For I’m a vet working with pets in the Australian state with the slackest rules on owning native animals and I see the results. I also hold a Masters degree in Wildlife Medicine and Husbandry and have worked in zoological medicine.

I hope that by the time you finish this, you’ll understand why there are some animals who are uniquely suited to being pets, and others that almost never are. I’ll also debunk some common myths about keeping native animals everywhere, not just Australia.

Why Only Some Animals Are Pets

The biggest mistake that advocates of pet native animals make is to think that all animals are equal. So what makes a good or bad pet? It’s in their genes.

Their fundamental error is to confuse domestication with taming. A good pet is programmed to like you.

• Domestication is a process of gene selection over thousands of years that made an animal less fearful of humans, more obedient and often drawn to human contact.
• Taming is the process of taking very young animals and habituating them to a human presence. It involves no structural changes.

There’s a very good reason that you can turn a young feral kitten into a loving house cat. Because every cat in Australia descends from animals who had adapted to live with humans over thousands of years.

On the other side of the coin, you can take a wolf puppy but no matter what you do they will never be a dog. Not even close. How do you know if such an animal is even happy?

A List Of Possible Pets

Here is a list of species known to be domesticated. We think that dogs, cats, mice and rats did it all by themselves whereas it happened to others by either being farmed or trained. The way it works is that animals who feel less fear are able to take better advantage of what humans have to offer, and have a competitive advantage.

• Dog
• Cat
• Domestic rabbit
• Guinea pig
• Ferret
• Brown rat
• Mouse
• Pig
• Sheep
• Domestic goat
• Cattle (5 species)
• Water buffalo
• Donkey
• Horse
• Domestic camel (2 species)
• Llama & Alpaca
• Chicken

Even within this group, bad things will happen without a good understanding of husbandry needs. However, they are more likely to experience low levels of stress around humans, and probably even happiness. It is my strong view that keeping any other mammal is only for specialist institutions who can replicate their needs in the wild.

As an aside, this is why I also have little time for extreme animal welfare views that say no animal should be a pet.

But a lack of adaptation is not the only problem.

Why Pets Can Never Prevent Extinction

Advocates of native animals as pets say that they can be an ark against the risk of extinction. Here’s why this is naive wishful thinking:

• Pets undergo rapid genetic drift away from the genes necessary for survival in the wild. Within 30 years, they are likely to be unreleasable. Do we really want natives to only survive as pets?
• Furthermore, humans have an irresistible urge to look for novelty. Just look at what aviarists have done to native birds. God forbid any of these mutations are ever released back into the wild (except that they have been!)
• Pets pick up diseases and then transmit them back to the remaining wild populations. This has happened devastatingly with Orange Bellied Parrots being artificially fed in Tasmania.
• Keeping natives as pets will make us complacent about what really matters: protecting habitat and removing introduced pests. It’s hard enough as it is to get funding.
• Having a legitimate sales outlet for native animals will inevitably increase wildlife poaching. Just look at how much of the supposedly ‘legal’ ivory is actually from poached elephants.

And that’s still not all.

Why Some Pets Do Better Than Others

Those with experience know what would really happen if there was open slather on keeping native pets. Many people attracted to these animals are motivated by cuteness and novelty.

These are short-term feelings. Against these are the very real technical difficulties in providing care for highly specialised species. All with animals who are unlikely to communicate their health needs the way a cat or dog does.

You can see what will happen, because it already does. After a few years, the kids get bored, and the animals live in a cage. Eventually they die of a preventable husbandry-related illness.

In the most recent article about keeping wildlife, the interviewee even admitted that his quoll had died unexpectedly entirely due to his mistakes. Yet somehow he still thinks he’s right. Like this isn’t going to happen all the time.

This happens now with most rabbits, even though they are a much easier species to keep. Whenever an animal won’t tell you they’re hungry, thirsty, hot, cold or unwell, you’ve got to be on top of your game all the time.

What About Rescued Wildlife As Pets?

One of the true horrors of South Australia’s rules is how easy it is to ‘rescue’ an animal and then keep it. Except this is a travesty of any real rescue.

I have seen this too frequently: animals kept in completely unsuitable environments either alone or with the wrong species. Often they are in pain and have never fully recovered from what allowed them to be caught. They are wild-born and so live a highly stressed and unhappy life.

These people often call themselves rescuers but from afar their motivations appear more selfish. This is wholly in contrast with professional wildlife carers, who properly assess welfare, treat or humanely euthanase those needing it, and provide appropriate habitats for the survivors who cannot be released.

Keeping native animals is a specialist skill, and it should stay that way. Talking about wild animals as pets is dangerous, because human acquisitiveness will always make some people have to own something to enjoy it. The next time a media organisation wants to encourage this urge they should at least get the view of the people who see what harm it does.

Related: Here’s an old article on the same subject

Have something to add? Comments (if open) will appear within 24 hours.
By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his team here.

And indeed, over the past year we have seen many dogs over-exercised. But then there are dogs like my Loki. One day last week he pulled me for 25km and then ran laps around the yard afterwards!

So it’s complicated, and there’s no one answer. Each day and each dog is going to be different.

How To Decide How Much To Walk A Dog

The most important thing is to listen to your dog. If they show reluctance, or start slowing down, then you are going too far.

However, if you rely solely on your dog telling you when to stop, you could still badly overestimate what they should do.

The problem is that most owners don’t recognise that dogs will overexercise if allowed. They live in the moment and don’t foresee the price they’ll pay later.

Therefore, you have to be your dog’s brains. In order to decide on how far you can go, you need to consider a number of factors. These include:

• Age
• Health
• Body weight
• Breed
• Environmental temperature and humidity
• Personality factors & type of exercise
• Previous fitness

Some of these are obvious, and some aren’t. I’ll go through each in turn.

Age

This is the easiest one. Nobody expects an old dog to be able to walk as far as a young one. However, there’s still a lot to know.

Puppies right up to maturity do not have the fitness of adults. There’s also a risk of causing damage. This is such a big topic that you’ll find a separate article on how far to walk a puppy.

As for older dogs, age alone is less of a factor than people expect. Most breeds up to 12 years of age can still walk further than their human companions. It’s more that age is often associated with health problems. Therefore, if a dog is slowing down, it’s essential to get a checkup.

Health Problems

Almost any illness will cause a dog to not be able to walk as far as before. Perhaps the three most common are:

• Arthritis
• Heart Disease
• Cushings Disease

You can read more about each at the links, but the important point is this: these are all treatable conditions. With the therapies found at the linked pages these dogs should still enjoy a daily walk. I take my 16 year old out every day, just not far or fast.

And in fact a point I often make to owners of dogs with heart murmurs is that daily moderate exercise is a good thing. It not only probably delays progression, but it’s an excellent way to spot the early signs of deterioration.

Body Weight

A highly reversible health problem is being overweight. This can dramatically reduce a dog’s stamina, depending on how much excess weight is being carried. If you leave it there too long, it will also lead to a faster onset of arthritis and other joint problems.

Therefore, if you are interested in long walks with your dog, you should make sure they are at ideal condition. If needed, read our page full of positive tips to help dogs lose weight.

Breed

Breed probably matters less than most people think, just because dogs are intrinsically such good walkers. However, here are some points to consider:

• Toy breeds will have reduced distances, just due to their short stride length
• Giant breeds like Great Danes, Newfoundlands and St Bernards do not seem suited to long walks
• Breeds with dense double coats will overheat under cooler conditions
• Flat-faced breeds like French bulldogs also overheat more due to less efficient panting

Temperature & Humidity

Failing to recognise when a dog is getting hot is probably the number one mistake dog owners make. I’ve already pointed out that some breeds are at higher risk, but it will happen to any dog under the wrong circumstances. What people don’t know is just how ‘normal’ those conditions can be.

I have always said that 26 degrees Celsius at the time of walking is the warmest at which a dog should be exercised. The following results confirm this.

Study 1 was done in Labradors with 30 minutes of loose leash walking in the sun at temperatures between 27.5 and 31ºC (18-88ºF). The result? Their average body temperature reached 42 degrees!

Afterwards, a 15-minute cooling period was inadequate for 80% of the dogs to achieve baseline temperatures 

Study 2 under conditions of 28-29.4ºC and humidity of 50% did the following:

• 5 minutes of search
• 5 minutes of rest in the shade
• 5 minutes of agility
• 5 minutes of rest in the shade
• Maximum 10 min of ball retrieve
• Light trotting/quick walking for 5 min

The result? Body temperatures ranging from 40.3 to 42.4ºC.

Just to show that overheating can occur at even colder temperatures, here is an older and very unethical study. The graph shows two groups of dogs who were run on an inclined (uphill) treadmill at 20°C. Those without ice packs became severely overheated in 1 hour.

Personality Factors & Type Of Exercise

A dog’s temperament and the exertion level will also heavily influence the amount of walking they can tolerate. Once again, this is mainly about heat generation.

Dogs who are excitable and pulling will overheat or tire much faster than those on calm, loose-leash walks. Dogs obsessed by chasing birds or balls will overheat extremely quickly.

Sometimes it’s about knowing your dog and taking frequent breaks. Other times it’s about attending dog training or using better harnesses, not collars as restraint.

We should also spare a thought for anxious dogs. Even after medication I have seen some who were honestly better off not walked at all. It just depends on what makes them happiest.

Previous Fitness

Even if everything else is OK, you still can’t just go out and do 25 km from scratch. You have to build up your dog’s stamina gradually.

Most dogs can handle 5 km (3 miles) without extra training but need at least a month to get up to 20 km. Walks above 5 km should always be followed by a light rest day.

If you go too far too quickly you could cause all sorts of muscle, tendon, ligament, joint or bone problems. Building up gradually also allows you to see if your dog has any restrictions or limitations that will prevent them going longer distances.

Most practically, it allows them to build up harder pad surfaces. Just like us, if they overuse their soft pads they will end up with painful blisters and ulcers.

So How Far Can A Dog Go?

Dogs in their wild state probably range further over a day than any dog owner has the time to do. Therefore, if none of the important warnings above apply to your dog, then there’s no obvious limit if the pace is gentle.

Just make sure they are enjoying it, and not just doing it because you want them to. This can be very hard to tell sometimes.

If you’re managing 30 minutes twice a day for your dog, then you should never feel guilty about not doing more. But you don’t have to feel guilty about going a lot further either!

You might also like: An Epic Adelaide Parklands Dog Walk

Have something to add? Comments (if open) will appear within 24 hours.
By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his team here.

Sources

Baker JA, Davis MS. Effect of conditioning on exercise-induced hyperthermia and post- exercise cooling in dogs. Comp Exerc Physiol. 2018;14(91–97):10–3920. 

Kozlowski, S., Brzezinska, Z., Kruk, B., Kaciuba-Uscilko, H., Greenleaf, J. E., & Nazar, K. (1985). Exercise hyperthermia as a factor limiting physical performance: temperature effect on muscle metabolism. Journal of Applied Physiology, 59(3), 766-773

Neander, C., Baker, J., Kelsey, K., Feugang, J., & Perry, E. (2019). The effect of light vs dark coat color on thermal status in Labrador Retriever dogs. BioRxiv, 639757

Robbins PJ, Ramos MT, Zanghi BM, Otto CM. Environmental and Physiological Factors Associated with Stamina in Dogs Exercising in High Ambient Temperatures. Front Vet Sci. 2017;4(1–9):10–3389.

The big problem with cat laws in Australia is that they seem to be enacted by those who know the least about cats. It’s leading to unrealistic expectations and poor results.

I’ll discuss why that is in a minute, but to not sound negative I’ll start with the benefits of curfews.

Also read: Which South Australian Councils Have Cat Laws

Why Contain Cats

Here are three good reasons. Keep reading to see why the first two aren’t as simple as they look.

Wildlife

I have neighbours who allow their cat to roam and hunt far from their property. I’m also a bird lover. It drives me crazy but there’s nothing I can do.

Urban cats are believed to kill an average of one wild animal every two days. Many of these in Australia will be introduced species like rats, mice, sparrows and turtledoves but local wildlife is just as much at risk.

The problem is acute where cats have access to native vegetation. Single cats have been repeatedly shown to be able to cause local extinctions. No cat should be allowed to roam into natural ecosystems.

Nuisance

The main reason that most Australians support cat confinement is the nuisance that roaming cats create in the suburbs. Nighttime caterwauling, urine spraying and using the yard as a toilet. This isn’t just unpleasant, it can also spread diseases like toxoplasmosis.

There’s no doubt that some of these cats are pets coming over the fence.

Cat Health

The main reason I keep my cat inside it that it’s good for him, even if he doesn’t agree. His personality means he’s obsessed by hunting, but also clearly at great risk of road trauma and cat fights. Both of these lead to early death.

It’s worth admitting here that I let my last cat outside during the day. She was a timid homebody who never strayed from the yard and showed no interest in hunting. Of course many owners say this, but how well do we really know our cats?

Problems With Cat Curfews

Evidence for the effectiveness of curfews is poor.

“Overall, councils with cat containment regulations have not been able to demonstrate any measurable reduction in cat complaints or cats wandering at large following the introduction of the regulations.”

RSPCA, 2018

A total of 33 cats and 23 kittens were brought into the RSPCA as strays from containment suburbs in 2016, compared with 20 cats and 24 kittens presented in 2015

Canberra Times, 2017

Attendance to cat nuisance and related complaints continue to account for around 13% of Council’s animal management services. In 2000 we received 349 calls for assistance … and impounded 381 cats with 37 being reclaimed (in 1998, 264 cats were impounded in which only 14 were reclaimed by owners)

Casey City Council, 2001. Containment began 2 February 1999.

Anyone promoting cat curfews or containment needs to understand why they don’t work well on their own.

Most Stray Cats Aren’t Owned

I want you to recognise the inherent assumption in the third quote above: “reclaimed”. This is the problem at the heart of the debate and you can find it everywhere. It goes right back to the myth that feral cats come from ‘dumped’ pets.

It’s time to show you something that most people can’t see. Look at the cat in this ABC article, and then at the picture at the top. What do you notice about the cats’ faces? Sort of wide or fat, aren’t they?

Once you get your eye in, you’ll see this everywhere (such as a recent question on our facial swelling page). This is the characteristic appearance of a tomcat: an adult, undesexed male. Not a cat any sensible person owns without desexing. That’s because these are the cats mostly responsible for roaming, cat fights and spraying foul-smelling urine.

Cat curfews do nothing to reduce these except make it easier to see they’re not owned.

There is a large and self-sustaining population of feral cats found throughout Australia. It’s true that it’s made worse by people feeding strays, but cats have essentially become Australian wildlife despite our best intentions. Any solution to roaming cats needs to include these, but it isn’t easy.

Trapping Doesn’t Work

This explains why trapping is so unhelpful. Anyone who starts trapping cats finds that they keep coming back, just in different colours. One Adelaide resident in this article actually seems proud to have trapped over 30 cats in four years. Possibly she doesn’t realise that adult feral strays are often euthanased.

Cats can’t be trapped faster than they breed. That’s the realisation that most organisations come to eventually. You can read here of one local example.

What limits numbers is reducing their food sources and using the territoriality of existing cats occupying the space. Both will limit breeding success and prevent colonisation. This is just as true for urban possums.

Curfews Alone Won’t Stop Hunting

Overnight cat containment may have very little effect on hunting behaviour. If you think about it, most native species in cities are birds, and these are generally active during the day.

Of course, curfews or containment should give some benefit, as long as we have realistic expectations. Certainly, where native mammals are present, overnight curfews should reduce kill rates substantially.

Cats Aren’t The Only Predators

I read a recent news story of an animal rescue shelter whose ducks were reportedly taken by a cat getting into their ‘fox proof enclosure’. This is problematic on two levels.

First, it underestimates foxes badly. Anywhere a cat can go, a fox can go too. Therefore, the enclosure wasn’t fox proof. I could write you a very long list of all the ingenious and acrobatic ways foxes have got into chicken coops. A gap bigger than 4 inches anywhere in or on an enclosure is fair game.

Second, cats don’t go for animals the size of ducks or chickens very often. Therefore, if you read reports of these animals been taken by cats, look for proof. Many urban residents live in denial that foxes are among us. That is, until they get chickens…

How We Can Do Better

Future containment bylaws will only satisfy all residents if they can achieve the following goals:

1. There is good owner education about both the benefits of containment and what it cannot achieve
2. Owner compliance is monitored; too many animal bylaws are just wishful thinking
3. The council spends time and money on setting up systems to humanely handle and store cats

In closing, I will leave you with another quote from the 2018 RSPCA report.

Enforcement of containment regulations can prove difficult for various reasons including: 

• difficulty of capturing cats in breach of containment regulations 

• unrealistic community expectations in regard to enforcement and management 

• the majority of trapped and impounded cats are not owned or traceable to an owner so there is no possibility of taking any enforcement action 

• the expense of proper monitoring and enforcement may be prohibitive and is likely to far exceed the benefit gained from limited cat containment regulations. 

This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it. I for one can’t wait for the day when wildlife are safe on my property. But we should go into it with our eyes open.

Now read: Making Indoor Cats Happy

Have something to add? Comments (if open) will appear within 24 hours.
By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his team here.

Further Reading

Legge, S., Woinarski, J. C., Dickman, C. R., Murphy, B. P., Woolley, L. A., & Calver, M. C. (2020). We need to worry about Bella and Charlie: the impacts of pet cats on Australian wildlife. Wildlife Research, 47(8), 523-539 Full Article

RSPCA (2018). ‘Identifying Best Practice Domestic Cat Management in Australia.’ (RSPCA Australia: Canberra, ACT, Australia.) Full Article

Traditional sources like breeders and shelters have long waiting lists. The only quick and easy way to get a puppy is from a pet shop. I perfectly understand if you’ve thought about it. But before you make the commitment, there are a few things to consider.

This is an honest, open discussion of what you can expect from pet store puppies. If after reading you want to get one, you’ll have have a good idea of what to look out for.

Also read: Help! I Can’t Get The Breed I Want!

The Source Of Pet Shop Puppies

Most of the puppies sold in Adelaide pet shops come from puppy farms interstate where such breeding is allowed. The problem is that it’s rarely clear from the paperwork or the shop. Therefore, an absence of information is enough to raise suspicions. 

Additionally, many puppy farms are large businesses quite capable of making themselves appear legitimate online. It often takes a bit of detective work to find out the truth.

Why does it matter? Because of the next issue…

Health Issues

There’s no question that many puppies from pet shops turn out to be excellent dogs, but vets observe a higher rate of physical and mental illness. Some of this may derive from the shop, but a large part is believed to be due to how they are bred.

Giardia is an important protozoal gastrointestinal infection that is both serious and easily spread to people. It should not occur in well-bred dogs, but we see it very commonly from pet shops. I know of one new owner who was hospitalised, and many puppies who died or were sick for extended periods. 

Coccidia is another protozoal infection that is more easily overlooked but just as serious. Any puppy that does not always have normal poo should be suspected of having coccidia or giardia.

Anxiety is more common in puppies bought from pet shops. We suspect this is due to four factors:

• An impoverished breeding environment
• Early separation from their mothers
• Transit at a sensitive age
• A lack of 24 hour care in the shop

Anxious dogs usually retain some traces for life. This affects both trainability and quality of life.

Also worth mentioning is inbreeding. We don’t have evidence, but it appears that pet shop puppies are more likely to have genetic diseases. The suspicion is that puppy farms replace breeding dogs with others bred from their own puppies rather than buying in new stock.

Shop Management

I have personally observed Adelaide pet shops not housing puppies adequately. Here are some red flags:

• Pens and cages made from wood, which make disinfection all-near impossible
• Puppies of different ages being housed together, risking vertical disease transmission
• Inadequate space for the number of puppies being housed, preventing emptying and cleaning of pens
• Puppies being left alone at night, either in the shop itself, or out the back
• Staff unqualified for animal husbandry

Regrets

One thing I don’t want you to discover without being warned is regret. In the moment of buying a puppy, with the kids all excited, it’s easy to not see the future.

If things go well, for the next 15 years you’ll be taking your dog for walks, going to the vet, visiting friends and spending time at the park. Everywhere the first topic of conversation is going to be your dog. Before you buy it’s worth making sure that you’re going to be okay answering the common question of where he or she came from.

You will undoubtedly face some judgment and even open hostility, but most people won’t care. It’s more about picturing how you’ll feel inside and whether the kids will feel the same way in the future. This is one of the reasons I advise heavily researching the origin of your puppy so you don’t find out later.

Price

A very practical consideration is the high price you will pay for convenience at a pet shop. Although breeders are definitely expensive, they still are generally cheaper than the pet stores.

Most vets I know consider it more than ironic that the puppies that seem to require the highest level of veterinary care are also more expensive to buy. It certainly doesn’t seem to be a case of “you get what you pay for”.

If you feel you can buy a pet shop puppy and avoid the problems listed above, I’ll support you. For example, a locally bred puppy held in a caring and well-maintained environment is probably going to be OK.

Of course, I will always fully support you to achieve the best health and welfare outcomes for your puppy. So even if you think I might judge you, I’m really only here to give him or her their best life.

If you’re having second thoughts, visit our page on where to get puppies in South Australia. It shows you how to find breeders as well as adoptions from shelters. Waiting times can be as little as one month.

Have something to add? Comments (if open) will appear within 24 hours.
By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his team here.

However, our inferiority tends to mask the fact that there are a few special areas in which we do better. And because we don’t recognise them, we tend to make bad assumptions and harm our dogs. So here they are…

Heat Regulation

There’s good evidence that humans evolved as a hot weather specialist. Our unique power seems to be the ability to run for long periods in warm or hot conditions. Some traditional societies still hunt this way today.

The theory goes that we aren’t faster or stronger, we’re more persistent. As long as we have access to enough water, we can keep up a steady pace and control our body temperature by sweating. Our prey species aren’t so lucky, and eventually they slow down from heat exhaustion.

Sweating is rare in the animal kingdom for two important reasons:

1. It’s incredibly wasteful of body water
2. It’s not compatible with hair

It’s probably no coincidence we’re nearly naked, or that we think ponds and lakes are nice to be around. It may even explain why a bottle is a lot nicer to own than a plate or bowl.

Of course, the problem appears when we exercise with dogs. Most heat stroke in dogs happens because we just don’t feel the same way as they do in warm weather. We’re frequently comfortable when they’re not, and it only gets worse the more we move.

Appetite Regulation

I call it a ‘beginner’s mistake’. That’s the idea that a dog’s appetite has any practical meaning and should be listened to.

The human appetite, while not perfect, is probably what trips us up here. If we avoid processed foods, and follow our appetite, we tend to eat around the right amount of food.

Not so with dogs. Our appetite seems adapted to a food supply that needs regulation, such as a winter store. A dog’s appetite is adapted for feast and famine.

If wolves don’t gorge themselves on food when it’s around, and store it as fat, they might die when it runs out. That’s why a dog seems to be capable of eating a week’s food in one sitting. It’s also why they will act hungry long after they’ve had enough.

People who attempt to feed a dog by following their appetite do it because they worry that their dog feels hungry. It’s a natural, caring feeling, but it’s wrong. Even if it’s true that they feel hungry, feeding a dog this way results in a short and unhealthy life.

Dietary Flexibility

Have you heard the saying, ‘don’t change a dog’s food suddenly’ and wondered if it’s a myth? It’s not.

Humans are one of the most indiscriminate feeders on the planet. It’s another of our special adaptations: we eat nearly everything and thrive on variety. Dogs want to as well, but they often can’t.

Rapid food change in dogs is a common cause of gastrointestinal upsets like vomiting and diarrhoea. The sort of change I’m talking about isn’t just swapping supermarket brand A for brand B. It’s when the nutrient mix is altered substantially.

The best example is when the dog that normally eats dog food is given human leftovers. I also see it after feeding a meal unusually high in meat, even when it’s bought especially for them.

The gut enzymes that process food are highly specific, and need several days to be regenerated. A dog’s gut only keeps what it needs, based on what’s been coming through. Therefore, a sudden influx of unusual nutrient will result in a large amount of undigested material suddenly available for gut bacteria, and… boom!

These three mistakes probably go under our radar because we’re always told how weak humans are. And in fact, humans adopted dogs to take advantage of all their special skills: speed, strength, stamina and even ferocity, plus all the different ways they find prey that we can’t.

So it’s still something like Humans 3 : Dogs 1000. But they’re an important three.

Have something to add? Comments (if open) will appear within 24 hours.
By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his team here.

Nearly any online guide only contains the positive information. A breeder only gives more of the same. As far as everyone is concerned, Scottish Folds are adorable and live long, healthy lives. That’s why so many good, kind people get them.

What Vets Say

My golly they are adorable, but that’s far from the whole story. Ask any vet who’s seen a lot of the breed, and especially any feline specialist. They’ll tell you that most Scottish Folds live in chronic pain, all because their looks have been given priority over their health.

The fact that there’s a debate at all speaks volumes about how bad we are at seeing pain in animals. There’s no doubt that just like I was once, many breeders don’t know what chronic pain looks like. Not the “ow, you stepped on my toe” of acute pain, the slow ache of joints that hurt to move.

The pain we’re talking about manifests as cats that just stay put. They don’t move as much or as far. They don’t even complain in any way you can tell.

Why Scottish Folds Have Health Problems

Folds develop joint pain and stiffness due to a genetic disease called osteochondrodysplasia. It causes the visible folding of ear cartilage, but also invisible abnormalities of cartilage and bone throughout the body. This is especially severe in the elbow and hock joints.

The picture at the start shows the typical appearance of the hocks (i.e. ankles) of a middle-aged cat. You can see severe arthritis, and thickened bone around the hock joint. The elbows look very similar.

Problems start early if recognised by astute owners. Just the other day I saw a Fold barely over one year old who had already become quiet and less active. Some may consider that normal for the breed but of course it shouldn’t be.

Just look at all the pictures of Folds in abnormal postures like here. We need to stop seeing this as cute and see it for what it really is.

These problems lead to others. Folds are truly lovely cats, but as a vet I’ll tell you they rarely tolerate blood sampling, probably because it hurts to hold their legs. They are also known as high shedders, which I suspect is due to their grooming being uncomfortable or difficult.

Can Scottish Folds Be Bred Ethically?

Cat breeders often say that all we need to do is breed a fold to a non-fold cat, so that the offspring have only one abnormal gene. This is false. As long as a cat has a folded ear, by definition the defect is active.

The genetic mutation is autosomal dominant, and so carriers of one gene are still affected. The only benefit of such a pairing is that some kittens will not carry the mutated gene at all. These have normal ears and are often called Scottish Shorthair.

Due to the abnormality being much more than just visual, the Scottish Fold is banned by the British Governing Council of the Cat Fancy and the Fédération Internationale Féline. I never saw it in the UK, but it has taken off in Asia, the USA and Australia where no such restrictions occur. This is despite the clear stance of the RSPCA:

RSPCA Australia believes it is unethical to breed from animals with a genetic mutation that is known to cause painful deformities and disease.

Source: What are the health problems with Scottish Fold cats?

Treatment Of Scottish Fold Problems

Quality of life for most Scottish Folds improves dramatically with treatment. Therefore, do not despair or feel guilty. Instead, seek your vet’s advice.

They may see your cat and say everything’s OK. However, if a discussion reveals your cat to be less active than expected, treatment is likely to bring benefit.

Most Folds I see do extremely well on a very simple and inexpensive anti-inflammatory called meloxicam. It’s easy to give and usually well-tolerated. Once we start, we like to keep an eye on the liver and kidneys, however the most common problem is a gastrointestinal upset.

I know that in the USA meloxicam is only licensed for short-term use, but vets in Australia and elsewhere can use it for far longer periods. I have kept many Scottish Folds on it trouble free from youth through to old age. Not because I wanted to, but because they were clearly happier when I did.

If this isn’t possible there are other treatments that can work, listed here. It’s worth persisting simply because the results can be so good. Controlling a cat’s weight is important too. The Fold pictured here is distressingly overweight and once again I have to ask: ‘is this posture cute or troubling?’

Yes, I’m frustrated at how the breed is promoted, but I won’t take it out on you. Together, we can make your Scottish Fold live a life that’s just as happy as any other cat’s.

Related: My Views On The Munchkin Breed & Grumpy Cat

(And just a little update: the young Fold I mentioned earlier came back 2 weeks later a whole new cat. He was happy, back to his old self again, and would even let us hold his leg to take a second blood sample without complaint!)

Have something to add? Comments (if open) will appear within 24 hours.
By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his team here.

These cats are in severe distress from having cold, hard, painful hind legs and pulmonary oedema. They also often have pre-existing heart disease.

The first cat I saw, I treated as I’d been taught and he made a rapid and full recovery. As far as I know he went on to live a good life.

The problem is that this experience was an outlier, only I didn’t know it. It meant that for many years afterwards I’d see other cats with ATE give their owners a positive outlook and attempt to treat them.

I say ‘attempt’, because they always did badly, even though I used the same treatment. There’s almost nothing worse for a vet than trying to treat a suffering patient only to realise three days later you should never have put them through it. We want to avoid that at all costs.

My mistake was prioritising my personal experience over the science. Here’s what it says:

Treatment of Aortic Thromboembolism In Cats

Four large studies look at success rates for the treatment of cats with ATE

• 33% survival with a medial survival time of 51 days (46 cats)
• 37% survival with a medial survival time of 11 months (100 cats)
• 39% survival with a median survival time of 6 months (44 cats)
• 31% survival with a medial survival time of 4 months (127 cats)

In looking at these results, we have to keep in mind two things. Firstly, these cats were treated in 24 hour intensive care referral centres, not private clinics. Secondly, how important it is to look at long-term survival data, not just how many get out of hospital.

Now you know that these terrible rates of success exist despite the best of care, you will hopefully see why I now only offer two options to cat owners facing ATE:

1. Emergency referral to a specialist centre, with a clear warning of the poor prognosis
2. Humane euthanasia

In my opinion, given the suffering, anything else is inhumane. This is just my view, and if your vet feels differently, I cannot argue. It’s a judgement call.

Though I suspect I am not alone, judging by a recent paper. Of 250 cats with ATE seen in general practice, the decision between vets and owners was euthanasia for 153 of these. When you look at the rest you can see why: only 30 of the remaining cats were still alive one week later, and their median survival time was only 3 months.

But if you’re reading this because your cat’s unwell, don’t give up yet. ATE is not the only cause of a cat’s back legs suddenly not working, or dragging the back legs. Get to your vet ASAP and get a proper diagnosis before making any decision.

So what about the positive information you read on online forums?

The Outlier Effect

When you search online about your dog’s or cat’s illness, you’ll quickly find forums, full of well-meaning advice. Some of it is undoubtedly useful; after all, these are real experiences from pet owners sharing what you’re going through.

However, some is extremely misleading. The outlier doesn’t know they’re an outlier, and even I was guilty of that despite knowing better. Outliers are also more likely to be the ones wanting to share their experiences, whether good or bad.

I use forums too. I find them especially useful when I want to know if something has ever happened, or if anyone has reported the thing I’m seeing. What I’ll never do without checking is use any advice I see, whether on treatment or prognosis. For this we need science.

Blimey, I won’t even use case reports, which are published accounts of a single case. I need to see good outcome data, enough to make an informed decision. I certainly don’t need unrealistic expectations at this most critical time.

In the case of diseases like aortic thromboembolism, using anything except good science is likely to lead to false hope and bad decisions like mine. I’ve learnt my lesson, but if it was so hard for me I can understand why it’s even harder for cat owners.

Have something to add? Comments (if open) will appear within 24 hours.
By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his team here.

Further Reading

Borgeat, K., Wright, J., Garrod, O., Payne, J. R., & Fuentes, V. L. (2014). Arterial thromboembolism in 250 cats in general practice: 2004–2012. Journal of veterinary internal medicine, 28(1), 102-108

Moore, K. E., Morris, N., Dhupa, N., Murtaugh, R. J., & Rush, J. E. (2000). Retrospective study of streptokinase administration in 46 cats with arterial thromboembolism. Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, 10(4), 245-257

Laste, N. J., Harpster, N. K., Harkins, J. D., Stanley, S., Mundy, G. D., Sams, R. A., … & McAllister, P. M. (1995). 2392581. A retrospective study of 100 cases of feline distal aortic thromboembolism: 1977-1993. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 31(6), 492-500

Schoeman, J. P. (1999). Feline distal aortic thromboembolism: a review of 44 cases (1990–1998). Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery, 1(4), 221-231

Smith, S. A., Tobias, A. H., Jacob, K. A., Fine, D. M., & Grumbles, P. L. (2003). Arterial thromboembolism in cats: acute crisis in 127 cases (1992–2001) and long‐term management with low‐dose aspirin in 24 cases. Journal of veterinary internal medicine, 17(1), 73-83

The best age for a puppy to enter their new home is at seven to eight weeks old. This is what the evidence tells us, especially the best and most recent study.

Puppy Homing Age: The Evidence

Dogs in Finland were surveyed about their behaviour towards people and other dogs. The results were compared with the age at which they were acquired from the breeder. 

What I’m about to tell you will seem dramatic, but it’s not as bad as it sounds. These behaviours may be more common but they are still a minor problem for most dogs. I just want you to see that there is a real difference.

The study divided up the behaviours as either at home or away, and to dogs or people. This is what they found:

Towards unfamiliar people outside the home, a homing age of 13-16 weeks was associated with:

• avoidance behaviour
• growling
• snapping, biting or trying to bite

All of these showed significance when compared with homing ages of 6-7 weeks and 8 weeks.

Towards unfamiliar people visiting the home:

• the 9-12 week group showed a higher prevalence of barking compared to the 6-7 week group 
• The 9-12 week group showed a higher prevalence of growling than the 8 week group 
• The 13-16 week group showed a higher prevalence of snapping, biting or trying to bite than the 8 week and 9-12 week groups 

Towards unfamiliar dogs outside the home, the group homed at 6-7 weeks showed the lowest prevalence of barking.

Crucially, this study only used dogs that were raised in the breeders’ actual living quarters before homing. These weren’t deprived puppies at all. 

Making Sense Of It

This shows us that even from a good breeder, waiting until 9 weeks of age might have harmful effects later on. But now it’s useful to look at what the two main stakeholders have to say on the subject.

A member shall not, within Australia, sell or otherwise transfer from that member’s care any puppy under eight [8] weeks of age without the approval of the member’s Member Body.

Australian National Kennel Council

The minimum acceptable age for a puppy to be removed from the mother dog for adoption or purchase [is] 8 weeks of age.

RSPCA Australia

A Recommended Puppy Age

Under current restrictions, the best age to get a puppy is exactly 8 weeks old. Seven weeks is probably better as long as the puppy is fully weaned and can act independently. However, this won’t be possible very often. 

The most important message is to understand the special needs of older puppies. At any time after 8 weeks, you’ll need to put more effort into socialisation and training. Elsewhere I’ve written about the consequences of adopting puppies after 16 weeks of age.

Here are some useful resources:

• a puppy preschool program
• a puppy training guide
• a puppy social checklist

Can you get the breeder to help? It depends. I have seen some breeders do a very good job but I’ve seen others make a complete mess of it too. 

It’s also important to recall that too early an age is harmful as well. When dogs adopted between the ages of 30 and 40 days were compared with dogs taken at 60 days, these behaviours were more common:

• destructiveness
• excessive barking
• fearfulness on walks
• reactivity to noises
• toy & food possessiveness
• attention-seeking

This might explain why we see a higher incidence of some of these behaviours in puppies sold from pet stores. They are likely to experience disruption at an earlier age in order to reach the shop at an appropriate time.

In finishing, I don’t ever want to discourage people from getting an older puppy or rescuing a dog from the shelter. All I want you to do is understand that it gets harder, and to choose the best age if you can. Taking older puppies and adults is just as rewarding, and these dogs always respond well to a loving and responsible home.

The quality of a dog owner’s care always matters more than anything else.

Have something to add? Comments (if open) will appear within 24 hours.
By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his team here.

Further Reading

Jokinen, O., Appleby, D., Sandbacka-Saxén, S., Appleby, T., & Valros, A. (2017). Homing age influences the prevalence of aggressive and avoidance-related behaviour in adult dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 195, 87-92

Pierantoni, L., Albertini, M., & Pirrone, F. (2011). Prevalence of owner-reported behaviours in dogs separated from the litter at two different ages. Veterinary record, 169(18), 468-468

Twenty years ago, Purina demonstrated a two year reduction in lifespan in Labradors kept in a laboratory setting. Now a recent large study in the US has for the first time looked at common dog breeds in the home environment.

Here is what they found, in graphic form.

Weight vs Lifespan Chart

Fascinating isn’t it? I’ve ranked the breeds from smaller to larger, and there’s a clear trend. Smaller breeds suffer the most from being overweight with the same average loss of two years of life. Large breeds have from half to one year taken from their lifespan.

Here’s the same data in tabular form so you can see the numbers.

Weight & Life Span In Dogs

Why Do Small Breeds Lose More?

So let’s come up with some theories for what we see. You are welcome to add your own below. Mine are:

1. Small dogs are allowed to get much more overweight than big dogs. I regularly see small dogs who are 30% above their target weight but for big dogs that number might be 15% before the same people act on it.
2. Small breeds are living longer, so they have more to lose (read here though why I don’t see this in my clinic)
3. Big dogs might have more other diseases limiting their lifespan, especially arthritis and osteosarcoma.

But whatever the reason, it’s a new and striking finding.

Let’s also not forget that it’s not just about how long they live. Several studies have also shown that overweight dogs have reduced quality of life. So now let’s help them live their longest and best lives.

A Positive Conclusion

I know how hard it is for many people. However, it frustrates me when a dog owner says it’s hopeless and they can’t do it. Because they absolutely can.

That’s why I built a whole page devoted to helping you reduce your dog’s weight without blame or judgement. Here’s what a recent reviewer said about it:

Thanks a lot for this comprehensive guide to how to help dogs lose weight. It’s been the most helpful I found on the Web.

Ruth

Here it is, plus some other pages you might like:

• How You CAN Help Your Dog To Lose Weight
• Lifespans of >100 Dog Breeds
• Helping Cats Lose Weight

Reference: Association between life span and body condition in neutered client‐owned dogs

Have something to add? Comments (if open) will appear within 24 hours.
By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his team here.

Why is it important? Studies have repeatedly shown that birds in smaller cages are more likely to suffer from:

• OCD-like behaviours
• Obesity

Some Notes On Cage Sizes

I have taken data from two sources: the Queensland Aviculture Code of Practice 2010 and the Victorian Code of Practice for the Housing of Caged Birds. Most birds are social animals, and keeping them in twos or fours is considered better than alone. Therefore, sizes for multiples have also been included.

For each, I have used recommended sizes for outdoor cages. These are perfectly suitable indoors for smaller birds like budgerigars and cockatiels. Where possible, I hope you can exceed these dimensions, or allow your bird some free flight in the house every day.

Outdoor cages need roofs and one solid wall faced into the prevailing wind. All cages also need perches made out of natural sticks in a variety of sizes, placed where they do not impede flight.

Bird Cage Size Chart

Dimensions show minimum floor areas, which are better as long rectangles rather than squares. All measurements are in cm.

*The minimum dimension in any direction of any outdoor aviary/cage should not be less than 60cm.
**The minimum height to the top of any outdoor aviary/cage should be at least 1.5m above ground level to allow birds to escape from predators. The Queensland code of practice stipulates a 180cm height outdoors.

Do Budgies Like Big Cages?

Sometimes, the transition for a bird used to tiny cages can be slow, but all birds adapt well. Enjoyment is improved by enriching the environment with natural plants and forage items, water or dust baths and toys. Wing clipping should not be done for birds in cages where flight is possible.

I’ve personally kept Bourke parrots in a flight aviary. The enjoyment I received from watching them sing and play is something I want all bird owners to experience.

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By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his team here.