Vet Meets Dog
Veterinary Considerations for the Arrival of Painted Dogs Prior to Transfer There are many challenges to overcome when moving animals, particularly when animals are sourced internationally. One major area of concern is the potential for disease to be brought into the collection with the new animals. There are stringent measures in place to manage such risks, involving vets from both the receiving and sending collections and animal health government officials from both countries. The studbook keeper and European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) committees will decide which animals are best to send from a genetic view point, but this is only the start of the process. Once the animals have been selected it is important to check they are healthy and fit for transportation. It is important to note that even if the dogs look fit and healthy, they could still be carrying disease organisms sub-clinically (i.e. without showing any signs of disease themselves), which could cause problems to the animals in the receiving collection. To minimise i i this risk, the vets at tchester Zoo contact tthe vets at tthe sending collection to get copies of the animals medical notes and to discuss what health checks are required before transport. The exact panel of tests will depend on their medical histories and the types of diseases seen in the sending collection but will generally include a full physical examination, blood tests and faecal tests. In addition to the tests required by the Chester Zoo vets, the UK government may also require particular conditions be met to keep out diseases that do not occur in the UK (such as Rabies). It is the job of the Registrars in both collections to contact their respective governments and get permission to move the animals. If the governments agree, both collections will be issued with licences that will state what conditions must be met for a safe transfer. This will normally include inspection of the animals by a government vet. In the case of animals coming from a country where Rabies occurs, the UK government will require that the dogs are transported in a specially licensed vehicle, that they go into a government approved quarantine for a minimum of 6 months and they are inspected by a government vet at least once a month. 1
Quarantine Even though the animals are checked thoroughly before transportation, it is still possible that t some diseases could have been missed. Moving home is quite a stressful experience for any animal and if a disease is going to develop, it is most likely to do so in the weeks following transportation. For this reason all new animals are completely separated from the resident animals and special precautions are taken so that any diseases they bring with them can not spread. This is what is meant by quarantine. Quarantine Originally a period of 40 days, during which time a ship suspected of carrying disease would be kept in port in isolation. Now it is the required period of isolation of a vehicle, person, animal, plant or other material, potentially carrying an infectious disease. The length of time that the animals are in quarantine will depend on the length of time it might take for the particular diseases we are concerned about to develop. For most diseases 30 days is sufficient but for Rabies, a full 6 months quarantine is required. The roof and ventilation system of Chester Zoo s quarantine facility Quarantine enclosures should be easy to clean and disinfect and it is important that they not only stop any possibility of the dogs escaping but they also prevent entry of any animals (such as birds, mice, and unauthorised humans!). The keepers that look after the animals in quarantine receive special training in the precautions they must take. They also need to know how to recognise the key signs of disease and when to call in the vet. The keepers need to wear gloves, overalls and face masks and maintain meticulous hygiene standards (cleaning and disinfection) and make sure that nothing is removed from the enclosure, except for disposal by incineration. (All faeces is carefully bagged and removed by a licensed carrier). The vets check all the animals in quarantine at least once a month and send a report to DEFRA to confirm that no problems have been seen. They also do additional health checks on the animals for parasites and any other signs of disease, or that they are not settling in well. 2
A Dog s Life and Beyond Once the vets are satisfied that dogs are free from disease, they can be released from quarantine and introduced to their Zoo enclosure. However, health monitoring does not end here. Every animal is observed on a daily basis for signs of ill health and routine health checks (including faecal examination) are also performed. An essential part of monitoring is the ability to individually identify each member of the pack. Painted Dogs have markings on their fur which are unique to each individual, thus aiding identification. Each dog will also have its own micro-chip, which is a permanent method of identification. Operant conditioning can aid in daily monitoring. This is where an animal forms an association between a behaviour and a consequence. What this means is that a keeper can get close to an animal by providing positive reinforcement, for example, an elephant may receive fruit while having its feet checked. This kind of training is very useful for health care monitoring. The vets give the dogs routine treatments such as vaccinations and wormers, much the same as for a domestic dog in the UK. And if an animal is reported sick, they will examine it and use diagnostic tools (such as analysing blood samples, taking x-rays, using ultrasound) just as for a domestic dog. The main difference is that the vets need to anaesthetise the painted dogs first, as they are not used to being handled. The George Adamson Wildlife Preservation Trust Painted Dogs with their unique coat markings which can help in identifying individuals If ever an animal is anaesthetised, the vets will also take the opportunity to take other samples to check for underlying health issues in the group as a whole. Administering treatments can be a real challenge! Domestic dogs would generally be given oral medications. However it is very difficult to ensure that the right animal gets the right treatment in a pack situation, so the vets often have to resort to giving injections. Injections can be given via a dart propelled by a gas powered rifle, by pole or by hand (via a crush crate designed to hold the animal still safely). Other treatments, such as for certain parasites, can be administered onto the skin. Eye and ear drops are a difficult treatment, but if they are required, the vet and keeper team endeavour to make it possible. 3
There would also be a clear breeding plan for the dogs, and if the group were to be a breeding group then the vets would play a major part in controlling the breeding. Recommendations within the captive breeding programme would be followed, and if breeding needed to be controlled then a contraception plan would be required. For the Painted Dogs, contraception would most likely be hormonal implants. Irreversible methods include castration, and other management methods include separation. If a member of the pack were to leave for a new home, the whole cycle for pre export checks and testing would need to be started as described at the beginning. Often the only way to get a detailed picture of an animal s health is in the unfortunate event of their death. To establish the cause of death the veterinary team can carry out a full post mortem. Perhaps most importantly, the vets get to carry out detailed tests which may give indicators to the health of the rest of the group. The remaining dogs may then benefit from the knowledge gained by the veterinary team, after the death of one of the pack. Summary Identifying healthy animals is vital in pre-planning a healthy collection. There are stringent measures in place to prevent the movement of diseases during international and national animal transfers which involve tests and reports by governmental vets and departments. The diseases of concern are dependent upon geographical location of the source animals. There is a statutory quarantine period for animals joining the Zoo and if Rabies is a disease of concern, this period is at least six months. The veterinary team are involved in monitoring i the animals throughout h t the quarantine period and both the vets and keepers work hard to settle the new animals quickly. Once cleared, the animals can settle into their new enclosure and normal routine. There are many techniques which will be used to monitor and care for the dogs on a daily basis and throughout their life at Chester Zoo. If a dog is to leave the pack for a new home the vets will be involved in the many tests required, and if an animal dies, much can be learned from a post mortem. Acknowledgement Thank you to Stephanie Sanderson (Head of Conservation Medicine at Chester Zoo) for help and advice. 4