World 042821

PET CARE CORNER | THE WORLD
The Family Dog May Need More Walks–
April Awareness for Canine Health
Melissa Ruiz
Though the Vernal Equinox occurs in March, most people
in the Northern Hemisphere consider April to be the unofficial
beginning of spring.
With its rain showers, birdsongs, and warmer temperatures,
April is the month that truly draws former winter homebodies
into the outside world once again.
Springtime is also when most people either take or begin
their fitness efforts outdoors. As enjoyable as a stroll alone
might be, those with canine family members might want to
consider letting FiFi or Sparky tag along. It could be the very
thing that makes all the difference in his or her quality of life.
April is Canine Fitness Month, a time dedicated to focusing
on keeping man’s best friend healthy and active.
According to the most recent data available from the North
American Veterinary Community (NAVC), in association
with the Banfield Pet Hospital Network, a Veterinary
Emerging Topics (VET) Report revealed that more than half
of all adult dogs seen at over 1,000 Banfield hospitals alone
were considered overweight or obese in 2019.
Researchers found that 51 percent of the almost 2 million
adult dogs seen at Banfield practices were classified as overweight.
The report also showed that less than ten percent of
these pets successfully went on to lose weight following their
diagnoses, and of those, roughly 40 percent ended up gaining
weight back within a year.
Excess weight in pets is associated with a number of
adverse health conditions, says the American Animal Hospital
Association (AAHA). These conditions include
Endocrinopathies, metabolic abnormalities, cardiovascular
disease, decreased immune functions, and joint problems, and
more.
Like their human counterparts, there are a number of different
factors that can lead to canine obesity, according to Doctor
of Veterinary Medicine, Christopher G. Byers.
Perhaps the biggest factor in weight gain is the ratio of
exercise or activity to the amount of food a dog eats. The
amount of food per meal, number of snacks and treats, and
food quality can adversely affect a dog’s weight.
“Indiscriminate feeding habits including feeding table
scraps, poor diet, and constant access to food are significant
contributing factors to this most prevalent issue in canine
population.” Dr. Byers wrote in his conclusion to the article:
Obesity in dogs ... exploring the causes and consequences of
canine obesity.
Should bad feeding habits develop, coupled with a decrease
in energy output, there are several other internal factors that
could further exacerbate a dog’s weight gain.
As it turns out, there are several dog breeds that have a
biological predisposition to obesity, wrote Dr. Byers. These
Electric Fencing Offers Protection Against Chicken Predation
Keeping a small flock of chickens at home to provide eggs
and meat has become increasingly popular, but many firsttime
small-scale poultry farmers are discovering that several
species of wildlife like the taste of chicken as much as we do.
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department urges poultry
owners to use electric fencing and follow other precautions to
protect their birds from predation.
“We are already getting reports of bears hitting bird feeders
and expect to be receiving additional reports soon about
bears, foxes, raccoons, fisher, coyotes, skunks, and bobcats
preying on chickens,” said Forrest Hammond, Vermont’s bear
biologist. “Many of the calls will be coming from people who
are new at keeping chickens and who do not provide sufficient
protection for their birds.”
“In 2020, we received a record 167 reports of bears getting
after chickens. This number has been increasing in recent
years with an average of 31 reports per year from 2011 to
2017 and an average of 122 reports per year from 2018 to
2020.”
Hammond urges people to keep their chickens contained
inside electric net fencing and to make sure any wire fencing
is secure. Use of one-quarter-inch hardware cloth, especially
along the bottom of an enclosure will block most small
predators. Weasels can get through a one-inch opening. The
• • •
breeds include Cairn Terriers, West Highland White Terriers,
Scottish Terriers, Shetland Sheepdogs, Basset Hounds,
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Dachshunds, Beagles, Cocker
Spaniels, and Labrador Retrievers.
Interestingly, Dr. Byers noted that certain dog breeds, particularly
sight hounds (dogs such as Greyhounds, Whippets,
etc), appear to be resistant to the development of obesity. This
is due largely in part to their aerodynamic body structure and
unique metabolisms which allow these breeds to move at
great bursts of speed to chase down fast-footed game, says the
American Kennel Club.
Age is also a factor in animal weight gain, continued Dr.
Byer, as lean body mass declines as dogs get older. This loss
is often exacerbated if voluntary activity is also decreased
along with age. Furthermore, if food intake does not decrease
proportionately with decreasing energy needs, this results in
Fluffy gaining weight.
Dogs can also gain weight after being spayed or neutered.
As a net loss of circulating sex hormones occurs, the dog’s
metabolism also seems to slow. Changes in these hormones
directly affect the satiety (feeling of fullness) center of the
brain, causing spayed and neutered dogs to eat more food than
is required for their energy levels, resulting in weight gain.
There are also certain medications that contribute to animal
weight gain, including Phenobarbital and Glucocorticoids,
particularly if taken over a long period of time.
For owners who suspect their furry family member may
need to shed a few pounds, the first step shouldn’t be diving
head-first into a new diet and exercise regimen. At least not
without consulting with Spot’s doctor first.
Says Blue Cross for Pets, “It is best to start with a trip to
the vet ... your pet will need a check-up for medical conditions
that could interfere (with weight loss).
From there, the Veterinarian can help owner and pet begin
a weight-loss journey best suited for the dog’s unique needs.
Most practices also offer calorie-controlled foods and weight
control clinics to aid in getting pets back to their optimal
health.
Of course, prevention is the best way to control a dog’s
weight. Ensuring pets get plenty of exercise and activity, eat
the right foods in the right amounts, and getting annual wellness
screenings can help keep dogs at their healthy weight.
The Veterinarian can also help advise the owner what food
and how much of it is best for his or her canine friend.
As days grow longer, there is more daylight after working
hours to get the family, Fido included, out for some muchneeded
fresh air and exercise. The family that gets healthy
together stays together, and its most loyal members deserve
the proper care to ensure they can stay together as long as
possible.
electric netting, however, is good extra protection even outside
the wire netting – especially against black bears which
are strong enough to break into most unprotected chicken
coops. Several types of electric net fencing are available.
The netting is portable and can easily be used with moveable
chicken pens.
Here are additional tips to help keep your chickens safe:
• Apply bacon grease or peanut butter to a spot on the electric
fencing as an added deterrent.
• Cover the tops of pens with wire or plastic netting to guard
against attacks from avian and climbing predators.
• Bury galvanized hardware cloth or netting 12 inches deep
around the perimeter of the pen to prevent access by digging
predators.
• A motion-activated light to illuminate the coop after dark
will discourage some predators. Motion-activated alarms
also can help deter them.
• Store poultry feed in a secure indoor location in tight containers,
and only feed poultry the amount that can be consumed
in one feeding.
Vermont Fish and Wildlife has more helpful information
about living with bears on their website www.vtfishandwildlife.com.
VTF&W photo by John Hall
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease
May Threaten Vermont’s
Rabbits and Hares
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department says a disease
affecting rabbits and hares previously found in western states
may be moving eastward. Rabbit hemorrhagic disease
(RHDV2) is a virus known to be extremely lethal to wild and
domestic rabbits, including cottontail rabbits and snowshoe
hares.
RHDV2 was first found in New Mexico in 2010, but it has
spread rapidly to other western states (https://www.aphis.usda.
gov/aphis/maps/animal-health/rhd), and a case involving a
domestic rabbit was reported in Florida in late 2020.
Infection with the virus usually results in the quick death of
a rabbit, often in only a few days. The virus is transmitted
through direct contact between wild rabbits, domestic rabbits,
or between wild and domestic rabbits. It is also easily spread
indirectly through contact with dead infected rabbits, infected
food and water supplies, personal clothing, and domestic rabbit
cages.
The virus withstands environmental stresses such as heat,
cold, wet, or drought conditions and it can live in the environment
for months. Rabbits infected with the virus may have
blood from body openings, appear listless or lethargic, and
they usually die within a few days. The disease does not affect
other wildlife, dogs, cats, or humans.
The likely path of this virus coming to Vermont is through
importation of a domestic rabbit, imported rabbit products, or
by people coming back to Vermont from states that have the
RHDV2 virus.
“We are cooperating with the Vermont Agency of
Agriculture, which regulates the domestic rabbit trade in the
state, to raise awareness of this disease and minimize the likelihood
of introduction of the virus into Vermont’s rabbit populations,”
said Vermont Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Louis
Porter.
Here is what you can do to prevent the virus from getting to
Vermont:
1. If you own pet rabbits, do not let their food or droppings be
exposed to wild rabbits. Keep their quarters clean and use
approved disinfectants for the RHDV2 virus or a 10 percent
bleach solution regularly. Do not release domestic rabbits into
the wild.
2. Wildlife rehabilitators should not let wild rabbits in their
care come into contact with domestic rabbits or their cages,
food dishes, or any other domestic rabbit items. All rabbit
equipment including cages, food and water dishes, and other
materials should be cleaned with a disinfectant approved by
the EPA for RHDV2 virus (https://www.epa.gov/pesticideregistration/list-o-disinfectants-use-against-rabbit-hemorrhagic-disease-virus-rhdv2).
3. If you find a dead rabbit in the wild, do not touch it. If you
see more than one dead rabbit report it to the Vermont Fish
and Wildlife Department.
4. Hunters should not handle wild rabbits after harvesting
without wearing nitrile gloves. Dispose of the gloves, carcass
remains and entrails in plastic bags using appropriate sanitation
methods or by burying in the ground at least two feet
deep. Wash hands, hunting equipment and clothing thoroughly
after cleaning game. If hunters are hunting rabbits in
other states do not bring those harvested rabbits into Vermont.
5. Report unusual wild rabbit mortalities or unusual rabbit
behavior to Vermont Fish and Wildlife.
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VETERINARIAN
www.onionriveranimalhospital.com
Colleen Bloom, VMD Hannah Flynn, VMD
Karen Bradley, DVM Lauren Quinn, DVM
Anne Culp, VMD Hailey Gentile, DVM
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Laura Audette, DVM
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Berlin, VT
802-223-7765
page 18 The WORLD April 28, 2021