Health & Welfare
Number of Breeding Bitches
Your licence places a limit on the maximum number of breeding
bitches that are permitted to be kept at any one time. This number
is determined on the advice of the Council’s veterinary surgeon,
according to the accommodation available and the effectiveness of
site management.
Health and Welfare of the Breeding Bitch
Bitches must not be mated if they are under one year old. The
number of litters a bitch is allowed to have in her lifetime is
restricted to six. In addition, breeding from any bitch must be
restricted to no more than one litter of puppies in any
twelve-month period.
Breeders may have their dogs screened for various hereditary
conditions to assist them to make responsible breeding decisions.
Further information on this may be obtained from the Kennel Club.
Bedding
Bedding must be capable of being easily cleaned and sanitised
and sited away from draughts. All bedding material in use must be
clean, parasite free and dry. Proprietary bedding materials are
available in a range of materials that are easily cleaned and hard
wearing. Suitable bedding should be chosen according to the size,
coat density, heating and comfort factors needed for the dogs and
puppies.
Food and Water Supplies
All dogs must be adequately supplied with suitable food. Special
dietary considerations should be given to young and old dogs and to
whelping and nursing bitches. Nutrition is particularly important
during pregnancy and lactation. It is recommended that a
requirement of about 1.5 times the non-pregnant state is necessary
for the last few (say three) weeks of pregnancy.
Lactation will last until the puppies are weaned. During
lactation, the bitch must have sufficient food to satisfy the
demands being made upon her. Consideration should also be given to
how many puppies the bitch is nursing. During lactation the bitch
should be closely monitored for signs of complications (e.g.,
eclampsia). The feeding level required for the bitch after weaning
will depend upon her body condition. Where a proprietary food
source is used the manufacturer's guide should be followed.
Veterinary advice should be sought if in doubt.
Clean water must be available at all times and changed at least
daily. Eating and drinking bowls must be capable of being easily
cleansed and disinfected. They must be maintained in a clean
condition and cleansed or disposed of after each meal.
The food preparation area and equipment must be kept clean and
vermin free at all times. Refrigeration facilities must be provided
where fresh and cooked meat is used. All bulk supplies of food must
be kept in vermin proof containers.
Disease control, vaccination and worming
Adequate precautions must be taken to prevent and control the
spread of infectious or contagious diseases and parasites amongst
dogs. All dogs should be vaccinated against Canine Distemper,
Infectious Canine Hepatitis (Canine Adenovirus), Leptospirosis
(Leptospira canicola and Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae) and Canine
Parvovirus. It may be necessary to vaccinate against other diseases
and veterinary advice should be sought. Infectious bronchitis
("Kennel Cough") can be problematic in kennels, and staff should be
aware of the symptoms. However, because vaccination will depend on
the local level of infection, it is recommended that the advice of
a veterinary surgeon is sought.
A suitable worming programme must be in place at the
establishment.
For the control of roundworms, pregnant and nursing bitches
should be given additional worming treatment. Breeding bitches
require particular attention and veterinary advice should always be
sought. However, as a rule of thumb, it is suggested that bitches
are wormed before mating and then again after the 41st day of
pregnancy with a broad-spectrum anthelmintic.
The bitch should also be wormed at the same time as the puppies,
which should be when the puppies are at two, four and six weeks of
age. Thereafter it is recommended that puppies should be wormed at
regular intervals, according to manufacture's instructions. From 16
weeks of age into adulthood, worming should be carried out
routinely two to four times per year. Advice concerning dogs with
tapeworms should be sought from the veterinary surgeon.
Fleas, lice, ticks and harvest mites are common ectoparasites of
dogs. Appropriate treatment must be carried out if they are found
on any of the dogs. When treating these infestations it is
important to take account of the life cycle of the parasite in
order to achieve maximum control or even eradication. For instance,
simply killing the adult flea is unlikely to provide adequate
control.
Several mange mites affect dogs, including Demodex folliculorum,
Sarcoptes scabiei and Cheyletiella, all of which attack the skin,
and Octodectes, which is most commonly seen in the ears. Any of
these infestations can cause severe illness in puppies and older
dogs. Some of these parasites can cause disease in humans. Ringworm
can be passed to humans. Early diagnosis and thorough treatment is
essential if the disease is to be controlled. The veterinary
surgeon should be consulted if any of these conditions is suspected
or known. Particular care is required with pregnant bitches and
suckling puppies when using treatments for these infestations.
Isolation Facilities
Adequate isolation facilities must be available, and used where
the presence of infectious disease is suspected or known. They must
be physically isolated from the main kennels/other dogs ideally at
a distance of at least 5 m (15ft). This distance is for guidance
only; intervening buildings and construction detail (i.e., window
and door positions) should be taken into account because individual
circumstances may significantly affect the recommended distance.
Adequate facilities to prevent the spread of infectious disease
between the isolation case and any other dogs must be provided.
Protective clothing and equipment, for use only in the isolation
facility, should be used to reduce the spread of infection. Hands
must be washed after leaving the isolation facilities before
handling other dogs. Complete disinfection of the isolation
facilities and equipment must be carried out once vacated.
First-aid kit for dogs
A suitable first-aid kit for use on dogs and puppies should be
made available and kept fully stocked. A veterinary surgeon should
be consulted concerning its contents.
Transportation
Appropriate steps must be taken to secure that the dogs will be
provided with suitable food, drink and bedding and adequately
exercised when being transported to or from the breeding
establishment. Dogs and puppies being transported to and from the
breeding establishment should be properly supervised to ensure
compliance with the requirements of the 1973 Act. The Welfare of
Animals (Transport) Order 2006 may also apply. This makes general
provision for the welfare of animals during transport. Further
guidance is available from the Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
(MAFF).
This webpage was updated on
11/18/2008