20.8 CODE OF PRACTICE FOR BREEDING ANIMAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT (amended 15/08/18)
20.8.1 All breeding dogs must have a general health check by a veterinary practitioner at least once per year, or more frequently as directed by a veterinary practitioner.
20.8.2 All dogs must have a general health check by a veterinary practitioner prior to their first mating. Proof of the health check may be a Veterinary practitioner’s certificate, stating that at the time of examination, the dog had no impediments to breeding. This may be undertaken in conjunction with the health check in 20.8.1.
20.8.3 All bitches must have a post-partum health check by a veterinary practitioner.
20.8.4 A breeder shall have a written agreement with one or more veterinary practitioners which describes arrangements for: - the use of the veterinary practitioner’s facilities for the treatment of animals; - the provision of isolation housing if the breeder does not have a separate isolation housing; and the supervision of animals in isolation who remain in the care of the breeder; - advice relating to the health management plan for the breeder if Dog’s Victoria’s Model Health Management Plan for Breeders is not used; - providing vaccination certificates for puppies being sold from the breeder; - providing veterinary assistance for the breeder and able to provide treatment and/or services to the breeder within 6 hours of notification that veterinary attention is required; and - 24 hour contact or treatment or provision of services through an alternative 24 hour or emergency practice.
20.8.5 A breeder shall either:
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20.8.5.1 adopt Dogs Victoria’s Model Health Management Plan for Breeders, or
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20.8.5.2 alternatively develop their own written health management plan that has been formulated and is reviewed annually in consultation with a veterinary practitioner, and meets the requirements for Health Management Plans which are contained within Section 3(5) of the Victorian Code of Practice for the Operation of Breeding and Rearing Businesses (2014) DOGS VICTORIA MODEL HEALTH MANAGEMENT PLAN The Model Health Management Plan will be a separate document, published as a template for members to complete and is referred to by our Code of Practice in section 20.8.5. It is therefore expected that once complete, members will follow the content of the plan, or develop their own which meets the requirements in 20.8.5.1. Members will be required to produce their plan on request of Dogs Victoria and compliance may be inspected by Dogs Victoria Field Officers. The Model Health Management Plan will be developed by a working party including veterinary practitioner[s].
The Model Health Management Plan is expected to include protocols for:
• grooming requirements
• exercise, environmental enrichment and socialisation programs
• behavioural and welfare assessment of dogs
• assessment programs for the health and welfare of dogs being reared for sale or as breeding dogs
• assessment for admission of new breeding dogs • processes for determining the suitability of breeding dogs to continue breeding
• processes for long term management, desexing and/or assessing suitability for rehoming of retired breeding dogs Codes, Charters, Policies and Procedures effective 15/03/22 – Page 15
• whelping protocols
• health assessment for puppies
• vaccination and/or titre testing protocols, internal and external parasite prevention programs consistent with Dogs Vic’s position on these (below)
• response to a general outbreak of disease
• protocols for quarantine and movement of dogs, including new animals introduced
• management of isolation facilities (where isolation facilities are constructed at the breeder’s premises)
• consideration of an appropriate response to foreseeable emergencies for both humans and dogs, including evacuation procedures
• approved methods of euthanasia for emergency situations consistent with Dogs Vic’s position on euthanasia (below) Position on vaccinations, titre testing, parasite and pest control Vaccination programs and/or titre testing protocols within the Health Management Plan for all dogs and puppies shall address the Core Vaccines as recommended by the AVA (Canine Distemper; Infectious Canine Hepatitis; Canine Parvovirus) at a frequency determined by the breeder following consideration of the policies of the AVA and WSAVA, or consistent with findings of published and peer reviewed research. Guidance on this will be provided by Dogs Vic in the Model Plan. Preventative treatment is also recommended for intestinal worms and Heartworm. Non-core vaccines (Parainfluenza virus, Bordetella bronchiseptica and Leptospira interrogans) are only required by dogs whose geographic location, local environment or lifestyle places them at risk of contracting specific infections. Every effort should be made to control pests such as fleas and paralysis tick. Preventative treatment for pests should be considered based on risk, geographical location and health risk factors. Prevention and treatment products should be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s or alternatively the AVA, or breeder’s vet’s recommendations. Where no prevention or treatment is used in an instance where the Health Management Plan had originally indicated it would be given, a veterinary certificate to that effect containing the veterinary advice given and the breeder’s rationale for the different action must be available. First treatment for worms should not be given before14 days of age and first vaccination not before 6 weeks of age except on veterinary recommendation. Other preventatives should only be administered to puppies under 8 weeks on veterinary recommendation. Vaccination certificates, including dates of next vaccine, details of the vaccine required, and a record of who administered the vaccine, must be signed by a veterinary practitioner at each vaccination. Alternatively where titre testing is used in lieu, a copy of the results and recommended date for the next test should be kept on file.
