Health and Nutrition of Working Dogs

Authors: Jones BR
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 57, Issue 6, pp 304, Dec 2009
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Dog
Subject Terms: Nutrition/metabolism, Animal welfare
Article class: Editorial

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Abstract:

Working dogs of many different breeds assist our society in a variety of different roles. Readers are familiar with the part dogs play for the Police Department, Foundation for the Blind, Department of Conservation, and Immigration and Customs. Farm dogs in New Zealand are icons of rural life, and have contributed ‘silently’ to the economy of New Zealand since commercial farming commenced in the 19th Century. Their special working environment and the relationship they have with other domestic animals and humans means these dogs are likely to share specific welfare and health problems. This issue of the New Zealand Veterinary Journal introduces a feature series of papers on a theme devoted to working days in New Zealand.
For the first time, results are presented of a survey of veterinarians in New Zealand on the prevalence of particular diseases and health problems of the working farm dog (Cave et al. 2009). Identification of the most frequent injuries and disease conditions now gives veterinarians and researchers key areas to address in their research, and target advice for their prevention.
A study on feeding a low-carbohydrate/high-protein diet to working dogs confirms certain advantages for the dogs (Hill et al. 2009), and again identifies the further research required to understand why such a diet would be of nutritional benefit for these ‘high-workload’ dogs.
The propensity for injury to joints and the spinal column as a result of working dogs’ extreme degree of activity and high workload is not unexpected. Two papers provide information on the outcome of arthrodesis for carpal injuries, and a review of degenerative lumbosacral stenosis of working dogs, respectively. A prospective study of the outcome of pancarpal arthrodesis provides data essential for veterinarians to give a suitable prognosis for surgery of a working dog with an injured carpus (Jerram et al. 2009). The value of this prospective study cannot be over emphasised. The review of aspects of degenerative lumbosacral stenosis, its diagnosis and treatment, provides information essential to understand the development of the condition, and its diagnosis and management (Worth et al. 2009a).
A case series highlights the susceptibility of farm dogs to bacterial infections and infection from other microbial agents, describing intra-thoracic pyogranulomatous disease in four working dogs (Doyle et al. 2009). The often extreme conditions under which farm dogs work will always make them a susceptible target for pathogens and parasites.
Of all the papers in this issue, the second from Andrew Worth and colleagues is the most significant for practising veterinarians (Worth et al. 2009b).… continued

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