Humpback whales thrive during pandemic
Recently released research from the University of Queensland has shown that migrating humpback whales became less stressed over the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Researchers for the study, based out of Morton Bay Research Station on North Stradbroke Island, studied humpback whales off the east coast of Australia during their annual migration in 2021 and 2022, a time of unprecedented change in human activity.
This group of humpbacks was chosen as it has made one of the most successful recoveries from the population impacts of historical whaling, with researchers used drone images to measure whale size and body condition.
“We used drone photographs and blubber samples to assess the health of eastern Australian humpback whales in the waters off Minjerribah – North Stradbroke Island – during their migration in 2020 and 2021,” Jake Linsky from UQ’s School of the Environment said.
“These are essential indicators of energy stores used during their long annual migration and intense
flanks.”
After collection, the researchers analysed the blubber samples for hormones and gene expressions related to stress, energy reserves and immune health, with the results revealing significantly lower cortisol concentrations in the whales in 2021 compared to 2020.
“This change in their physiology suggests a decline in environmental stressors between the two years,” Linsky said.
“Several things happened during this period that likely contributed to our findings, including a shift in climate into La Niña and dramatic changes to human activity during the pandemic. Our gene expression results also raise a further hypothesis that the whales may have been responding to a decline in pollutants in their remote feeding waters.”
The researchers said the results highlight the role of migratory whales as indicators of the health of Antarctic marine ecosystems. To page 29
Record numbers in Tasmanian gull count
The annual count of gull species in southern Tasmania has recorded the highest number ever of silver gulls, an indication that the species is bucking the trend at a time when the status of so many birds is now considered vulnerable or endangered.
Held under the auspices of the Australasian Seabird Group, a Special Interest Group of BirdLife Australia, this year’s Winter Gull Count was conducted by 65 volunteers, comprising BirdLife members and their families and friends, and staff from marine farms.
Count organiser Eric Woehler OAM, a seabird and shorebird ecologist, said all counts since 2012 had exceeded 10,000 silver gulls but this year’s count of more than 17,000 birds was the highest ever. To page 29
A new two-year methodological assessment to monitor biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people, established by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, has selected three scientific experts as co-chairs to lead the program.
Established by governments in 2012, IPBES is an independent body comprising more than 146 member states. It provides policymakers with objective scientific assessments about the state of knowledge regarding the planet’s biodiversity, ecosystems and the contributions they make to people, as well as the tools and methods to protect and sustainably use these vital natural assets.
The need for better capacity to monitor biodiversity around the world was identified by IPBES members as a priority if efforts to track progress towards biodiversity goals and targets was to be achieved.
Alvaro D’Antona, an Associate Professor in environmental sociology and anthropology at Brazil’s University of Campinas, Andrew Gonzalez, a Professor of Biology at Canada’s McGill University, and Patricia Miloslavich, a marine biologist at Hobart’s Scientific Committee for Oceanic Research in Tasmania, were appointed to steer, ‘a balanced interdisciplinary team that will comprise nearly 100 expert authors specialising in the monitoring of biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people in terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems’. Other authors are still to be announced.
Assessments will analyse data currently being generated and assess where geographic coverage exists, which species, ecosystems, and ecosystem services are being covered in addition to the kinds of coverage available over time. Assessments will also judge the capacity required, including financial and institutional aspects, so any gaps can be addressed that can enhance current capacity and build sustainable national and global monitoring systems. Assessment will incorporate diverse knowledge systems, including Indigenous and local knowledge. It will also review data collection methods and innovations, as well as existing and new methodologies in biodiversity monitoring, including technologies such as environmental DNA, ecological acoustics, camera traps, satellite imagery, and the uses of artificial intelligence. To page 29
breeding period. We also used small boats to approach whales and collect small samples of skin and blubber from the whales’
Picture Eric Woehler
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Artificial Intelligence to the rescue? Environmental contamination threat from pharmaceuticals
An international study published recently in the journal Nature Sustainability highlighted the risks of contamination from pharmaceuticals to ecosystems and biodiversity and called for ‘greener’ drugs to be designed that can maintain efficacy while minimising environmental impacts.
Co-lead author Michael Bertram, an Assistant Professor at Sweden’sUniversity of Agricultural Sciences’ Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Sciences, who also holds an adjunct position at Monash University’s School of Biological Sciences, said while pharmaceuticals are indispensable in modern healthcare, having revolutionised disease prevention and treatment, agrowing dependence on them comes at a major cost.
The jury may still be out on the benefits or otherwise of Artificial Intelligence and how it is used, but a project developed by University of Tasmania scientists is merging traditional methodsto track Tasmanian devils in the wild with AI, to monitor the spread of the second transmissible devil facial cancer affecting the species.
First discovered on the D’Entrecasteaux Peninsula in Tasmania’s southeast (The Veterinarian, Januar y 2016), DFT2 was detected beyond the Peninsula for the first time in 2022 raising concerns about the accelerating spread of the disease. Recognising the need for a more rapid response to combat this spread, data from remote cameras and AI software is being combined to process thousands of images to identify diseased individuals in real time.
Disease ecologist and co-leader of the project Rodrigo Hamede, from UTAS School of Natural Sciences, said the technology was a ‘game-changer’ through being able to rapidly process thousands of images of Tasmanian devils captured by the cameras through a three-step process.
“The AI first separates animal images from blanks, then determines the species, and finally distinguishes between healthy devils and those with tumours. Using advanced computervision techniques, we can monitor the disease’s progression much faster than human labelling, without compromising accuracy. We’ll have the necessary data at our fingertips to manage the spread of DFTD and the newer DFT2,” he said.
Co-leader and mastermind of the AI project Barry Brook, Head of Discipline for Biological
Notso
Results of a study published recently in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution found that wild African elephants (Loxodonta Africana ) may address each other with name-like calls that, similar to personal names used by humans, do not appear to imitate sounds made by the individual being addressed.
Lead author Michael Pardo, a behavioural ecologist at Colorado State University’s Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, and who conducted the study as a CSU post-doctoral researcher in collaboration with Kenyan conservation organisation Save the Elephants, said while dolphins and parrots call one another by ‘name’, imitating the signature call of the addressee, the data suggested that elephants do not rely on imitation of the receiver’s calls to address one another, which is similar to the way in which human names work.
Between 1986 and 2022 researchers used
Sciences at UTAS, said the insights from the project will help inform timely interventions, and serve as a model for tackling other wildlife diseases.
“The project could significantly change how we manage wildlife diseases, both in Tasmania and around the world. The use of AI allows for more responsive detections and interventions by eliminating the time lag caused when experts need to manually process all the images,” he said.
Hamede and Brook are now calling for support to develop a community-based monitoring network that involves local councils, government and non-government organisations as well as local landowners, to sign up for the project.
“Community support is vital. By working together, we can make a real difference in managing wild devil populations affected by the disease. We’re calling on Huon Valley and Derwent Valley landowners to sign up for our project so we can deploy cameras on their properties. The more people who sign up the better we can monitor DFT2 spread and its effects. Their participation provides valuable data, raises awareness and fosters a collective effort to combat DFT2,” Hamede said.
Brook and Hamede said the new methodology is set to become the standard approach to monitor devil populations and DFTD infection dynamics across Tasmania, improving the capacity to assess and deliver relevant conservation strategies in a cost-effective and time-efficient manner.
■ ANNE LAYTON-BENNETT
machine-learning methods to analyse recordings of 469 calls, or ‘rumbles’ made by wild African elephant female-offspring groups in the Amboseli National Park and the Samburu, and Buffalo Springs National Reserves in Kenya. The machine-learning model correctly identified the recipients of 27.5 per cent of these calls, a higher percentage than the model detected when being fed a control audio for comparison. To page 30
“Discharges during drug production, use, and disposal have led to global contamination of ecosystems with mixtures of pharmaceuticals and their breakdown products. When patients take medicines, only a portion of those drugs are absorbed by the body, with the remainder being excreted and often released directly into the environment,” he explained.
Pharmaceutical contaminants have now been detected in environmental samples and the tissues of wildlife across all continents on Earth, including Antarctica. Their pervasive spread, which have also been found in groundwater used for drinking water, has led to the inclusion of several pharmaceuticals as priority substances in the new update to the European Water Framework Directive, aEurope-wide wastewater regulation. Topage 30
Zoo prepares for a giraffe baby boom
Taronga Western Plains Zoo is gearing up for asignificant milestone, as their Giraffe Keepers anticipate the arrival of up to six new additions before the end of 2024. Announced on World Giraffe Day, Keeper Glyn Avery revealed that as many as six females in the Zoo’s giraffe breeding herd, (or ‘tower’) are pregnant, with calves expected to make their debut around spring.
“We don’t have an exact due date for these babies, but giraffe gestation usually lasts about 15 months. Based on our observations of courtship and mating behaviours, we estimate these calves will arrive from about September,” Avery said. “We are now starting to see some of those physical changes you’d expect to see in the females, like mammary development and the size of their bellies, so that’sreally exciting!”
Since 1990, the Zoo has welcomed 60 calves, making a significant contribution to the regional conservation breeding program for giraffes. These animals serve as an essential insurance population for their wild counterparts in Africa, whose numbers have plummeted by about 40 per cent since the 1980s. The main threats facing giraffes in the wild include poaching, habitat loss and degradation, human population growth, disease, war,and civil unrest.
“Giraffes are victims of what we call a silent extinction,” Avery said. “Sadly, in the three decades that we have been breeding giraffes here at Dubbo, their population in Africa has declined by more than 40 percent and there are now only about 115,000 giraffes left in the wild. Giraffes are now extinct in seven African countries where they once roamed, which has left them veryvulnerable. Topage 30
Dumbo!
Rodrigo Hamede. Picture UTAS
News from across the network
updates from Australia’s largest specialty and emergency veterinary network
NSW
Interventional Radiology at Animal Referral Hospital (ARH) Homebush
ARH Homebush’s Internal Medicine Specialist, Dr Tim Hugo BVSc (Hons 1) FANZCVS (Small Animal Medicine) recently undertook specialised training in cardiac interventional radiology procedures in the USA led by renowned professor of cardiology at Colorado State University Dr. Brian Scansen. Focused on treating common congenital heart diseases such as patent ductus arteriosus and pulmonic stenosis, the training emphasised catheter-based treatments.
Interventional Radiology offers new possibilities for conditions previously treated with open surgery, resulting in reduced patient morbidity and shorter hospital stays. ARH Homebush provides various interventional radiology treatments, including stenting and coiling for intrahepatic portosystemic shunts.
For enquiries or referrals contact (02) 9758 8666
New Airvo system at Animal Emergency Centre (AEC) Moorabbin and AEC Frankston
The Airvo 2 system is now available at AEC Moorabbin and AEC Frankston, offering high-flow nasal oxygen therapy for veterinary patients. This advanced treatment delivers a steady flow of humidified and warmed oxygen at up to 60 L/ min, significantly benefiting those with respiratory distress, pneumonia, or severe pulmonary conditions. The high flow rates create a slight positive airway pressure, helping to reduce the work of breathing and aid in alveolar recruitment. By optimising oxygenation and enhancing mucociliary clearance, Airvo 2 therapy marks an important step forward in veterinary respiratory care.
For enquiries or referrals to AEC Moorabbin contact (03) 9532 5261, and for AEC Frankston contact (03) 9770 5555
Uretral Stenting Surgery at the Centre for Animal Referral & Emergency (CARE)
Ureteral obstruction is increasingly recognised as a cause of acute renal dysfunction in cats. Fortunately, there is a range of options for renal decompression using tubing, or stents, to divert urine past the site of obstruction to external collection systems (percutaneous nephrostomy) or to the bladder, placed either within the ureter (endoluminal) or external to it (Subcutaneous Ureteral Bypass). Dr Guy Yates and the surgery team at CARE regularly perform ureteral stenting surgery and have recently published an evolution of a common stenting procedure that minimises postoperative complications and simplifies surgical placement. Many factors influence the post-operative prognosis, however, re-establishment of urine flow from the kidney preserves renal function and achieves a favourable outcome in many patients.
For enquiries or referrals contact (03) 9417 6417
QLD
Animal Emergency Centre (AEC) Kedron is now open 7 days a week!
Recently re-opened, AEC Kedron is now open seven days a week to enhance its support for local pets. As a committed provider of emergency and critical care services for pets, AEC Kedron caters to the needs of the Kedron community and surrounding regions. The team collaborates closely with general practice veterinarians to deliver after-hours veterinary care for their patients.
AEC Kedron has emergency vets available from 5pm to 8am on weekdays and 24 hours on weekends and public holidays. For enquiries or referrals contact (07) 3350 1333
The Animal Referral & Emergency Network is Australia’s largest specialty and emergency network, with over 20+ locations nationwide in NSW, ACT, VIC, QLD, SA and WA. The network operates as an extension of local veterinary practices, offering clinical excellence and professional advice in specialist cases and emergencies.
more at www.emergencyvet.com.au
VIC
Researchers push for dingo population protections
An Australian study has found that K’gari dingoes have no domestic dog ancestry – they are pure dingo.
The study, co-led by Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and University of Adelaide, analysed DNA from fossilised dingo remains going back 2,746 years and compared it with modern dingoes' DNA.
A landmark study of ancient dingo DNA revealed that the distribution of modern dingoes across Australia, including those on K’gari (formerly Fraser Island), pre-dates European colonisation and interventions like the dingoprooffence.
The multidisciplinary research team generated a first-of-its-kind collection of 42 ancient dingo specimens, dating from 400 to 2,746 years ago, and compared the data with DNA from modern dingoes, as well as ancient and modern dogs worldwide.
Sally Wasef, from QUT’s School of Biomedical Sciences said this dataset gave a rare glimpse into the pre-colonial genetic landscape of dingoes, free from any mixing with modern dog breeds.
“Consequently, [they] are behaviourally, genetically, and anatomically distinct from domestic dogs,” Wasef said.
“Modern-day dingoes’ ancestors arrived in Australia more than 3000 years ago, most likely transported by seafaring people.”
Importantly, the DNA analysis also showed less interbreeding between dingoes and modern dogs than has been previously thought, with the research confirming today's dingoes retain much of their ancestral genetic diversity.
“All K’gari dingoes we analysed do not have any domestic dog ancestry, proving they preserve their full ancestral heritage [and] although we studied only a small number of K’gari dingoes, our findings highlight the importance and usefulness of our pre-colonial ancient genomic data to conserving our unique native animals,” Wasef said.
“Due to poor human behaviour that causes some dingoes to become habituated to seeking food from tourists, several problem dingoes have been culled, which is concerning given their small population size.”
Co-lead author Yassine Souilmi, from the University of Adelaide’s Australian Centre for Ancient DNA and Environment Institute, said the unique dataset of ancient dingo DNA had helped to uncover crucial details about the ancestry and migration patterns of the modern-day dingo.
“Dingoes had distinct regional populations, split roughly along the Great Dividing Range, long before the European invasion of Australia, and certainly predating the dingo-proof fence,” Souilmi said.
The researchers say the findings of their study highlights the need for renewed discussion into the protection of dingo populations, which hold significant cultural importance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and play an essential role in the Australian ecosystem.
“Dingoes are currently under threat from lethal culling programs, and our research highlights the importance of protecting populations in national parks and beyond,” Souilmi said.
Chinese small animal clinical medicine contributions recognised Inquiry recommends funding for wildlife hospitals and rescue groups
Professor Xia Zhaofei, Dean of the Clinical Veterinary Medicine Department at China Agricultural University, has been awarded the prestigious World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Scientific Achievement Award. Nominated by the Beijing Small Animal Veterinary Association (BJSAVA), this accolade highlights Xia's exceptional contributions to the field of small animal medicine in China. The award will be presented to him at the 49th WSAVA World Congress later this year.
Astalwart of small animal clinical veterinary medicine in China, Xia has dedicated nearly four decades to advancing this field. He currently serves as Chair of the Clinical Veterinary Medicine Department and Director of the Veterinar yTeaching Hospital at China Agricultural University. Additionally, he is the President of the BJSAVA and the companion animal medicine chapter of the Chinese Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA). His
roles extend to being the Associate Editor of the Chinese Journal of Veterinary Medicine and a member of the Specialized Construction Committee of the CVMA.
Xia's academic contributions are substantial, with nearly 200 research papers published as first or corresponding author. He has mentored over 100 master's and doctoral students and has authored and edited six key textbooks for veterinary education, includingClinical Diagnosis of Small Animals,VeterinaryClinical Pathology,andClinical Case Analysis of Dogs and Cats. His translations of approximately 30 specialized works on small animal clinical practice have significantly enriched Chinese veterinary literature and educational resources.
Under Xia’s leadership, small animal antimicrobial stewardship and the development of the small animal internal medicine specialty have thrived. He has spearheaded highimpact research projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Beijing Natural Science Foundation. In 2021, he led the establishment of the China Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network for Pets (CARPet), whose reports on antimicrobial resistance have played a crucial role in shaping effective strategies to combat bacterial resistance in China.
Xia's active involvement in the CVMA and his leadership in organizing annual BJSAVA conferences have been instrumental in the advancement of the veterinary profession. These conferences have become vital platforms for knowledge exchange and professional development in China. Moreover, under his guidance, the veterinar y teaching hospital at China Agricultural University has become a premier institution for small animal clinical training and research, setting new benchmarks in veterinary education and patient care. His insight, pragmatic approach, and dedication have significantly enhanced the quality of veterinary science and services in China. To page 30
Arecent report from a Parliamentary Inquiry into the Veterinary Workforce Shortage in New South Wales has called for dedicated, ongoing government funding for veterinaryservices to wildlife. The report, chaired by Mark Banasiak MLC of the cross-party Legislative Council Committee, underscores the unsustainable burden placed on veterinarians who are currently obligated to treat injured wildlife with little or no compensation.
“The committee was veryconcerned to learn of the poor mental health and burnout experienced by veterinarians," Banasiak said. The report's findings reveal that veterinarians are financially vulnerable due to the expectation of providing free care for injured wildlife, despite the significant public good their services offer.
The report's primary recommendation is for the NSW Government to provide sustained funding for wildlife veterinary services. This includes support for wildlife rescue organizations, existing wildlife hospitals, the expansion of wildlife units at other hospitals, and contributions to private veterinarypractices to cover reasonable service costs.
Committee Deputy Chair Emma Hurst MLC emphasised the unsustainability of relying on charities to cover the costs of wildlife care, particularly during natural disasters. She advocates for a government-funded model to ensure consistent and adequate care for wildlife.
“Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital serves as a critical case study, demonstrating the effectiveness of dedicated wildlife hospitals in alleviating suffering and rehabilitating native animals, including many threatened species,” Hurst said.
Stephen Van Mil, CEO of Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital and one of the 56 witnesses to the Inquiry,welcomed the findings and recommendations. “The strain on veterinarians To page 30
Professor Xia Zhaofei
ADAYINTHELIFE OFZOEDEVINE T
his month ADay in the Life heads to Western Australia, where Zoe Devine works as a Behavioural Vet at Animal Sense near Fremantle. Devine was inspired to become a veterinarian at the age of six after watching Harry’s Practice on television after school and fulfilled achildhood dream when she graduated from Murdoch University’s veterinary program in 2017. After vet school, she worked in mixed practice and doing after-hours work in regional South Australia for 18 months, returning to Western Australia – quite fortuitously as it turned out –right before the pandemic struck. By this time, Devine was working in small animal general practice but had already begun taking steps towards the specialised career path she now treads. The Veterinarian was lucky enough to catch up with Zoe recently to find out just what a day in the life of a Behavioural Veterinarian is like.
Devine began her transition to working in the behaviour veterinary space after returning to Perth in 2019, when she started treating a lot of shelter dogs and working at a clinic well known for its fear free skills. She noticed the benefits of this work almost immediately. “My handling skills of animals that are fear aggressive at the vet increased greatly,” she said. “I pride myself on trying to make the vet experience as low stress as possible.” Devine began offering behaviour consults in a general practice setting as early as 2019, completed a CVE course in Veterinary Behaviour in 2020 and became a Fear Free Certified Professional. She was accepted as a member of the Australian & New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Veterinary Behaviour after successfully completing her membership examinations in 2022 and was recognised with the Robert Holmes Award for being the highest scoring candidate in that year. After completing her membership studies, Devine began working exclusively as a Behavioural Vet.
Atypical day for Devine is not dramatically dissimilar from that of a regular veterinarian, in that she has initial meetings with new clients and follow up consultations with existing patients. What is substantially different, however, is the time each consultation takes, and the amount of preparation required before an initial visit. “Our initial consult runs from 60-90 minutes, when we discuss the questionnaire whilst we observe the patient as they interact with the space and ourselves,” Devine explained. “Prior to our initial consults, caregivers complete an extensive questionnaireoutlining their pet’s behavioural history and detailing the concerns they are currently having, and we also collect any history from the general practice vet to ascertain whether physical health conditions are a factor.”
The treatment space in which Devine works is also different from that of a regular veterinary practice. “We have very large consulting spaces, probably two to four times bigger than a regular consulting room,” Devine said. “This allows the animals to move freely in the environment. We can learn a lot from this, as we can see what the animal chooses to interact with and whether they want to engage with us. It can also be easier to see any physical abnormalities as they move through the area.” Having larger spaces and longer consulting times enables Devine to assess the pet more fully, and to dive into issues more deeply than a regular veterinarian might be able to. She often performs tests with fake stooge dogs to see how her patients might react to unknown dogs, and makes use of Adaptil bandanas or Feliway towels to ensure the pet remains calm. The clinic also has safe spaces for patients who are not comfortable with being in the same space as a vet.
After examining a patient, Devine works with their caregiver to develop a specifically tailored
treatment plan that consist of a combination of management strategies, behaviour modification techniques and medication. “The aim is to reduce practice of the unwanted behaviour by removing the stressful triggers and teach the animal new ways to cope,” she said. “Medication can make this process more effective.” Patient progress is then monitored at return visits to the clinic every three to six months. “This is an integral part of our work which ensures we are making our patients feel more comfortable at home, and for caregivers to feel as though improvements are being made. If this is not being seen, then part of the plan needs to change,” Devine explained. “We work closely with positive reinforcement trainers, general practitioners as well as other
expectations of what their animal can or cannot feasibly do – particularly in relation to the environment in which they live or wish to be part of. For example, not every cat is able to live harmoniously with other cats, and not every dog is able to successfully navigate a dog park. “This can be challenging for caregivers to come to terms with, as the reality they experience looks different from how they imagined their lives to be with their pet,” she said. “I try to find a happy medium for both parties, as well as making sure everyone is having a fulfilled life.”
Another challenge Devine regularly confronts relates to stigma regarding aspects of behavioural veterinary treatment,
specialty clinics to facilitate these plans. It is areal team efforthelping these pets and their people.”
Devine is undeterred by the more challenging aspects of her work, and readily acknowledges thereare often barriers to overcome when attempting to bring about behavioural change. These challenges can have genetic, experiential and environmental aspects, and may also result from a caregiver’sreluctance to ask for help. This reluctance frequently stems from pet owners being blamed for their pet’s behaviour, which discounts internal factors within the animal, such as genetics or epigenetics.
“Behavioural problems often stem from an animal’sgenetics, as well as previous experiences and what the animal has learned from them,” she said. “Caregivers sometimes wait to ask for assistance as thereis still a degree of stigma associated with behavioural problems, so sometimes the animal has been practicing the unwanted behaviour or coping strategy for along time. Practice does mean perfect, so it can be challenging to form new behaviours in the face of this.”
In other cases, Devine must manage caregiver
particularly in relation to medication – which is often seen as a last resort, even though early intervention supported by medication and training can improve patient treatment outcomes. This is one area in which Devine hopes to see substantial change in the future. “There are still punishment-based training or handling methods being used to suppress unwanted behaviour rather than manage the underlying emotion of the animal, which is usually fear or anxiety,and this greatly impacts the animal’s ability to trust and learn,” she said. “Ongoing education of pet professionals and caregivers is a passion of mine, which will hopefully result in some of these outdated views being overturned.”
Devine cites improving the mental health of pets and their people as being both the focus and most rewarding aspect of her work. She is quick to point out that while physical health issues affecting pets impact the quality of life of the family unit, moreanimals are surrendered or euthanised due to behavioural concerns rather than because of physical ailments. “I love collaborating with other pet professionals, including groomers, positive
reinforcement trainers, pet physiotherapist and other vets to form a holistic plan that can have along-lasting impact on the quality of life of all parties,” she said. “It’s amazing to see patients become calmer, happier versions of themselves and for them to become more comfortable with their day-to-day life.” The flow on effect for human caregivers is, in Devine’s view, equally important, as an animal’s transformation has a massive impact on the mental health of their caregivers. “It’s a joy to watch new goals being reached, and to form meaningful relationships with both human and animals,” she said.
“The human-animal bond is a special thing and so different in every case. I love watching this bond develop over time and become stronger.”
And now, to conclude our Day in the Life with Zoe Devine, she answers our slightly cheesy but ever so interesting CreatureQuestions:
Do you currently have any pets?
Iam veryblessed to have three amazing animals in my life currently. Olive is a five-yearold domestic short hair cat. She is the snuggliest cat and likes to sleep wrapped around my head every night. Clancy is a four-year-old Border Collie, another throwback to my childhood obsession with Dr Harry! He is the most people orientated dog you will ever meet –the more people he can say hello to, the better. Finally there’smy most recent addition, a threeyear-old mini lop rabbit called Cinnibun. He is best friends with Clancy, as they are both social and love food. I learned a lot about rabbits during my membership studies, and when Cinnibun came into the clinic as a stray I went in to feed him some banana. He came home with me a few weeks later.
What is your favourite animal?
Dogs are my favourites! Through my work Iam continuously in awe of their individual personalities. Their desireto be a partof our lives is incredible, and I think it is such an honour and privilege to be able to find out what makes them tick, and work with them to fulfil their drives and abilities.
If you could transforminto any animal, what would you be and why?
Iwould be a grizzly bear,because they look cute and harmless, but they areactually weapons. They are fast on land and in the water,and as someone who enjoys training for and competing in triathlons when I’m not working, these are abilities I would love to have!
■ JAI HUMEL
Kiwi Post
The other week I was lucky enough to get to the NZVA Conference in Christchurch. Over three days, 14 different streams provided hundreds of attendees with first class and thought provoking content to help keep their interest alive.
Some of it was super technical- geeky stuff about data and binomial distributions and long tails and multivariate models. Some of it was super hard to understand- the genetics of antimicrobial resistance and how it may be transferred.
Some of it was inspiring- sessions on leadership that made you sit up and jot down bullet points; or simply reflect on how far away from this ideal you may be. Some of it was dull- but gave us all a chance to catch up on emails and our ‘to do’ lists. But mostly, it was amazing.
Often, you look at the programme of a conference like this and – to be honest – it’s a bit hard to get inspired. Either you’ve heard the speakers before and you don’t really want to hear them again. Or,you haven’t heard them before and you’ve no idea if they’re any good.
Then there’s the topics- vets in particular need aconference session on naming their talks. We really struggle to come up with anything more snappy than ‘update on parasitology in deer’- and even then, we’re not sure if ‘update’ is too strong a word. Maybe just ‘deer parasitology’. Although, full credit to the imaginative titles that did crop up- ‘Bone to be wild: unleashing insights into canine osteosarcoma’ quite possibly my favourite.
But the speakers and the names of the talks hid many highlights aside from the talks themselves. One was the anti-farming protestors, trying their hardest to prove that there really are only two degrees of freedom in Aotearoa with their ver y own personalised protest, complete with my name on a placard!
Apparently, someone had checked on ‘my backyard’ and found that, yes, it was muddy.
Another highlight was the awards ceremony at the Gala dinner. Often, these sorts of things can be turgid affairs. Usually, the recipients either can’t be bothered turning up, or they’re sodull you wish they hadn’t. Some of them are so awkward as to be comical. I was at an awards night once – I’d better not say where or who – and they presented their free lifetime membership award posthumously.The Treasurer must have agonised over that instance of benevolence for quite a while.
Atthe NZVA awards, it was great to have a number of young veterinarians honoured. They all spoke amazingly well; confidently and with passion, and they had inspiring stories that gave areal sense of the future of the profession being in good hands. Of course, many were female, and I can’t have been the only stale male who felt remarkably pathetic listening to them list a plethora of professional achievements whilst acknowledging that wrangling three kids and playing for the New Zealand Softball team didn’t give much time outside of vetting for running their 15,000ha sheep and beef farm.
But, amongst all of the formal highlights which are outlined in the programme, it’s easy to forget that the best bit of any conference is the sense of social and professional connectivity that you get. I’m sure this was highlighted for us all post Covid, when we were forced to go without for a few years. There’s no doubt that the return to a formal NZVAConference after that period brought an exaggerated sense of relief and collegiality.
But even this year, a few years out from those challenging and strange days, there was the strong sense of the value and purpose of a vet conference. Being amongst like-minded (some may say ‘similarly strange’) colleagues is always inspiring to a degree. Like finding a strange
Facebook group that is devoted to the celebration of one-legged bearded carpenters, or The Irish Apostrophe Preservation Society (yes, it does exist), you are amongst similar weirdos, and it’s strangely comforting.
There’s old friends and old classmates. New friends and new partners, and new families to update on. New jobs and different careers to catch up on. Old stories to retell and laugh about and new bosses and work mates to bitch about. It’s a social tap dance. You have to be polite about old colleagues who’ve gone too grey or too fat or to seed; and cautiously concerned about those who’ve gone too thin or look too weary or too broken.
There are names to remember and new and old partners to acknowledge. There’s the folk you only meet at the occasional conference but who still feel like best friends. There are those inspiring, steady, effective vets who still love what they do and still do it well. There are the shared frustrations that provide the strange, atomic bonds between us: the after hours, the difficult clients, the bad debtors, the younger vets, the older vets, the new nurse, the practice manager…
The overarching sense of value from any vet conference is not the technical and scientific detail that is written on the packet. But the stuff that’s hard to identify and package the camaraderie, the sense of belonging, of being part of something that just might have value and purpose, even if you’re not quite sure what bit you may contribute.
As vets we’re chronic imposters, and if nothing else, a conference gives us a sense that even if we each individually don’t measure up, as a collective we’re actually not a bad bunch, and what we do might just about be important. I’m not sure what the collective noun for vets is, but a conference of vets sounds about right.
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY?
Is there a topic you’ve wanted to tell everyone about?
Have you ever thought you would like to write a clinical review but don’tknow whereto start?
Do you have a hobby or historythat you think vets everywhere would like to learn more about?
Then don’t delay – email The Veterinarian at editor@vetmag.com.au and let us know –because your words could be in the pages of next month’s issue!
Mark Bryan qualified in Glasgow in 1988, and moved to New Zealand in 1995.
Feline lungworm: a hidden and underappreciated risk
The natural instincts and behaviours of cats, such as roaming and hunting, place them at risk of multiparasitism. Among the parasites that can affect domestic cats, the cat lungworm ( Aelurostrongylus abstrusus) poses a hidden and underappreciated risk, being a potential cause of significant morbidity and mortality in domesticcats.
Adult A. abstrusus reside within the lung parenchyma, where in the absence of effective anthelmintic therapy they may live for several years.1 The lifecycle of A. abstrusus is an indirect one involving gastropods (slugs and snails) as intermediate hosts. Cats can become infested ifthey ingest an infected gastropod, however it is thought that infection more typically occurs when a cat hunts and eats infected paratenic hosts such as small rodents, reptiles or birds.2
Infection may be subclinical or result in clinical signs ranging from mild through to severe and potentially life threatening. Common clinical signs seen include coughing, wheezing, dyspnoea and tachypnoea, which are indistinguishable to those seen in feline asthma, with the potential for misdiagnosis. This may have significant consequences for affected cats, as early diagnosis and treatment significantly improves the prognosis.3 Cats with severe verminous bronchopneumonia may develop secondary bacterial superinfections, pleural effusion or pneumothorax which may be fatal.4
Infection has also been implicated in anaesthetic-associated deaths. A review of postmortem findings from cats with an anaestheticassociated death found that nine per cent of cats were infected with A. abstrusus,representing the single most common pathology identified, and representing the only significant finding in almost a third of cats which had gross or microscopic disease identified.5
The target for parasitological diagnosis in cat faeces is the L1 larvae. Larvae may be seen on indirect faecal smears or even with flotation methods, however both methods have low sensitivity due to issues associated with sample size examined, low worm numbers, and in the case of flotation, the damaging osmotic effects of high specific gravity flotation solutions. It has been reported that flotation methods may miss up to 90 per cent of positive animals.6 Larval enrichment through the Baermann technique is considered gold standard, although it is rarely performed in practice as it is time consuming and is not without its limitations.
Fortunately, prevention of infection is relatively simple with the regular use of appropriate anthelmintics. As not all anthelmintics are effective against these parasites, it is important to carefully check label indications to ensure you are providing the appropriate level of protection in your recommended parasite control program.
Toread more about cardiopulmonaryworms (lungworm and heartworm) in cats, please scan the QR code.
Feline Lungworm Case Study
History
A6-month-old female speyed DSH cat presented for evaluation of coughing. The cat had been obtained as a rescue from a stray colony of cats in Western Sydney and had always seemed to be frail and unwell. Symptomatic therapy with a course of doxycycline had been unrewarding and coughing progressed to tachypnoea and dyspnoea.
Physical examination
On physical examination, the cat had a respiratory rate of 88 breaths per minute with increased inspiratory effort. Increased bronchovesicular lung sounds were audible. The cat was in low body condition (BCS 3/9) but the remainder of the physical examination was unremarkable.
Diagnostic workup
NexGardSPECTRA Spot-On for Cats protects against fleas, ticks, mites, heartworm, lungworm and intestinal worms (including roundworm, hookwor m and tapeworm). It is Australia’s first and only all-in-one parasiticide for cats, providing the most complete protection, all in one easy,monthly application.
See product label for full claim details and usage instructions.
Thoracic radiographs were performed to further evaluate the cause of coughing and dyspnoea. A severe, diffuse bronchointerstitial pattern was noted. The main differential diagnoses for the pulmonary parenchymal changes were considered to be infectious disease (Aelurostrongylus abstrusus,secondary bacterial pneumonia, toxoplasmosis, FIP,feline viral respiratory tract infection, fungal infection), neoplasia (considered less likely given the cat’s age), and pulmonaryoedema (also considered less likely given the absence of a heart murmur and pulmonary venous congestion).
Further investigation including a Baermann’s test on a pooled faecal sample was performed and confirmed the presence of L1 larvae of Aelurostronglyus abstrusus.
Treatment and outcome
Treatment was commenced with an anthelmintic therapy effective against lungwormand anti-inflammatorydoses
References
1. Beugnet, F. et al. (2018). Textbook of clinical parasitology in dogs and cats.Grupo Asís Biomedia, S.L.,.
2. Traversa, D. et al. (2021) Felid cardiopulmonarynematodes: Dilemmas solved and new questions posed. Pathogens,10, 30.
3. Pennisi, M. G. et al. (2015) Lungworm disease in cats. JFeline Med Surg,17, 626–636.
4. Morelli, S. et al (2021) Cat respirator y nematodes: Current knowledge, novel data
4months post-treatment
of corticosteroids (prednisolone 2.5 mg PO SID). Two weeks following this treatment, repeat thoracic radiographs revealed an improved but still significant bronchointerstitial pattern. Clinical improvement occurred rapidly, though complete resolution of radiographic changes did not occur until 4 months post treatment.
Commentary
Feline lungworm infection is generally considered to be relatively uncommon in our pet cat population, however studies from Australia have demonstrated a high prevalence (13.8 per cent) of infection amongst semi-feral cat populations suggesting there is a high risk for the pet feline population, especially for stray kittens. Worldwide, frequency of infection has ranged from 1-22 per cent of healthy pet cats. Additionally, a study investigating the cause of anaesthesia associated deaths in cats presenting for routine desexing found a high proportion of cases (9 per cent) to have infection with A. abstrusus. Given the prevalence of disease documented in Australia, and the high proportion of A. abstrusus infection in cats that died under anaesthetic for routine surgical procedures, it would seem prudent to ensure that our pet cat population is routinely treated with an anthelmintic product effective against feline lungworm infection.
Case study and commentary provided by feline medicine specialist Dr Kath Briscoe BVSc (Hons I) MVetStud (Small Animal Clinical Studies) FANZCVS (Feline Medicine)
and warranted studies on clinical features, treatment and control. Pathogens,10, 454.
5. Gerdin, J. A. et al. (2011) Post-mortem findings in 54 cases of anesthetic associated death in cats from two spay-neuter programs in New York state. J Feline Med Surg, 13, 959–966.
6. Traversa, D. et al. (2010) Canine and feline cardiopulmonar y parasitic nematodes in Europe: emerging and underestimated. Parasit Vectors,3, 62.
At diagnosis
Treating early with VETMEDIN® is proven to delay the onset of clinical signs by 63% and extend life in preclinical DCM.1
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the second most common form of acquired heart disease in dogs1
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”.
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Retirement: is it better to jump out or fade away?
Retirement is often thought of as an event, a date on the calendar, athreshold that you cross one day into a new phase of life. Making a person’s profession or retirement an “all in or all out” proposition like this makes it a big deal. It means that people looking at retirement need to:
■ Know that they have enough money to last the rest of their (and their spouse’s) lives
■ Know how they are going to spend their time all day, every day, for the rest of their lives
Financially: If the veterinarian is a practice owner at the time, a phased exit like this is usually a disaster:
■ Most veterinarians will realise that by restricting their work they are also cutting back on their income every year, but they feel that this is more than balanced out by their lower golf handicap and the enhanced lifestyle they are getting in their time off.
from the practice. This allows the owner to:
■ Give their super a boost by way of the asset sale.
■ Relinquish much of the day-today management chores (HR, payroll, compliance, etc.) that most veterinarians feel they don’t enjoy, and spend their last years in the workforce focussing their work hours on being a clinical veterinarian.
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.
■ Be comfortable with their identity, validation and relevance without their work.
Without answers to these questions, many people feel overwhelmed at the prospect of retirement. In their minds, retirement is inflated to mean that from one day to the next they go from having a
■ What most veterinarians won’t realise is that in addition to their lower income, they are also often rapidly depreciating one of their most significant assets - their practice. A practice that is being worked fewer hours per week, fewer weeks per year, can’t help but suffer for the absence/abdication of the clinician/owner. By the time the practice owner gets to retirement, their practice is usually producing far less than it was, is far less profitable than it was, and the
■ Work post-sale at a pace thatthey are comfortable with, and over several years reduce their hours per week and weeks per year without worrying that they are depreciating one of their biggest assets.
■ Get sufficient cashflow to live on via clinical work, without touching their super.
■ Maintain their sense of identity while they slowly get used to retirement.
■ Ensure a smooth transfer and handover of patients and goodwill tothe buyer of the practice.
profession, a purpose, a place to go five days-a-week, and respect from their community… to starting a new life where they spend seven days-a-week with their spouse, playing bridge and shuffling around the supermarket in their tracksuit, with nowhere to go and nothing to do.
When you look at retirement like this, it is no wonder that many will avoid selling their practice like the plague. In its absence though, many veterinarian owners spend their final years of ownership doing what is known as a phased retirement or a retirement by a thousand cuts. Year after year they choose to work fewer hours, have more holidays each year, increasingly restrict themselves clinically,until they are more comfortable with retirement, because they already have one foot firmly out the door already.
Psychologically and emotionally: Dipping a toe into retirement water by way of a phased retirement like this may help the veterinarian owner slowly get comfortable with the idea of retirement.
price achievable is often extremely compromised.
Is there a way to get the best of both worlds?
Is there a way to have a phased transition out of the workforce at a pace that the principal veterinarian is comfortable with, without compromising the practice’s value? Actually,there are two ways.
Either:
1. The owner needs to be clinically replacing themselves as they phase out of the practice, so that the production and profit of the practice are not compromised. The increase in the number of employees/contractors will increase the complexity of the practice’s operations and will increase stress (at least in the short term) while you find the right person and get used to all the new moving parts in your practice… but it is very possible.
OR
2. The owner of the practice needs to sell before they start withdrawing
Conclusion
For a busy veterinarian whose life has revolved around his/her practice for decades, thoughts of retirement can be overwhelming because it is a step into the unknown. It is difficult for a veterinarian considering making the leap from 4 day a week work to retirement to comprehend what they will do with their time and energy.To embrace retirement, veterinarians need to illuminate what life without veterinary work looks like first and because of this a phased retirement rather than an abrupt halt becomes a necessaryprocess for them to go through.
There is nothing wrong with a veterinarian’s retreat from the workforce taking years while they get comfortable with their new alternate identity outside of the practice. However, any veterinarian thinking of doing so needs to be aware of the veryreal risk of a depreciating their practice value and be proactive with ensuring it doesn’t happen through one of the two options above.
Health of polo horses
This literature review analyses the historical development of polo, its organizational structure, the course of the game, as well as the breeding, rearing, and training practices of polo horses. Frequently occurring ailments, such as musculoskeletal injuries, respiratory diseases, and internal illnesses, are highlighted. Lameness is a major problem, with injuries to the superficial digital flexor tendon being the most common cause. Other notable diseases include exerciseinduced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH), myositis, rhabdomyolysis, and equine infectious anaemia (EIA). To ensure the welfare of polo horses, effective prevention and management strategies are crucial. These include proper training, the adaptation of the ground surface, appropriate shoeing, and compliance with animal welfare guidelines and association rules. Collaboration between associations, players, organizers, and veterinarians is crucial. Promoting responsible management practices and raising awareness among stakeholders can help ensure that polo continues to thrive while maintaining high animal welfare standards.
Anton Schumacher1,Heidrun Gehlen1
Animals (Basel). 2024 Jun 8;14(12): 1735.doi: 10.3390/ani14121735.
1Equine Clinic, Veterinary Department, Freie Universitaet Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany.
Free article
Welfare of sheep and goats during killing for purposes other than slaughter
Sheep and goats of different ages may have to be killed on-farm for purposes other than slaughter (where slaughter is defined as killing for human consumption) either individually (i.e. on-farm killing of unproductive, injured or terminally ill animals) or on a large scale (i.e. depopulation for disease control purposes and for other situations, such as environmental contamination and disaster management) outside the slaughterhouses. The purpose of this opinion was to assess the hazards and welfare consequences associated with the on-farm killing of sheep and goats. The whole killing procedure was divided into Phase 1 (pre-killing) – that included the processes (i) handling and moving the animals to the killing place and (ii) restraint of the animals before application of the killing methods and Phase 2 – that included stunning and killing of the animals. The killing methods for sheep and goats were grouped into three categories: (1) mechanical, (2) electrical and (3) lethal injection. Welfare consequences that sheep and goats may experience during each process were identified (e.g. handling stress, restriction of movements and tissue lesions during restraint) and animal-based measures (ABMs) to assess them were proposed. During application of the killing method, sheep and goats will experience pain and fear if they are ineffectively stunned or if they recover consciousness. ABMs related to the state of consciousness can be used to indirectly assess pain and fear. Flowcharts including ABMs for consciousness specific to each killing method were included in the opinion. Possible welfare hazards were identified for each process, together with their origin and related preventive and corrective measures. Outcome tables linking hazards, welfare consequences, ABMs, origins, preventive and corrective measures were developed for each process. Mitigation measures to minimise welfare consequences were proposed.
EFSA AHAWPanel (EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare); Søren Saxmose Nielsen,Julio Alvarez,Dominique Joseph Bicout, Paolo Calistri,Elisabetta Canali,Julian Ashley Drewe,Bruno Garin-Bastuji,Jose Luis Gonzales Rojas,Christian Gortázar Schmidt, Mette Herskin,Miguel Ángel Miranda Chueca,Barbara Padalino, Helen ClareRoberts,Hans Spoolder,Karl Stahl,Antonio Velarde, Arvo Viltrop,Christoph Winckler,Mohan Raj,Denise Candiani, Yves Van der Stede,Virginie Michel EFSA J. 2024 Jun 26;22(6): e8835.doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8835.
Research priorities in veterinary palliative care
Veterinary palliative care consists of end-of-life care of companion animals suffering from terminal or life-limiting diseases. Despite the growing need for veterinary palliative care, little research has been conducted on this topic. This perspective intends to provide an overview of the existing concerns and identify knowledge gaps to motivate further research. As a result, three main areas of research have been identified, namely: i) how to provide palliative care considering welfare implications of different diseases (e.g., pain management); ii) what can be considered a "good death", depending on the individual situation of the animal and its caregiver; iii) how to support caregivers' needs during their companion animal's end-of-life. Therefore, veterinary palliative care involves medical, ethical, and sociological considerations that should be addressed through guidelines and training.
JMaria da Costa1,Teresa Guerra Barroso2,Joana Correia Prata3 Vet J. 2024 Jun 20:306: 106184.doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2024.106184.
1School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP),Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228,Porto 4050-313, Portugal. Electronic address: up200305619@icbas.up.pt.
2INESC TEC-Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science, Campus da FEUP, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto 4200-465,Portugal; Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, University Institute of Health Sciences, CESPU,Gandra 4585-116, Portugal; UCIBIO, Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Translational Toxicology Research Laboratory, University Institute of Health Sciences (1H-TOXRUN, IUCS-CESPU),Gandra 4585-116,Portugal.
3School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP),Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228,Porto 4050-313, Portugal; Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, University Institute of Health Sciences, CESPU, Gandra 4585-116, Portugal.
Free article
Dairycows' motivation to nurse their calves
When weaning offspring, female mammals limit nursing opportunities. This study aimed to investigate whether imposing a gradual reduction in daily contact time, by separating cows from their calves as an attempt to stimulate weaning, reduced dairy cows' motivation to nurse their calves. For seven weeks, 84 Holstein-Friesian cow-calf pairs were housed with either full-time (23 h contact/d), part-time (10 h contact/d), or no contact. In the following two weeks, half of full- and part-time pairs were subjected to reduced contact (50 per cent of initial contact in week eight, 25 per cent of initial contact in week 9), while the other half continued with unchanged contact. In weeks eight and nine, cows' motivation to obtain full contact to and opportunity to nurse their calves was measured using weighted push gates using anovel maximum price paid method providing an alternative choice to the cows to reduce frustration. Cows with reduced calf contact were more motivated than cows with unchanged contact; however, cows used the alternative choice less than expected. The results show that cows' motivation for full calf contact and opportunity to nurse increases when daily calf contact is reduced, illustrating that dairy cows are motivated to continue nursing their 9- to 10-week-old calves.
Emma Hvidtfeldt Jensen1,Melissa Bateson2,Heather W Neave34, Jean-Loup Rault5,Margit Bak Jensen3
Sci Rep. 2024 Jun 14;14(1): 13728.doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-64038-z.
1Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University,Tjele, Denmark. emma.hvidtfeldt@anivet.au.dk.
2Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
3Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark.
4Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
5Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Words matter
How are Australian veterinarians meant to feel or respond when a major bank and a national pharmacy chain decide to run advertising campaigns singling out vet bills as taking a bite out of household budgets or inducing high blood pressure? During the past few months, National Australia Bank and Chemist Warehouse both took aim at fees veterinarians charge for their professional services in advertising campaigns they evidently thought were clever or witty. What both companies failed to recognise was the potentially devastating impact their words can have on the mental health of veterinarians.
Australian veterinarians are four times more likely to take their lives than members of the general population. It appears NAB and Chemist Warehouse were either ignorant of this awful fact when they unfairly targeted a group ofprofessionals who, like the vast majority of the workforce, charge fees for their services. Neither company seems to have recognised the long-term impacts of dealing with the many and varied stressors Australian veterinarians encounter daily, including the emotional toll of euthanasia, financial pressures, lengthy working hours and aggressive clients. While both NAB and Chemist Warehouse have now removed their advertising from most platforms, it took public pressure from organisations such as Sophie’s Legacy for that to happen.
Sophie’s Legacy is a charity that was established by the family and friends of veterinarian Sophie Putnam, who took her own life after being the stresses of being a vet, including being verbally abused by clients, became too much for her. Since its inception, Sophie’s Legacy has sought to “save the people who save animals”. The registered charity is now implementing athree-pronged strategic plan to empower vets and veterinary staff by promoting safe and nurturing workplaces, to engage with government and industry to promote sustainable workplace change, and to alert all Australians to the mental health crisis within the veterinary industry.
Celeste Holzhausen, General Manager of the Pets and Vets Group, is all too familiar with the sorts of challenges Sophie Putnam faced. With around a dozen practices throughout regional Western Australia and metropolitan Perth, many of Holzhausen’s staff encounter similar situations on an almost daily basis. For example, Holzhausen related how one veterinarian at a Pets and Vets clinic had a client present after hours with a veryill dog. The client was given an estimate of how much treatment would cost and advised that payment was required upon discharge, and subsequently agreed to the estimated cost and signed all the relevant paperwork. The dog went into emergency surgery, but upon discharge the client had no money to pay the bill. “Unfortunately, the client then verbally abused the vet face to face, abused staff at reception and threatened to burn the practice down, and also went onto social media and claimed all vets want is money,” Holzhausen said. “They could not care less that the vet had already worked a ten-hour day and was on call when they performed the three-hour surgery on their dog, or that they then sat with the dog in recovery for another couple of hours, even though they knew they had to back fresh for work the next day.”
As a result of this and many other similar incidents, Holzhausen has ensured a raft of changes have been implemented across Pets and Vets practices in an attempt to prevent vet burnout and reduce confrontations with clients. Physical protection for staff has been provided, with internal clinic doors being fitted with locks allowing staff to exit or lock themselves in if necessary. Other security measures include panic buttons, surveillance cameras, and even having security guards on site if required. More importantly, however, the Pets and Vets group has
established clear guidelines for how staff should handle aggressive or difficult clients. “We foster a culture where team members support each other, especially during challenging interactions,” Holzhausen said. “We maintain open lines of communication between staff and management to discuss concerns and share experiences.” Staff are trained to understand clients may be stressed or anxious about their pets, which can lead to difficult behaviour, and they are encouraged to communicate clearly, calmly, and professionally, even in difficult situations. “Weempower staff to set boundaries with clients, including knowing when to end aconversation if it becomes too aggressive,” she said. “After a difficult interaction, I review the incident with the staff involved to provide feedback and identify any additional support or training needed. In severe cases, I follow up with difficult clients to resolve any underlying issues and prevent future conflicts.” Pets and Vets provides access to counselling and support services for staff to help them cope with stressful interactions, and they also reserve the right to ask some clients not to attend their practices ever again.
One of the most significant changes Holzhausen has instituted relates to the words – both spoken and written – that are used when interacting with clients at Pets and Vets clinics. “Having clear and positive messages sets a welcoming tone, helping clients feel more at ease and fostering a pleasant atmosphere,” Holzhausen said. “This in turn leads to clients feeling less anxious, which promotes smoother interactions and a better overall experience.” Since positive and consistent messaging has been adopted across all Pets and Vets clinics, she has witnessed a gradual but significant cultural shift, particularly as positive client interactions have contributed to higher job satisfaction and improved morale amongst veterinary staff and to a culture of professionalism and respect within clinics. “When multiple practices adopt consistent messaging, it sets uniform expectations for client behaviour, making it easier for clients to understand and comply. It emphasizes that everyone -- clients and staff alike -- plays a role in maintaining a respectful and supportive environment,” she said. “Positive messaging helps build a community where clients and staff feel valued and respected, promoting long-term loyalty and satisfaction and creating a supportive community.”
Using specific wording on signage within practices and language when communicating with clients has also helped. “We have found that providing information about common procedures, wait timess and what to expect in terms of cost has reduced client frustration and confusion, leading to more positive interactions with staff and to their overall clinic experience,” Holzhausen said. “Using inclusive and positive language makes all clients feel valued and
respected, thereby reducing the likelihood of negative behaviour. We have also noticed that the clearer theinformation we provide to the client regarding our expectations of treatments orsurgeries and the costs involved, the better the outcome.” While many Pets and Vets clinics are reporting improved interactions with clients since the introduction of clear, friendly and informative signage and language, Holzhausen also acknowledged the downside of promoting consistent messaging – particularly verbally –does require more time and can put additional pressure and stress on veterinarystaff.
In this regard, Holzhausen pointed out that many clients are unfamiliar with the mental health challenges facing veterinarians. “Many clients are unaware of the high suicide rates among veterinarians and often express surprise and concern when they learn about it,” she said. “There's a general lack of public knowledge about the mental health challenges faced by veterinaryprofessionals on a daily basis and this is not helped by inappropriate advertising campaigns such as the ones recently run by NAB and Chemist Warehouse.” Under Holzhausen’s stewardship, Pets and Vets has worked hard to educate clients about the challenges veterinary staff face and the importance of supportive behaviour. “We have posters up in our clinics and we also post regularly on social media because positive messaging helps build a community where clients and staff feel valued and respected, which in turn promotes long-term client loyalty and satisfaction,” she said. “Once they have been informed, clients seem to develop greater empathy and understanding for the stress and pressures veterinarians face. Sophie’s Legacy is also doing fantastic work to make the public aware of the impact ofaggression and negativity in the veterinaryworkforce.”
At the end of the day, already-stressed veterinary professionals and support staff should not be routinely placed in positions where they must remind clients that they are human beings, deserving of kindness and understanding rather than abuse. Nor should it fall to charities like Sophie’s Legacy to call out large corporations like NAB and Chemist Warehouse for their thoughtless use of language. Simply put, words matter.
If you or your practice would like to donate to or get involved with Sophie’sLegacy,or you would like to sign their petition to reduce the suicide rate amongst veterinarians, please visit www.sophieslegacy.com
Should this article have raised concerns for you, please contact the following support services: Lifeline: 13 11 44 Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
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Penny Linnett BSc (Zool Hons) BVSc
MPhil MANZCVS Penny has worked extensively in private mixed practice, and in animal biosecurity and welfare for both government and not-for-profit organisations. She manages a 212 hectareDorper sheep breeding property in NSW,and is co-Director ofYour Hobby FarmSuccess, helping hobby farmers enjoy their lifestyle, and reap the benefitsof having healthy and happy animals.
Fatal anomality in a newborn lamb
Introduction
Many complex and organised embryonic and foetal events are involved in the formation of, and ultimately the birth of a healthy animal.
Any abnormality in the morphogenesis of organs or body regions can lead to embryonic loss, foetal death, foetal mummification, loss of pregnancy, stillbirth, birth of nonviable neonates and/or birth of viable offspring with visible or nonvisible defects.
In all groups of animals, abnormal or deformed offspring are occasionally seen but sometimes, the incidence is higher when compared to previous years. In humans, congenital anomalies affect around 3 per cent of pregnancies. Congenital malformations and inherited disorders constitute a substantial proportion of the disorders seen in sheep and goats; many are monogenetic (i.e. a single gene is involved in the expression of a trait). The carrier state/s are not always unknown and/or able to be detected. Both genetic and environmental factors can induce congenital defects.
A lack of folic acid, for example, increases the chances of brain and spinal abnormalities (e.g. spina bifida) occurring in utero
With the widespread adoption of assisted reproduction technologies, the use of certain (or ‘superior’) genetic lines has led to the dissemination of undetected and undesirable genetic recessives. As the number of animals in a breed or population carr ying undesirable recessive traits increases, there is more opportunity for the breeding of these genetically related individuals and hence, expression of the undesirable phenotype.
By the time an undesirable or detrimental genetic condition is observed in a breed or a population, the abnormal allele (i.e. a variant form of a gene) is often widely distributed. This makes early detection and management crucial for addressing the anomality within the affected population. Diagnostic testing (e.g. DNA testing) is continuing to improve and expand for a myriad of gene aberrations. Also available is ‘pedigree analysis’ which enables both desirable or undesirable phenotypes to be explored using a diagram/chart; it is a method of studying the inheritance of genetic traits or diseases in a family or population.
The term ‘pedigree’ comes from the French word for “crane’s foot” due to its appearance. A pedigree shows biological relationships and is used to look at the transmission of genetic conditions, for example, colour blindness or attached earlobes in humans. It can help to identify dominant and recessive traits and the carriers of these traits.
Pedigrees are important in animals that are selectively bred for certain characteristics. A pedigree visually represents the ancestors of an animal and makes it easier to understand whether that animal will pass on certain characteristics to its offspring.
Astandard set of symbols is used in a pedigree - males arerepresented by squares and females arerepresented by circles; parents are connected by
horizontal lines, and vertical lines stemming from horizontal lines lead to the symbols (squares and circles) for their offspring. Generations are marked with numbers, the first generation being I, II being the children of the first generation, and III being the grandchildren.
The terms congenital, hereditary and genetic are used to describe structural or/and functional anomalies that occur during intrauterine life and are identified prenatally, at birth or later in infancy. Hereditary disorders have the potential to be passed down from one generation to another, congenital disorders are conditions that are present or apparent since birth, and genetic disorders are diseases caused in whole or in part by mutations in the genome. Developmental defects/anomalies may not become apparent until later in life, and although the ‘inciting event’ occurred before birth, the defect is not strictly classified as congenital.
Clinical case History
A clinically healthy four-year-old Damara x White Dorper ewe lambed without assistance. The ewe had previously lambed uneventfully on two previous occasions; each time a single, healthy lamb was successfully born and reared to weaning. The ewe was part of a small flock of 40 ewes that had been bought from Pooncarie in Western NSW three years previously to bolster the overall flock size to 90 fullblood and cross-bred breeding ewes.
The flock had been joined for sixweeks with the same ram that had been used in the flock for the last two years. The ram was clinically healthy. All ewes and the ram were uneventfully drenched on the first day of joining and moved to new paddock which they had grazed five months previously The pasture (native with about 10 per cent clover) in the paddock was plentiful and few weeds were present (none known to be toxic). Water in the dam was clear and the dam was obviously in ‘good health’ as there was plenty of native vegetation in and around the dam, good access points for livestock, good water inlet and outlet points, some shade available, and yabbies, frogs and insects were present in/on the dam.
The flock was moved to the usual ‘lambing paddock’ four weeks prior to lambing and all sheep received astandard pre-lambing drench and a six-in-one booster vaccination. Some supplementaryfeeding with lucerne hay and ewe-and-lamb pellets was started so there would not be any intestinal disturbances post-lambing, when the supplementary feeding would need to increase to bolster the ewes’ metabolic energy requirements. On the morning when the Damara x White Dorper ewe in question had lambed, the owner had been observing the ewe and noticed that the ewe was immediately very attentive to the lamb post-birth and was cleaning the newborn lamb well. A little while later, the owner saw that the lamb was still in lateral recumbency and seemed to be struggling to get-up or unable to rise.
The ewe was encouraging the lamb is get up as she was pawing the lamb with a front leg and making the usual mother to lamb verbal noises. On closer inspection the owner was quick to recognise that the lamb was not normal in appearance and clearly, was unable to stand despite the ewe’s efforts and encouragement.
The owner quickly and carefully picked up the lamb, wrapped it in a clean towel, and carried it into a warm area in the shed with the ewe walking a respectful distance behind. The owner reported that the lamb was bright and alert, breathing normally and both eyes were open. But the lamb was unable to right himself from lying on his side and was getting quite frustrated when his attempts to right himself didn’twork
Presentation
On presentation, the lamb (male; ‘Bobby’) had an abnormally shaped head, all four legs were curled into various positions, and the feet were abnormal. He was trying unsuccessfully toget up from lateral recumbency.
Bobby was bright and alert, both eyes were open, and was a full-term body weight (4kg) with a normal (and desirable) ‘fluffy’ coat, and unremarkable colour-pattern. Heart rate and respiratory rate were within normal limits. Bobby could lift his head and move his legs a little bit. He made frequent efforts to right himself but could not due to the contracture of his limbs. Bobby’sabdomen was sunken, confirming that he had not fed from the ewe. Due to welfare concerns the lamb was immediately humanely euthanised.
Photos were taken after euthanasia in case there were any other recurrences during the lambing period, which would have necessitated further investigation, but no post-mortem was undertaken on the owner’s request. The gross abnormalities are shown in Figures 1 to 3.
On follow-up post-lambing, the owner reported that all the other ewes in the flock had lambed normally and without assistance, and all lambs were raised uneventfully to weaning age.
Bobby was the first malformed lamb in the flock and despite rigorous investigation, no obvious cause was found. Follow-up over the next eight years revealed no other occurrences in over 800+ lambings. The ewe herself continued to breed until her mature years; she was euthanised at 9 years of age due to advancing osteoarthritis, which inhibited her ability as a good breeding unit.
Figure 1. Bobby’s head; right lateral recumbency
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Discussion
Modern sheep production focuses primarily on wool, meat and milk. The productivity of many sheep breeds has improved remarkably over the years due to breeding programs and use of quantitative genetics – i.e. the study of traits such as phenotypes (height, weight) and includes statistical analyses. Stringent selection increases profitability but it can reduce the effective population size, particularly when single elite rams and their progeny (or genetics) are used intensively. As a consequence, the accompanying increase in co-ancestr y and inbreeding may result in the emergence of recessive genetic defects, which can cause significant economic and animal welfare concerns. For example, outbreaks of arthrogryposis, microphthalmia and cervical vertebral malformation, and inherited rickets have been seen in some sheep breeds.
Some sheep breeders preferentially join related individuals to breed phenotypically similar animals, but this can lead to the emergence of undesirable traits in the population. Thus, it is desirable to have a breeding plan in place to control inbreeding. In a study of the genetic disorders in New Zealand sheep, Jolly et al (2004) concluded that inbreeding was a major factor in the emergence of some of the disorders.
Small populations of endangered (e.g. zoo) breeds can be affected by a lack of unrelated animals. Hence why zoos and aquariums worldwide cooperate in breeding programs to form viable, healthy,self-sustaining and genetically diverse populations.
Some common genetic defects in sheep are entropion, brachygnathia, cleft palate, cryptorchidism, hernias, and hereditary chondrodysplasia (spider lambs). Less commonly seen are arthrogryposis, Dandy Walker syndrome, cerebellar abiotrophy, microphthalmia, and abomasal emptying defect.
Spider (lamb) syndrome, also known as ovine hereditary chondrodysplasia, is an inherited, semi-lethal, musculoskeletal disease which affects the growth of cartilage and bone in lambs primarily of the black-faced sheep breeds including Hampshire and Suffolk sheep, as well
as crossbreeds. Interestingly, the syndrome has not been reported in white-faced sheep breeds.
Spider lamb syndrome was an economically significant issue for sheep breeders in the 1980s but with strict testing and implementation of breeding programs, it has become much less common. It is a homozygous recessive disorder, so a lamb is only affected if both parents have, and pass on, the mutation (i.e. the lamb gets two copies of the affected gene).
Lambs born with one copy of the causative mutation (i.e. are heterozygous) are ‘carriers’. They are structurally normal but can be slightly taller than sheep with two copies (i.e. are homozygous) of the unaffected allele, and there is no difference in body weight. Typically, ‘carriers’ go undetected until an affected offspring is produced.
The location of the locus causing spider lamb syndrome is along the distal end of the ovine chromosome 6, causing inactivation of normal fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3). FGFR3 is a member of tyrosine kinase receptor family and its function is to restrict the proliferation of cartilage at the growth plates of the long bones; regulating ossification (conversion ofcartilage into bone), limiting skeletal elongation, and thereby ensuring that the limbs are the right length. The regulation of liver insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and IGF-binding proteins may also be involved.
Inactivation of FGFR3 leads to skeletal overgrowth in animals homozygous for the gene; the limbs of afflicted animals are ‘spider-like’ –thin and elongated. Affected lambs cannot stand (or have difficulty standing) to nurse from the ewe and they have difficulty walking. Skeletal abnormalities, facial defects, twisted or humped spines, long bent and/or splayed ‘spider-like’ legs, flat ribs, lack of body fat, and underdeveloped musculature can also be seen. Typically, affected lambs do not survive beyond the newborn period and rarely beyond six months of age. Very occasionally, deformities associated with this condition are not apparent at birth, becoming visible by four to six weeks of age. Spider lamb syndrome is not treatable.
Hanson (2019) described the anatomical features of affected lambs. Lambs usually have pronounced medial deviation of the carpus and hock and are unable to stand without distress. Pathologic changes in the skull reveal a rounding of the dorsal silhouette, producing a “Roman nose” appearance and a narrowed elongation of the occipital condyles. The thoracic and lumbar vertebrae are moderately kyphotic, causing a dorsal rounding of the backline. The sternebrae are dorsally deviated, leading to flattening of the sternum. The forelimbs have a medial deviation of the carpal joints with a bowed radius and ulna and irregular thickening of the growth plate cartilage. The hindlimbs have medially deviated hocks and bowed tibiae, which also have thickened, irregular growth plates. Muscle atrophy is also predominant.
Both congenital and inherited anomalies can result in the birth of neonates who are deformed or diseased. An anomaly is said to be ‘congenital’ when a developmental (structural or/and functional) disruption results in a deviation from the normal state that is present or apparent in utero, at birth or post-birth. Developmental defects may not become apparent until later in life, and although the disruptive event occurred before birth, the defect is not strictly classified as congenital.
Structural and functional congenital defects have been described in all species. Congenital defects can be classified or described based on the body system or part of body primarily involved; this classification system can thus become quite complicated when there is simultaneous involvement of multiple body systems. Descriptive classifications provide a basis for comparison and allow for an estimation of the time of the disruptive event relative to foetal development which may help identify the cause/s.
Congenital abnormalities may be due to viral orbacterial infections of the foetus or ingestion of toxic plants by the pregnant ewe at certain stages of gestation, or to environmental factors, or they may have a genetic basis. It is well known that the prevalence of congenital disorders varies among breeds and among lines within breeds. Gene testing can be used toeliminate undesirable mutations.
Areview of genetic diseases of sheep and goats by Basrur and Yadav (1990) concluded that congenital malformations and inherited disorders constituted a substantial proportion of the anomalies seen in sheep and goats. Of the 28 genetic diseases of sheep and goats described in the review, 60 per cent and 62.5 per cent respectively were monogenic disorders, and the incidence of malformations was similar in both species.
Inastatewide survey of congenital neurologic abnormalities and the musculoskeletal system in lambs in Western Australia, Dennis (1965) found more than 60 forms of abnormality, and in some flocks the proportion of particular abnormalities had reached as high as 8 per cent of all lambs born.
Avaluable resource for people interested in genetic disorders is the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals (OMIA) which is an online living catalogue/compendium of inherited disorders, other (single-locus) traits and associated genes and variants in 529 animal species. It does not include human, mouse, rats, zebrafish and western clawed frog which have their own databases. The OMIA is modelled on, and is complementary to, the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM). The OMIA database is freely available worldwide and it contains over 200 inherited ovine defects, disorders, predispositions to disease, production traits and coat colours.
The aetiology (i.e. causative event/agent) of a congenital anomaly may or,more commonly, may not be identifiable. Schistosomus reflexus, for example, is a fatal congenital disorder seen in ruminants. A genetic basis has been proposed but to date, no specific defect or mode of inheritance has been established. Interestingly, cases involving one affected calf and its healthy twin have been reported.
In some instances, a specific anomaly of unknown aetiology may occur frequently enough to be readily identifiable in the field, such as Schmallenberg virus infection induced congenital malformations in lambs. Schmallenberg virus infection in naïve ewes and goats can result in stillborn offspring, showing a congenital arthrogryposis-hydranencephaly syndrome. The impact of infection depends on the number of malformed lambs, but it is generally limited (Lievaart-Peterson et al 2015).
Neuroaxonal dystrophy is a neurologic disorder seen in sheep. It appears to be inherited and is characterised by the accumulation of numerous axonal swellings (spheroids) in specific regions of the brainstem and spinal cord. Suffolk and New Zealand Coopworth breeds of sheep are affected as lambs between 1 and 6 months of age, and Romney sheep develop clinical signs at 6 to 18 months of age. Affected lambs have an unsteady,stiff and swaying gait that progresses to paraparesis and tetraparesis. In Rottweilers, neuroaxonal dystrophy is associated with an autosomal recessive mutation in the VPS11 gene.
Advances in technology and research continue to identify environmental, infectious and genetic agents as aetiological causes of embryonic and foetal defects. The timing of maternal and foetal exposure to these agents influences the eventual outcome.
There are more than 30 known or suspected genetic defects of sheep (i.e. deformities that exist at birth). They occur sporadically and rarely contribute to major losses of lambs in flocks.
Figure 2. Medial distal view of Bobby’s right hindlimb; note the deformed foot
Figure 3. Bobby in right lateral recumbency. Note the good body size, empty (hollow) abdomen and the ewe’sattention to cleaning him post-birth (i.e. well-cleaned body); abnormal head and jaw; angle of the limbs and the four deformed feet
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While many genetic defects are lethal or semi-lethal (i.e. only some of the individuals with the affected genotype die), the gene frequency for some of these diseases can reach high levels indefined populations, presumably due to the so-called ‘founder effect’ or the presence of a selective advantage of heterozygous individuals. In population genetics, the founder effect is the loss of genetic variation that occurs when a new population is established by a very small number of individuals from a larger population. In extreme cases, the founder effect is thought to lead to the speciation and subsequent evolution of new species (definition from Wikipedia).
Congenital disorders are not necessarily inherited as they may be due to environmental or infectious factors, but many have a genetic basis. Some common genetic disorders in sheep include atresia ani, arthrogryposis, brachygnathia, chondrodysplasia, cleft palate, cryptorchidism, entropion, hernia, and torticollis. The prevalence of congenital disorders varies among breeds and among lines within breeds.
Doherty et al (2000) studied congenital arthrogryposis in 58 per cent of a flock of pedigree Suffolk lambs, where the introduction of a breeding ram was identified as the only significant risk factor in the flock. Through embryo transfer work, they concluded that the arthrogryposis was an inherited autosomal recessive condition associated with the use of the ram.
Zhao et al (2012) undertook a genome-wide association study to uncover the genetic cause of chrondrodysplasia in Texel sheep. Fifteen Texel sheep diagnosed as ‘affected’ and 8 ‘carriers’ descended from 3 affected rams were used in the study.Ahomozygous region of 25 consecutive single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci was identified in all ‘affected’ sheep, covering a region of 1 Mbp on ovine chromosome 4. The SLC13A1 gene, encoding a sodium/sulphate transporter,was the primary candidate gene and further work discovered it was the g.25513delT mutation in the SLC13A1 gene that was responsible for the chondrodysplasia seen in these Texel sheep. This finding meant that carriers with the defective g.25513delT allele could be identified and relevant breeding programs informed.
For the vast majority of the monogenic recessive disorders, the carrier state is not currently known and/or is detectable via testing. However, for conditions such as dermatosparaxis, erythrocyte glutathione deficiency, globoid cell leukodystrophy and glycogen storage disease, the carrier state is detectable with the aid of enzyme and surface protein markers. Consequently, these conditions can be quite easily eliminated from apopulation through selective breeding.
Dominant disorders such anur y, cataracts and glomerulonephritis can also be quite easily eliminated from a population through selective breeding.
Polygenic disorders such as entropion, epidermolysis bullosa, hereditary chondrodysplasia and muscular dystrophy of sheep, are more difficult to eliminate from a population. The genes responsible for these traits generally do not ‘show-up’ until inbreeding brings together a critical number (mass) of these genes to cause an adverse trait/anomaly. In animals which do not have a critical number of these ‘mutant’ genes, the anomaly can go undetected and the animal itself is not affected.
The rates of congenital disorders in Swiss sheep (Swiss White Alpine sheep, Brown-Headed Meat sheep, Swiss Black Brown Mountain sheep and Valais Blacknose sheep) were studied over aten-year period. Greber et al (2013) reported entropion in 33.6 per cent of the surveyed farms, brachygnathia inferior in 29.5 per cent, abdominal/umbilical hernia in 15.9 per cent, cryptorchidism in 10.5 per cent and torticollis in 10.5 per cent. The most statistically significant difference between the four breeds occurred for entropion in Swiss White Alpine
sheep and Brown-Headed Meat sheep; brachygnathia inferior in Swiss Black Brown Mountain sheep; and scrotal/inguinal hernia in Valais Blacknose sheep. The Swiss White Alpine breed showed a statistically significant higher prevalence of entropion (6.2 per cent in 2011 and 5.5 per cent in 2012) than other breeds. The study highlighted the importance of careful selection of future breeding stock.
Teratogens are typically classified into one of four types:
■ drugs and chemicals such as alcohol and ACE inhibitors
■ infections caused by bacteria, parasites and viruses
■ metabolic conditions such as maternal health issues that can adversely impact development of the foetus
■ physical or environmental agents such as hyperthermia, radiation and trauma.
Inhumans, foetal exposure to teratogens is said to account for about 4 per cent to 5 per cent of congenital disorders, and both cognitive and physical development can be affected.
The greatest period of susceptibility to a teratogen is when cell growth and differentiation are occurring at their maximum rate; the time when the primitive germ layers and the organ rudiments are laid down. Each organ has a critical period of development, and many genes are involved in, and control, normal growth and differentiation. The stage of foetal or embryonic development at the time of exposure to a teratogen determines the type and extent of the resulting abnormality/ies.
Zygotes are relatively resistant to the effects of most teratogens but they can be affected by chromosomal alterations or aberrations that occur during gametogenesis or fertilisation, as well as by genetic mutations that may be passed from one or both parents. As the zygote develops into the embryo and organogenesis progresses, susceptibility to environmental teratogens and teratogenic infectious agents increases. As the conceptus ages, the foetus becomes increasingly resistant to environmental teratogens. However, late-differentiating structures such as the palate, cerebellum, and urogenital system remain at risk well into the foetal period.
Drugs and chemicals
Many herbicides, pesticides, pharmaceutical agents and other chemical agents are known teratogens, so caution should always be exercised when using these products in or around pregnant animals. Inadvertent exposure carries the same inherent risks to the pregnant animal and developing foetus. Product label directions may specify to avoid use in animals that are pregnant or may be pregnant, or have instructions for use in pregnant animals once the foetus reaches a certain age. Specified withholding periods from chemically-treated pasture may also be applicable.
Some antibiotics are known to be teratogenic and should be avoided entirely during pregnancy. These include streptomycin and kanamycin (which may cause hearing loss) and tetracycline (which can lead to weakening, hypoplasia and discolouration of teeth and long bones).
Infections caused by bacteria, parasites and viruses
The stage of foetal or embryonic development at the time of exposure to the infectious agent determines the type and extent of the abnormality/ies. For example, maternal exposure in late pregnancy may result in infection of the foetus and seroconversion, with or without any observed maternal clinical signs; exposure earlier in gestation may result in pregnancy loss or possibly development of congenital defects in the foetus.
One example is pestivirus infections in cattle, pigs and sheep. Maternal infection may manifest as embryonic and foetal death, or congenital
anomalies involving the integumentary, nervous, skeletal, endocrine, and immune systems - ataxia, tremors, abnormal hair coat, low birth weight, facial and ocular abnormalities, depressed immune response, and birth of small, weak offspring with poor growth and poor viability. Infection of pregnant ewes with bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) from cattle can produce identical congenital anomalies. Immunotolerant persistently infected (carrier) animals may result from foetal infection with noncytopathic BVDV, and these animals then become a major and continual source of infection for the breeding population.
In sheep, in utero exposure to bluetongue virus may cause pregnancy loss and there may be alarge percentage of early embryonic losses with sheep returning to oestrus at irregular intervals. Foetal deformities similar to those seen with Schmallenberg virus can also occur.
Metabolic conditions
Adeficiency of one or more nutrients during pregnancy can result in a range of developmental defects in the foetus, the birth of weak or non-viable young, and can lead pregnancy loss/abortion. Various microminerals and vitamins have been implicated including iodine deficiency (goitre), copper deficiency (enzootic ataxia in lambs), vitamin D deficiency (neonatal rickets) and vitamin A deficiency (eye defects). Known teratogens include hypervitaminosis A, alcohol and bisphenol A.
Deficiency of monophosphate synthase (DUMPS) is a lethal autosomal recessive trait in Holstein cattle. When breeding of two DUMPS carriers results in a homozygous embryo, apparently normal fertilisation and embryonic development is followed by death of the foetus in early gestation. Screening of sires destined for use in artificial insemination and embryo transfer successfully reduced the incidence of DUMPS.
Citrullinemia in cattle results in disruption of the urea cycle due to arginosuccinate synthetase deficiency and is lethal in the homozygous state. Affected calves appear healthy at birth but develop increased blood ammonia concentrations and die within a few days.
Physical or environmental agents
Maternal clinical signs may or may not be observed post-exposure to physical or environmental teratogens, so this can add to the difficulty in identifying a specific cause/s. Sometimes there are seasonal patterns associated with the growth of toxic plants or the availability of suitable vectors of arthropod-borne viruses such as bluetongue virus.
Many plants contain biologically active products that, if ingested by the pregnant animal, can result in abortion, and/or birth of nonviable or abnormal neonates. If pregnant animals gain access to teratogenic plants at critical times during embryonic or foetal development, large production losses are possible. Ingestion of several species of lupines, for example, can result in crooked calf disease. The teratogen is quinolizidine alkaloid anagyrine and the critical exposure window is at the 40 to 70 days of gestation. The alkaloidal toxin-induces inhibition of foetal movement which leads to calves with joint contractures, torticollis, scoliosis or kyphosis, or various combinations of these. Affected calves may also have cleft palate.
Uterine crowding physically restricts movement of the foetus, leading to congenital joint contracture after birth of relatively large single calves or foals. Cases are typically mild and usually self-correcting after birth. Supportive therapy with splints, bandaging or casts, or even surgical correction, may be required in some cases.
Torticollis, scoliosis, and limb abnormalities in foals have been associated with intrauterine foetal positioning after transverse or caudal presentation. Pervious urachus in foals is reportedly associated with twisting of the umbilical cord.
In cattle, aggressive transrectal palpation of the amnionic vesicle before day 42 of gestation (e.g. during pregnancy diagnosis) may disrupt vascular supply to the intestinal tract and induce atresia coli. Most cases are seen in Holstein cattle and it is likely that a genetic predisposition also exists.
Chromosomal abnormalities occurring during gametogenesis or fertilisation may result in embryo lethal anomalies or occasionally in an abnormal but viable offspring. Errors in oogenesis are associated with increased maternal age (i.e. aging of gametes) and may result in failure of fertilisation, reduced embryo viability orin expression of an abnormality during foetal development.
Chromosomal errors such as trisomy have been reported. Chromosome defects of the structural nature (translocations) seen in sheep and goats generally create meiotic disturbances, which usually causes the affected animal to be less fertile. Conditions where an individual animal has an atypical number of sex chromosomes (X and/or Y) beyond the typical male (XY) or female (XX) complement (i.e. sex chromosome aneuploids) are most often sterile.
Ageing of gametes is another source of chromosomal abnormality which can lead to anomalies in embryonic and foetal development. Cells of the defective embryo may be aneuploid (i.e. an abnormal number of chromosomes in a cell) or have various degrees of mosaicism (i.e. the presence of two or more cell lineages with different genotypes arising from a single zygote in a single individual).
Chromosomal and epigenetic abnormalities may occur during assisted reproductive techniques. For example, bovine pregnancies resultingfrom somatic cell nuclear transfer are at increased risk of development of abnormal offspring syndrome due to failures in the physiological mechanisms necessary for proper foetal and placental development. These errors can result in foetal death, abortion, abnormally large or small birth weights, or birth
of defective neonates, and they have been associated with dystocia.
Inherited defects resulting from mutant genes present in breeding lines or families may be expressed in typical patterns of inheritance. An example is the common simple autosomal recessive pattern typified by the arthrogryposis multiplex anomaly of Angus cattle.
Dominant defect traits are inherited as well and are sometimes selected for. Polygenetic defects may require the inclusion of more than one interacting gene; a congenital form of hypotrichosis in cattle (i.e. rat tail syndrome) is controlled by genes at two interacting loci.
Animals heterozygous for undesirable or lethal recessive traits may not be detected by simple visual examination; they can exhibit a desired phenotype and selection can assist in the spread of the undesirable recessive trait. One example is the ‘desirable’ Overo colour pattern in horses. Horses homozygous for this colour pattern are often affected with a lethal congenital anomaly due to failure of intestinal tract innervation secondary to ileocolonic agangliosis. Itis therefore recommended to have only one Overo parent in any mating. A second example is the dominant inheritance of polledness in dairy goats which is associated with coinheritance of a recessive allele that results in masculinisation of homozygous females. To avoid this defect emphasise breeding programs recommend that at least one parent of the breeding pair has horns.
Heritable defects in metabolic function may result in embryonic or foetal death, birth of nonviable neonates, or birth of compromised offspring that survive. Such defects may be lethal in utero or early in the postnatal period, or animals may survive in a compromised form. Careful observation and diagnostic evaluation are required to identify these conditions and link them to pedigree information.
References
1. Basrur PK and Yadav BR (1990) Genetic diseases
of sheep and goats. Available at Genetic diseases of sheep and goats - PubMed (nih.gov)
2. Dart A (2020) Available at Congenital and Inherited Anomalies in Animals - Generalized Conditions - MSD Veterinary Manual (msdvetmanual.com)
3. Dennis SM (1965) Congenital abnormalities in sheep in Western Australia. Journal of Agriculture Western Australia 6,691.Available at Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 | Agriculture | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia (dpird.wa.gov.au)
4.Dennis SM (1974) A survey of congenital defects of sheep. The Veterinary Record 95, 488–490.
5.Doherty ML et al (2000) Congenital arthrogryposis: an inherited limb deformity in pedigree Suffolk lambs. Vet Record Jun 24;146(26):748-53.
6. Founder effect - Wikipedia
7. Greber D et al (2013) Occurrence of congenital disorders in Swiss sheep. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica Volume 55, Article number: 27 (2013).
8. Hanson RR (2019) Available at Congenital and Inherited Anomalies of the Musculoskeletal System in Sheep - Musculoskeletal SystemMerck Veterinary Manual (merckvetmanual.com)
9. Jolly R et al (2004) Genetic disorders of sheep in New Zealand: A review and perspective. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 52(2):52-64. Available at Genetic disorders of sheep in New Zealand: A review and perspective (researchgate.net)
10. Lievaart-Peterson K et al (2015) Schmallenberg disease in sheep or goats: Past, present and future. Available at Schmallenberg disease in sheep or goats: Past, present and futureScienceDirect
11. Scott P (2012). Available at Some common genetic defects in sheep - Scott - 2012 - Livestock -Wiley Online Library
12. Zhao X et al (2012). Available at In a shake of a lamb's tail: using genomics to unravel a cause of chondrodysplasia in Texel sheepPubMed (nih.gov)
Veterinary centre reopens after $600k extension and refurbishment
CVS’ Brunker Road Veterinary Centre has unveiled its extensive $600,000 extension and refurbishment project, enhancing its surgical, ward, and hospital floor space while renovating existing office areas. The year-long project includes a new nurse consultation room to accommodate more appointments and a fully equipped third operating theatre for additional surgical procedures.
The facility now features a new dog hospital ward, increasing its capacity to 30 dogs with various cage sizes, spread across two floors. Both wards include walk-in cages and runs. The latest veterinary equipment has been installed, such as a cutting-edge Ligasure electrosurgical unit and high-speed spinal burrs, to improve patient care. A dedicated sterilisation room now houses a new gas steriliser and three steam autoclave units. State-of-the-art electronic hospital charting, including tablets
for patient care and electronic whiteboards, has been introduced throughout the hospital.
To accommodate the growing team of 40 staff members, existing staff rooms and offices have been fully renovated, creating apleasant work environment. An internal lift has been added for better accessibility across the two levels of the building.
“We started planning for our renovations in 2021. This evolution is three years in the making. Our extension has provided us with an additional 100mÇ of floor space, which we’ve devoted to additional consultation and operating theatre space,” Jonathan Nott, Practice Director at Brunker Road Veterinary Centre said. This, along with our brand-new equipment, means we can increase the number ofclients we serve, better diagnose and treat their animals, and offer more veterinary procedures to patients who need them.”
A collaboration between Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital and volunteer wildlife carers has successfully rehabilitated an injured squirrel glider mother and her two joeys, leading to their release back into the wild. This significant achievement comes as the
The newly extended and renovated Brunker Road Veterinary Centre is now fully open to clients. The practice operates from 8:30am to 6:30pm Monday to Friday and 8:00am to 4:00pm on Saturdays.
Three threatened patients get a new chance at life
species faces increasing threats and is classified as vulnerable throughout New South Wales under the Threatened Species Conservation Act.
Bree Talbot, General Manager of Veterinary Services at Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital, emphasized the importance of this successful release. “This is an important result for the squirrel glider, which faces a high risk of extinction in NSW in the medium-term future, largely due to habitat fragmentation,” Talbot said. "Close collaboration, species knowledge, and skills to rescue, treat, and provide aftercare for this vulnerable native animal and her young enabled us to achieve this result. When it comes to threatened
Record numbers in Tasmanian gull count
From page 1
Pacific gull numbers also exceeded 1000 birds for only the second time since counts began more than 40 years ago, while numbers of the self-introduced kelp gull were more than 5700 birds, seven times the initial 1980 count.
The count was conducted on the King’s Birthday weekend and under moderate to poor weather and sea conditions, according to Woehler.
“In many cases gulls were feeding and roosting at several areas sheltered from the prevailing S/SW winds during the low tide in the morning,” he said.
“Based on the 2024 count, the current southeast Tasmania population of pacific gulls is now almost four times the initial counts from the 1980s. Although the kelp gull
continues to expand its range in Tasmania there’sno evidence of any impact on the other two gull species in southern Tasmania from their increasing numbers. Gulls are known globally to benefit from human activities, so the patterns we’re seeing here in Tasmania agree with those from around the world,” Woehler said.
The Winter Gull Count is believed to be the longest time series of data for any gull populations in Australia. They provide Councils, community and marine farms with real-time information on the status and trends in gull numbers throughout the region that reflect past and current management efforts.
■ ANNE LAYTON-BENNETT
native animals, providing quality care for each individual is crucial to the survival of the species.”
The squirrel glider was found on the ground and brought to Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital by WIRES Northern Rivers branch. Upon medical examination, Talbot and her team discovered injuries from head trauma and found two marble-sized joeys in the mother's pouch.
Following a period of aftercare to ensure all three had a chance of survival, the squirrel glider and her joeys were released at dusk by another volunteer rescue organization, Northern Rivers Wildlife Carers. “The squirrel glider is a nocturnal species, so needs to be returned to the
wild at dusk for a successful release,” Northern Rivers Wildlife Carers spokesperson Kerry-anne Manning said. “They also need to be released into an area with hollows to provide adequate habitat. It’s an important reminder that clearing and logging can put entire threatened species at risk of extinction.”
The successful rehabilitation and release of the squirrel glider mother and her joeys highlight the critical role of wildlife hospitals and volunteer carers in conservation efforts. Through their dedicated work, they provide not only immediate care but also a vital chance at survival for threatened species facing numerous environmental challenges.
Humpback whales thrive during pandemic
From page 1
“Eastern Australian humpback whales have demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt to changes in their environment, but our study emphasises the importance of mitigating human impacts so they can continue to thrive in our rapidly changing oceans,” Linsky said.
“By continuing to monitor and protect humpback whales off Australia’s east coast, we can ensure their health and stability while also offering valuable insights into how other struggling whale populations might be conserved.”
■ JULIAGARDINER
Co-chair appointments to assess global biodiversity monitoring
From page 1
In accepting their role, the co-chairs said it was an honour to head such a much-needed fast-track assessment that offered, ‘concrete options to enhance
cooperation, promote resourcesharing, and improve understanding of biodiversity change, especially in under-represented regions of the world.’
■ ANNELAYTON-BENNETT
PictureEric Woehler
Environmental contamination threat from pharmaceuticals
From page 3
Co-author Bob Wong, a Professor at MU’s School of Biological Sciences said the evidence has been mounting for decades that severe developmental, physiological, morphological and behavioural changes in wildlife can be caused by trace concentrations of pharmaceutical pollutants and their mixtures.
“An example is male fish exposed to estrogens found in the birth control pill exhibiting feminisation and reproductive failure, leading to population collapse, while vultures exposed to anti-inflammatory drugs have undergone severe population crashes due to toxic effects. The
impacts of pharmaceutical pollutants can have cascading effects on the ecology and evolution of wildlife populations and communities, potentially causing population declines and local extinctions,” he said.
The study found the release of antibiotics into the environment can promote the spread of antibiotic resistance genes. This risk is exacerbated further by other anthropogenic pressures, including climate change, habitat destruction, and invasive species. The interactions between chemical pollutants and these other stressors can be additive or synergistic, further endangering biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Zoo prepares for a giraffe baby boom
From page 3
This just underscores the importance of our breeding programs, which can only run with the support of our guests.”
Taronga has partnered with the Northern Rangeland Trust (NRT) to support Beads for Wildlife, an initiative that empowers women in Northern Kenya to earn a living through traditional skills, reducing communities’ reliance on livestock that compete with wildlife like Giraffes for resources. Additionally, Taronga supports
Not so Dumbo!
From page 3
The scientists also compared the reactions of 17 wild elephants in response to recordings of calls that were either originally addressed to them or another elephant. The group included a family dubbed ‘The Spice Girls’ by the scientists. These animals approached the speaker playing the recordings more quickly and were more likely to answer with their own calls when the recorded call had originally been addressed to them. When compared to calls originally addressed to another elephant it suggests elephants can recognise their own
The researchers said strategies thataddress pollution from drugs need to be developed to minimise environmental impacts. These should include the promotion of sustainable prescribing practices, increasing public awareness of the environmental impact of medicines, enhancing wastewater treatment design processes, and actively pursuing eco-friendly drug design. Designing greener pharmaceuticals, and the introduction of standardised cut-off values for environmental persistence of drugs will help to limit the harmful presence of pharmaceuticals in the environment.
■ ANNELAYTON-BENNETT
rangers in the Biliqo-Bulesa conservancy of the NRT inKenya, who are on the front line carrying out anti-poaching activities and wildlife monitoring. Visitors to Taronga Western Plains Zoo can make adifference for species like giraffes simply by visiting the Zoo, staying overnight, or purchasing a gift or encounter. “Taronga is not-for-profit, so every dollar you spend here at the Zoo has the power to protect wildlife,” Avery said.
For more information on the conservation efforts and to plan your visit, visit taronga.org.au/dubbo-zoo.
and other elephants’ individual calls.
Co-author George Wittemeyer, a professor at CSU’s Warner College of Natural Resources, and chairman of the scientific board of StE, said the use of arbitrary vocal labels indicated elephants may also be capable of abstract thought.
“If all we could do was make noises that sounded like what we were talking about, it would vastly limit our ability to communicate. It’s probably a case where we have similar pressures, largely from complex social interactions, That’s one of the exciting things about this study, it gives us some insight into possible drivers of why we evolved these abilities,” he said.
Further research is needed to investigate the contexts in which elephants use name-like calls, and the scientists suggested that understanding this could help to illuminate the origins of these calls in both humans and elephants.
“These new insights into elephant cognition and communication revealed by the study strengthens the case for their conservation. Elephants are classified as endangered due to poaching for their ivorytusks, and habitat loss from development. Because of their size they need a lot of space, and they can be destructive to property and hazardous to people,” they said.
■ ANNELAYTON-BENNETT
Inquiryrecommends funding for wildlife hospitals and rescue groups
From page 5 from long hours, high expectations, exposure to suffering, and reliance on donations and volunteering is taking a huge toll,” he said.
The report echoes the 2023 Independent Review of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, which also calls for examining the administrative and legislative provisions related to wildlife rescue and rehabilitation and funding accredited wildlife hospitals.
Van Mil highlighted the numerous threats faced by native animals, including vehicular accidents, attacks by feral pests and domestic pets, habitat loss, disease, and natural disasters. “There is growing community concern about species extinction, and this report makes it
clear that wildlife veterinarians provide asignificant public good,” he said.
The potential arrival of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b) in Australia has raised serious concerns among veterinarians treating avian wildlife. “Over 60 per cent of our patients are native birds,”
Bree Talbot, General Manager of Veterinary Services at Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital said. “With avian vet clinics taking precautions against diseases like HPAI H5N1, we expect increased demand for veterinarians skilled in treating native birds and other wildlife vulnerable to communicable diseases.”
The report also addresses the need for enhanced training and qualification to tackle the veterinary
workforce shortage. Jon Hill, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Southern Cross University, highlighted the challenges universities face in delivering veterinary science degrees due to high costs and a shortage of academic staff. “There's an unmet demand for veterinary places and for training veterinary nurses and technicians,” he said. “Weare eager to partner with government, industr y, and organizations like Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital to provide students with a greater understanding and comfort in treating native wildlife animals.”
The report and its recommendations are now under government review, with a response required within three months.
Chinese small animal clinical medicine contributions recognised
From page 5
Ellen van Nierop, President of WSAVA, expressed her enthusiasm for the award announcement: “I’m thrilled that Professor Xia has been selected to receive the award, as he plays an incredibly active role within academia and clinical practice and is a driving force for innovation in the field
of veterinary science.”
Torren Stone, Vice President of BJSAVA, lauded Xia’s pioneering contributions: “Professor Xia’s pioneering contributions to this industry, this era, and this country, advancing veterinaryscience and education, make him highly deserving of the WSAVA Scientific Award.”
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CORRECTION: The June 2024 issue of The Veterinarian credited the story‘Combatting crown-ofthorns starfish destruction’ article to Julia Gardiner.The correct author was Anne Layton-Bennett. The magazine regrets the error.
“I am deeply honored to receive the WSAVA Scientific Achievement Award,” Xia said. This recognition is a testimony to the collective efforts of my colleagues and students in advancing veterinary medicine in China.”
The Veterinarian congratulates Professor Xia on this well-deserved recognition and celebrates his ongoing contributions to the field of veterinary science.
CREATURE Feature
Brown-earedbulbul( Hypsipetesamaurotis )
Thismedium-sizedpasserinesongbirdisnativetoeasternAsia.ItisextremelycommonwithinthenorthernpartsofitsrangeandcanbefoundfromsouthernKarafuto tothenorthernPhillippines.Whiletheypreferforestedareas,theyreadilyadapttourbanenvironments. PictureLaitche
Neptra is not recommended in cases with rod-shaped bacteria present on cytology sample, as these may represent Pseudomonas aeruginosa. C & S testing should be performed when appropriate to determine the identity and susceptibility of the causative organism(s). Read and follow label instructions.
References: 1 Paterson S, 2018. ¨The use of antibiotics and antimycotics in otitis.¨ Companion Animal. 23(11): 608-613 Neptra , Elanco and the diagonal