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INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO SAVING THE LITTLE ONES
Becky DeBolt, DVMHSUS-UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Fellow 2014
Young-Williams Animal CenterDirector of Shelter Medicine
Knoxville, TN
Goals for today…
Find ways to save puppies and kittens!!
Dispel myths Some history from my
shelter Vaccinations in young
animals
ASV Guidelines How to estimate age Barriers for moving
them through quickly Overcoming our
barriers (changing procedures)
Results so far…
Why Focus on Puppies and Kittens?
Lost opportunity!
Highly adoptable
Smaller subset of population
Predictable seasons
MYTH BUSTERS!
Can you really send them out “that” young?
If you keep kittens and puppies until they’re older, their immune systems will be more robust when they get to the adoption floor
Myth: Fact:
If you keep kittens and puppies until they’re older, their immune systems will be more robust when they get to the adoption floor.
So more time in the shelter means more exposure to disease.
…consider foster. Longer LOS = higher
chance of death. adoptability when
young.
Myth: Fact:
But they need a booster!....
Waiting to move them up until they have had their “booster” will keep them healthier.
Myth: Fact:
Waiting to move them up until they have had their “booster” will keep them healthier.
Common misconception
Details on “boosters” coming up!
Every time animals wait in a shelter, their LOS increases.
Longer LOS = higher chance of death.
Myth: Fact:
But the public will make them sick!
The public will spread disease on the adoption floor by touching them.
The public will spread disease on the adoption floor by touching them.
Risk of disease is higher in the shelter than out.
Staff is bigger source of disease than the public!
What about their “buddies”?
Must stay in shelter with littermates until 8 weeks old.
Myth: Fact:
Must stay in shelter with littermates until 8 weeks old.
Great in ideal world! But…Shelters are not
ideal worlds Miss other socializations Make recommendations
for socialization with conspecifics by adopters
If acquire disease, may mean euthanasia
Look at big picture
Myth: Fact:
They’re too little or young for surgery, aren’t they?
Surgery & anesthesia are not safe when animals are 6 weeks old.
Myth: Fact:
Surgery & anesthesia are not safe when animals are 6 weeks old.
Different/manageable needs. But there are: “…safe
anaesthetic and surgical protocols …that produce lower morbidity and similar mortality rates in early-age neuters compared with traditional-age neuters”. (J Feline Med Surg. 2011 Joyce, Yates.)
Numerous studies looked at surgery at 6 weeks. whentospay.org/get-the-facts
Must weigh risk vs reward for your organization & community.
Myth: Fact:
A Little History…2007
Shelter Health Evaluation by UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program in 2007
Kittens held in a nursery until they gained weight
Puppies held until their two week “booster” vaccination
TO BOOSTER? OR TO RE-VACCINATE?
To Booster? or To Re-vaccinate?
Booster definition: administration of killed product vaccine (rabies, K9 influenza, some bordetella, lepto, some Lyme)
First vaccination immune system recognizes the virus/pathogen priming response in immune system
second vaccine 2-4 weeks later primed immune system response that “boosts” off the initial response
Incomplete protection until “boosted” response is complete!!
1 vaccine ≠ immunity
To Booster? or To Re-vaccinate?
Re-vaccination:
Modified-live Vaccine (MLV) –FVRCP, DA2PP, Bord intranasal
1-step immune response
Some protection within hours of distemper vaccine!!!
So, why revaccinate with MLV?
YOUNG animals (less than 20wks) maternal antibodies neutralize the vaccination and prevent immunization
Re-vaccinate to try to catch a point when the vaccine reaches the immune system and initiates immunization
Age at which maternal antibodies wane is unpredictable
Animals > 20 wks : Re-vaccinate as safety net Poor vaccine handling, improper administration, poor
response Under ideal circumstances, no revaccination needed
Window of Susceptibility
Window when they are completely vulnerable to disease
You vaccinate maternal antibodies neutralize it
But the maternal antibodies are waning so if…
expose to natural disease not enough antibodies to protect kitten/puppy it gets sick
This is why you must re-vaccinate young animals!!!
The Problem…
When does protection start from modified-live vaccines???
…full protection in 3-5 days…
ANY QUESTIONS???
2009 - Rules of Adoption
Kitten Rules:2lb to go to adoption floor Just <2lbs: deworm for 5 days, perform surgery,
then move up at 2lb They sat in vet clinic for this timeOften got sick
Foster if too young Not many foster homes
Euthanize if too small and no foster Led to crowding
2009 - Rules of Adoption
Puppy Rules:3 holding rooms – all-in-all-out5 day hold for dewormingHad to be 8 weeks old for adoption Foster if too youngFew foster homes
Euthanize if too young and no foster Led to crowding
2009: Stats At That Time
Intake Euth % euth Adopted% Adopted
3352 2887 86% 400 12%
Juvenile Cats in 2009
Intake Euth % euth Adopted% Adopted
2323 1360 59% 805 35%
Juvenile Dogs in 2009
THAT WAS THE MOTIVATION FOR CHANGE…
ASV Guidelines
ASV Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters
“(When) Operating beyond capacity for care …services required for moving animals through the system are delayed. These delays prolong average lengths of stay for animals, leading to increased daily population.”
Longer LOS means more stress and illness
Working toward the guidelines
Decreasing Length of Stay (LOS) is imperative to saving the lives of kittens and puppies
Must get them out more quickly to keep them safe
Working toward the guidelines
Length of Stay until adoption of owner surrenderedpuppies and kittens in 2013
LOS of Kittens(days)
LOS ofPuppies(days)
May 2013 29 5
June 2013 8 10July 2013 21 11Aug 2013 24 9
Sept 2013 31 6Average
LOS 19.8 days 9.0 days
Working toward the guidelines
Between April and Sept 2013 (6 months) we had 211 owner surrendered kittens that got adopted
Last slide told us their LOS was 20 days animal care day = each day that you care for an
individual animal
211 kittens x 20 d LOS each = 4220 animal care days (over 6 mos)
Working toward the guidelines
If we could decrease LOS for owner surrendered kittens that get adopted to 10 days
211kittens x 10 d LOS each = 2110 animal care days (over 6 mos)
1 care day costs $5-10 so you save $10,550 Shorter stay, less exposure to disease.
http://sheltermedicine.com/shelter-health-portal/information-sheets/length-of-stay
ESTIMATING AGE
Estimating Age
Who estimates the age of the animals? Often based on teeth for dogs and weight for cats Teeth and weights aren’t exact
Siblings…..
Photo Courtesy: Dr. Newbury
Estimating Age by Weight
Kittens generally gain 1 lb/ month But where did the kitten come from? Was mom well nourished? If it’s been in foster care, does age-by-weight seem
accurate?
Photo Courtesy: Dr. Newbury
Estimating Age by Teeth
Development varies by breed Small breed dogs are prone to teeth that don’t erupt
Development varies within a litter Our litter of pups at 7 weeks had no erupted
premolars
44 days old!
Photo Courtesy: Dr Newbury
Age Estimation:Know Your Developmental Milestones
10-14 days Eyes & ears open Wobbly walk Constantly gaining
weight (kittens double weight in 14 days)
Photo Courtesy: Dr. Newburyhttp://aspcapro.or/tip-of-the-week-act-your-age-part-i
Developmental Milestones
3-4 weeks 3 weeks: Eliminate on
their own Eyes are blue Hearing/vision
improve Incisors erupt, then
canines
I hear you!
Developmental Milestones
4 weeks: Thermoregulation
improves Eye color changing Improved
coordinationPremolars may start
to erupt (4-12wks)SocializationVaccination
Photo Courtesy: Dr. Newbury
Developmental Milestones
5 weeks: Pouncing, hunting Wrestling More teeth
Photo Courtesy: Dr. Newbury
Barriers for Puppies & Kittens
What is keeping them from getting adopted sooner?
Barriers – Legal Restrictions
Stray hold time Varies by state 3 days in TN Special laws for kittens/puppies? Litters?
Some places don’t require stray hold on juveniles or litters.
Legal Age for Adoption Check laws – local and state
None can be sold in Knox Co <8wk. Exemption for shelters at very bottom
Will your organization work around the laws?
Barriers – Age Restrictions
Minimum Age for adoption Check your laws Re-assess technique for estimating age Health insurance plans for adopted animals
Underwriters require animal to be 8 wks old But…they aren’t going to challenge you Vet submitting claim should report the same age
Do you have self-imposed restrictions?
Barriers – Size Restriction
Size Restriction for Adoption Who made the rules and why?
Surgical weight restriction Are your vets ok with pediatric surgery?
Are there other people who say it’s not safe?
Take a couple extra stepstoward safety Donated rice in donated adult socks Donated baby socks Feed young ones in a.m. before S/N Feed immediately afterward
Donated baby socks = Warmer feet
If you’re worried about size at surgery…
“It would be highly unlikely that mortality or morbidity due to complications from surgery would match the rate of morbidity and mortality seen in the kitten nursery at the time of the visit.”
- Dr Newbury, UC Davis Koret Shelter Health Assessment, 2007
Ways around the barriers
What can you do to: Change internal restrictions 1st
Weight Age Hold times
Implement or improve foster program Review/ challenge the Laws
Overcoming Our BarriersRemoving Internal Restrictions
Change internal requirements Weight – lowered required kitten weight to 1.5 lbsWeight does not have an absolute correlation with ageWe were concerned about the small kittens doing poorly on
the adoption floor so we have started a Kitten Wellness Program (details next)
Age – made sure vet is estimating age in young animals and we round up if borderline There is really no way to know for sure, so we are
“guesstimating” in favor of saving lives
Kitten Wellness Program
Train volunteers
They come in once daily to weigh, feed, monitor kittens Quiet time of day when they won’t be in the way of
adopters, but after cleaning
Check list so we can watch the weights Notify supervisor if weight has gone down
Vet to check sheets on rounds in a.m.
Work in progress…
Kitten Wellness Program
Overcoming Our BarriersRemoving Internal Restrictions (cont…)
Change Internal Requirements Hold times – Decreasing hold time for puppies to 3 days as
required by law Implementing Open-Selection for Kittens Healthy kittens
good body condition no discharge no diarrhea no hairloss
> 1.5lbs Start deworming protocol Designated area of adoption floor will house kittens Special color cage card, “Adopt me today! I can go home on___”
Overcoming Our BarriersLegal Restrictions
Next battle… Eliminate stray hold for puppies & kittens
At least no stray hold for litters
Calculated our RTO of juveniles RTO of juveniles 2010-2013 at YWAC
Puppies: 3% Kittens: 0.85% Why not shorten LOS when so few go back home? Save shelter resources
Have Our Changes Helped?
JuvenileCats
Jan-Apr2013
Jan-Apr 2014
Intake 214 162
Euth 67 33
Euth % 31% 20%
Adoption 101 105
Adoption %
47% 65%
JuvenileDogs
Jan-Apr2013
Jan-Apr 2014
Intake 521 321
Euth 90 70
Euth % 17% 22%
Adoption 359 227
Adoption %
69% 70%
Summary
Let go of the myths Do NOT hold them to re-vaccinate!! Remember: longer LOS = increase risk of death Estimate age to save lives Identify barriers that prevent swift, safe passage of
kittens and puppies through your shelter Find some ways around those – work with
management
When you’re about to give up…try one more time!
No luck in past discussions about open selection or fast-tracking
In early May I tried 1 more time The result:
stop holding puppies more than their 3 day stray hold work on fast tracking owner surrender pups talked about changes to puppy adoption space Implement open selection for kittens ASAP talked about doing portals on cat adoption floor (that’s
another presentation…)
Recommendation: Keep Trying!
Know the ASV Guidelines for Standards of Care in shelters
Go to conferences, webinars!! Use the resources:
Shelter Medicine for Veterinarians and Staff (Miller and Zawistowski)
www.sheltermedicine.com (not just medicine!) www.animalsheltering.org www.aspcapro.org
MANY THANKS TO:
DR NEWBURY THE KSMP FELLOWS!
HSUS – FABULOUS FELLOWSHIPYOUNG-WILLIAMS ANIMAL CENTER
Questions??