The December 2009 issue of the New Zealand Veterinary Journal contains a Feature Series of articles on “Service and Working Dog Health and Nutrition”, as well as the usual contributions of scientific and clinical articles.

In New Zealand, farm dogs are an essential part of rural life, contributing to the economy of the country since farming commenced in New Zealand. Their athleticism, special working environment and relationships with both humans and livestock result in specific nutritional requirements and they are more likely to experience specific health and welfare problems.

This Feature Series contains contributions from clinicians and researchers at the new Centre for Service and Working Dog Health and Research at Massey University in New Zealand. The Centre was established to advance the health and working life of New Zealand service and working dogs, and to study their unique health issues. We thank the authors for their contributions, and acknowledge the support of the Centre and Nestlé Purina Petcare for sponsoring the publication of this Feature Series.

The Feature Series on Service and Working Dog Health and Nutrition opens with a Guest Editorial for the Feature Series is provided by Professor Boyd Jones, Adjunct Professor of Companion Animal Medicine at Massey University. Nick Cave and colleagues from Massey University then report the results from a survey of rural veterinary practices in New Zealand that aimed to determine the incidence of diseases affecting working farm dogs.

Next, Shay Hill and colleagues from Massey University and City Vets, Palmerston North, investigate the potential effects of dietary composition in working dogs and identified possible benefits of a high-protein diet, especially in dogs requiring a sustained source of energy.

Andrew Worth and colleagues from Massey University then present a review of degenerative lumbosacral stenosis in working dogs, covering pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and subsequent prognosis, as well as directions for future research. Staying with surgery, Richard Jerram and colleagues from Veterinary Specialist Group in Auckland, and from Massey University, present the results of a prospective study evaluating the use of pancarpal arthrodesis for carpal injuries in working dogs in New Zealand.

Then, Andrew Worth and colleagues from Massey University present the results of a study that compared two methods for assessing hip dysplasia, the New Zealand Veterinary Association Hip Dysplasia Scoring System and the University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PennHIP) Distraction Index, in 47 German Shepherd Police dogs. Results from this study have led to recommendations the current scoring system be replaced by the PennHIP Distraction Index.

Finally, Jenni Doyle from Kaukapakapa Veterinary Services, and colleagues from Massey University, describe a case series of four working dogs with intra-thoracic pyogranulomatous disease. Working dogs appear to have a higher-than-average risk profile for this condition that requires aggressive surgical and antimicrobial treatment.

General articles - Also in companion animals, Amy Wake and colleagues from Massey University present the results of a survey of adult victims of dog bites in New Zealand. Most injuries were to the legs or hand and took place in public streets/walkways or the victim’s home. The main reasons given for the dog biting were protection of territory, by accident, or due to pain or fear.

On sheep, Waleeb Al-Katib from Ontario, Canada and Stanley Dennis of Kansas State University, review the current understanding of ovine epididymitis resulting from infection with Actinobacillus seminis.

Then two papers from AgResearch examine different aspects of parasite control in sheep. Tania Waghorn and colleagues present the results of a study that examined the effect of treating lambs with anthelmintic then immediately transferring them to new pasture on the development of resistance to anthelmintics. In a second paper, Ann-Maree Oliver and colleagues examined the effect of the fungicide carbendazim, when used for the control of facial eczema, on the development of the parasite Trichostrongylus colubriformis.

In goats, Nektarios Giadinis and colleagues from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece describe an interesting case of carbamate poisoning in a dairy goat herd that was fed carnations from a neighbour’s glass house. Within one hour of feeding many goats showed signs of salivation and tympany, and some were recumbent and exhibiting muscular tremor and convulsions. A presumptive diagnosis of poisoning due to consumption or exposure to an anticholinesterase insecticide was made and treatment with atropine sulphate was initiated. This was effective in all cases but one goat kid.

On wildlife, Tristan Burgess and colleagues from the NZ Wildlife Centre at Massey and from Wellington Zoo present results of a survey of the husbandry of captive tuatara in relation to nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism. Next, Feride Koc and colleagues from Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey, present the results of a study examining the pharmacokinetics of florfenicol in the plasma of Japanese quail. And in another pharmacokinetic study, Arlene McDowell and colleagues from the University of Otago and AgResearch present the results of a study examining the potential of polymeric nanoparticles as an oral delivery system for biocontrol agents for the brushtail possum.

In correspondence, Phil McKenna and colleagues from Gribbles Veterinary, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand and Selwyn Rakaia Vet Services, describe the finding of a novel nematode parasite of llamas and alpacas. Investigation of a case in Canterbury revealed the presence of Lamanema chavezi, a relatively small (8–18 mm long) trichostrongylid nematode, previously not reported outside of South America.