Monthly dog dosing will close measles gap
Requiring that all dogs on sheep farms be treated every four weeks for sheep measles is a significant step in reducing the impact of the parasite, says Dan Lynch.
A Marlborough vet is urging farmers to treat their dogs as they would any good worker during the mustering season, reports animal remedy firm Zoetis New Zealand.
The company has launched an anti-inflammatory drug to treat joint problems and pain in dogs.
Stuart Burrough, at the Vet Centre Marlborough, experienced in orthopaedic surgery and hip problems in dogs, has seen working dogs’ back and hip problems get worse during busy times.
“Some of these dogs can be in severe pain,” Burrough says. “Often the pressure is on them to keep working if there are no younger dogs coming behind them.”
A Massey University study of disease and injury in working dogs on 44 farms in the lower North Island found 17% suffered joint and leg issues including stiffness and arthritis. In semi-retired dogs the problems were 25%.
Concerned at seeing many working dogs suffering joint problems and pain, Burrough ran a trial using Zoetis’ new anti-inflammatory Trocoxil tablets. The treatment is given once a month following an initial loading dose; this reduces the risk of forgetting treatment and ensures continuous pain relief.
Pet dogs had responded well to the drug so Burrough and colleagues “wanted to see how working dogs might respond… and whether it could lengthen their working life, even if by just a couple of years.”
Two local working dogs were enrolled.
Tyntesfield Station’s Katie Fraser says her 8-year-old Ned had been slowing during the days, not wanting to jump up onto the motor bike and responding more slowly to commands. He had a history of back pain, with bony projections on his lower spine and mild lesions developing higher up.
The treatment brought him results within days, Zoetis says. Fraser noticed him moving more freely, and a month after the initial dose he “had more life in him and was keen to work again”.
“He is keen again to be working, and while you don’t want to push a dog that’s a bit older, he’s happier to be out there doing what he does.
“Before treatment we scored Ned on a lameness scale of 4/5, and afterwards at 1, and the same for his stiffness score,” Burrough added.
Ned recently won the Marlborough Tux Maiden yarding competition.
Farmer-led charity, Meat the Need is calling for donations to enable it to supply more meals to families in need.
Weaker pricing and demand from China continue to impact New Zealand red meat export earnings.
Fonterra has cemented its position as the country’s number one cheesemaker by picking up nine NZ Champion of Cheese trophies this year.
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
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