GRSA strategic response to Canine Gastroenteritis
GRSA STRATEGIC RESPONSE TO CANINE GASTROENTERITIS OUTBREAK
The national outbreak of gastroenteritis has spread to NSW, Victoria and South Australia with new cases being diagnosed each day across multiple jurisdictions.
As things currently stand (as at 11/03/2020 8am), there are four (4) affected properties in South Australia.
GRSA is working with those properties – who have all self-reported – and will continue to monitor for potential cases in other kennels across the state. It is critical to note at this point that our best defence against the spread of the virus comes back to the critical need for trainers to self-report to the stewards immediately when they observe symptoms. Those symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea, elevated temperature, lethargy, and/or loss of appetite. Additionally, trainers are urged to observe a range of biosecurity measures including the timely removal of faecal matter from kennels and surrounds.
Trainers and breeders should also consult their veterinarian for testing for the virus and general treatment advice which may include the commencement (or increasing) of probiotic power/tablets, the use of prescribed antibiotics, the use of Scourban to help ease the severity of the diarrhoea, and/or the use of an electrolyte powder to help with hydration.
Our closest neighbouring state, Victoria, has introduced a policy whereby greyhounds crossing back into (or being transferred to) Victoria should be isolated for 14 days (noting that an exemption applies to any greyhounds which are cleared of the virus by way of veterinary certification).
GRSA has been consulting with the Industry Consultative Group, the Mount Gambier GRC – due to its reliance on Victorian trainers – and other key stakeholders as our own response to the strategy continues to develop.
With effect from this afternoon, the following strategies will be rolled out across the state in an effort to manage the virus and mitigate the risk of further infection. It is foreseeable that we may need to continuously evolve this strategy in response to new circumstances as they present.
NB: For the purpose of this document ‘disinfectant’ refers to F10SC Veterinary Disinfectant.
STRATEGY 1 – Cross-Border Movements
- Nominations for greyhounds that are currently domiciled outside SA will not be allowed until otherwise notified (no exemption will be given for veterinary certification – ie negative to coronavirus). An exemption will be available to interstate trainers (by application) on the condition that they agree not to trial or race in their own state while this policy remains in place. In the event that an interstate nomination has already qualified for the next leg of a series (or a final) in South Australia, that trainer’s dogs will be allowed to race but examined by the on-course veterinarian prior to kennelling.
- Trainers will be advised to make all reasonable efforts to isolate ANY greyhound that comes into SA from interstate (and will be domiciled here indefinitely) for a period of 10 days if no symptoms are evident or 14 days after any final symptoms have disappeared. Trainers are encouraged to minimise their movement of greyhounds at this time.
- Noting the particular impact that this will have in the south-eastern region, Thursday meetings at Mount Gambier will temporarily be cancelled – commencing with the one scheduled for March 19 – in an effort to concentrate nominations towards the Sunday meeting
STRATEGY 2 – Raceday and Trials
- In the event that a greyhound displays symptoms of the virus at a race meeting, all greyhounds from that registered kennel will be scratched (Order of Stewards) from the remainder of the meeting and all reasonable efforts will be made to have those greyhounds removed from the track/venue in as timely a manner as possible (with any affected areas thoroughly sanitised)
- Wash bays and associated infrastructure (taps, hoses, dividers) will be treated with disinfectant between races at all meetings
- Individual starting boxes will be sprayed with disinfectant between races at all meetings
- Disinfecting mats or trays will be implemented at all tracks, with both trainers and greyhounds required to walk across mats before entering the kennel house
- The on-track veterinarian will use hand sanitiser in between greyhound inspections
- Extra staff will be employed at race meetings to ensure faecal matter is immediately cleaned up from empty out and preview areas, with those areas being sprayed with disinfectant
- Extra cleaning of kennel houses will be implemented after both race meetings and trial sessions with disinfectant
- Throughout any race meeting, trainers will be directed to make reasonable efforts to limit greyhound-to-greyhound contact (eg during pre-race parade) and to spread out on their way to the boxes
- Greyhounds will be restricted from contact with the public when using the breezeway at Angle Park
- Kennel houses will be closed for all trial sessions
The following biosecurity measures will continue to be advised to participants:
- Trainers will be directed to notify vets and stewards immediately of any observation of symptoms of the virus (vomiting, diarrhoea, elevated temperature, lethargy and/or loss of appetite) and will be expected to be diligent in monitoring the welfare of the greyhounds in their care
- When arriving at the track, trainers will be expected to undertake a visual inspection of all greyhounds prior to starting the process of unloading and kennelling;
- Trainers will be asked to ensure that the bedding being used for kennelling is clean and entirely free of faecal matter
- Maintenance of the general cleanliness of living conditions;
- Routine washing of hands;
- Use of protective clothing and equipment;
- Cleaning and disinfecting of all equipment including vehicles used to transfer greyhounds (F10 has been recommended to GRSA Management as the disinfectant of choice – it does not contain swabable ingredients)
STRATEGY 3 – Arm Trials and FOL
- FOL trials will continue to be conducted, however trainers must bring their own lure material –ie a professionally tanned sheepskin or synthetic – to place on the lure (it must have a loop to allow attachment – refer to photo below)
- Catching pen trials will continue, however decoy lures will not be utilised in the pen unless trainers bring their own decoy material
- Tracks operating the finish-on lure (Gawler and Mount Gambier) will implement a changeable lure system, with lures being interchanged and disinfected between races
- For tracks operating the catching pen system (Angle Park and Murray Bridge) the decoy lure in the pen will be disinfected between races
- Trainers will be encouraged to reassess their need to trial – or the amount that they need to trial – over the coming weeks
STRATEGY 4 – Greyhound Adoption Program
- No new dogs will be taken into GAP for progression to foster care until such time as GAP has had the opportunity to review its strategy for defending against the virus
- First point assessments will temporarily be discontinued, again, until such time as GAP has had the opportunity to review its strategy
- The public ‘foster carer’ recruitment session scheduled for Saturday March 14 will be cancelled