ASK DQ

Q: Are black dogs really harder to rehome?

If we consider how black dogs have been presented historically, we might think of folklore, werewolves or the term ‘black dog’ being applied to describe depressive symptoms. This is such a pity as it risks people becoming conditioned to associate black dogs with negative feelings.

Behaviourally, it is suggested that humans, and perhaps even other dogs, might find black dogs’ body language more difficult to interpret, perhaps because their black fur makes it harder to observe very subtle body movements like brow furrowing, nose wrinkling, or muscles becoming taut and tense.

Black Dog Day was started to raise awareness of the beauty of these dogs, as it is believed that they are spending longer in rescue centres waiting to be adopted than dogs with other coloured coats. While research has not been formally conducted here yet, anecdotal evidence certainly suggests that these dogs spend longer waiting for a home than their lighter-coloured counterparts.

Q: How is it that parents of dogs with clear elbows can produce puppies that go onto develop Elbow Dysplasia?

Unfortunately, conditions such as elbow and hip dysplasia are hereditary conditions, and although two parents may have very good health scores themselves, there may be genes within their breeding lines that can still present in these later generations. Obviously, choosing parents who have good health scores, lowers the probability of the condition becoming apparent in their puppies; however, it does not eliminate the risk altogether.

Other factors which can also be the cause of elbow dysplasia are osteochondrosis (OCD) which is a disease of the joint cartilage. OCD can be hereditary but it can also be the result of nutritional issues, such as over or under supplementation of certain vitamins and minerals, or trauma. Small fractures can also develop in the joint, leading ultimately to elbow dysplasia. These often go unnoticed if they are small hair-line fractures, or the dog is not exhibiting any major signs of discomfort.

Purchasing a puppy from a registered and responsible breeder helps to limit the chance of elbow dysplasia. However, all owners should be aware that this is not a 100% guarantee that elbow dysplasia will not develop. Having said this, there are now many treatment options available to help alleviate pain and discomfort due to elbow dysplasia, so a diagnosis of the condition can be managed successfully.

Q: My dog is performing at a high level in agility. I’ve been advised to give her antioxidants to support her athletic performance. Is this a good idea?

Strenuous exercise, such as from high level agility, can lead to oxidative damage of the cells and tissues and the high fat diet commonly fed to canine athletes can put them at increased risk. Studies which have looked at the antioxidant properties of fruits and vegetables have shown that exercising dogs may benefit from a diet containing an increased level of antioxidant nutrients to counteract the effect of strenuous exercise. Strawberries and blackberries are an excellent source of antioxidants and are probably the best and most natural way to add antioxidants into the diet.