Animal welfare, health and husbandry (SA4) Flashcards
What is the Animal Welfare Act (2006)?
- To prevent suffering
- Legal duty of care to be fulfilled by owners and keepers (5 freedoms)
- Improvement notice can be served if needs not met
- Notice outlines steps to meet needs and time period
- If no improvement, steps can be taken, including prosecution
What are the 5 welfare needs?
- Need for suitable environment
- Need for suitable diet
- Need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour
- Need to be house with or apart from other animals
- Need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease
What does DEFRA stand for?
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
What have DEFRA developed that can be used as a reference guide by the public and professionals caring for animals?
Codes of practice for the welfare of dogs, cats, horses, ponies, donkeys and non-human primates.
What do the DEFRA codes of practice outline?
What steps need to be taken to meet welfare needs in relation to the Animal Welfare Act (2006).
RSPCA and other enforcement agencies use these to demonstrate best practice.
What are the five freedoms?
- Freedom from hunger and thirst; ready access to food and fresh water
- FF discomfort; appropriate environment, shelter and comfortable rest area
- FF pain, injury or disease; prevention, rapid diagnosis and treatment
- F to express normal behaviour; sufficient space, proper facilities, company of animals own kind
- FF fear and distress; conditions and treatment that avoid mental suffering
What does APHA stand for?
Animal and Plant Health Agency
What is the Animal and Plant Health Agency?
Exectutive agency of DEFRA and works on behalf of the Scottish and Welsh government; launched on 1 October 2014
What are the roles of APHA?
- Identify and control notifiable endemic and exotic diseases in animals
- Scientific research into bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases and vaccines
- Regulates safe disposal of animal by-products to reduce risk of potentially dangerous substances entering the food chain
What did the Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966) establish?
- Management of veterinary profession
- Registration of veterinary sureons and practitioners
- Regulates professional code of conduct and education
- Allows suspension/cancellation of registration if misconduct
What were the amendments to the Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966) in 1991 and 2002?
- 1991 - Provision for VNs, Schedule 3 procedures allowed
- 2002 - SVNs allowed to partake in Schedule 3 under supervision
How does the Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966) maintain animal welfare?
- VS must be qualified and meet minimum standards
- Only VS can practice surgery
- Only RVN can perform certain procedures
- RVNs can only act under direction of VS
- MOP can administer first aid and medication to their own pet
- Ensures VS and RVNs keep up to date with CPD
- VS are regulated and can be suspended in cases of misconduct
What does the Schedule 3 amendment to the Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966) allow RVNs to do?
- Any medical treatment or minor surgery not entering a body cavity
- Under direction of VS
What does RSPCA stand for?
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
What does RSPB stand for?
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
What is the role of the RSPCA?
Protect all animals and improve living conditions for domestic, farm, wild and aquatic animals by;
- Working for welfare of pet animals
- Improving life and reducing suffering of farm animals
- Working for animals used in research and testing
What is the role of the RSPB?
Promote conservation and protection of birds and the wider environment through;
- Public awareness campaigns
- Petitions
- Operation of nature reserves throughout the UK
What is the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS)?
- Allows movement of dogs, cats and ferrets within EU without quarantine
- AHC are required, UK Pet Passports not valid
- Animals with EU Pet Passports can still use these
- Specific documentation must be signed by an Official Veternarian (OV)
What are the roles of an animal welfare charity?
- Protect and promote animal welfare
- Educate owners
- Rehome animals in suitable, vetted homes
- Alert correct bodies of welfare concerns
- Provide financial support for care of animals
- Advise local authorities
- Produce strict code of conduct with aims and objectives
What is the role of an RSPCA inspector?
- Investigate complaints regarding cruelty and neglect
- Inspect animal establishments; pet shops, kennel/cattery facilities
- Advise members of public on care of animals
- Inspect events where animals are present; livestock shows
- Rescuing trapped or injured animals and wildlife
- Work with police, local authorities and prepare evidence for court
What are the environmental considerations important to animal health in relation to accommodation?
- Heating, lighting, ventilation
- Structure, space, size allowing normal behaviour
- Location of services; electricity, water
- Predator/prey contact, minimising stress
- Security
- Social needs, density and mix of animals according to species
What does the Animal Activities Act 2018 require of boarding kennels and what advice is given to clients of these?
- Location and construction must comply with local gov requirements
- Kennels are licensed by local councils annually
- Only granted if requirements are met
- Advise clients to inspect boarding kennels before leaving their pet there
What are the advantages and disadvantages of constructing kennels from concrete?
Advantages
- Indestructible
- Easy to clean if sealed
- Cool in summer
- Easily laid
Disadvantages
- Uncomfortable
- Cold in winter
- Porous when not sealed
- Needs planning permission
What are the advantages and disadvantages of constructing kennels from wood?
Advantages
- Inexpensive
- Warm
- Easy construction
- Movable
Disadvantages
- Not long lasting
- Needs maintenance
- Destructible
- Hard to clean and disinfect
What are the advantages and disadvantages of constructing kennels from fibreglass?
Advantages
- Easy to clean
- Warm
- Indestructible
- Durable
- Minimum maintenance
Disadvantages
- Expensive
- Difficult installation
- Damaged by some chemicals
What are the advantages and disadvantages of constructing kennels from stainless steel?
Advantages
- Easy to clean
- Indestructible
- Minimum maintenance
Disadvantages
- Expensive
- Cold
- Noisy
What are the advantages and disadvantages of constructing kennels from tiles?
Advantages
- Indestructible
Disadvantages
- Cold
- Hard to clean
- Tiles may crack
- Slippery when wet
- Expensive to install
What are the advantages and disadvantages of constructing kennels from breeze blocks?
Advantages
- Inexpensive
- Durable
- Good sound-proofing
- Insulating
Disadvantages
- Porous (harbours bacteria)
- Difficult to clean
- Rough
- Unattractive
What are the 4 different types of kennels?
- H Block - specialist kennels housing +++ animals
- Parasol - Similar to corridor but animals can’t see each other
- Run access - Usually used by pet owners
- Corridor - Most common, suitable for medium to large boarding kennels
Why is heat needed in accommodation?
- Provide warmth and comfort
- Rapid drying after cleaning and disinfecting
- Lower risk of respiratory disease as less condensation
- Comfortable working conditions for staff
- Prevent frost and damp damage
What temperature should a hospital accommodation remain at?
Between 18 - 21°C for patients that are ill and recovering
What temperature should boarding kennels not drop below?
- 7°C
- 10°C for sleeping areas
What are the different types of heating methods in accommodation?
- Central heating - may need additional kennel heating
- Electric fan - moved dust, spread airborne diseases, expensive to run
- Underfloor heating - hard to remove f+
- Portable heaters - long time to heat, can get too hot
- Infra-red lamps - can be directed to specific area, needs thermostat to prevent overheating
- Heated beds/pads - Risk of burns and overheating
- Hot water bottles - Risk of burns and scalds
It is vital that sufficient day and night lighting is provided in accommodation, why?
Dogs and cats require lighting during daytime hours to
- promote activity
- mental stimulation
- prevent boredom
Why is good ventilation essential in animal accomodation?
- Provide clean air for staff and animals, removes odours, fumes and gases
- Reduce risk of airborne disease cross contamination
- Controls humidity
- Assists in temperature regulation
What are the 2 types of ventilation?
- Passive - fresh air; open windows, doors, vents - Ineffective ventilation when used alone in kennels
- Active - Actively pulls in fresh air and forces out stale air - extractor fans, air conditioning systems
What are 2 important factors when designing accommodation?
- Access to electricity and water
- Minimal noise - sound proofing for reduced stress
Accommodation must provide enough space for what?
For each animal to
- Feed
- Sleep
- Sit
- Lie down with limbs extended
- Stretch and move around
What are the recommended short-term kennel sizes for dogs up to 60cm at shoulder?
- Height - 1.85m
- Exercise area - 2.46m squared
- Sleep area - 1.9m squared
What are the recommended short-term kennel sizes for dogs over 60cm at shoulder?
- Height - 1.85m
- Exercise area - 3.35m squared
- Sleep area - 1.9m squared
What are the recommended short-term cattery sizes for one cat?
- Height - 1.85m
- Exercise area - 1.7m squared
- Sleep area - 0.85m squared
What are the recommended short-term cattery sizes for up to 3 cats?
- Height - 1.85m
- Exercise area - 3m squared
- Sleep area - 1.5m squared
What are the important design points for kennels?
- Separated by solid/chain wire partitions - physical contact impossible
- Easy cleaning
- Easy to control disease
- Impervious, solid and washable surfaces
- Raised sleeping area
What are the important design points for exercise yards?
Points to be considered
- Cross-contamination reduction
- Ease of cleaning
- Security
- Prevent fighting
What are important design points for catteries?
- Exercise area - access at least twice daily for no less than 1 hour
Enrichment - Each unit to have hideaway
- Higher area with cat ladder
- Bedding placed in high area
- Provide scratching posts and toys
Why is hospital accommodation smaller than kennel accommodation?
Designed to be restrictive as patients require rest
What is the minimum recommended size of hospital kennel for a cat?
- Height - 45.72cm
- Width - 45.72cm
- Depth - 72.39cm
What is the minimum recommended size of hospital kennel for a small dog?
- Height - 45.72cm
- Width - 60.96cm
- Depth - 72.39cm
What is the minimum recommended size of hospital kennel for a medium dog?
Height - 76.2cm
Width - 76.2cm
Depth - 72.39cm
What is the minimum recommended size of hospital kennel for a large dog?
- Height - 76.2cm
- Width - 121.92cm
- Depth - 72.39cm
What is the minimum recommended size of hospital kennel for a giant dog?
- Height - 91.44cm
- Width - 152.4cm
- Depth - 72.39cm
What is the minimum recommended size of hospital kennel for a walk-in kennel?
- Height - 180cm
- Width - 140cm
- Depth - 110cm
Which situation might require adaptation for specialist accommodation?
- Whelping bitches
- Long vs short stay hospitalised patients
- Intensive care
- Food chain issues - House prey and predators separately
- Isolation - Non vacc’d/young, dog reactive
What is the minumum size for rabbit housing for a pair of average sized rabbit?
3m x 2m x 1m
What are the specifications for rabbit housing?
- Able to stand on hind legs without ears touching top
- Able to stretch, exercise and display normal behaviour
- Protected from extremes of temperature, weatherproof
- Access to grazing for part of the day
- Secure from predators
- Environmental enrichment provided
What measures should be taken to avoid stress in hospitalised rabbits?
- Away from predator species
- Protected from noise
- Hides provided
- Companion rabbit if applicable
- Litter tray if used to using one
- Temperature 21-23°C max as unable to sweat
Why must stress be reduced in hospitalised rabbits?
Stress can lead to
- Delayed recovery
- Anorexia
- Gut stasis
Why must accommodation within the veterinary practice be cleaned and disinfected daily?
To prevent and control risk of disease
What is the minimum requirement for accommodation cleaning and disinfecting?
- Cleaned and disinfected once daily
- Excretions removed as necessary
- Not to be left wet after cleaning
Should hospitalised patients accommodation be cleaned and disinfected more?
Yes
- More than once daily
- Especially with infectious cases
What is the definition of quarantine?
Segregation of individuals of unknown disease status for a period, prior to entering new premises or country, to limit risk of disease introduction
What is the definition of isolation?
Physical segregation of animal or group of animals suspected or proven to have a contagious disease, to prevent the transmission to other susceptible individuals
What is needed for quarantine kennels?
- Security
- No communal areas or drains
- Roofs on runs
- Double inward opening doors
- Good health and safety
- Clear identification
- Hygiene - use of approved disinfectants
- Restricted access
- Good health records
- Vaccinated within 24 hours of arrival
An isolation unit should be designed to:
- Prevent cross infection
- Be easily cleaned and disinfected
- Contain minimal equipment
- Contain washing facilities and PPE
- Contain bowls, litter trays, waste bags, thermometers
- Contain ventilation
Should visitors be allowed into isolation?
No
What is active exercise?
Animal is encouraged to make movements itself, increases muscle strength and improves awareness of position and movement of the body
What is passive exercise?
Animal is unable to move on own accord, improved strength, coordination and range of motion. Should be undertaken 2-4 times a day
What conditions have a contraindication to active and passive exercise?
- Fractures
- Neoplasia
- Infection
When should care be taken while undertaking active or passive exercise?
Must only be performed if directed by a VS
- Geriatric
- Underlying health conditions
What exercises can active physiotherapy include?
- Limb stretches - sit then stand
- Walking - over poles, difference surfaces and slopes
- Balance - wobble boards and trampolines
- Hydrotherapy
What is passive physiotherapy good for?
- Promote blood and lymph circulation
- Relaxation
- Pain relief
- Prevent stiffness
How often should passive physiotherapy be performed on recumbent patients?
Every 2 - 4 hours
What exercises can passive physiotherapy include?
- Limb stretches
- Joint mobilisation - Flexion and extension of the limb
- Massage - stroking, effleurage, coupage
Why is exercise important?
- Maintain health
- Prevent obesity
- Mental well being
- Prevent behavioural problems
What factors need to be considered with exercise?
- Breed
- Age
- Weight
- Physical characteristics
- Underlying health conditions
How much exercise is enough for dogs?
- Daily walks may be enough
- Some may need more intense workouts
- Aerobic exercise (enough to pant) 3 times a week
What methods of exercise are available for dogs?
- Walking
- Running
- Swimming
- Fetch
- Jumping
- Toys
- Agility
- Flyball
How much exercise is enough for cats?
- At least 15 to 30 minutes of activity a day
- Physical exercise and better bonding
What methods of exercise are there for cats?
- Climbing
- Hunting
- Jumping
- Running
What enrichment can promote exercise for indoor cats?
- Towers
- Fishing toys
- Clockwork mice
- Wheels
- Hiding food
Why is exercise important for rabbits?
- Maintain good health and normal behaviour
- Promotes gut mobility
- Can become aggressive, withdrawn, lethargic and obese with lack of exercise
How much exercise is enough for rabbits?
- Plenty of time outside cage
- Can roam enclosed area, entire room or house
What methods of exercise are available for rabbits?
- Tubes
- Digging
- Running
- Foraging
What enrichment is available to promote exercise in rabbits?
- Sandpits
- Scatter feeding
- Runs
- Essential to be predator proof
Are the exercise needs the same for every life stage?
- Young animals should not be over exercised, gradually increase exercise as grows within recommended guides
- Recommended guides to exercise for different breeds, important to monitor body score and adjust accordingly
- Senior and geriatric still need exercise to promote muscle and joint health, they should exercise less than younger adults, important to think about body score and other health issues, monitor other things like stiffness and pain
Why is grooming important?
- Matted coat can harbour bacteria and hide skin conditions
- Dull or balding coat indicative to medical conditions
- Regular coat inspections when grooming allows for monitoring of changes
What are the different categories of dog hair type?
- Smooth coat
- Double coat
- Silky coat
- Wire hair
- Wool coat
- Felt coat
- Corded coat
What are the characteristics and examples of smooth coat dogs?
- Boxer, bulldog, dalmatian, dachshund, chihuahua
- Very easy to groom
- Only require brushing and occasional bath
- Bristle brush works well
What are the characteristics and examples of double coat dogs?
- Long haired german shepherd, rough collie
- Long top coat, thick soft undercoat
- Don’t generally get very dirty or develop matts
- May require occasional trim for ease of care and cleanliness
What are the characteristics and examples of silky coat dogs?
- Afghan hound, spaniels, setters, some retrievers, bearded collies
- Medium to long
- Fine texture
- Need to avoid tangling
- Blow dry entire coat with pin brush to ensure no tangles are missed
- Trim paws and pads
What are the characteristics and examples of wire hair dogs?
- Border terrier, irish terrier, scottish terrier
- Thick, harsh outer coat, soft under coat
- Wire coat doesn’t shed, can be good for allergies
- Best way to groom is plucking with fingers and stripping knife - time consuming
- This stimulates skin and allows new healthy hair to grow
What are the characteristics and examples of wool coat dogs?
- Poodle, curly coated retriever, bedlington, irish water spaniel, bichon frise
- Curls
- Tangles and knots easily, can become dry
- Always use conditioning spray before brushing to avoid breakage
- Monthly groom with clippers unless showing
What are the characteristics and examples of felt coat dogs?
- Bergamasco
- Ensure felts don’t get too wide
- Grooming and bathing needed for skin health
- Lots of coat care for first 3 years while felts develop
What are the characteristics and examples of corded coat dogs?
- Hungarian puli, komondor
- Various cord types, small round to wide flat ribbons
- Need to be kept clean and dust free
- Regular bathing keeps cords and skin clean
What types of coat can cats have?
- Long hair
- Short hair
- Hairless
- Curly coat
What types of hair are cat coats made from?
- Guard hairs - long coarse outer coat
- Awn hairs - intermediate length
- Down hairs - fine, soft, fluffy, closest to skin for insulation
What are the characteristics and examples of long hair cats?
- Persian, himalayan, ragdoll
- Need the most grooming assistance
- Hair can grow up to 5 inches and shed lots
- Tangle easily and get debris stuck in hair
- Use fingers to remove tangles
- Once knots removed, use brush to smooth hair
What are the characteristics and examples of short hair cats?
- Siamese, Burmese
- Hair usually measures less than 2 inches
- Brush occasionally
- Use comb to remove tangles
- Use brush to smooth coat
What are the characteristics and examples of hairless cats?
- Sphynx
- Appear hairless
- Downy hair only, short and close to skin
- Care for skin; remove grease, apply suncream
- Sensitive to extreme temperatures
What are the characteristics and examples of curly coat cats?
- Devon rex
- Curly awn hairs, no guard hairs
- Coat easily broken
- Can be greasy, may need bathing
- Sensitive to extreme temperatures
Why is nail trimming important?
- Long nails put stress on paw by forcing weight onto back of pad
- Long nails can scratch skin, furniture, etc.
- Cats can develop ingrown claws, especially geriatric
How should a nail be cut?
- Cut below quick at 45° angle
- Have blood clotting product on hand in case the quick gets cut
What are the symptoms of ear problems?
- Frequently shake head
- Rub ears on floor
- Scratch ear with foot
- Smell/discharge from ears
How often should rabbits be brushed?
- Regularly, depending on breed
- Daily during moulting to avoid excessive hair ingestion
What tools should be used to groom a rabbit and why?
- Soft bristle or rubber brush
- Skin is thin, sensitive and delicate
- If using water only do spot treatments and dry area immediately
- Loose heat easily
- Clip nails with clippers when necessary
What should a handler check a rabbit for when grooming them?
- Remove any matts
- Check for faeces and urine scalding
- Especially important in summer when more flies are around to avoid flystrike
What is the canine dental formulae for a puppy?
I (3/3) C (1/1) PM (3/3) M (0/0)
Total number of teeth = 14 x 2 = 28 teeth
These are not present at birth, complete by day 60
What is the canine dental formulae for adult dogs?
I (3/3) C (1/1) PM (4/4) M (2/3)
Total number of teeth = 21 x 2 = 42 teeth
Permanent, emerge at 4 months old
What is the feline dental formulae for a kitten?
I (3/3) C(1/1) PM (3/2) M (0/0)
Total number of teeth = 13 x 2 = 26 teeth
These are not present at birth, complete by day 60
What is the feline dental formulae for an adult cat?
I (3/3) C (1/1) PM (3/2) M (1/1)
Total number of teeth = 15 x 2 = 30 teeth
Permanent, emerge at 4 months old
What are the 2 main forms of dental disease?
- Gingivitis
- Periodontitis
What is gingivitis?
- Reversible condition
- Inflammation of the gingiva
What is periodontitis?
- Irreversible
- Progression from gingivitis
- Affects gingiva, alveolar bone, periodontal ligament and cementum of tooth
- Gums will recede and teeth loosen
How are teeth held firmly in the animals mouth?
The peridontium must be healthy
What is glossitis?
Inflammation of the tongue
What is stomatitis?
Inflammation of the oral mucosa
What is gingival overgrowth?
- Enlarged gingiva causing pockets
- Hereditary in some breeds - Boxers
What are resorptive lesions?
- Resorption of root
- Progresses to crown, results in holes in enamel
- Gingiva often grow lesions in cats
What is furcation?
- Tooth roots divide
- Root becomes exposed and visible
What is caries?
- Dental decay
- Usually in molars that trap food
What is chronic gingivostomatitis?
- Seen in cats
- Can be associated with viral infections
What is plaque?
- Sticky, colourless film of bacteria
- Forms on teeth constantly
- Begin to reform 24 hours after scale and polish
What is tartar?
- Accumulation of hardened palque and mineral depositis
- Yellow or brown in colour
- Can only be removed through dental scaling
What does Schedule 3 (2002) of The Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966) allow nurses to do?
- Perform minor surgical procedures
- Without entering a body cavity
What dental work does the RCVS Code of Conduct state nurses can carry out?
- Nurses and student nurses under direction of a veterinary surgeon
- Routine dental hygiene work
- Extraction of teeth using only fingers
What are some precautions needed for the animals safety when scaling and polishing teeth?
- Intubated with well fitting, cuffed ET tube
- Keep patients mouth lower than pharynx
- Use of throat packs, wring out/change regularly
- Ensure patient is kept dry, avoid hypothermia
What are some health and safety precautions that should be considered for staff when scaling and polishing teeth?
- Rinse mouth with chlorhexidine prior to scaling to reduce bacterial aerosol
- Ensure room is well ventilated
- PPE - Goggles, mask, gloves
- Consider position and height adjustable equipment to avoid excessive bending over table
What needs to be considered with the technique of scaling and polishing teeth?
- Tip of oscillates at ultrasonic frequencies
- Remove larger calculus with forceps
- Never use point of scaler directly on tooth, use edge
- Ensure plently of water coolant is used
- Move off tooth quickly to avoid heat damage
- Polishing removes non-visible plaque and covers minor scratches
What is the Triadan Numbering System?
3 digit numbers representing each tooth, found in dental charts
What is the veterinary nurses role in dentistry?
- Using dental charts, recording clinical findings
- Dental x-rays
- Scale and polishing
- Dental nurse clinics
What is the aim of dental nurse clinics?
- Educate owner on dental homecare to prevent dental disease
- Oral examination
- Discuss dental products
- Demonstrate tooth brushing
- Discuss dental diets
- Prevention is better than cure
What are the 2 types of dental homecare?
- Physical - tooth brushing, chews, diets
- Chemical - mouthwash, gels, water additives
What should owners avoid to protect their pets teeth?
- Stone chewing
- Hard chews (antlers)
- Tennis balls, abrasive dirt sticks in fibres
What is the rabbit dental formulae?
I (2/1) C (0/0) PM (3/2) M (3/3) = 28 teeth
How quickly do rabbit teeth grow and why is this important?
- 2mm per week
- Essential to grind down regularly
- Achieved through good diet, grass and hay
What are 2 common dental diseases in rabbits?
- Incisor malocclusion
- Molar malocclusion
What is incisor malocclusion in rabbits?
- Misalignment of teeth, results in poor wear and overgrowth
- Lower incisors grow into hard palate or protrude from mouth
- Upper incisors curl around lower or impinge on mandible
- Common in brachycephalic breeds
- Can be secondary to overgrown molars
What is molar malocclusion in rabbits?
- Misalignment of teeth, results in poor wear and overgrowth
- Abnormal enamel spurs on crowns
- Causes trauma to tongue and cheeks
What are the clinical signs of dental disease in rabbits?
- Poor grooming habits
- Ocular and nasal discharge
- Weight loss
- Diarrhoea
- Anorexia
- Gastrointestinal stasis
- Hypersalivation
- Exophthalmos (eye bulging)
- Draining tracts on face/mandible
- Swollen jaw
How can rabbit dental disease be treated?
- Teeth should only be burred, never clipped
- Protect soft tissue while burring
- Dental x-rays
- Potential removal of incisors if recurring
- Provide analgesia
- Nursing care, syringe feed, IVFT if anorexic
At what angle should nails be trimmed?
45 degrees
What is a biological vector?
- Also called intermediate host
- Some development of organism must take place
What is a mechanical vector?
- Transmit infection
- No development takes place
What is a paratenic host?
Host must be eaten to pass on infection
What are the 3 types of endoparasites?
- Nematodes (Round Worms)
- Cestodes (Tape Worms)
- Protozoa
What nematodes are there?
- Ascarids (Toxocara canis, cati, leonina)
- Hookworms
- Whipworms
- Heartworms
- Lungworms
What do nematodes look like?
Smooth, non-segmented appearence
What issue will kittens and puppies suffer from with heavy worm burdens?
- Poor growth
- Poor development
- Intestinal impactions
Ascarids have a ‘free-living direct life cycle’, what does this mean?
Live first part of life cycle in the environment
What are the clinical signs of toxocara cati?
- Distended abdomen
- Weakness
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Dull coat
- Weight loss
- Worms in faeces or vomit
- Pneumonia if migrate to lungs
How is toxocara cati transmitted?
- From mother through milk
- Ingestion of eggs in environment
- Ingestion of paratenic host
Is toxocara cati host specific?
Yes - Only seen in cats
How can toxocara cati be controlled?
Through correct worming protocol
- Anthelmintic treatment from 3 weeks
- Treat every 2 weeks until 8 weeks old
- Treat monthly from 8 weeks to 6 months
- Treat every 1-3 months from 6 months old
What are the clinical signs of toxocara canis?
- Noisy breathing
- Cough
- Nasal discharge
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Stunted growth rate
- Distended abdomen
- Pale mucous membranes
Is toxocara canis host specific?
Yes - Only seen in dogs
Is toxocara canis zoonotic?
Yes
How is toxocara canis transmitted?
- In utero around 42nd day, transmitted via placenta
- Migrates through liver and lungs of puppy, then coughed up and swallowed
- Eggs in environment
- Through mothers milk
How can zoonotic transmission of toxocara canis be controlled?
- Use poo scoopers
- Thoroughly wash hands after handling puppies and before eating
- Avoid handling puppies not thoroughly wormed
- Don’t allow dogs to lick hands and faces
- Consider monthly worming when dogs are around children and immunosuppressed
What is toxocara cati?
A nematode (Roundworm) that only affects cats
What is toxocara canis?
A nematode (Roundworm) that only affects dogs
What is the aim of endoparasitic control against toxocara canis?
- Prevent disease in puppies
- Prevent eggs being shed into the environment
- Prevent children being infected
How is toxocara canis controlled prenatally?
- Anthelmintic treatment for bitch before whelping
- Fenbendazole kills migrating larvae
- Treat from 40th day to 2 days post whelping
How is toxocara canis controlled post whelping?
- Treat puppies from 2 weeks old to 2 weeks post weaning
- Fenbendazole or other licensed anthelmintic for puppies
- Treat monthly from 8 weeks old until 6 months
- Treat every 3 months from 6 months old
What is toxocara leonina?
- Nematode (Roundworm) affects cats and dogs
- No prenatal infection
- Seen in adolescence/older animals
- No associated clinical signs
- Does not normally become a problem
What species do hookworms infect?
- Dogs
- Cats
- Urban foxes
What do hookworms look like?
- Short stouted with hooked heads
- Each type has a variation of head shape
What is the most common species of hook worm in the UK?
- Unicinaria stenocephala
- Occurs in small intestines of dogs
- Common in kennels; racing or hunting dogs
How are animals infected by hookworms?
- Puppies infected through bitches milk
- Animals commonly infected by larvae penetrating skin or being ingested
What can heavy burdens of hookworms cause?
- Anaemia
- Diarrhoea
- Weight loss
What is a whipworm?
- Trichuris Vulpis
- Nematode only infecting dogs
- Whip-like appearance
What is a trichuris vulpis?
Whip worm
What do whipworm eggs look like and how does this help them survive?
- Trichuris vulpis eggs oval shape
- Thick shell with polar like plugs
- Enables resistance to temperature extremes
- Infective 1st stage larvae in eggs can survive in ground for several years
- Causes reoccurring problems
What area of the dogs body is effected by whipworms?
- Trichuris vulpis burrow and lay eggs in large intestines
- Heavy burdens cause bloody, mucous diarrhoea
- Clinical disease is rare in UK
What is heart worm?
- Dirofilaria immitis
- Nematode (Roundworm) infecting dogs and cats
- More common in dogs than cats
- Not native to UK, found in warmer countries
- Consider treatment when travelling
How is heart worm transmitted?
- Intermediate host, mosquito
What is the 1st stage of Dirofilaria immitis (heartworm) larvae called?
Microfilariae
Where is dirofilaria immitis found?
In pulmonary vessels of the heart
What happens if an animal is infected with dirofilaria immitis?
- Single worm in cat has severe implications
- Light infection in dogs can be tolerated
- Large burden can lead to right sided heart failure
What is lung worm?
- Angiostronglus Vasorum
- Infects dogs and sometimes foxes
What is Angiostronglus Vasorum?
Lung worm affecting dogs and foxes
How are dogs and foxes infected by lungworm?
- Dogs/foxes ingest slug infected with larvae
- Eggs live in pulmonary artery, travel to alveoli
- Develops and hatches, larvae travels to tissues
- Cough larvae up then swallow and excrete in faeces
What are the clinical signs of lung worm in dogs and foxes?
- Dyspnoea
- Coughing
- Coagulopathies
How is lung worm diagnosed in dogs and foxes?
- Faecal sample
- Radiography
- Bronchial Alveolar Lavage (BAL) sample
- Blood testing
What species of lung worm infects cats?
Aelurostrongylus Abstrusus
What is Aelurostrongylus Abstrusus?
Lung worm infecting cats
How does lung worm infect cats?
- Ingest snail or slug (rare)
- Ingest paratenic host infected with larvae
What are the clinical signs for lungworm in cats?
- Adult lung worm live in lung tissue
- Small amount not normally a clinical problem
- Large burden can cause coughing
How is lung worm diagnosed in cats?
- Faecal sample containing larvae
- Does not produce eggs, only larvae
How are cats treated for round worms?
- Most common milbemycin - oral tablet
- Spot on treatment available
- To treat lung worm, milbemycin or combination of spot ons every month is required
What is a cestode?
Tapeworm
How many body parts does a cestode have and what are they?
3
- Scolex (head)
- Proglottids (segments)
- Maturing segments (bottom end)
What happens to a tapeworm in an intermediate host?
Development of their immature stage
What are the 3 most common cestodes?
- Taenia Spp
- Echinococcus Granulosus
- Dipylidium Caninum
What is Dipylidium Caninum?
- Known as dog tapeworm
- Can also be seen in cats
- Most common tapeworm in UK
What is the intermediate host for Dipylidium Caninum?
Flea and biting louse are intermediate hosts for dog tapeworm
How are dogs and cats infected with Dipylidium Caninum?
- Tapeworms develop into infective stage in adult flea
- Fleas are ingested by infested cats and dogs when grooming
How is Dipylidium Caninum diagnosed?
- ‘Egg packet’ segments visible around anus and in faeces
What are the clinical signs of Dipylidium Caninum?
- May not cause symptoms
- Heavy burdens cause weight loss and GI signs
What is Taenia Spp?
- Tapeworm infecting domesticated animals
- Intermediate hosts are rabbits, sheep, ruminants
How are dogs infected with Taenia Spp?
Eating raw meat, uncooked or offal containing larval cysts
How are cats infected with Taenia Spp?
- Eating prey with intermediate level tapeworms
- E.g. rabbits
What is the difference between Dipylidium Caninum and Taenia Spp?
- Same life cycle
- Different intermediate hosts
DC = fleas TS = mammals
How is Taenia Spp diagnosed?
- Identify segments in faeces
- Rarely, eggs in faeces seen under microscope
What is Echinococcus Granulosus?
- Very rare tapeworm
- 2 areas of uk dogs have access to feed on sheep carcasses in hills of countryside
- Zoonotic - causes serioud disease
Is Echinococcus Granulosus zoonotic?
- Yes
- Causes hyatid disease
- Hyatid cysts form in liver and lungs
- Cause serious disease
What are proglottids?
Segments of tape worms
How many proglottids do Echinococcus Granulosus have?
Only 3
- Immature
- Mature
- Gravid
How is Echinococcus Granulosus diagnosed?
- Segments (prolottids) unlikely seen in faeces
- Visually see adult worms in intestines
- Thousands can be found
- Can remain infected for 2 years without treatment
What are the intermediate hosts for Echinococcus Granulosus?
Ruminants, including horses
- Hyatid cysts found in liver, lungs and other organs
How are cestodes treated?
- Same protocols as roundworms for tapeworms
- Broad spectrum or specific anthelmintics
- Some spot ons DO NOT cover tapeworms
- Any animal with fleas or lice should be treated
- Hunting cats should be treated
What worms does the anthelmintic Pyrantel cover?
Nematodes (Roundworms)
What worms does the anthelmintic Praziquantel cover?
Cestodes (Tapeworms)
What worms does the anthelmintic Milbemycin cover?
- Nematodes (Roundworms)
- Whipworms
- Lungworms
What worms does the anthelmintic Fenbendazole cover?
- Nematodes (Roundworms)
- Whipworms
- Hookworms
- Taenia Spp Cestodes (Tapeworms)
- Some Lungworms
What are protozoa?
Small unicellular organisms
What are the 4 types of protozoa?
- Coccidia
- Hammondia
- Giardia
- Trichomonas
What are the 3 types of Coccidia protozoa?
- Eimeria Spp
- Crytosporidium parvum
- Toxoplasma Gondii
What is coccidia?
- Protozoal parasite
- Causes marked D+ in young animals
What is Eimeria Spp?
- Type of coccidia causing coccidiosis
- Infects rabbits, live stock, horses, birds
What are the clinical signs of Eimeria Spp in rabbits?
Emaciation from D+
How is Eimeria Spp diagnosed and controlled?
- Identification of oocysts in faeces
- High cleaning and welfare standards
- Ensure no D+ or faeces in rabbit feeding area
What is Cryptosporidium Parvum?
- Small protozoa parasite found in epithelium of SI
- Infects puppies and kittens that ingest sporulated oocysts
- Causes D+
Is Cryptosporidium Parvum zoonotc?
- Yes
- Causes severe, painful D+
How is Cryptosporidium Parvum diagnosed?
identification of oocysts in faeces
How is Cryptosporidium Parvum controlled?
- No effective treatment
- Barrier nursing
- Extreme cleanliness
What is Toxoplasma Gondii?
- Internal coccidia parasite
- Definitive (final) host is the cat
Is Toxoplasma Gondii Zoonotic?
- Yes
- Dangerous in pregnant and immunosuppressed
- Can cause spontaneous abortion, congenital defects
- Flu symptoms in adults
How does Toxoplasma Gondii effect sheep?
- Pregnant ewes can have spontaneous abortions
- Vaccination available for sheep
How is Toxoplasma Gondii controlled?
- Wear gloves for gardening
- Pregnant not to empty litter trays
- Pregnant should not lamb ewes
- Ensure meat is thoroughly cooked
How is Toxoplasma Gondii diagnosed?
- Identification of oocysts in faeces
- Serological diagnoses via antibodies
What happens to cat infected with Toxoplasma Gondii?
- Usually show no clinical signs
- Excrete oocysts for 10 days
- Will become immune and stop producing oocysts
What is Hammondia?
- Protozoa parasite
- Rodents are intermediate host
- Cats are definitive hosts
- Reproduction in intestines, oocysts in faeces
- No clinical signs, not zoonotic
What is Giardia Spp?
- Flagellate protozoa in SI of humans and domestic animals
- Some species are zoonotic, some host specific
- Puppies are most at risk of becoming infected
What are the clinical signs of Giardia Spp?
- Can be asymptomatic
- Chronic or transient D+
How is Giardia Spp diagnosed?
- Cysts in faecal samples
- 3 day pooled sample for lab analysis
- Cysts passed intermittently in small numbers
How is Giardia Spp treated?
- Fenbendazole anthelmintic or Metronidozole
- Cleaning and hygiene very important
- Eliminate cysts to prevent further outbreak
What is Tritrichomonas Foetus?
- Unicellular flagellate protozoa
- Causes chronic D+ in cats
- Difficult to treat, may need off-license drugs
- Can occur as co-infection with other pathogens
- Diagnosed via visual of parasite on smear
What is Encephalitozoon Cuniculi?
- E. Cuniculi
- Microspordian parasite seen in rabbits
