FARMERS have been warned to review their farm insurance to ensure coverage for dog related incidents.

With the weather improving and the number of dogs on farmland increasing, H and H Insurance Brokers has highlighted the need to review insurance coverage. Rural sales manager Philip Pagin said: “Spring not only sees the increase of work of farm dogs on farmland, it also sees more people using public rights of way to walk their dogs, and this can pose several risks to livestock.”

In the recent weeks, there has been a surge in campaigns promoting responsible dog ownership in regard to livestock attacks, however, H and H are raising awareness of another dog related issue – the transmission of infectious diseases between dogs and livestock.

Mr Pagin continued: “Farm insurance does not protect farm businesses against the cost of these transmitted diseases, and its important this is recognised. However, there are ways in which the risks can be reduced, and I want to highlight some ways in which farmers can work to prevent such incidences.”

He explained that in cattle, the biggest risk is the threat of Neosporosis, which can lead to abortions, reduced milk yields, reduced growth rates and fertility issues. It poses a significant challenge to UK farmers, and can be transmitted by cattle digesting the Neospora eggs on pasture, in feed troughs or in water contaminated by the infected dog faeces.

For sheep farmers, the diseases which cause greatest concern are sarcocystosis and tapeworms. Sarcocystosis can affect up to 75% of sheep in susceptible flocks, and lambs are the most vulnerable to disease and severe infections can be fatal.

Dog tapeworms cost the English sheep industry more than £6 million in 2012 in abattoir condemnations, according to EBLEX figures. This gives an indication of the cost of tapeworms on the sheep sector, causing severe clinical symptoms in sheep, including poor growth rates and, occasionally death.

“Firstly, clean up any dog faeces,” Mr Pagin urged. “This applies to all dogs; farm dogs included. Also, worming the dog regularly using a product recommended by a vet. These are two very easy and effective ways to reduce the spread of disease.

“Dogs like to scavenge, but don’t allow them to eat fallen stock, after-birth or birth fluids from livestock and review your dog’s diet. Be aware that feeding a bone and raw food diet to your dog can present disease risks to both your dog and livestock. Always make sure any meat or offal you feed your dog is thoroughly cooked,” he stressed.

“Speak to your vet if you have any questions and review your farm hygiene. Look at how you manage fallen stock, afterbirth and feed – do your farm practices prevent dogs and wildlife getting to these? Look at how you can reduce the likelihood dog faeces comes into contact with your livestock."

Lastly he made the point that putting up signs around the farm land illustrating the risks of dogs to livestock will educate the public and improve relations between them and farmers.