Dogs provide wonderful emotional support, but for many farmers their additional work and security contributions make them an invaluable asset to the farm. Although not intended to be exhaustive, the following is a brief guide to some of the more common issues promoting good pet care among dog owners.
Modern veterinary medicine pays particular attention to preventative care, with vaccination and de-worming being two components that require regular attention.
The marked decline in the incidence of infectious diseases in Ireland owes much to the high level of vaccination conducted in dogs; the five main infectious diseases covered by routine vaccination are distemper, parvovirus, infectious hepatitis, leptospirosis and parainfluenza.
Additional vaccines cover other components such as Bordetella infection, primarily aimed at dogs being placed in kennel environments. It should be remembered that leptospirosis can be a particular problem on farms where infected rats live near waterways. Puppies (eight weeks and above) require a primary course of vaccination, typically involving two or three initial doses in order to mount an effective immune response; the number and timings of such injections will vary according to the licence indication of the product used. Subsequent immunity is not lifelong, and repeat, booster injections will be required at intervals of one to three years, according to scientific committee and manufacturer recommendations. The need to protect against more exotic diseases (eg leishmanioisis) is uncommon, but depends on intended travel plans, covered by the EU pet passport scheme.
Dogs may become infected with certain pathogens that also occur in farm animals – one of the most common is ringworm. Ringworm infection typically results in hair loss and skin/nail-bed inflammation, and may take several weeks to resolve. Remember that ringworm is transmissible to humans, so special care is needed particularly to protect children and senior citizens.
Deworming is an essential component of routine pet care – dogs are commonly infected in utero with the common roundworm Toxocara canis. Because of this pre-natal exposure, regular deworming of pups from two weeks of age is indicated. Breeders typically treat every two weeks until two weeks after weaning.
In addition to Toxocara infection, other internal parasites of concern include hookworms, tapeworms and lungworms. For most parasites, routine repeat treatment with a suitable antiparasitic agent is the preferred method of control, as diagnostic tests are not always reliable or practical. Hookworm is primarily a problem of pack dogs (eg greyhounds, foxhounds) where large numbers of animals are housed close together in contaminated runs.
Lungworm is a receiving increasing attention in Ireland as more and more cases are diagnosed clinically. The typical clinical signs include respiratory difficulty, lethargy, exercise intolerance and bleeding tendencies. The lifecycle of this particular parasite is facilitated by an intermediate host, either a slug or snail. The frequency of deworming to address all the above is a matter of some debate. Traditionally, most vets have advised their clients to treat every three months; however, some scientific bodies now recommend that in more severe cases or endemic areas, monthly treatment may be needed to prevent adult stages of certain parasites developing. Clearly, attention to hygiene and environmental control can also help to reduce parasite exposure.
External parasites of concern include mange mites, lice, ticks and fleas. While mange mites and lice are typically host-specific, ticks and their various life stages may pass between farm animals and dogs. Demodectic mange is commonly encountered in young dogs below one year of age; typical clinical signs include hair loss, skin thickening and secondary infection around the face, neck and legs/feet. The infestation is diagnosed by performing skin scrapings and identifying the parasite under the microscope.
Prolonged periods of treatment may be required. Sarcoptic mange is widespread in Ireland, with the fox being a very important reservoir of infection. Affected dogs suffer severe itching and discomfort with marked hair loss and secondary bacterial infection primarily affecting the ears, elbows and legs. This parasite is highly contagious to humans. Other mange mites of concern in dogs include the Cheyletiella species, ear mites (Otodectic mange) and harvest mite infestation. Thankfully, lice infestation is no longer as common as it once was in this country. Dogs can suffer from either biting lice or sucking lice infestations, and most cases seen today relate to young animals maintained under poor sanitary or overcrowded conditions.
The response to treatment for all the above is invariably good; a wide variety of topical and oral antiparasitic drugs are available that successfully treat internal and external parasites in the dog.
Tick infestation is a growing area of concern. A recent study performed by the University of Bristol (the “Big Tick” project) demonstrated that tick numbers and distribution were increasing markedly in the UK. In fact, from a large sample size, it was shown that approximately 30% of all dogs were infested with ticks when presented to their veterinary practice. There is little reason to believe that the situation is markedly different in Ireland, and a pilot study recently conducted by UCD Veterinary School adds weight to this argument.
Mild winter
The milder winter weather appears to be one vital factor that has lengthened the tick feeding season, with the spread of different tick species across the EU being an additional concern.
However, tick infestation cannot be viewed purely as a skin problem, as it is the development of tick-borne diseases that is proving particularly alarming to medics and vets.
While farmers will be well aware of diseases such as red water in cattle caused by tick-transmitted Babesia infection, the major problem in Ireland for dogs relates to tick-transmitted Lyme disease. Lyme disease is a very important disease of humans and dogs, and infection in dogs can often act as a sentinel or flag for levels of infection within a geographical zone. In dogs, the major clinical signs relate to infection within the joints causing lameness and pain, and while potentially very debilitating, the disease normally responds well to antimicrobial therapy once diagnosed.
Nutrition
Nutrition is a key component of normal development and wellbeing. The old approach of feeding daily scraps from the table is largely redundant as nutrition companies have sought to introduce diets compatible with certain breeds, lifestyles and life stages. It is readily accepted that the nutrient and energy requirements of a dog will vary with their age, work rate and disease status.
While there is nothing wrong with owners preparing homecooked diets, the scientific research and consistency applied to many commercial diets makes them a very attractive option for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Diets come in all shapes, sizes and price ranges, so owners should talk to their veterinarian as to which diet is most suitable and practical for any given dog. For working dogs, energy content and its rate of release is crucial. You cannot expect a sheepdog to work tirelessly all day if their diet does not provide the necessary calories, and working dog hypoglycaemia (ie a drop in blood sugar) is well recognised clinically.
Orthopaedic injuries
In addition to the diseases specified above, another problem commonly encountered in practice relates to orthopaedic injuries. Working dogs undertake huge amounts of quick, agile movements and follow-on injuries including ligament/tendon damage can occur. In addition, there are many musculoskeletal disorders that have an inherited component such as hip dysplasia, etc. Therefore, when choosing a pup, assessing the health status of the breeding line can be important. This may also influence your decision to neuter or not; in general, vets strongly recommend neutering for dogs not intended for breeding suggesting that owners should decide as early as possible if they intend to breed or not from that line.
Finally, as part of the preventative approach, it may be advisable to perform elective blood tests (eg a geriatric blood profile) to give an early warning of the potential onset of serious internal/metabolic diseases such as kidney failure or diabetes mellitus.
With attention to all the above, it is hoped that we can all benefit from our dogs having a happy, healthy and fulfilling life, and bearing in mind that they greet us each day as if we were the best thing since sliced bread, the value of same cannot be underestimated.
Read more
Take a walk on the wild side
South Tipp vet practice moves up a gear
Dogs provide wonderful emotional support, but for many farmers their additional work and security contributions make them an invaluable asset to the farm. Although not intended to be exhaustive, the following is a brief guide to some of the more common issues promoting good pet care among dog owners.
Modern veterinary medicine pays particular attention to preventative care, with vaccination and de-worming being two components that require regular attention.
The marked decline in the incidence of infectious diseases in Ireland owes much to the high level of vaccination conducted in dogs; the five main infectious diseases covered by routine vaccination are distemper, parvovirus, infectious hepatitis, leptospirosis and parainfluenza.
Additional vaccines cover other components such as Bordetella infection, primarily aimed at dogs being placed in kennel environments. It should be remembered that leptospirosis can be a particular problem on farms where infected rats live near waterways. Puppies (eight weeks and above) require a primary course of vaccination, typically involving two or three initial doses in order to mount an effective immune response; the number and timings of such injections will vary according to the licence indication of the product used. Subsequent immunity is not lifelong, and repeat, booster injections will be required at intervals of one to three years, according to scientific committee and manufacturer recommendations. The need to protect against more exotic diseases (eg leishmanioisis) is uncommon, but depends on intended travel plans, covered by the EU pet passport scheme.
Dogs may become infected with certain pathogens that also occur in farm animals – one of the most common is ringworm. Ringworm infection typically results in hair loss and skin/nail-bed inflammation, and may take several weeks to resolve. Remember that ringworm is transmissible to humans, so special care is needed particularly to protect children and senior citizens.
Deworming is an essential component of routine pet care – dogs are commonly infected in utero with the common roundworm Toxocara canis. Because of this pre-natal exposure, regular deworming of pups from two weeks of age is indicated. Breeders typically treat every two weeks until two weeks after weaning.
In addition to Toxocara infection, other internal parasites of concern include hookworms, tapeworms and lungworms. For most parasites, routine repeat treatment with a suitable antiparasitic agent is the preferred method of control, as diagnostic tests are not always reliable or practical. Hookworm is primarily a problem of pack dogs (eg greyhounds, foxhounds) where large numbers of animals are housed close together in contaminated runs.
Lungworm is a receiving increasing attention in Ireland as more and more cases are diagnosed clinically. The typical clinical signs include respiratory difficulty, lethargy, exercise intolerance and bleeding tendencies. The lifecycle of this particular parasite is facilitated by an intermediate host, either a slug or snail. The frequency of deworming to address all the above is a matter of some debate. Traditionally, most vets have advised their clients to treat every three months; however, some scientific bodies now recommend that in more severe cases or endemic areas, monthly treatment may be needed to prevent adult stages of certain parasites developing. Clearly, attention to hygiene and environmental control can also help to reduce parasite exposure.
External parasites of concern include mange mites, lice, ticks and fleas. While mange mites and lice are typically host-specific, ticks and their various life stages may pass between farm animals and dogs. Demodectic mange is commonly encountered in young dogs below one year of age; typical clinical signs include hair loss, skin thickening and secondary infection around the face, neck and legs/feet. The infestation is diagnosed by performing skin scrapings and identifying the parasite under the microscope.
Prolonged periods of treatment may be required. Sarcoptic mange is widespread in Ireland, with the fox being a very important reservoir of infection. Affected dogs suffer severe itching and discomfort with marked hair loss and secondary bacterial infection primarily affecting the ears, elbows and legs. This parasite is highly contagious to humans. Other mange mites of concern in dogs include the Cheyletiella species, ear mites (Otodectic mange) and harvest mite infestation. Thankfully, lice infestation is no longer as common as it once was in this country. Dogs can suffer from either biting lice or sucking lice infestations, and most cases seen today relate to young animals maintained under poor sanitary or overcrowded conditions.
The response to treatment for all the above is invariably good; a wide variety of topical and oral antiparasitic drugs are available that successfully treat internal and external parasites in the dog.
Tick infestation is a growing area of concern. A recent study performed by the University of Bristol (the “Big Tick” project) demonstrated that tick numbers and distribution were increasing markedly in the UK. In fact, from a large sample size, it was shown that approximately 30% of all dogs were infested with ticks when presented to their veterinary practice. There is little reason to believe that the situation is markedly different in Ireland, and a pilot study recently conducted by UCD Veterinary School adds weight to this argument.
Mild winter
The milder winter weather appears to be one vital factor that has lengthened the tick feeding season, with the spread of different tick species across the EU being an additional concern.
However, tick infestation cannot be viewed purely as a skin problem, as it is the development of tick-borne diseases that is proving particularly alarming to medics and vets.
While farmers will be well aware of diseases such as red water in cattle caused by tick-transmitted Babesia infection, the major problem in Ireland for dogs relates to tick-transmitted Lyme disease. Lyme disease is a very important disease of humans and dogs, and infection in dogs can often act as a sentinel or flag for levels of infection within a geographical zone. In dogs, the major clinical signs relate to infection within the joints causing lameness and pain, and while potentially very debilitating, the disease normally responds well to antimicrobial therapy once diagnosed.
Nutrition
Nutrition is a key component of normal development and wellbeing. The old approach of feeding daily scraps from the table is largely redundant as nutrition companies have sought to introduce diets compatible with certain breeds, lifestyles and life stages. It is readily accepted that the nutrient and energy requirements of a dog will vary with their age, work rate and disease status.
While there is nothing wrong with owners preparing homecooked diets, the scientific research and consistency applied to many commercial diets makes them a very attractive option for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Diets come in all shapes, sizes and price ranges, so owners should talk to their veterinarian as to which diet is most suitable and practical for any given dog. For working dogs, energy content and its rate of release is crucial. You cannot expect a sheepdog to work tirelessly all day if their diet does not provide the necessary calories, and working dog hypoglycaemia (ie a drop in blood sugar) is well recognised clinically.
Orthopaedic injuries
In addition to the diseases specified above, another problem commonly encountered in practice relates to orthopaedic injuries. Working dogs undertake huge amounts of quick, agile movements and follow-on injuries including ligament/tendon damage can occur. In addition, there are many musculoskeletal disorders that have an inherited component such as hip dysplasia, etc. Therefore, when choosing a pup, assessing the health status of the breeding line can be important. This may also influence your decision to neuter or not; in general, vets strongly recommend neutering for dogs not intended for breeding suggesting that owners should decide as early as possible if they intend to breed or not from that line.
Finally, as part of the preventative approach, it may be advisable to perform elective blood tests (eg a geriatric blood profile) to give an early warning of the potential onset of serious internal/metabolic diseases such as kidney failure or diabetes mellitus.
With attention to all the above, it is hoped that we can all benefit from our dogs having a happy, healthy and fulfilling life, and bearing in mind that they greet us each day as if we were the best thing since sliced bread, the value of same cannot be underestimated.
Read more
Take a walk on the wild side
South Tipp vet practice moves up a gear
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