East Pilbara Dog Health Program

Transcription

1 East Pilbara Dog Health Program Punmu and Kunawarritji. Report for Pilbara Meta Maya & AMRRIC 2009 Pilbara Dog health Program, Page 1

2 East Pilbara Dog health Program Program development At the Request of Pilbara Meta Maya, in conjunction with AMRRIC inc. (Animal Management in Rural & Remote Indigenous Communities) a team visited Punmu and Kunawarritji in the east Pilbara to conduct a dog health program. This program follows on from the successful dog health programs conducted earlier in july 2009 at Cotton Creek and Jigalong and at the end of September 2008 to more westerly Pilbara communities. This program is a partnership between Pilbara Meta Maya and AMRRIC with funding provided by BHP Biliton. Objectives of the Dog health Program. The main objectives of a dog health program are to improve the health and welfare of the community dogs thereby improving the health and welfare of the community. Pilbara Meta Maya environmental health workers have been aiding dog health in both communities for a number of years by providing regular parasite control and temporary hormonal sterilisation. Surgical desexing and selective euthanasias were identified as being more long term population control measures. Overpopulation of dogs causes considerable problems for communities and it is hoped that this dog health program will reduce dog over population, improve dog health and reduce the problems too many dogs cause Pilbara Dog health Program, Page 2

3 The Team Team members included: Dr Stephen Cutter - Vet (Ark Animal Hospital) Janell Slater - Healthy Living Coordinator (Pilbara Meta Maya RAC) Tess Cooper - Veterinary Nurse (Ark Animal Hospital) Dr Louise Rabbitt - Veterinary Volunteer Christopher Blow - Aboriginal Environmental Health trainee In addition we were ably helped by at Punmu by Jason Searle, Environmental Health Program Coordinator of Kurrunpa Kunyjunyu. As with previous dog health programs most of the planning and hard organisational work was done by Trish Hill, Environmental Health Supervisor, Pilbara Meta Maya RAC Pilbara Dog health Program, Page 3

4 Additionally numerous community members were of great assistance. In both communities we strongly encouraged community members to participate on many levels. Indigenous community members were proactive in their support and were very interested in learning skills to assist in the program. There was considerable enthusiasm from local people of all ages. Local people assisted in capturing, identifying and handling of dogs, preparing dogs for surgery, shaving dogs, tattooing dogs (animals are tattooed in the ear to show their desexed status), cleaning surgery sites post operatively, and support for dogs when recovering, (water and shade). It was great to have such widespread community support and assistance Pilbara Dog health Program, Page 4

5 What was done. All the dogs in both communities were treated with ivermectin (Ivomec ) to control parasites (Mange and worms). Male and Female Dogs and Cats were surgically desexed - with owner consent. Dogs that were surrendered by their owner for euthanasia were humanely euthanased Pilbara Dog health Program, Page 5

6 What was done. Ivermectin Ivermectin controls parasites (mange, worms and ticks). The ivermectin dose was given out on bread with anchovy paste. Most dogs eat the bread and medication enthusiastically. (Ivermectin can also be given by injection. ) It is essentially equivalent as the Cydectin Pour on (Moxidectin) that the Pilbara Meta Maya environmental health team has been giving to dogs in both communities. In dogs Ivermectin/Moxidectin are very effective at controlling: Roundworms (Toxacara canis, Toxascaris leonina), Whipworms (Trichuris vulpis), Hookworms (Ancylostoma caninum, Ancylostoma braziliense, Uncinaria stercoralis), Threadworms (Strongyloides stercoralis), Throatworms (Oslerus osleri), Tissue worm (Dipetalonema reconditum), Sarcoptic mange/scabies (Sarcoptes scabei). Dog Lice (Heterodoxus spiniger) They also aid in the control of: Demodectic mange (Demodex canis), Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis). Brown dog ticks (Rhipecephalas sanquineus) Pilbara Dog health Program, Page 6

7 Surgical sterilisation (Desexing) Desexing Desexing is a procedure that permanently prevents the dog from producing puppies. Besides reducing the number of puppies born, other benefits of desexing include: Castration (desexing of males) reduces: Wandering, fighting with other dogs Prostate diseases Sexual behaviour Dominance aggression Prevents the spread of TVT - a sexually transmitted tumour. Spaying (desexing of females) reduces : Mammary tumours Infections of the reproductive tract (which are often fatal) Sexual behaviour Wandering Maternal aggression Problems associated with pregnancy/birth. Risk of female dogs dying. Female dogs often die because they can not get enough food to support themselves and their puppies during lactation. Prevents the spread of TVT - a sexually transmitted tumour that is common in many communities often fatal. Over all desexing makes dogs better and healthier pets Pilbara Dog health Program, Page 7

8 Temporary Fertility Control A contraceptive (Covinan ) injection could also be given. This prevents a bitch coming on heat and hence conceiving. The effect is temporary and unless repeat injections are given every 3-5 months then the dog will come on heat 5-6 Months after the injection and would usually become pregnant. This drug is currently the safest and best nonsurgical method of preventing female dogs from breeding. The Pilbara Meta Maya environmental health team can give these injections however due to their temporary duration and the need to catch dogs to give repeated injections, surgical desexing is preferred. This was given when the owners declined desexing but wanted a temporary break from puppies Pilbara Dog health Program, Page 8

9 Euthanasia This is a delicate subject and needs to be treated carefully. Whilst local Indigenous people often request that their dogs be destroyed others have grave concerns about it. If done improperly it can jeopardize any sort of treatment of dogs in the community for years to come. The owner must give clear and unequivocal consent and understand what they are asking for. When a dog is unowned we get consent from the senior people in the community as a whole. Euthanasia is performed by intravenous injection of Pentobarbitone. This is an extremely rapid and painless method of killing a dog. The only pain felt is that of a needle prick. While only a couple of dogs were offered for euthanasia at Kunawarritji there was a strong demand at Punmu. In particular there was a group of unowned dogs at Punmu which lived on the edge of town causing trouble. They had become a dangerous pack and had bitten many people. We removed this entire group at the community s request. Most of the dogs that are offered up for euthanasia are the fringe dwellers - those dogs that are not fully part of the family. Mangy, diseased or unfriendly dogs fall into this group. As do teenage dogs (about 4 months of age) - this is a commonly unwanted age group - no longer cute pups and are struggling to find new homes Pilbara Dog health Program, Page 9

10 Cats Cats We did not see any cats at all in Punmu but there were two houses with large numbers of them in Kunawarritji. Overpopulation of cats cause a number of environmental health issues similar to those of dog but also including: Spread of toxoplasmosis to both people and wildlife. Hunting wildlife Seeding sources for feral cat populations Undesexed male cats mark their territory (usually peoples houses) with strong smelling urine. Stressed cats (esp. over crowded cats) are more likely to defecate and urinate inside houses especially in bathrooms and cupboards. Desexing cats reduces a lot of the associated problems. It stops the production of kittens so prevents the population explosions that tend to occur in people s houses. It also stops most male cats from spraying urine, fighting and wandering. It also prevents females coming on heat and getting pregnant. Like dogs it makes them better pets that are more inclined to stay at home and cause little trouble. We desexed most if not all the cats at Kunawarritji. (It was hard to tell though, as they are good at hiding and the owners were unsure of how many they had.) 2009 Pilbara Dog health Program, Page 10

11 Results Punmu Dogs 4/8/09-5/8/09 Dog Census. Male dogs in Community Female dogs in Community Pups in Community Total Dogs House holds with Dogs What was done. Castrates Speys Euthanasias Covinan Ivermectins % Males castrated % Females Speyed % total population euthanased Average dog No./ household % not breeding* * Dogs castrated, speyed, euthanased or given Covinan Pilbara Dog health Program, Page 11

12 Kunawarritji Dogs 6/8/09 8/8/09 Dog Census. Male dogs in Community Female dogs in Community Pups in Community Total Dogs House holds with Dogs Average Dogs/house hold What was done. Castrates Speys Euthanasias Covinans Ivermectins % Males castrated % Females Speyed % total population euthanased Average dog No./ household % not breeding* * Dogs castrated, speyed, euthanased or given Covinan Pilbara Dog health Program, Page 12

13 Comments It seems that all adult female dogs at Kunawarritji were either desexed, treated with Covinan or euthanased. Due to dogs moving between communities, new untreated dogs will doubtless be move into the community soon. As pups can be desexed from eight weeks of age a number of pups were desexed at both communities. The dogs in both communities were on the whole in good condition. There was only a small proportion that were mangy or thin. A small number of dogs had ticks or lice. While there has been an immediate drop in numbers of dogs (especially at Punmu) the longer term effects of desexing will cause a much longer term and sustainable drop in dog population. As a result of community cooperation and the team s hard work we were able to desex & treat a large number of dogs in both communities. Several heavily pregnant and on heat dogs were desexed resulting in the prevention of many imminent pups. Additionally several other medical problems were addressed including wounds and uterine infections. We were well received and most people were enthusiastic about our visit and were keen for us to treat their dogs. In both communities nobody refused us to treat their dogs. The end result of this was that every animal that owners wanted treated was treated. Any dog left entire (undesexed) was because the owners wanted it that way Pilbara Dog health Program, Page 13

14 School Visit At Punmu we visited the school and gave a talk to all the school children. It was well received with good participation. At both communities we had an active following of children. Many visited everyday to observe surgery. They were keen, helpful and asked many intelligent questions and it was clear that they were learning a great deal. Happy the car surfing dog. At Kunawarritji a dog named Happy routinely rode on his owners car wind screen. He is a very friendly and social dog and visited us every day Pilbara Dog health Program, Page 14

15 Outcomes. The veterinary program has succeeded in surgically desexing a large number of dogs and cats in both communities. It has also removed a large number of unwanted and dangerous animals from Punmu. By having access to a program such as this on a regular basis, the Indigenous community is empowered to have control over their dog population numbers and most importantly the consequent impacts on environmental and human health. As a consequence of this veterinary visit there will be a reduction in the number of dogs, faecal contamination, pack behaviour, unrestrained breeding behaviour, territorial aggression, public nuisance (noise, rubbish spread and dog fights), zoonotic disease, sick and dying pups to name a few. Generally, not only is there an improvement in the health and welfare of the dogs but also of the community itself. Recommendations We would recommend that: Perseverance with encouraging a household limit of dogs per household. As can be seen in both communities the average was 3-4 times the shires limit. Time, and persistent effort will be required to achieve this. Continuation of community dog health visits by the Environmental Health team from Pilbara Meta Maya are essential. They help to maintain the health status of the dogs and control their numbers Pilbara Dog health Program, Page 15

16 Desexing is the best long term population control so regular veterinary visits at least annually would be ideal Pilbara Dog health Program, Page 16

17 Pilbara Meta Maya Regional Aboriginal Corporation is an incorporated Indigenous organisation established 14 years ago to provide services to remote Aboriginal communities in the areas of housing management, home living skills, environmental heath and essential services. In the area of essential services PMMRAC currently holds a Western Australian state government contract to provide repairs and maintenance services to 27 communities within the Pilbara/Gascoyne/ Murchison areas of Western Australia. AMRRIC animal management in rural and remote indigenous communitiescaring for companion animals in first nations... and their companions AMRRIC is a non profit organisation - an independent group of veterinarians, academics, health workers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. AMRRIC facilitate sustainable dog programs in remote Indigenous communities to improve the health and well being of the entire community. Report Written by Dr Stephen Cutter The Ark Animal Hospital. P.O. Box 2275 Palmerston NT 0831 Ph info@thearkvet.com Pilbara Dog health Program, Page 17