5. HEALTH
Making sure dogs are protected from pain, suffering,
injury and disease
5.1 Health inspection responsibilities
a) The establishment licence holder (as well as the seizing body)
is responsible for:
i. the health and welfare of the dogs in their charge;
ii. ensuring that treatment by a suitably qualified veterinary
surgeon is available or accessible at all times of the day
or night;
iii. ensuring that every dog admitted to the kennels receives
standard veterinary care as described or required by the
seizing body;
iv. seeking authorisation from the seizing authority's
representative before any additional veterinary treatment,
other than standard veterinary care, is administered, unless
treatment is urgently required and a delay would cause
unnecessary suffering.
b) All staff must be familiar with, and able to recognise, signs
of illness, injury and disease.
c) Advice from a veterinary surgeon must be sought and acted
upon immediately whenever a dog shows signs of disease,
injury or illness.
d) Where possible, all dogs should be examined by a veterinary
surgeon within 72 hours of arriving at a kennel. Where
requested, a report of their physical and psychological
condition should be prepared for the kennel owner and
seizing body.
e) Further meaningful veterinary examinations should take place
as needed - at least once a month - and a report submitted
after each examination (see an example of a monthly health
check sheet in Appendix V).
f) Each dog must, at the very least, have a daily visual inspection
to check for any signs of illness or distress (see also section
3.3b) but ideally this should be a physical inspection. This
must be recorded, for example on a daily record kept on
the front of the kennel (see Appendix V for an example).
g) During normal working hours dogs must be observed at
regular intervals and at least three times each day. Out of
normal working hours, dogs should not be left for more
than 12 hours without being checked. The frequency of
visits should be balanced against the possibility of disturbing
the dogs, although exceptions will arise when dogs are ill
or injured.
h) Where appropriate, all adult dogs should be vaccinated by
a veterinary surgeon within 72 hours of admission and as
part of the initial assessment, unless evidence of previous
vaccination is provided.
18 MEETING THE WELFARE NEEDS OF SEIZED DOGS IN A KENNEL ENVIRONMENT
��� THE FIVE WELFARE NEEDS
i) Puppies should be vaccinated by a veterinary surgeon at
eight weeks of age or an age that the veterinary surgeon
deems appropriate.
j) All dogs should have routine control of ecto- and
endoparasites (e.g. worms, fleas, ticks, etc.) as directed by
a veterinary surgeon. Records must be kept for veterinary
and seizing body inspection.
k) Any medication given must be prescribed for the individual
animal by a veterinary surgeon, and each instance should
be recorded.
l) Dogs must be groomed regularly to ensure their coat is
kept in good condition, although exceptions may arise, for
example when dogs have any injuries, pain or skin conditions
or are fearful of or display aggression towards people.
5.2 Hygiene
a) All places that dogs have access to (i.e. living accommodation,
corridors, common areas, kitchens) must be kept clean
and free from accumulated dirt and dust to minimise disease
transmission and to ensure the dogs are comfortable.
b) Separate cleaning utensils should be provided for each
kennel block and should be colour coded.
c) A cleaning schedule for the dogs' accommodation should be
implemented and displayed; this should outline daily, weekly
and monthly cleaning and disinfection duties. The cleaning
must incorporate a recognised formulation effective against
microorganisms responsible for canine diseases; for example,
bleach must not be used, as it is harmful to dogs. However, any
disinfectant used must be parvocidal. This programme should
be included in the health plan developed with veterinary advice. Andrew Forsyth & Philip Toscano/RSPCA Photolibrary