Welfare Flashcards
State the 5 welfare needs
- Need for suitable environment
- Need for suitable diet
- Need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour
- Need to be housed with or without other animals
- Need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease
What constitutes freedom from hunger and thirst?
Access to water
Diet that maintains health and vigour
What constitutes freedom from discomfort?
Provide appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area
What constitutes freedom from pain, injury and disease
Prophylactic treatment
E.g. worming, vaccination etc
What constitutes freedom to express normal behaviour?
Providing sufficient space, facilities and company of animals own kind if preferred
What constitutes freedom from fear and distress?
Ensuring conditions and treatment to avoid mental suffering
Name and date the 2 UK welfare acts
The Animal Welfare Act (England and Wales) 2007
The Animal Health and Welfare Act (Scotland) 2006
What is the main point of the Animal Health and Welfare Act (Scotland) 2006?
Places a ‘duty of care’ on owners and those looking after animals to ensure their welfare needs are being met.
Includes all vertebrates.
Helps prevent animal abuse
What does the Animal Health and Welfare Act (Scotland) 2006 state is illegal?
It’s illegal to:
- neglect to take reasonable steps to ensure the welfare of an animal
- cause a protected animal suffering
- use an animal as a prize
- purchase an animal if you are under 16
What are the punishments for breaking the animal health and welfare act?
Up to 1yr prison and up to £20000 fine for animal abuse
Up to 6months in prison and up to £5000 fine for abandonment or failure of ‘duty of care’
Can also be disqualified from keeping animals
What is illegal in terms of animal fighting?
Animal fighting itself Attending an animal fight Betting on an animal fight Allowing an animal fight to take place on your property Recording an animal fight Possessing equipment for an animal fight
Who can remove an animal?
(Ideally under vet certification) ..
- Animal health and welfare inspector
- SSPCA inspector
- Police
- A member of the state vet service (SVS)
What is the law on tail docking?
It is illegal for anyone apart from a vet to dock a tail
In Scotland, 2 breeds of working dog can still be docked
Tails can only be docked for working, disease or injury
What legislation is in place for farm animals?
They’re also included in the animal welfare act
Also have ‘Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations (England)’
What are available as well as legislation for animals?
recommendations and welfare codes (pretty much the 5needs)
Back up law and prosecutions for cattle, horses, hens, sheep, pigs, cats, dogs etc
What do the ‘Recommendations’ for animal welfare include?
The 5 Freedoms
And
1. Caring and Responsible planning and management
2. Skilled, knowledgable and conscientious stockmanship
3. Appropriate environmental design
4. Considerate handling, transport and slaughter of animals
What is DEFRA?
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
They are a government department in the UK that make policy and legislation in animal health and welfare, and food farming and fisheries (among other things)
What is the companion animal welfare council (CAWC)?
Are farm animals included?
Organisation whose purpose is to conduct independent studies on the welfare of companion animals and their role within society.
They offer advice to government based on their own studies.
They recognise the human-animal bond.
Farm animals are covered by FAWC
Name and describe the 2 types of defects in breeding
Give an example of each
Congenital defect - abnormalities (of structure and function) that are present at birth. This doesn’t have to be genetic! E.g. VitD deficiency in womb causing soft bones in puppies
Inherited defect - occurred as a result of genetics and may not be apparent at birth.
E.g. polycystic kidney disease in cats
Describe Brachycephalics
Oversized heads
Compromised breathing as elongated soft palate blocks airway intermittently
Tear duct malformation (get mixed up in skin folds making eyes unable to drain properly)
Shortened nasal cavity means more risk of FBs
Ectropion
Narrow pelvis
Shortened long bones creates increased joint pressure
Narrow nostrils
What is the breed problem with Rhodesian ridgebacks?
The ridge along their back is associated with Dermoid sinus
(An indentation of the skin over the spine which can run deep into the tissues and lead to serious infections, disease and pain)
The breeders don’t want the ones without the ridge that are healthy without dermoid sinus
What 2 breed defects do CKCS have?
- Left-sided congestive heart failure
(Affects drainage of fluid from lungs) - Syringomyelia
Cysts develop in spinal cord and block flow of CSF
What are German Shepard’s prone to?
Hip dysplasia
What’s in place to address the breed-specific problems?
BVA/KC Schemes
- score the condition on severity and try and breed from the individuals with the lowest score
What cats do the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) not recognise due to poor genetic make up?
Scottish Fold
Sphinx
Munchkin
What can be done to rectify breed specific issues?
KC
- change the breeding standards
- increase public awareness
- enforce the changes
Individuals
- don’t buy from puppy farms
- check parents
Government
- tighten legislation
What are the direct needs of animals?
Suitable food Water Exercise Grooming and nail checks Dental care Vaccines and other prophylactic Tx Vet Tx Insurance Identification End of life care
What are animals environmental needs?
Habituation to their environment and situations Comfortable bed/ safe area Play area Someone to care for when owner away Enrichment Area for toiletting Plenty of space
What are animals socialisation needs
Inter and intra species
Training
Play time
Neutering
What breeding legislation is there?
Breeding of Dogs Act 1973
Breeding & Sale of dogs (welfare) Act 1999
What’s the difference between an act and a bill?
An Act is actual legislation (can be amended)
A Bill is a proposal for legislation
What does the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 state?
Breeding establishments must be licensed
The Local Authority is responsible for granting licenses
Local authority and VS will inspect the premises prior to granting an application and this is rechecked every year.
You can have 4 litters or less without ‘running a business’ but you’ll be on the local authorities radar
What is classed as a breeding establishment?
Premises where dogs are bred for sale (even if only 1 litter)
When is a breeder classed as running a business?
When 5+ litters are born in the same year
What counts towards ‘The 5’ litters?
Any on the premises including bitches that belong to a relative
Bitches that belong to the owner but are kept elsewhere
Any other breeding contracts
E.g. pick of the litter - if supply the stud
What are the criteria for passing a breeding homecheck?
Suitable accommodation Adequate nutrition, bedding, exercise Infection control Emergency protocols Adequate records are kept
Bitches are NOT mated before 1yr old
Bitches have no more than 6 litters each in their lifetime
Bitches have only 1 litter every 12 months
What is the 1991 Amendment to the Breeding Act?
Allows inspection of any premises suspected of breeding
Does not include private homes, but does include outbuildings and land
What does the Breeding and sale of dogs welfare act 1999 state about a licensed breeder?
- Not mate a bitch younger than 1yr
- Not whelp more than 6 litters from a bitch
- Not whelp 2 litters within a 12 month period from the same butch
- Keep accurate records
- Not sell a puppy younger than 8 weeks
What extra piece of secondary legislation about the breeding of cats and dogs exists?
Licensing of Animal Dealers (Young cats and dogs) (Scotland) Regulations 2009
Dictates:
Anyone selling more than 2 puppies or kittens per year
OR
Any cat or dog under the age of 12 weeks
… needs to have a dealers license
What is the name of the secondary piece of legislation that covers mutilations in young animals?
The Prohibited Procedures on Protected Animals Regulations (Exemptions) (Scotland) 2010
E.g. neutering, ear tagging, tail docking etc.
Most are legal for farm animals and domestic animals for health reasons, but not mutilations. This includes ear cropping, tail docking and declawing which are still illegal.
Describe housing of rabbits
Groups- as sociable Regular cleaning Large cage with secure run Enrichment and gnawing materials Protection from elements, predators, wild cousins Plenty of exercise and contact
Describe the feeding of rabbits
Hay and grass
Fresh veggies
Fruit tree branches
Pelleted diet - 25g/kg/day
Describe the signs of pain in a rabbit
Hunch up Less active/lethargic Anorexia May lie on sore area to ‘protect it’ Freeze on spot Kick out with hind legs Tooth grinding
Describe a common dental issue in rabbits?
What causes it?
What are the signs?
What is the treatment?
Malocclusion of incisors/molars
Can be due to:
- poor diet ( lack of hay )
- teeth are open rooted and continually growing
- hide symptoms
- lack of gnawing material
- poor confirmation of rabbits jaw
- neglect
- selective feeding
Signs:
- anorexia
- pain
- cheek ulceration
- hyper salivation
- overgrown teeth
Treatment:
- burr down teeth under GA
- remove spurs from cheek teeth under GA
- tooth extraction
- diet change
What is the dental formula of rabbits ?
I 2/1 C 0/0 PM 3/2 M 3/3
Can only see 2 incisors but there are 2 behind them
What is different about the rabbit digestive system that allows it’s diet?
Adapted to cope with high fibre
Enlarged caecum contains a lot of bacteria for fermentation and digestion of fibre
What digestive problem is common in rabbits?
Signs?
Treatment?
Chronic Gut Stasis
- lack of movement of bowel contents and gas
Signs:
- overgrooming
- trying to eat carpets etc
- reduces faecal production
- enlarged abdomen
- hunched posture
- tooth grinding
Treatment:
- FB removal (if applicable)
- tube feed flurry of rabbit food
- gentle exercise
- medication to promote gut motility and reduce bloat and discomfort
What is myxomatosis? What are the signs and treatment?
Man-made disease to kill wild rabbits. Vector-bourne virus transmitted by fleas from wild rabbits.
Signs:
- lethargy
- fever
- oedema (swelling of eyes, lips, genitalia, face etc)
- Skin lumps
- respiratory disease
- eventually death
Treatment:
- prognosis is poor
- intensive nursing
- antibiotics for secondary infections
- flea control
- avoid contact with wild rabbits and vaccination
Describe RHD and RHD2
Caused by calcivirus and highly infectious
Signs:
- fever
- anorexia
- cyanosis
- diarrhoea
- death
Treatment is symptomatic and must include analgesia for colic
What are the signs of respiratory disease in rabbits and treatment?
Signs:
- nasal discharge, snuffling
- stained forelegs
- mouth breathing
- cyanosis
- harsh breathing sound
Treatment:
- fluids
- o2
- antibiotics
- mucolytics
- assisted feeding
What is the condition when flies lay eggs on rabbit?
How is it treated?
Myiasis
Flystrike preventative method
General hygiene and checks
Guinea pigs husbandry is the same as rabbits pretty much. What is there in addition to these things?
They are neophobic i.e. don’t like change
Must give Vit C to prevent scurvy
Love Company
What different about guinea pig dental formula compared to rabbits?
Lack extra incisors
Dental formula: I1/1 C0/0 PM1/1 M3/3
What should guinea pigs diet consist of?
Hay
Fruit and Veg
A little concentrate pellet diet
Fruit tree branches for gnawing
Name and describe the common conditions seen in guinea pigs (incl signs and treatment)
- Scurvy - lack of Vit C
- depressed, weak, less appetite, anaemia as Vit C required for iron absorption, loose teeth, bleeding gums and gingivitis, pain
- Give Vit C 100mg daily and maintain a healthy diet - Pododermatitis - inflammation of skin on foot pads
- saline baths, local antibiotics, change the environment, weight loss if needed, encourage activity. - Pregnancy toxaemia/ ketosis - mother becomes hypoglycaemic due to demand for milk from young, then breaks down own fat reserves for energy (ketosis)
- more predominant in older, overweight sows
- neutering can help
Why did Darwin think dogs descended from wolves?
Domestic dogs don’t share significant DNA with coyotes or jackals, but share 99.8% DNA with wolves.
Thought wolves developed a relationship with hunter-gatherers.
Then man began to select for desirable traits e.g. retaining juvenile characteristics (neoteny)
What is our history with cats?
Though humans originally brought in as mousers.
Some viewed them as the devil. Louis Pasteur changed public opinion and helped cats regain status.
Harrison weir = ‘father of the cat fancy’ - est cat shows
Once domesticated, cats are/have:
more breeding cycles
smaller in size
coat has changed colour and texture
more playful (neoteny)
more dosile
