Policies

Heat Stress

Heat stress is an occasional occurrence in greyhounds racing in hot/humid weather. Whilst ambient temperature is a factor, high relative humidity can significantly slow the rate of heat loss from the body of a greyhound. In weather where both the ambient temperature and relative humidity are high, it is deemed that the environmental thermal load is extreme, and this fact may precipitate cases of heat stress.

Heat stress in a racing greyhound is most likely to be seen on days when both the ambient temperature and relative humidity are high, and wind speeds are low or absent (conditions of high environmental thermal load).

Signs of heat stress include:

• Frantic panting/distress
• Salivation
• Staggering gait/muscle cramping
• Congested mucous membranes
• Fixed gaze
• Collapse

In Western Australia there are usually a few days in summer that give rise to high environmental thermal loads and the possibility of the occurrence of heat stress must be considered on these days. However, the development of heat stress does not solely seem to be influenced by temperature.

Certain factors can adversely affect an individual greyhound's ability to withstand racing in hot weather including:

• Travelling long distances in trailers prior to racing
• An excitable temperament
• Being less acclimatized to hot weather
• Pre-race dehydration or withdrawal of drinking water for extended periods prior to racing (not a recommended practice in hot weather)
• Inadequate electrolyte supplementation in feed
• Illness/Poor conditioning

Some simple steps can be taken at the track to assist in the cooling of heat affected greyhounds:

• Continued application of cold/iced water over the whole body, especially the ventral chest and abdomen, may assist in the recovery of a heat affected greyhound
• The use of iced towels placed over the body
• The provision of air-conditioning in the kennel area may assist in treating/preventing heat stress
• Greyhounds should have clean, cool drinking water available to them after racing

On days when the environmental thermal load is deemed to be extreme the following principles should be observed to ensure the welfare of racing greyhounds:

1. By Greyhound Racing Clubs and Stewards:

• The kennel areas should be air-conditioned and well ventilated. Race clubs are advised that kennel cooling systems should be activated no less than 3 hours prior to kenneling
• Ensure adequate water/wash bays are available to maximize post race cooling. It is suggested that hoses be made available in the car park to cool hot trailers prior to transport from the course
• Ensure adequate drinking water is available
• Kennel staff should be informed to have ice, water and towels available. Kennel staff should also ensure large bins placed near hose bays are continually stocked with bags of ice and water to assist trainers/vets in the cooling of greyhounds
• Consideration be given to employing an additional veterinary surgeon to patrol the kennel area and monitor recovering greyhounds
• Stewards will minimize the time that greyhounds are required to parade/be held in parading/race presentation areas. Stewards may allow early kenneling of greyhounds should they arrive on course before normal kenneling time
• Barking muzzles are not permitted post race on hot days as they restrict the ability of a greyhound to pant
• After racing a greyhound must be held in the kennel area, in order to fully recover, for a period of time at least until the end of the next scheduled race (approx. 20 minutes), prior to leaving the course

Where the temperature rises above 40°C, or the Stewards are of the opinion that the temperature is likely to rise above 40°C during the meeting, the Stewards may abandon the meeting, or a race, or races, at that meeting.

At any time the club’s Veterinary Surgeon can make recommendations to the Stewards that the meeting be abandoned, if in their opinion the welfare of the greyhounds competing is likely to be adversely affected by the heat.

Stewards may allow a greyhound to be withdrawn from an event without penalty where:

• The temperature is likely to be about 38°C; and
• the trainer has no air-conditioned facility available for the transport; or
• the greyhound has a journey exceeding an hour to get to the race track; or
• the greyhound has a history of previous episodes of heat/travel stress.

Any application for withdrawal without penalty must be made prior to the official scratching time of the race meeting, however Stewards may consider late requests.

2. By Club/Industry Veterinary Surgeons:

1. The Veterinary Surgeon/s should scrutinize all greyhounds for signs of heat stress when presented:
   • At kenneling
   • On entering the track to race
   • On return to the enclosure after the race
   • Whilst being detained in the swabbing area

   Any greyhound found to be suffering from heat stress at kenneling or prior to racing will be reported immediately to the Stewards, and a decision will be made, in consultation with the Veterinary Surgeon, on the suitability of that greyhound to race.

2. Any greyhound found to be suffering from heat stress will be given appropriate veterinary treatment by the Course Veterinary Surgeon. For this purpose the Veterinary Surgeon should have an adequate supply of fluids and emergency medications available.
3. Veterinary Surgeons/Officials will monitor the swabbing procedure to ensure that greyhounds are as cool and comfortable as possible and, in particular, monitor greyhounds becoming distressed during swabbing. Any greyhound that becomes heat stressed during the swabbing process will be reported to the Stewards and appropriate therapy will be undertaken.