WELFARE AND RE-HOMING REPORT

GREYHOUND WELFARE AND RE-HOMING REPORT

BY DR GAVIN GOBLE BVSC, GENERAL MANAGER, GREYHOUND WELFARE AND RE-HOMING

VACCINATIONS FOR GREYHOUNDS

The Code of Practice requires all greyhounds to have a current C5 vaccination. Please speak to your veterinarian about when your greyhounds are next due for a vaccination and ensure your Kennel Cough vaccine is up to date. Just a reminder that the vaccination requirements for acceptance into GAP are more specific, so please check with GRV if you are planning to get a vaccination for this purpose. These requirements are also on the GAP page of this magazine. In addition to recording your greyhound’s vaccinations in its Greyhound Record, please also provide GRV with copies of your vaccination certificates for GRV to upload into FastTrack so there is a permanent record. This is particularly important if you are considering, or are already, breeding from your greyhound. These vaccination certificates are required to keep the Pink Card active.

Updated Breeding Exemption Application Form

GRV has undertaken a review of the Breeding Exemption Application Form which is required when a breeder wishes to breed from a female greyhound that is over 8 years of age and/or already had 3 or 4 litters. GRV has released a new form which includes Code of Practice requirements. This new form will be mandatory from 1 June 2021. The new form replaces the two forms that were previously used (two-step submission), with a single form to be completed by both the breeder and their veterinarian (one-step submission). GRV has informed all greyhound veterinarians on the database and sent them a copy of the form.

For more information on the Breeding Exemption Application process and to download the form, please visit https://

greyhoundcare.grv.org.au/breeding/breeding-restriction-

exemption-application/.

Greyhounds and cold weather

Recent cold weather has reminded us all, winter is coming! As we all know, greyhounds have thin skin and, when in racing condition, little body fat. This means that during the colder months they must burn energy to stay warm, using vital energy needed for racing as well as increasing their risk of injuries and slowing recovery. Some tips for managing greyhounds in cold weather: ■ make sure your greyhound’s bedding area is warm, dry and free from draughts; this is a great time to check that your kennels and trailers are properly sealed from the weather; ■ check the surfaces around your property to make sure they are not slippery or have the potential to get waterlogged; ■ ensure exercise areas are checked and resurfaced if necessary, to avoid injury due to boggy or uneven muddy surfaces; ■ put a rug on your greyhound or add extra bedding on cold evenings to keep them warm; ■ monitor your greyhound’s skin and coat condition, as well as body fat and weight - you may need to increase food intake; ■ always ensure you greyhound has a proper warm up and cool down before and after exercise or racing warm up with a brisk walk followed by trotting to help increase bloody flow to the muscles; ■ make sure your greyhound is fully dried after hosing; and

■ don’t forget travelling - if the weather is going to be 10°C or lower on the day of the journey, provide warm bedding and make sure your greyhounds can be rugged. To find out more on greyhounds in cold weather go to

https://greyhoundcare.grv.org.au/health-and-well-being/

looking-after-greyhounds-in-cold-weather/ and the GRV Transport Policy go to https://greyhoundcare.grv.org.au/

wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Transport-Policy-Sep-2020-

Board-approved.pdf.

Kennel Cough seems to be an ongoing issue in the industry. The state-wide outbreak in 2017 highlighted how a more serious outbreak would threaten the racing program by further depleting the availability of racing greyhounds. Kennel Cough can prevent a greyhound from racing for several weeks, and as affected dogs can also be infectious for weeks after they recover from symptoms, outbreaks have the potential to keep ‘smouldering’ for long periods of time. As the colder weather is now upon us, now is the time to ensure all your greyhounds have current Kennel Cough vaccines. Vaccination, while not always 100% effective, is the best protection, by significantly reducing the chances of an outbreak, and reducing the severity of symptoms of affected dogs. The Greyhound Code of Practice makes it mandatory to keep your greyhounds’ vaccinations ‘current’, and this includes an annual Kennel Cough vaccination. Vaccination against Kennel Cough (the 4th and 5th components of a C5 vaccine) can be given at the same time as a C3 or as a separate vaccine; by intra-nasal, oral or injectable routes. GRV recommends the intra-nasal Kennel Cough vaccine as it has been found to be the most effective and fasting-acting vaccination. It also only needs one dose to be effective (does not require a booster a month later), although it must be boosted every 6-12 months. GRV also recommends Kennel Cough vaccinations are given early in the autumn to ensure full protection throughout winter which is the riskiest time.

If you want to book your greyhound into GAP, you will need to check the GAP vaccination requirements (introduced on 1 March 2018) which are quite specific for Kennel Cough. Please see the notes on the GAP page in this edition or contact GRV or your veterinarian if would like more information.