Over the past few months, especially coming into the cold winter period when greyhounds are largely confined to kennels and sheltered turnout areas, the kennel environment and hygiene becomes a very important factor in the overall health and performance of a racing greyhound.
In the recent series on feeding greyhounds, I discussed the attention to hygiene in the preparation and serving of meals, especially meat, to racing greyhounds.
The most common breach of hygiene is the contamination of meat with bacteria, such as Salmonella germs from chicken skin if the skin is minced with meat, as well as E. coli germs from raw beef are common hygiene related problems in racing greyhounds.
In a large kennel, as little as 5% of contaminated meat minced and mixed into the total kennel meal can lead to gastro-enteritis in the whole kennel of racing greyhounds.
Most trainers are aware that careful selection, storage, and preparation of racing meals, especially where raw meat is used, will minimise the risk of gut infections and gastro-enteritis.
However, there are a number of other potential sources of low grade infection of the respiratory tract and airways of greyhounds in a kennel.
Low Grade Airway Disease
Confinement to kennels increases the risk of the airborne spread of viral, fungal and bacterial organisms, which can be inhaled into the upper and lower airways. Airway disease is a ‘hidden handicap’ and is more common than previously recognized in all athletic animals, including human runners.
Studies in racing horses have indicated that low grade airway disease is a significant cause of poor or less than expected race performance.
Greyhounds, like racehorses, inhale large volumes of air when galloping which can be contam-inated with dust and pollutants, as well as virus and fungal microbes.
There has not been an exhaust-ive research into the influence of low grade airway disease on the race performance of racing greyhounds, but taking the findings from race horses, the surveys indicate that 63% of poor performance problems in an otherwise fit and seemingly healthy animal, can be attributed to low grade airway disease, especially following a cough or viral respiratory disease.
Although, greyhounds do not suffer from the common airborne respiratory viruses which affect horses in training, there are other common underlying reasons for compromised airway function.
These can increase risk of damage and reduced functional efficiency of oxygen exchange in the lower airways and lung airsacs or alveoli.
Inhalation of Cold Air
Studies in Alabama, USA, carried out after racehorses were galloped into zero or subzero air on a cold morning, such as is common at this time of the year, indicated that the intake of large volumes of cold air into the lungs when galloping caused significant irritation and damage to the lower airways and lung airsacs.
This was evidenced by increased inflammatory fluids and mucus production, which subsequently narrowed and blocked the airways and reduced oxygen uptake for up to 6 weeks after a gallop into freezing air.
Greyhounds running in night races after walking onto the track from a warm race kennel and then galloping without an adequate warm up, are also likely to be prone to the is type of airway insult, broncho-constriction or asthma-like reaction and subsequent airway damage.
In fact, similar airway damage occurs in cross-country skiers who ski under freezing conditions with their mouths open, without a mask or scarf.
The cold air can result in broncho-constriction and “ski asthma” and subsequent lower lung damage. It is most important to try to warm up a greyhound by brisk walking before a gallop under these conditions, especially during training sprints, or ensuring hand slips or short trials are given later in the day when the air temperature is warmer.
Inhalation of Airborne Particles
This is one factor that can be directly influenced by kennel hygiene. Adequate air circulation of up to 8 air changes per hour of the kennel airspace is the optimum benchmark to help ensure that greyhounds are able to inhale clean air without risk of draughts.
However, under cold winter conditions, this rate of air change is difficult to maintain or justify without causing draughts. Studies by Dr. Tom Buckley of the Irish Equine Centre, indicated that airspace contamination with dust, fungal and bacterial organisms is a common cause of low grade airway disease in stabled horses.
He identified Aspergillus mould as a common airway contam-inant in horses and established a link between cobwebs in stable barns and lower airway disease, as a possible reason for reduced performance in racing horses.
Dirty feed bins, straw used as bedd-ing and dust on walls were the common sources of this mould contamination. Regular steam cleaning of the walls and removal of cobwebs from the rafters and walls was found to significantly improve airway health and subsequent performance.
Bedding greyhounds on straw, although it may be warm and comfortable, or using hessian sacks as bedding covers, can increase the risk of airborne dust and fibre particles that become suspended in the kennel airspace, as well as microscopic mould circulating with the air movement.
Careful attention to bedding hygiene and regular weekly renewal or laundering of bedding is important to help minimise these possible influences on airway function.
Environmental Contaminants
Although I am citing studies from the typical race stable environment, kennel environments may be similarly affected, but there have been no investigations in relation to greyhound airway hygiene.
Another recent study in the USA monitored air pollution with petrochemical fumes (smog) relative to the time of day and location of stables.
It was found that animals housed in barns nearer to main rods inhaled much higher levels of ‘smog’ during peak out traffic as compared to horses stabled in less built up areas.
These animals were often returned to their stables at peak traffic times when the cold early morning air suspended the ‘smog’ near ground level, adding further insult to their compromised lungs.
In the case of greyhounds in training, walking greyhounds along roadways early in the morn-ing during peak hour and again in the early evening could increase the risk of airway insult and a subsequent reduction of oxygen uptake.
Over the years, we have not taken into account these subtle influences that can severely limit airway function and subsequent racing performance. Perhaps they have a greater influence on a greyhound’s racing performance than was previously considered.
I know from my own experience of working with greyhounds, that inhalation of carbon monoxide fumes entering into vehicles and dog trailers on the way to races, especially in peak hour stop and start traffic, can significantly affect an animal’s performance for up to 3 hours after travelling.
Carbon monoxide binds to haemoglobin in the blood to displace oxygen, reducing oxygen available for rapid muscle contraction.
Always ensure that tail gate seals on estate wagons and trailers are intact, and if possible, direct exhaust fumes to the side, rather than directly to the rear of the vehicle.
Turn Out Yards
During cold or wet conditions when walking out is restricted, greyhounds are forced to use turnout yards or relieve themselves in the kennel.
Whilst the stools and urine may be cleaned away, and disinfectants used to reduce bacterial build-up, be careful on the choice of disinfectant and its odour. While a disinfectant may smell ‘pleasant and fresh’ to our sense of smell, it can irritate the throat and airways of a greyhound with a more acute sense of smell, estimated to be up to one million times more sensitive than humans!
Ensure that after disinfection, that the kennels are opened to allow air circulation and dissemination of chemical odours, particularly bleach and chlorine.
I do not recommend chlorine bleach or hypochlorite solutions as the can cause severe webbing and pad irritation, and when inhaled in the kennel airspace, is likely to irritate the lungs.
Also ensure that disinfectants, such as Quaternary Ammonia Compounds, are not used at a stronger that recommended dilution.
Some years ago, I investigated cases of severe pad irritation in a kennel of greyhounds which was eventually linked to a strong kennel disinfectant used at double strength. Also, some germicides are very selective in the range of bacteria they control, leaving other pathogenic bacteria, such as Pseudomonas spp, which is a common contaminate in water (and ice-cream too!) to proliferate on the kennel floors, causing skins sores and pad infections, as well as balantitis (prepuce infection) in male greyhounds.
Kennel air quality, hygiene and the general environment can adversely affect the health of racing and other greyhounds can also have a direct influence on racing performance.
