ANIMAL WELFARE
ELISTA Education 2012
Freedom from
Pain, Injury & Disease
Pain, Injury & Disease
Pain= an unpleasant sensory or emotional experience associated with
actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage”.
(World Health Organisation, http://www.health24.com/medical/Condition_centres/777-792-820-1822,18377.asp)
Injury= wound or trauma; harm or hurt; usually applied to damage
inflicted on the body by an external force. (http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/injury)
Disease=A pathologic condition in which the normal functioning of
an organism or body is impaired or disrupted resulting in extreme pain,
dysfunction, distress, or death.
(http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Disease)
TO give FREEDOM from, means to PREVENT
Preventing Pain…What is pain?
Pain occurs through the stimulation of
specific receptor cells or nerve fibres and
the transmission of the stimulation through
the nervous system for detection by the
brain.
The Nervous System
Central and Peripheral Nervous System
•Autonomic vs
Somatic
•Sympathetic vs
Parasympathetic
Nervous Reflexes
Reflex Arc- Involuntary
Peripheral Nervous Response
Sensory Cells
Nerve Cell (Neurone)
Nociceptors in epidermis of
the skin. Mechanoreceptors in dermis layer
Types of Pain
Nociceptive Pain
(noxious stimulation:harmful intensity)
Visceral Pain
Deep Somatic Pain
Related to ‘stretch’ and
inflammation, described as dull,
superficial
Occurs from stimulation of
nociceptors in ligaments, tendons,
bone, blood vessels, muscles etc
Neuropathic Pain
(caused by damage or disease to parts of
somatosensory nervous system )
e.g arthritic pain, banging funny bone.
Superficial Somatic
Pain
Caused by activation of nociceptors
in skin or other superficial tissue,
giving sharp, clear, well defined
pain.
Signs of Pain
Humans: Subjective descriptions by patients
Animals: Never know for sure, understand science of pain,
should be easy to except presence in mammals at least
- be cautious of anthropomorphism
-watch behaviour
-listen to vocalisations
-observe signs of health
Behaviours that may link to pain (or at least discomfort)…
Preventing Pain
Prevention of Pain=
Avoid Injury and Avoid “Disease”
•Environment
•Environment
•Nutrition
•Husbandry
•Breeding
Signs of Health
Varies between species, but typically include:
- moving freely
- keen reflexes
- bright, clean eyes
- clean odour free ears
- (moist) clean nose with no discharge
- dandruff free glossy coat/feathers/scales
- clean anal region, defecating and urinating normally
- pink gums with quick capillary refill
- hydrated skin
- no flaking or scabbing/soreness on skin areas
- suitable weight
- reasonable breath
- normal TPR rate
Disease, Conditions,
Syndrome and Illness
There are no clear cut definitions. But it is worth
thinking about!
Disease= system related problem e.g Heart disease, may be microorganism/pathogen induced but affects a systems e.g Weil’s Disease
Condition= Used more as a generic term for Disease or Disorder, may
have less of emphasis on causation (etiology) e.g degenerative conditions e.g
Hip Dysphasia
Syndrome= a set of signs and symptoms, not exclusive from a disease
or condition. E.g Downs Syndrome (Genetic condition) Wobblers Syndrome
Illness- Specifically caused by pathogen, typically short lasting e.g Kennel
Cough
Causes of Disease
System malfunction, includes:
Skeletal
Nervous
Endocrine
Digestive
Muscular
Reproductive
Cardiovascular
Causes of Disease
Genetic: gene mutations (abnormality in
individual DNA sequence) and hereditary
disease (previous mutation passed on
through generations to become common as
dominant or recessive allele in species)
Causes of Disease
Pathogens- an agent that causes disease,
especially a living organism.
Types of Disease
Acute- quick in onset but short lasting (distemper)
Chronic- slow long lasting condition (arthritis)
Peracute- disease that kills quickly (anthrax)
Infectious- can pass from one animal to another without direct
contact (mostly bacteria or virus)
Contagious- passed from one animal to another through direct
contact (mites)
Enzootic- refers to a disease present (endemic) among animals in a
particular region, country or area
Epizootic- rapid spreading disease over large number and large
area
Sporadic- disease that suddenly appears but can equally suddenly
disappear
Bacteria
Simple single celled organism
Multiples asexually
Aerobic and Anaerobic
Visible under normal microscope
Gram positive or gram negative
Treated with antibiotics
Pathogenic Bacteria Structures
Staphylococcus
(single spherical coccus bacteria in
cluster formations)
Streptococcus
(single spherical coccus bacteria in
line formations)
Bacilli
(variations of rod shaped bacteria)
Pathogenic Bacterial Diseases
Leptospirosis
Salmonella
Pasteurella
Brucella
Clostridia
Virus
Smallest Disease causing
agent
Usually specific to certain
tissue in the body
Can infect an cause disease in bacteria
Only seen under electron microscope
Cannot live outside of the animals living cells,
unless protected by body fluid
Prevention main control
Protozoa
Unicellular organisms
Vary in structure and size
Many not harmful
Found in aqueous environments and soil
Motile
Fungi
Yeasts and Moulds
Yeast= single bud spores
Mould= network of thin multi-cellular
threats that under right conditions cause
spores to germinate.
Many beneficial; mushrooms, penicilin
Some harmful, disease caused
by fungi=mycoses
Endo-parasites
Parasite= animal that uses
other animal as a host.
Internal
Examples=
- Roundworm (nematodes)
- Tapeworm (cestodes)
- Lungworm
- Flukes (trematodes)
- Hookworm
- Threadworm
- Heartworm
Ecto-parasites
External, live on skin or in skin layers.
Examples=
-Fleas
-Lice
-Mites
-Ticks
-Leeches
Signs and Symptoms of Disease
The whole 10 day course could be spent on
discussing signs and symptoms of disease. Since it
is illegal for a non-veterinary professional to
diagnose a disease, there is really no point in
knowing all signs and symptoms. In saying that it
can be useful for animal professionals to be aware
of signs and symptoms so to respond in a manner
that will aid the animal prior to veterinary advice
and protect others and themselves. Familiarity
with signs and symptoms of animal disease is
therefore the most important thing.
Treating Pathogens
Bacteria- Antibiotics (sterilisation and disinfectant
for environment)
Virus- Education & Immunisation. Management to
allow body to fight.
Protozoa- Anti-protozal agents
Fungi- Anti-fungal creams
Endoparasite- Anthelmintics (rotation drug and
environment) Destroy secondary host.
Ectoparasite- Insecticide for environment, suitable
topical treatment
Immunological Responses
Immune system is the body’s fighting mechanism.
Foreign body enters detected by antibodies
Main antibodies
- lymphocytes
- eosinophils/basophils/neutrophils
Disease Prevention
(Avoiding Pathogen Invasion )
A completely sterile aseptic environment for
animals is not only near impossible to
achieve, but may not be in the best interest
of the animals’ health as it does not allow
the animal to build immunity. The following
are significant factors that when considered
carefully can prevent disease and reduce
spread if it does occur.
Disease Prevention
Observation
Hygiene
Stress Reduction
- Handling
- Nutrition
- Appropriate Environment
- Appropriate Grouping (Age, species, size)
Housing (Comfort, Materials)
Ventilation
Humidity
Genetics
Immunity….
(Avoiding Pathogen Invasion )
Immunity
Immunity can be…
Inherited (species not affected)
Naturally Acquired (passive immunity from
mother if she has been vaccinated or experienced a
disease and over came it OR if experiences itself it
develops it’s own active immunity)
Artificially Acquired (quick acting but short
lasting is passive artificial immunity from the
antiserum of an animal that has experienced the
disease. Active artificial immunity comes from
vaccination).
Immunity
Natural passive= from colostrum
Natural active= experience disease
Artificial passive= antiserum
Artificial active= vaccination
Most
vulnerable
Passive
immunity
(natural)
Active
immunity
(artificial)
…Vaccination
Live (modified)- non harmful
but natural disease
Inactivated- doesn’t replicate but stimulates
immune response, dead or attenuated
bacteria or virus
Toxoids- toxins produced by organisms are
heat treated, short lived vaccine (requires
booster)
Zoonosis
A disease or infection that can be naturally
transmitted from a vertebrate animal to a
human.
Avoid transmission by:
-having awareness
-reducing unnecessary exposure
-practise good hygiene
-take precaution; immunisation
Quarantine and Isolation
The words quarantine and isolation are interchangeable.
Quarantine= place or process of preventative
isolation
Isolation= place or process of separation of
diseased animal.
Disease Transmission
Four factors required for disease transmission:
A micro-organism capable of causing disease and capable
of transmission
An environment favourable to growth of micro-organism
A susceptible host
A mechanism by which the micro-organism can be
transferred
Three of the four are difficult to control, so
preventing a mechanism for transfer is best.
Quarantine Units
Alternative to Quarantine
Pets Passport Scheme
Agreement between rabies-free countries
Four requirements:
- micro-chipped for identification
- animal is rabies vaccinated
- blood tested to show rabies immunity
- is treated for parasites prior to re-entry
Precautions when attending to
quarantined or isolated animals
Specific staff where possible
Footbath
Hygiene procedures
Protective clothing
Washing and disinfecting
Safety procedures and facilities (e.g 2 doors)
Knowledge of disease; signs and symptoms
Recording of all events relating to animal
Poisons
Medicines
Herbicides
Insecticides
Mollusicides
Rodenticides
Household chemicals
Disinfectants
Reptile bites
Toad Poisoning
Insect stings
Human Food
Potential Symptoms
Foaming at the mouth
Fitting
Dis-colouration
Breathing Problems
Irritation to skin
Vomiting
Treating Poisoning
Prevent further absorption
Identify poison
Contact Vet (VPIS)
Maintain oxygen
Give Demulcent
Administer Fluid
Observe temperature
Drugs or antidote