressing the growing risk of zoonotic diseases transferring from animals tohumans, as demonstrated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funded by the IndoPacific Centre for Health Security

and DFAT, the training modules are available free of charge, covering risk assessment, outbreak investigation, surveillance, biosecurity, and communication.

A water tower in Orange, Central West NSW, attracted international attention as peregrine falcons residing there welcomed their latest hatchlings. The nesting box was established in 2007 after the presence of falcons was noted

by Charles Sturt University staff.

Since the first chick hatched in 2008, the FalconCam Project has been live-streaming the nesting box, garnering an audience of about 900 viewers at any given time. The FalconCam Project in Orange relies on donations and fundraising for technical and research costs.

CLINICAL FEATURE – Penny Linnett: Lice in goats: treatment and control

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Colossal Biosciences, a US biotechnology company, is backing a project to restore the Victorian grassland earless dragon, a species recently rediscovered and reclassified as critically endangered in Australia. Colossal Biosciences has committed nearly $300,000 to the recovery program, marking the first species to receive funding through the company's "lost species initiative." The project involves leveraging Colossal's cutting-edge technologies, including genetic engineering and reproductive technology, to protect endangered species.

Researchers from Flinders University's Global Ecology Laboratory have utilised artificial intelligence (AI) to predict species interactions and identify those most likely to become extinct.

TheVeterinarian December 2023

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DECEMBER

Taronga Western Plains Zoo ends year on high note ON THE INSIDE

Taronga Zoo is ending the year with good news all round. On October 4 – International Zookeeper Day – lion keepers at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, New South Wales, welcomed three lion cubs, born late in the evening.

“The cubs are doing really well, they’re hitting all their milestones,” zookeeper Melanie Friedman said.

“They’ve had their first quick vet check and we can confirm there’s two boys and a girl, their eyes are open and they’re all weighing in around five kilograms.”

African Lions are currently classified as vulnerable in the wild, and Marion was imported, along with her sister, Evelyn, from the United States in 2018, to introduce diversity into the zoo’s conservation program, providing a new genetic bloodline.

October’s births were the second litter for the breeding pair, Marion and Lwazi, who last had cubs in April 2022.

In late November, the zoo announced it has released 15 endangered chuditch from Dubbo into Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park in South Australia.

Taronga’s conservation breeding program commenced in 2022, and in the eight months since, has since successfully bred 37 joeys, all of which the zoo intends to release back into the wild, a significant achievement given the species is now extinct in four states and territories.

“The mixed-age cohort of 15 individuals were carefully selected from the conservation breeding program to ensure we inject genetically robust and diverse individuals into the newly established wild population in South Australia,” Taronga Wildlife Conservation Officer Rachael Schildkraut said.

Chuditch are one of the top 20 priority mammals listed under the Federal Threatened Species Strategy with the species range reduced to five per cent of its former distribution.

The work is a collaboration between the Department for Environment and Water and Taronga Conservation Society Australia, with the released chuditch fitted with radio tracking collars to assist in ongoing research.

“While there are no quick fixes to rebuilding populations, VHF radio tracking collars will allow us to collect data, monitor changes to the ecosystem and carry out long term planning of how we can best sustain the species,” Department for Environment and Water’s Rob Brandle said.

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7 NEWS Mange-fighting vets DAY IN THE LIFE

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JULIA GARDINER

contaminants that may also influence the sex ratio of developing turtles, increasing the bias towards females,” he said.

Contaminants have been found to disrupt a variety of endocrine and reproductive systems in reptiles but in sea turtles only one contaminant – dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) – has been investigated directly and found not to influence hatchling sex determination at the concentrations tested. However contaminants have been found to skew sex ratios of temperature-dependent sex determination reptiles such as alligators, freshwater turtles, and caimans. To page 30

commitment to phase out live sheep export trade One of the largest federal parliamentary e-petitions in history, that called for an end to the live sheep export trade, was tabled towards the end of November with Agriculture Minister Senator Murray Watt, confirming the government’s commitment to an ‘orderly and considered’ transition away from the trade.

In acknowledging ‘considerable community concerns about animal welfare in the trade of live sheep’, Watt said he understood the desire to see action.

“The government took the commitment to phase out live sheep exports by sea to two elections, and it’s my intention to deliver on this commitment, although the phase out won’t take place during this term of the parliament, giving time for individuals and businesses to prepare for a transition away from the trade,” he said.

Suzie Fowler, RSPCA Australia’s Chief Science Officer welcomed the government’s confirmation saying it was ‘on the right side of history’, but urged swift action be taken to introduce legislation in the current parliamentary term so the end of the trade was embedded in law before the next federal election.

“Now that the independent panel has provided their report to government there should be no impediment to introducing and passing legislation as soon as possible in this term to improve welfare for Australian sheep, meet the community’s expectations, and provide certainty for farmers,” she said.

ANNE LAYTON-BENNETT

On October 4, which is International Zookeeper Day, Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, New South Wales, celebrated the birth of three African lion cubs. The cubs, born to Marion and Lwazi, are an important addition to the zoo's conservation program, contributing to genetic diversity. African Lions are currently classified as vulnerable in the wild. In late November, Taronga Zoo released

TheVeterinarian November 2023

15 endangered chuditch into Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park in South Australia as part of their conservation breeding program. The released chuditch are fitted with radio tracking collars to monitor their movements and contribute to ongoing research.

Agriculture Minister Senator Murray Watt confirmed the Australian government's commitment to an 'orderly and considered' transition away from live sheep exports. This statement followed the tabling of one of the largest federal parliamentary e-petitions, calling for an end to the live sheep export trade. The petition reflects considerable community concerns about animal welfare in the trade. Minister Watt stated that while the phase-out won't happen during this parliamentary term, the intention is to fulfill the commitment. RSPCA Australia's Chief Science Officer, Suzie Fowler, welcomed the announcement but urged swift legislative action for a timely transition.

In late November, the Capital Kiwi Project announced the birth of two kiwi chicks in the wild around Wellington on New Zealand's North Island, marking the first occurrence

www.theveterinarian.com.au

ARH Minchinbury open for business The Animal Referral Hospital (ARH) Minchinbury has opened. The new animal hospital was established to meet the growing needs of pet parents in Western Sydney. The site, purpose-built for Greencross, features nine consultation rooms, three operating theatres, a Critical Care Unit and dedicated cat and dog waiting areas as well as separate wards for both feline and canine pets.

ARH Minchinbury has been built to Australian Small Animal Veterinarians Accredited hospital standards as well as the International Society for Feline medicine standards.

Led by Kyle Song BVSc, MANZCVS (Surgery), Head of Surgery Service and Hospital Director, ARH Minchinbury features the newest and latest technology with an advanced diagnostic imaging suite, featuring a brand-new human grade 1.5 Tesla MRI, CT, X-Ray, Fluoroscopy, Ultrasound, Endoscopy as well as an onsite laboratory.

“The opportunity to lead the team at ARH Minchinbury is a humbling experience.

Australia has one of the highest pet ownerships in the world and being able to have such a profound impact on their lives and that of their owners is really special,” Song said.

GP and specialist referral services are available for small animals and wildlife, with 24/7 emergency services expected to be added in the coming 3 months.

ARH Minchinbury will also be adding additional specialist services including neurology, oncology, ophthalmology, and internal medicine. The size of ARH Minchinbury means a range of specialists will be available onsite ensuring the most advanced pet health care and services for clients in the Blacktown area.

Call for stronger standards in EU trade talks

Richard Mussell

Animal health company Zoetis achieved its goal of raising $100,000 for the Beyond Blue Support Service, aiming to support mental health initiatives and reduce stigma around mental illness in rural and regional Australia.

NEWS Red fire ants march into NSW

Green sea turtles face additional threat to survival Federal government confirms Already known to be at risk from warming temperatures that are affecting the ratio of male and female eggs being hatched, a study published recently in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science has found the exposure of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) to heavy metal pollution in their foraging areas may be further impacting the species’ embryos.

Green sea turtles are listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List due to threats from poaching, boat collisions, habitat destruction and accidental capture in fishing gear.

Co-author Arthur Barazza, a marine ecotoxicologist at Griffith University’s Australian Rivers Institute, said researchers studied the effects of pollution on the development of green sea turtles at a long-term monitoring site on Heron Island, a small coral sand cay approximately 80 km off the coast of Gladstone in the southern Great Barrier Reef, where between 200 and 1800 females go to nest each year. The sex ratio at this study site is currently more balanced than nearer the equator, with two to three females hatching for every male.

“Our research shows that the risk of extinction due to a lack of male green sea turtles may be compounded by

Published in the journal Ecography, the study shows how machine learning can be employed to foresee species interactions in a connected ecological network. The AI algorithm learns from information on interacting and non-interacting species and their traits. This approach helps fill knowledge gaps in understanding interactions, contributing to predicting ecological consequences of environmental disturbances, such as climate change and invasive species.

Richard Mussel, RSPCA Australia’s CEO, has called on Australian and European Union political leaders to take the opportunity to ‘raise the bar on animal welfare standards in Australia’ as the Free Trade Agreement currently being negotiated nears completion.

“The FTA provides an exciting and crucial opportunity to, not just improve market access for producers, but to establish clear priorities for cooperation provisions on animal welfare and accelerate improvements by aligning animal welfare standards based on the stronger standard as assessed on accepted animal welfare criteria,” he said.

In the organisation’s response to an earlier FTA draft it stated animal welfare was a critical component of sustainable development and had implications for all three pillars of sustainability – economic, social, and environmental. Mussel reiterated the importance of recognising global concern about animal welfare safeguards in the Agreement’s final version.

“Animals aren’t inanimate commodities.

Their welfare must be considered and protected in trade agreements like this. Practices that result in poor animal welfare face increasing community scrutiny, both here and overseas.

Extreme confinement systems, invasive husbandry procedures and practices that expose animals to significant risk, and poor welfare are neither sustainable nor publicly acceptable,” he said.

Although a growing number of Australian producers provide pain relief to some farm animals for painful husbandry procedures, it is not mandatory, but in the EU practices such as the mulesing of lambs, and the dehorning and castration of cattle are expected to be conducted with pain relief. Keeping layer hens confined to barren battery cages was also not permitted in the EU, but Mussel said there was still no commitment in all Australian states and territories to phase out battery cages by 2036 as per Australia’s new Poultry Standards and Guidelines.

“The RSPCA calls on Australian and European representatives to address the matter of equivalency provisions in the final version of the Agreement, to safeguard animal welfare, respond to growing global concern, and take this opportunity to promote the implementation of high animal welfare standards,” he said.

ANNE LAYTON-BENNETT

FACE TO FACE 8 I ABSTRACTS 14 I MANAGEMENT 16 I CLINICAL REVIEW 21 I BUSINESS 29

The funds will contribute to mental health support in rural areas.

CLINICAL REVIEW – Naomi Hansen: Poisons and pets

in over 100 years. The Capital Kiwi Project focuses on reintroducing kiwi species to the Wellington area after successfully re-establishing the wild breeding of kaka parrots. The project involves eradicating predators and working with landholders to create suitable habitat. The recent births are a significant milestone, with plans to transfer up to 250 North Island brown kiwi to the area over the next seven years.

WIRES lauded the efforts of veterinarians in treating sarcoptic mange in wombats.

The prevalence of the disease has increased significantly, with nearly 40 per cent of WIRES' wombat-related calls being related to mange.

Veterinarians play a crucial role in advising and guiding WIRES in treating wombats in the field. The organisation uses various treatments, including topical options like Cydectin and Bravecto, along with burrow flaps. WIRES has partnered with organisations and received support from the NSW Government for its "Curb Wombat Mange" program.

CLINICAL REVIEW – Penny Linnett: Using drugs in pregnancy

NOVEMBER

The Animal Referral Hospital (ARH) Minchinbury opened its doors to address the increasing needs of pet owners in Western Sydney. Built to Australian Small Animal Veterinarians Accredited hospital standards and International Society for Feline Medicine standards, the purpose-built facility features advanced technology, including a human-grade 1.5 Tesla MRI, CT, X-Ray, Fluoroscopy, Ultrasound, Endoscopy, and an onsite l aboratory. Led by Kyle Song, Head of Surgery Service and Hospital Director, ARH Minchinbury offers general practitioner and specialist referral services, with plans to introduce 24/7 emergency services and additional specialties like neurology, oncology, ophthalmology, and internal medicine.

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A surgical technique for the reduction of vaginal prolapses in cattle Summary Vaginal prolapses in cows can be both difficult and frustrating to resolve. A very effective surgical technique for cows with vaginal prolapses which are large enough to be difficult to reduce manually or so massive as to be impossible to resolve manually is described here.

This technique reduces the size of the prolapse without oblation or amputation and leaves the vagina intact and the cow suitable for natural reproduction after parturition.

Methodology The cow is restrained in a crush and an epidural of between 8-12ml of 2% plain lignocaine administered. The prolapse is cleaned with soapy water and a nylon scrubbing brush. The degree of vigour depending on the thickness and health of the vaginal wall. The surface of the prolapse does not have to be perfectly clean.

When the vaginal wall is cleaned of dirt and foreign matter the orientation of the prolapse and the position of the urethra is ascertained and the urethra orientated to a ventral position.

Diluted Betadine is poured over the prolapse.

The principle of the surgery for reduction is that narrow longitudinal trough shaped wedges of mucosa are removed from the prolapse wall from the cervix to the cranial margin of the prolapse. This allows the prolapse to collapse inwards and significantly reduce the diameter of the prolapse and also weakens the wall of the vagina making it in most instances easy to reduce and unlikely to recur. It is also theorised that the incisions in the mucosa speed up the loss of excessive mucosal tissue fluid.

Literature Review International Journal of Science Environment and Technology Vol 7 No4 2018 1435-1439 Genital prolapse in Bovine and Its Management Alok Kumar, Atul Saxena, Mukul Anand and Girjesh Upmanyu In this article vaginoplasty and vaginal resection are described as one of a few popular methods used for the reduction of vaginal prolapses.

The drawbacks of the above method are contamination, stricture dehiscence, hemorrhage and recurrence of prolapse. Also the animal remains unsuitable for natural service.

Management of Vaginal, Cervico-Vaginal and Uterine Prolapse, authors Augustine T. Peter, E. Heath King, Chapter 47 from Bovine Reproduction second edition, editor Richard M. Hopper DVM, Diplomat ACT, published 03 May 2021, publisher John Wiley & Sons, Inc Peter and King describe the Muicheu Vaginoplexy and Winkler Technique Cervicoplexy which rely on very deep-seated sutures stabilizing the vagina and cervix. These have the disadvantage that much of these techniques are carried out blind and they do not actually reduce the size of the prolapse so massive prolapses may still not be resolved.

Fig 1. shows the original prolapse and epidural syringe.

Figure 1

Fig 3. shows parallel incision lines at 3 o’clock approximately 2cm apart sloping inwards at 45 degrees through the vaginal endothelium and submucosa to just above the vascular layer which is a mesh of fine dark thin-walled blood vessels. The depth of the incisions depends on the swelling and turgidity of the mucosa.

Often the depth approximates to the width of a #23 scalpel.

The incisions run from the margin of the cervix to the cranial margins of the prolapse beneath the inverted vulva walls.

Veterinary Medical Journal, Faculty of Vet. Med. Cairo University 2009.

Evaluation of a Modified Surgical Technique for Correction of Vaginal and Uterine Prolapse in Bovine.

Hussien M. M, Abdel-Fattah M, Khalil A A Y and Sedeek A M. The above authors concluded vaginal prolapses that reoccur and are heritable require culling of the cow.

Incidents The author’s practice has very few dairy cattle so all vaginal prolapses resolved have been in beef cattle breeds with incidences related more to specific properties and feed conditions than breed. Vaginal prolapses occurred both pre- and post-partum. With pre partum prolapses more than adequate feed, usually green pasture, with a late term foetus in a cow in fat to fair condition were involved. It could be theorized that excess intra-abdominal pressure caused the prolapse.

With post-partum vaginal prolapses calving complications weakening the cervical ligaments could be the cause.

Prognosis Cows presenting with a uniform symmetrical prolapse with a turgid swollen mucosa the boundaries of which can be easily visualized by retracting the vulva and a cervix that is uniformly presented are the easiest to reduce and the least likely to prolapse again.

If the prolapse is asymmetrical with minimal thickening of the vaginal mucosa and the cervix is presented asymmetrically the prognosis is guarded as a relapse may occur although much smaller. If the cow is pregnant a prolapse may re-occur at parturition. When this occurred the author found the vaginal prolapse was minimal and easily reduced after the cow was tranquilized and nerve blocks were administered for a caesarean. A live healthy calf was obtained ■ www.theveterinarian.com.au

Fig 2. prolapse after cleaning. The ventral portion of the prolapse is not as turgid or as everted as the dorsal portion thus the cervix is not obvious. Much of the endothelium has been scrubbed off due to penetrating foreign matter.

Fig 4. Having ascertained the correct depth of the incisions the long wedge of tissue is removed preferably intact by dissecting along the floor of the trough shaped wedge with a scalpel or scissors. Three sections of tissue are taken at three, twelve and nine o’clock to avoid the urethra. There will be some bleeding but only oozing. If a significant vessel is cut this is ligated otherwise no ligations are necessary.

Figure 2

and the cow’s recovery was uneventful post operatively.

Instrumentation Water, disinfectant, nylon scrubbing brush, kidney dish, medium rat toothed forceps, a #4 scalpel handle and #23 scalpel blade is recommended as the width of #23 blade often approximates to the depth of the incisions in the vaginal wall. Lignocaine 2%.

Scissors curved Mayo blunt ended, #1 catgut and a large semi curved triangular cutting suture needle, needle holders. The author finds #1 catgut adequate to hold the lips of the vulva together but allows for the expulsion of a calf with minimal vulval tearing.

A long-necked wine or beer bottle, obstetrical lubricant. Flunixil/Flunixion – do not use cortisone as abortion may occur.

Penicillin or antibiotic of choice.

In severe prolapses a second pair of hands may be necessary.

In massive prolapses extra longitudinal wedges of tissue may have to be removed. No sutures are required. Avoid the urethra.

In some cases, a small episiotomy will facilitate reduction. In a massive long standing case an episiotomy plus extra relaxation via half a ml of Xylazil 100 via the tail vein was also necessary.

Fig 5. Obstetrical lubricant is applied liberally over all surfaces and the prolapse manually inverted. In many instances this required minimal pressure. A lubricated long neck beer bottle is then inserted gently for optimal cranial positioning of the cervix.

Fig 6. Two or three mattress sutures with #1 catgut are used to hold the lips of the vulva together. #1 catgut is of adequate strength to secure the vulva but will easily break at calving with minimal vulval tearing. Penicillium or the antibiotic of choice is given IM. Use Flunixil for pain relief IM. Do not use cortisone as it can cause abortion.

Although the author recommends cows with severe vaginal prolapses be sold after raising a calf, owners have kept cows who have subsequently JANUARY 2024 TheVeterinarian 25

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Clinical Review calved successfully. Due to the very low incidents of relapses using this method the author also uses this method for relatively small vaginal prolapses. However more care has to be taken when incising the vaginal mucosa as it is often quite thin and the vascular layer relatively superficial.

References International Journal of Science Environment and Technology Vol 7 No4 2018 1435-1439 Genital prolapse in Bovine and Its Management Alok Kumar, Atul Saxena, Mukul Anand and Girjesh Upmanyu Management of Vaginal, Cervico-Vaginal and Uterine Prolapse, authors Augustine T. Peter, E. Heath King, Chapter 47 from Bovine Reproduction second edition, editor Richard M. Hopper DVM, Diplomat ACT, published 03 May 2021, publisher John Wiley & Sons, Inc Figure 3

■ GEOFFREY WARREN B.V.Sc PhD

Figure 5

Figure 4

Figure 6

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Management

Practice purchase deposit FAQs There are many misconceptions about the role that a deposit plays in a practice purchase transaction.

Is it negotiable? Is it refundable?

Who holds the deposit? How is it released?

To provide some clarity, we thought we would answer some deposit FAQs.

Simon Palmer is the Managing Director of Practice Sale Search, Australia’s largest vet practice brokerage. If you’d like more information on practice sales or want to have a confidential discussion about your practice’s circumstances, email Simon Palmer at info@practicesalesearch. com.au or call 1300 282 042.

Along with Harry Nicolaides and Wilson Twist

1. What is the usual amount of a deposit in a business sale?

While the standard deposit amount is 10 per cent of the purchase price, it can be negotiated to be a higher or lower amount, depending on the commercial terms agreed to by the parties.

2. At what stage in the purchase/sale of business does the purchaser need to pay a deposit?

Usually, a deposit is paid by the purchaser to the deposit holder upon execution (signing) of the formal, binding contract of sale, or by a specified date shortly after the contract is signed.

3. Who holds the deposit?

Can the deposit holder use the money?

Depending on the scale of the

transaction, the deposit is usually held by the vendor's agent or the vendor's lawyer. In either case, the deposit is usually held in a trust account (a special kind of bank account maintained by agents and

www.theveterinarian.com.au

lawyers). The deposit is held until one of the parties to the transaction becomes entitled to it under the contract of sale. The deposit holder is not permitted to access or use the deposit funds (and would be in for some serious consequences if they did!).

Without a contract of sale signed by both parties, it is very difficult to know if all parties are on the same page about how the deposit is to be held and distributed. As such, a deposit should only be paid once the formal, binding obligations of the parties are agreed and signed.

4. At what stage in the purchase or sale of business does the deposit become non-refundable?

Once the deposit is paid, it is dealt with under the formal contract of sale. Often, if a contract is subject to purchaser conditions (such as finance, due diligence or premises lease approval, etc.), the contract might specify that if the condition does not eventuate, then the deposit is returned in full to the purchaser. If a contract is signed unconditional or becomes unconditional, then generally speaking the deposit is non-refundable.

7. The purchaser has asked for a reduced deposit. Does this mean that they are not serious about the transaction?

Not necessarily.

A purchaser will often be relying on finance to purchase a business.

This finance is only released by the lending institution at settlement.

A deposit is payable on exchange of signed contracts before the finance becomes available.

This means that the purchaser often needs to pay the deposit before finance is available out of their savings. On a large deal, with a significant purchase price, a purchaser may not have enough of their own funds saved to pay the usual deposit percentage amount.

5. At what stage in the purchase/sale of business does the deposit get released?

This depends on what is written in the contract.

■ Generally, the deposit is released: back to the purchaser if the contract is not unconditional and one of the conditions precedents are not met (e.g., unsatisfactory due diligence of the contract subject material, failure to obtain suitable finance, the premises lease not being assigned, etc.)

■ to the vendor at the settlement/ settlement/completion of the transaction ■ to the vendor if the purchaser defaults on completion or an intermediary pre-condition (failure to satisfy due diligence as incoming tenant, etc.)

8. If the purchaser defaults on an unconditional signed - but not completed - deal, what role does the deposit play?

Should a purchaser default on a sale contract that is unconditional: ■ The vendor can keep the deposit in full, without selling the practice to the purchaser.

■ The deposit becomes the first and most accessible part of the damages paid to the vendor, HOWEVER, the purchaser may be liable for damages that far exceed the deposit amount.

■ The vendor may have to take legal action against the purchaser to recover the rest of the damages they are entitled to.

6. Some purchasers offer to pay a deposit with their offer (i.e., before a formal contract is signed) – what are some of the implications of this?

Offering to pay a deposit prior to contract is sometimes used by prospective purchasers as an incentive for their offer to be accepted.

However, such an arrangement without a formal contract in place comes with significant risk for all parties involved - including the deposit holder.

9. If the purchaser defaults on an unconditional signed – but not completed – deal, what are the implications of a smaller deposit for the purchaser and the vendor?

The smaller the deposit: ■ The smaller the first tranche of damages payable to the vendor if the purchaser defaults.

■ The larger the amount of damages the vendor will need to seek to recover from the purchaser through legal action.

JANUARY 2024

TheVeterinarian 29

News Red dogs and road trips: Rick Fenny reflects on five decads of working in the west From page 11

“I know it was the making of me, so I have to convince them it will be the making of them – whether they go to one of our clinics in Kalgoorlie or Tom Price or wherever else, and now and again you get a gem who recognises that. Some of the places are in less than conventionally desirable places to live, and a lot of people see it as being a bit of an imposition to go there – but it’s what we do.”

Twelve years ago, while contemplating downsizing his business as he approached retirement age, Fenny decided to employ Celeste Holzhausen as a General Manager. “I thought it was such a waste to let go of everything I’d built, and I realised what I really needed was for someone to manage it for me,” he said. With Holzhausen’s help, Fenny’s self-described “rag-tag group of individual practices” has been united under the Pets and Vets umbrella. “We still allow people to have their own creativity and their own piece of the action and have always found that giving people part of the proceeds of the income gives them an incentive to get good figures. We have a unique way of doing things,” Fenny said. “If I expect people to work their arses off, I need to know what will motivate them to do that. We have an incentive-based employee pay scheme linking pay to performance which motivates some people, and for others we offer flexibility and freedom, with a bit of authority thrown in. We’ve certainly given a lot of people a lot of opportunities, and we believe we are a great employer and we’re always trying to improve, to find ways to motivate people and satisfy what they want.”

Since Holzhausen has come on board, the Pets and Vets group – instead of downsizing – has expanded, with the purchase of a small veterinary practice group in the south-west in December 2022. “We’re up to about fifteen practices now, located all over Western Australia,” Fenny said. “Celeste is keen to start a private vet school and I think that will happen in the future, much like Greencross does with the Veterinary Hospital at the University of Melbourne. We want to do something similar in Western Australia.”

With the operational management of Pets and Vets in good hands, Fenny’s time has been freed up to fulfil other pursuits. In addition to writing his Red Dog Vet books, Fenny has filmed eleven episodes of his Desert Vet television show, which was aired on major networks as well as being picked up by several airlines for onboard entertainment. His daughter Louisa, a veterinarian, and his son Ed, a marine scientist, also feature in the series. Fenny has also had more time to involve himself with projects that give back to the profession from which he has received so much. He has served on the Veterinary Surgeons Board of Western Australia and has been part of the Western Australian Wildlife Advisory Committee. “My involvement has not been at a very high level, but I try to advocate for veterinarians where I can,” he said. “Now I have more time, I can give a little bit back, even though it’s late in the piece.”

Fenny is an active member of the Australian Veterinary Association, and currently sits on the Western Australian division’s advisory committee. “I see there are a few areas where we can make a difference, such as advocating for the live export trade,” he said.

Abstracts - pain and paresthesia From page 12

consider discomfort in any case presenting with a problem behavior.

Daniel S Mills1, Fergus M Coutts2, Kevin J McPeake3 Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2024 Jan;54(1):55-69. doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2023.08.007.

1Animal Behaviour Cognition and Welfare Group, Department of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK. Electronic address: dmills@lincoln.ac.uk 2Pain Management and Rehabilitation Centre, Broadleys Veterinary Hospital, Craigleith Road, Stirling FK7 7LE, UK. 3The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK. 30 TheVeterinarian JANUARY 2024

“I think it is a pretty shocking thing having a government trying to shut down a viable, ethical business that keeps a lot of farmers in lots of little towns employed, so I’m pretty passionate about that and use my position to advocate for them. There are people who are against live export, but they don’t know why they are against it a lot of the time.”

To his credit, Fenny continues to call into many of those same little towns, most often when he heads off on one of his many road trips visiting his far-flung practices – not to mention his many children and grandchildren. “I do about 60,000km a year still, so it’s lucky I quite like driving,” he said. A typical loop sees Fenny head up the Western Australian coast, performing vet work in townships along the way where it is not viable for there to be a vet working full time, or even for them to make a trip in and out. “For me, it’s on the way to Shark Bay, where I have a lot of family,” he said. “Shark Bay is where my son Ed and I have Ocean Park Aquarium, and I also have Carbla Station – which is where my son Sam runs sheep and goats.” From Shark Bay, Fenny continues to Carnarvon, where he may do some home service visits, then heads onto Onslow to see more clients, dropping off copies of his books to sell in various outlets all along the way. Stops in Karratha and Port Hedland follow, where he checks in with the staff at the Pets and Vets clinics there. “Then I turn around and start coming down the centre through Tom Price and Newman, where we also have practices, and then I go to Meekatharra, which is a little town that doesn’t get serviced by anyone, and then I come back through Cue and Mount Magnet, and that’s my big loop,” Fenny said. “It’s about 5,000kms, and I used to do it every month, but now it’s not quite so often – I’m trying to retire, but not very successfully!”

After more than fifty years of being a veterinarian, Fenny shows no signs of slowing down, despite joking that retirement is a process he is engaging with incrementally. “I incrementally grew stuff, and now I’m incrementally withdrawing,” he said. “But the books have taken on a life of their own, and I love going to markets and giving talks, usually to people in my demographic – like to Probus, or the University of the Third Age, or Rotary or other community groups like that – about the books and Red Dog, too.” With the third and fourth Red Dog Vet books still being written, the added benefit of giving these talks is that Fenny often meets people who have met him over the years and have something to tell him about the past, which reminds him of stories and ideas he wants to include in his next books. “After all this time, I genuinely enjoy meeting people and talking to people, and I think that is a good hallmark of being a vet,” Fenny said. “I love hearing people’s stories – everyone has a story, and every animal has a story – and if you don’t enjoy that, you shouldn’t be in the business.”

TheVeterinarian

Rick Fenny’s Red Dog Vet books are available for purchase through the Rick Fenny Group website, at www.rickfennygroup. com or you can find Rick on Facebook by following Rick Fenny – Red Dog Vet to find out where he is heading to next. You are also welcome to contact Rick directly by phone on 0408 936 061; he is always happy to chat and sell a book or two.

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Qld vets call on government to save industry From page 7

“Rural and regional Queensland has a rich and vibrant agriculture sector that relies on veterinary services to ensure animals are healthy and disease-free. But that is at risk without urgent assistance from the Government,” AVA’s Diana Barker said.

Roma and Charleville, two towns separated by almost 300km in south-central Queensland, employ 12 vets between them to support a community in a region much larger than Tasmania and vets in the area are concerned about the impact such a shortage

will have on the state’s capacity for disease response.

“Two-thirds of our work is in herd health and disease surveillance, but we’re just stretched too thin,” Will Nason from Roma Veterinary Clinic said.

“If we could find the vets, there is enough demand to easily expand our vet workforce by 50 per cent.”

The AVA warns that unless measures are taken to ease the financial pressure of qualification, as well as incentivising regional work, the consequences for the industry could be dire.

“Demand for veterinary services in our communities continues to grow, but if we don't support the workforce we could see the entire profession collapse," Barker said.

■ www.theveterinarian.com.au

Bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) A small rodent resembling a mouse when young but developing a stouter body in adulthood, the bank vole lives in woodland, hedgerows and other dense vegetation. It does not hibernate in winter, and excavates long, shallow branching burrows with multiple exits. Picture Andreas Eichler

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