Uhunt Mag Information

• Posted By : BRISTLE UP
• Posted On : May 02, 2019
• Views : 4237
• Category : PIG DOGGING » VET & HEALTH ARTICLES
• Description : "As hunters that use dogs, we need to be very careful not to allow our hunting dogs to become exposed to 1080 baits. Dogs are one of the most susceptible species to the poison and require a much smaller amount of the poison to be deadly"

Overview

• As hunters that use dogs, we need to be very careful not to allow our hunting dogs to become exposed to 1080 baits. Dogs are one of the most susceptible species to the poison and require a much smaller amount of the poison to be deadly. This is a problem for hunters as baits set for wild pigs and rabbits and so on contain a much higher dose of the poison that is needed to be deadly to your canine. There is no effective antidote for 1080 poisoning so protecting your dog from exposure is very important this is why I have prepared some key points that every pig hunter should know about 1080 baits to make an educated decision when hunting in areas that are being baited or areas that have been baited.

  1080 is the name given to the poison sodium fluoroacetate, it is an odorless, tasteless white powder that has a special dye added for identification of the toxin. 1080 is widely used in Australia to protect agricultural production, native flora and fauna from the impacts of pest animals. 1080 baits are only to be used for the destruction of wild dogs, feral pigs, foxes, and rabbits and can only be used by authorized persons and under strict guidelines. These guidelines can be found on the appropriate government website. 
  
  What signs must be displayed in areas that are being baited?
  Warning signs must be placed at all entries into the area where the 1080 baits have been laid and all notices must remain in place for a minimum of 4 weeks after the last day the baits are used.
  
  The 1080 poison notice must include information about:
  > When The Baits Will Be Laid
  > What type of baits are being laid e.g. 1080 Wild Dog Bait
  > The Contact Details For the person who will be laying the 1080 baits
  > The notice Must contain warnings that other animals may be affected by the baits such as domestic dogs.
  
  How are the baits delivered to the target species?
  For use on feral pigs poisoned grains or specially designed pellets are laid out to be consumed by the feral pigs. Pigs have been known to travel up to 3km before dying from the poison, though most die within 200m. Pigs will vomit a lot during this period and this vomit is also deadly. Feral pigs could take up to 5 hours to die or in some cases will vomit up enough of the poison to survive. For the poisoning of wild dogs, the poison is incorporated into fresh, dried or processed meat baits.
  
  If my dog feeds on a poisoned carcass will he be affected?
  In general it is less likely for the dog to become poisoned in this way but unfortunately, this depends on many factors, how old the carcass is, what part of the carcass was eaten e.g. the stomach would likely contain more poison than the rest of the carcass, and how much is consumed. Dogs only need to consume a very small amount of 1080 to die so if this happens there is still a high chance of your dog dying from secondary poisoning. In this case, it is advisable to quickly exercise first aid steps on your dog and get your dog to the vet ASAP, as outlined later in this article in paragraph named “First Aid For Dogs”
  
  When it rains the 1080 baits become non-effective and my dogs are no longer at risk?
  There is no easy way to answer this question because there is no hard consistent evidence and it depends on a lot of factors, how much rain was received, how long the baits have been out, the type of bait used and so on. As a general note, it is believed that 1080 exposed to moist conditions and rainfall will usually dramatically reduce its effectiveness. However some studies contradict this, a study done in central Australia showed that meat baits placed on the soil in predator-proof cages remained toxic to dogs, foxes, and cats for at least 8 months regardless of whether they were protected from rain or not. This means untaken baits would still remain a threat to domestic dogs for a considerable period. However, the study also showed that 85% of baits in this particular region were taken within 4 days.
  
  What impact does the poison have on target animals? 
  1080 converts fluoroacetate to fluorocitrate and this is what makes 1080 toxic. This conversion inhibits the tricarboxylic acid cycle, a cycle mechanism necessary for cellular energy production. As a general note herbivores experience cardiac failure, while carnivores experience central nervous system disturbances and convulsions and then die of respiratory failure. Omnivores such as pigs can be equally affected by both central nervous system disturbances and cardiac symptoms.
  
  When 1080 is first ingested by a wild dog there is a latent period of around 30 minutes to 3 hours before initial symptoms will occur, these include hyperexcitability, vocalization, manic running, and retching. The animal will likely experience distress, and possibly pain during this stage of 1080 poisoning. In the next phase, the animal is likely to show signs of central nervous system disturbance like collapsing, convulsions and tetanic spasms. It is believed that because the animal is unconscious during this stage that it would not experience suffering. Typically death will occur around two hours after the onset of symptoms unless early intervention is carried out in the event of a domestic animal being poisoned.
  
  How are the baits disposed of once baiting is ceased?
  Once baiting is finished the baiter must where possible collect any untaken baits and poisoned animal carcasses and bury them. Any containers used to carry 1080 must be either burnt or buried.
  
  First aid for Dogs 
  Because Wild dog baits are highly attractive to other carnivores it’s very important working dogs and pets do not become exposed to opportunities to become poisoned by the baits. The typical outcome for a poisoned dog is extremely poor unless vomiting is induced shortly after ingestion and before clinical symptoms are evident.
  
  My Dog just consumed a bait what should I do?
  If your dog has consumed a bait and is NOT yet showing signs of poisoning, YOU must induce vomiting by giving one of the following solutions by mouth:
  o Washing soda crystals (sodium carbonate) – 3 to 5 crystals 
  o Table salt – 1 to 3 tablespoons 
  o Dilute hydrogen peroxide (3% solution) – 3 to 5ml 
  o Dilute mustard and water solution. 
  
  You must THEN SEEK A Veterinarian IMMEDIATELY. The sooner action is taken following poisoning the better the outcome.
  If NONE of the above items are immediately available or you are not having any luck in getting the dog to vomit then WASTE NO MORE TIME, get the dog to a vet immediately.
  If the dog is already starting to show signs of poisoning, for example, retching and vomiting, frenzied behavior such as running and howling, convulsions and difficulty breathing then DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING, instead seek veterinary help immediately.
  The veterinarian will attempt to decrease 1080 absorption and facilitate excretion, support respiration, control seizures and support cardiac function.