Mass killing, or the killing of large numbers of farmed animals, is at times required in the event of an emergency animal disease outbreak to control and prevent further spread of the disease. Emergency animal diseases where mass killing may be considered include diseases that are exotic (disease that is…
Ventilation shutdown (VSD) methods cause prolonged distress and suffering of animals before death. The effectiveness and time to death is variable depending on a number a factors, including the shed type, age and size of animals, the number of animals, the type of ventilation system, the ability to seal shed…
Arthritis (also known as osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease) is a common and serious animal health and welfare problem in cats [1–3]. It can significantly affect their quality of life. Signs of arthritis Signs that indicate your cat could have arthritis include: reduced activity reduced interaction with people and other…
Currently, horse owners are not required to identify or register their horses and there is no national database to record and retrieve this information. The establishment of a national horse registry would substantially improve traceability of horses across Australia, thereby achieving more effective responses to situations involving horses, including neglect…
There is increasing evidence showing that cats who have been bred to have exaggerated physical features (such as flat faces) suffer from significant health problems that lead to lifelong suffering. Some of these health problems include difficulty breathing, eye and skin problems, dental problems and trouble eating. The RSPCA is…
Induced moulting in the poultry industry involves artificially forcing hens to moult through manipulating their environment and diet to replicate the natural process of moulting that occurs seasonally in wild birds. This process involves total feed deprivation and/or severe feed restriction for several days to weeks. RSPCA Australia opposes all…
Socialising with people Rabbits are affectionate and lovable creatures who can bond with their owners. But, as a prey species, they can be easily startled or scared, and so the bond between owner and rabbit can damaged or destroyed if care is not taken. Some guidelines when socialising with your…
Rabbits are a social species and have evolved to live in groups. In the wild, rabbits do not live alone. Rabbits kept as companions are not biologically different from their wild counterparts and so their innate need to be kept in the company of other rabbits is just as strong….
Sheep, especially Merinos, have woolly wrinkles and folds around the tail and breech area which attract blowflies and may become infested with maggots (flystrike). Sheep farmers have traditionally used mulesing to reduce flystrike risk. Alternatives to mulesing have been trialled over the years; the most recent is ‘sheep freeze branding’,…
Cats have special nutritional requirements because they have some fundamental differences in what and how they can metabolise and utilise different food sources compared to many other animals (such as dogs). Cats’ special nutritional requirements Cats have evolved as obligate carnivores, which means they are dependent on the nutrients that…