citation_inspection: 8167

Adult, male, Keeshond with no identification is not bearing any weight on his left front leg when both walking and sitting. There is also an area of thickened, red skin with hair loss on the inside of that leg between the paw and the elbow. The licensee has not consulted a veterinarian about this dog and his altered gait. Failure to adequately assess and treat limping and/or altered gaits in a dog can lead to increased and unnecessary pain and prolonged suffering. Non-weight bearing lameness is a significant indicator of pain and can be a sign of orthopedic problems such as, but not limited to, trauma and fracture. The licensee must ensure that all animals showing signs of veterinary medical problems are evaluated in a timely manner by a veterinarian as part of the facility’s programs of adequate veterinary care and that the facility uses appropriate methods to prevent, control, diagnose, and treat diseases, and injuries. This dog must be seen by a veterinarian by 10 am on 3 May 2023. The outcome of this consultation including the diagnosis, treatment plan and how the condition will be resolved must be documented and provided to the inspector upon request. The following adult dogs have not been groomed leading to heavily matted coats in which the hair is corded, pulling the skin and soiled with fecal matter and debris: **Male, black and white Pomeranian with microchip ending in 92445 has a matted coat around his rear end that has trapped fresh feces against the dog’s skin. The dog's anus was obstructed by the matted hair. **Female, cream colored Pomeranian with microchip ending in 92275 has matted hair coat around his rear end with dried feces trapped against the dog’s skin. The dog's anus was obstructed by the matted hair. **Female, black and white Cavachon with microchip ending in 31608 has matted hair coat on his rear legs and rump, lower abdomen, and lower back. These mats are tight against the skin. **Male, apricot poodle with microchip ending in 77858 had a matted hair coat on all four limbs and the abdomen. These mats are tight against the skin. **Female white bichon with microchip ending in 46482 has a matted hair coat on all four limbs, her back and rump area. These mats are tight against the skin. **Female white and tan Shih Tzu with microchip ending in 31631 has a matted hair coat on the inside of the rear legs and the top of the back. These mats are tight against the skin. **Female, brown poodle with microchip ending in 31635 has a generalized matted coat over the entire body. These mats are tight against the skin on the limbs and the torso. **Female, black and tan poodle with chip ending in 46484 has a generalized matted coat over the entire body. These mats are tight against the skin on all limbs and the torso. **Female white bichon with microchip ending in 54568 has a matted coat on all four legs and on the back and head. The mats on the limbs are tight against the skin. **Female tan poodle with microchip ending in 54563 has a generalized matted coat over the entire body. The mats on the body are tight against the skin. **Female apricot poodle with microchip ending in 92227 has a generalized matted coat over the entire body. The mats on the body are tight against the skin. **Female apricot poodle with microchip ending in 46603 has a generalized matted coat over the entire body. The mats have a “felted” appearance on the back and torso and the mats on the rest of the body are tight against the skin. **Female black and tan poodle with microchip ending in 46422 has a generalized matted coat over the entire body. The mats on the body are tight against the skin. Soiled, matted hair coats can cause skin infections and become painful. In addition, matted coats do not provide complete protection against the elements. The licensee must clean these animals' hair coats and remove the matted hair. As part of the facility's program of veterinary care, the licensee must develop and follow a program of hair coat maintenance to ensure that animals are cleaned when their hair coats become soiled, and that matted hair is removed on a regular basis. All dogs must have their hair coat problems resolved by 10 am on 3 May 2023. The licensee stated that she had three Australian Shepherds born on the property to one of the free roaming yard dogs without her knowledge. She was able to catch them about 3 weeks ago and applied a band to the tails to dock them. The licensee estimated that the dogs were between 7 and 8 weeks of age at the time she applied the bands. She stated that the tails fell off as she intended. She stated that she would like to sell these dogs if possible. The bands cause the skin, musculature, and other tissue of the tail to die and slough off. This is a painful process. The use of constrictive band to dock tails in dogs is not consistent with current veterinary practice standards. The licensee must use appropriate methods to provide veterinary care, prevent, control, diagnose and treat diseases and injuries. To be corrected by 3 May 2023. This inspection was conducted with the licensee. The exit interview for this part of the report was conducted with the licensee on 2 May 2023. A complete routine inspection was conducted starting on 2 May 2023. This inspection report is limited to the Direct non- compliances identified during that inspection. An additional inspection report will be delivered with the other issues identified during this inspection. n