Canine and Feline Sector Group - Big Tent Meeting November 2016

The CFGS is a sector coucil that advises the Animal Health and Welfare Board for England and Defra on dog and cat related issues.

On 22 November they held a Big Tent Meeting to gather experts in various fields of cat and dog health and welfare together to gather opinions on the key issues we are facing today and how best to tackle these.

These include the crisis of cat overpopulation, issues surrounding legislation and measures to tackle dogs that pose a risk to the public including the safe rehoming of dogs, and the need for data to establish priorities and monitor interventions.  We don't even know the number of cats and dogs in the country!

There is a Puppy Working Group to tackle the Breeding and Trading of Puppies including illegal import and trafficking.  Brexit will have implications and the importance of Welfare Codes was stressed.

Some issues that were raised:

Welfare standards in rehoming organisations - The Association of Dog and Cat Homes has 160-170 rescues/homes signed up to welfare standards that all members are obliged to meet.

The issue of dog breeding is still contentious with different approaches and opinions between organisations

Law enforcement - the meeting came hot on the heels of criticisms of the RSPCA and a call to strip them of enforcement role - a call that Angela Smith, MP, strongly disagreed with.

We need to ask 'What would we do if the RSPCA did not exist or stopped taking on prosecutions?' - in short, there is little scope for local authorities or others to take on this role due to the lack of resources available for enforcement of animal welfare law.

If we were to strip the RSPCA of that work there would be a significant drop in animal welfare.

Steve Dean stressed the need for organisations to work together, and to use enforcement as a last resort. Most people want to get it right!  And of the vast number of complaints the RSPCA look at, only a small proportion lead to prosecution.

For the workshop discussion, ten subgroups were each given an issue to discuss and debate between themselves and come up with a 3-point action plan to tackle it.  The topic given to my table asked - How do we reduce the number of healthy dogs that are presented at the vets for euthanasia due to behavioural issues?  And how do we ensure they get the best help and advice?  Key measures that were identified were:

1. The importance of early advice to owners on sourcing and acquiring a cat or dog before they get them,
2. socialising and training it correctly and being aware of the need for continued education and training throughout a dog's life,
3. and when things do go wrong, knowing where to get help, seeking behaviour advice from properly qualified and knowledgable practitioners and ensuring vets know where to direct clients.

Ticks

Rhipicephalus sanguineus is primarily found in southern Europe but has been identified on  pets in the UK after import from mainland Europe and elsewhere.  They can infest and spread to animals that have not travelled abroad.  At the moment our current climate does not support the long-term survival of this tick outside so they are found in domestic environments.

Be aware if you are travelling abroad and be vigilant about removing any ticks found quickly (within 24 h) witha  suitable tick removal device.

(Laura Stokes, The Veterinary Nurse, May 2015)

Spaying: Pros and cons

Summary of 'To spay or not to spay: the nurse's role in owner education.  Smith, N. J. (2015) The Veterinary Nurse V6.

Potential advantages of ovariohysterectomy in bitches:

• Possibly lower incidence of mammary tumours
• Lower risk of developing cancers of the mammary tissue (if spay is carried out early, preventative effects decline the later the bitch is spayed)
• Prevents pseudopregnancy
• Prevents pyometra
• Reduces the already low risk of cancers of the reproductive organs
• Promoted for population control - although owner education, strict legislation and breeding control are used successfully in many Northern European countries to reduce the stray dog population despite neutering being uncommon.  So there is an argument that neutering 'should not be viewed as the main method of population control; education and owner responsibility is the key'. 

Disadvantages of spaying - the evidence suggests (though care with interpretation as it is often not conclusive):

• Increases incidence of urinary incontinence from 1% in entire bitches to between 5-20% in spayed bitches.  Timing of spaying might be important.
• Cruciate ligament disease is more common in spayed that intact bitches. Time of spaying, breed and obesity are also risk factors.  Dogs that participate in agility commonly suffer from ligament injuries; it is possible that dogs that do these sorts of activities are also more likely to be neutered as they are around other dogs.
• Increased risk of hip dysplasia, especially when spaying is carried out young. Obesity is a factor that covaries.  High impact exercise has been identified as a risk factor for hip dysplasia as well.
• Increased risk of osteosarcoma (possibly)
• Increased risk of obesity.  Age and weight of owner and age of the dog are also contributory factors.  Recent studies suggest this is due to behaviorual changes - a decrease in activity and increase in food intake, rather than a decrease in metabolic rate. 
• Some studies show that spayed bitches are more likely to show aggressive behaviour and be reactive (but there are many factors that can influence behaviour so interpretation must be cautious).