In Memoriam Gracie, ShoGun’s High Society 1/4/2008-1/30/2013 Our condolences to Chic Denney on her loss 1
Birthday Greetings
Shogun's Dawn's Early Light Shogun's Proudly We Hail ShoGun's Land of the Free Shogun's Gloria Hallelujah Shogun's No Guts No Gloria Shogun's Blaze of Glory Quigley ShoGun's Funky Diva ShoGun's Nonsuch Tradition ShoGun's Play That Funky Music ShoGun's King of the Swingers ShoGun's Cherokee Lady Feather of Snow ShoGun's Blue of the Night ShoGun's Nileea Swingin On A Star ShoGun's Zing A Little Zong ShoGun's Count Your Blessings ShoGun's Endeavour ShoGun's Enterprise ShoGun's Atlantis ShoGun's Discovery ShoGun's Not My Vault ShoGun’s Spice Twice Pricilla Pinkpaws ShoGun’s Ruff N Tumble ShoGun’s Miss Lilly ShoGun’s Iron Cross ShoGun’s Alice Nimbletoes ShoGun's Sundance Kid ShoGun's Pike Bishop ShoGun's Pistol Packin' Palin ShoGun's Kid Curry ShoGun's Sure Shot
Libby Noel Sam Maggie T Oliver Quigley Diva Rustle Bentley Louie Keely Bing Dori Emma Charlotte Gunner Buckley Pip Sully Mugsy Vieno Bernie Gracie Julius Alice Walter Bishop Sarah Curry Emmie
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3/15/2002 3/15/2002 3/15/2002 3/25/2004 3/25/2004 3/25/2004 4/9/2005 4/9/2005 4/9/2005 4/15/2010 4/15/2010 5/27/2010 5/27/2010 5/27/2010 5/27/2010 6/1/2011 6/1/2011 6/1/2011 6/1/2011 6/10/2009 6/10/2009 6/10/2009 6/10/2009 6/10/2009 6/10/2009 6/11/2010 6/11/2010 6/11/2010 6/11/2010 6/11/2010
Happy New Year from Iris and the Donahues Iris is ShoGun's White Poplar I want to update you on Iris. She is still very much a puppy, with lots of energy. She races around our backyard like crazy and loves the snow. We just got about 10 inches. In the house, she entertains herself by tossing her tennis balls around and chasing them. She steals dish towels whenever she can, and is very disappointed if no one chases her. We take close note of Gigi's gallery. Iris looks just like her, same size and body. We want to know how much do you feed Gigi?? We still feed Iris 2X a day, one cup each time. She gets cranberry pills, vitamins and salmon oil, and "treats". She gets a bath and trimmed every 6 weeks. No one here really knows how to groom a Clumber. They trim her paws, but they don't know what to do with her tail. Her tail has never been trimmed, and it swishes around like a palm tree. It's pretty, but we don't know if it should be trimmed. From one of Gigi's photos, it looks like you might have trimmed her tail a little. Let us know. Also,we are worried that Iris doesn't "COME" very well. We know that clumbers are stubborn, but she has gotten loose twice. We live on a busy street, and doesn't know about moving cars. One time she took off, and Paul opened the car door and she came running and jumped in the car. Another time, our son was visiting, and he ran after her. Paul and I can't do that. Any suggestions?? We are well aware that Iris and her litter mates will be one year old on January 18th!!!! We keep up with Gigi and Finn on their galleries. You certainly raised a handsome litter of clumbers!! P.S. -- We love your Christmas Card. We have shown it to many people. Are you planning a new litter any time soon? Just wondering. We would love to hear how you are doing. Hope "2013" is a great year for us all!!!!! Peg and Paul Donahue
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Love,
Flynn's first birthday Flynn is ShoGun's Gunflint Trail Thanks so much for the birthday card for Flynn. I thought I'd drop you a line and let you know how he's doing. He's such a funny little guy. He's happy all the time. He wakes up every morning happy and wanting to play. He has, not one, but two toy boxes that he likes to rummage through to find just the perfect toy to fit his need. He's not nearly the chewer that Barry was but I do keep him well supplied in appropriate chewing alternatives. But I cannot keep him in tennis balls. He goes through nearly 5 a week. He loves to fetch the tennis ball but is not so keen on bringing it back. He has discovered that he adores getting brushed. He will jump up on the ottoman and stare at my 92 year old grandma until she brushes him. He'll do this 20 times a day. We now just keep the brush by her chair. It has been a nice bonding experience for the two of them. Like Barry, Flynn loves his broccoli and sweet potatoes. But unlike Barry, Flynn also likes pumpkin but despises green beans. Since recovering from his panosteitis he has had no health issues at all. He weighs about 60 pounds and the vet has been very happy with his leanness." He's gained some winter weight so we are watching that very closely.
Flynn has become a doggie socialite but he tends to prefer dogs his size or smaller. On occasion he'll be enticed to play with the bigger dogs but mostly he prefers to play with the smaller dogs. His particular buddy is a small brown poodle named Henry whom he'll let crawl all over him. I've done a lot more crate training with Flynn that I did with Barry. His crate really has become his safe place and he'll crawl in it on his own to nap if he's tired. He prefers to sleep in it at night even with the door open. On the rare occasion I have to run an errand where he can't come with me he is content to stay in the crate for a couple hours without any fuss. 4
Flynn is a snuggler. He likes nothing better that to sit half on and half off your lap and get petted. He still falls asleep on his back with all four legs in the air. He still occasionally falls off the couch while he's sleeping but now the fall actually wakes him up. He loves everyone, even my sister's new baby. His obedience training is spotty (due primarily to his lazy owner). He comes consistently when called, sits on command reliably but his heel is really quite atrocious. He walks on a leash just fine so I find myself unmotivated to push the heel. We've got him out of the jumping habit --- critical with my 92 year old grandma around. When exited he doesn't just wag his tail but his whole body wiggles. All in all, Helen, Flynn has just be a wonderful addition to the family and I couldn't possibly love him more. Thanks so much for breeding not only physically sound dogs, but, more importantly, dogs with such a delightful temperament
Molly Charlotte, ShoGun's Count Your Blessings Hi Helen and Otto, I have not checked in with you for a while. Charlotte is doing well. She is due in season any day. All the boys had their noses up her backside at the show on Sunday.[We went reserve]. My news is Charlotte is now no longer able to hide. I bought her a GPS. It is Tagg the pet tracker. It is wonderful as I can track her from my computer and if she goes out of bounds I get an email and can check to see exactly where she is. If I take her on a trip I can change her zone. Now I do not have to wonder which direction I need to face to call her. I know. Charlotte has not figured out how I got so smart all of a sudden. I know if she is hiding in the stream now. [ one of her favorite tricks]. Now she can toodle around and does not have to check in every couple of minutes. I can just check on her. I can also download an app for my cell phone which would be great if my cell phone worked at home. Charlotte and I are looking forward to going to the nationals. I hope she will be a champion by then. How are you both doing? I hope you both are in good health. It is nice that we have made it to March, but I am afraid we are going to get a lot of snow on Wednesday. [My day off]. Well Charlotte and the Goldens can help me shovel snow.
Chris
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Charlotte on her balance ball
Buckley,ShoGun's Enterprise Shown here with his handler, Chad, at the Cook Inlet Kennel Show in November, 2012
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Detour, ShoGun's Road Work Ahead Detour made a visit with us on his 8th birthday . We are always amazed at how laid back this boy is. He doesn’t let anything bother him, not even bringing him into a house full of barking dogs. Give him something to chew and he is at home. Thanks, Barbara, for spending some time with us and for those delicious treats you brought for us humans.
Grace, new CH ShoGun’s Miss Lilly July 31, 2012
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Emmet’s Page
Beginner Novice - New Title,
Owner/Handler Group 3,
Oshkosh, WI, Jan 12, 2013
Novi MI, Jan 17, 2013
Sporting Group 4, Novi MI,
Owner/Handler Group 2,
Jan 18, 2013
Novi MI .Jan 18, 2013
Congratulations to Emmet and Gabe on jobs well done 8
ShoGun Clumber Spaniels S30W35902 Scuppernong Ct Dousman, Wisconsin 53118 Clumbers@shogundogs.com 262-965-4963 Dear ShoGun Clumber owner, First, thank you for being such wonderful keepers of your ShoGun Clumber Spaniel(s). We can’t express our gratitude enough for you taking such good care of these wonderful creatures. We hope your Clumber has given you much pleasure in return. Part of our promise to you was that if you ever needed to part with your ShoGun Clumber Spaniel, you could return him/her to us. As we get older and keep breeding, there is the possibility that we may not be able to honor that promise. With this in mind, we would like to suggest that, in the event we are no longer available to take back a dog or help to find it a good home, you contact Clumber Spaniel Rescue for assistance. See their website at www.clumbers.org/CSCA_TheClub/Committees/Rescue.php We are working with Rescue and providing and continually updating them with a list of dogs we have bred and with the names of their owners. We have seen to it that any health records of our dogs will be made available to Rescue in case of our death or incapacitation. We are also leaving instructions and setting aside funds to take care of any dogs living with us at that time. At this time we would like to remind you of several steps you should take to make sure your companions are taken care of in case something happens to you: 1) Have your dog microchipped or tattooed. Consider enrolling in the AKC CAR’s recovery service. Be sure the information tied to these methods is kept up to date. 2) Leave instructions in or with your will as to how to take care of your pets. If you don’t have anyone to take care of them, recommend they be turned over to us or Clumber Spaniel Rescue. 3) Give your vet a letter permitting him/her to release the health records of your pets to family members, breeders and/or Clumber Spaniel Rescue. 9
4) Arrange for veterinary care. If you leave your pets to someone you may want to arrange in advance for its veterinary care since this care is likely to be the biggest expense the new owner will incur. There are several ways to do this: E. Leave money to buy pet health care insurance. Leave money in your will to the new owner with instructions to buy health insurance for your pet. Again, you must rely on the new owner to spend the money that way. F. G. Leave money to your vet. You can leave money in your will to a veterinarian. Work out the amount, and what is to be expected of the vet, in advance. Any money left when your pet dies could go to a relative, charity, or to the vet. Again, you will have to trust the vet to follow your instructions. H. Sign a contract with your vet. A third option is to sign a contract with a vet in which he/she agrees to treat your pet. Then you pay or leave the vet a certain amount as a credit towards expected services. If the money runs out, the vet begins charging the new owner for services. If your pet dies before the money runs out, you and the vet agree in the contract as to what will be done with the excess. If you have any questions or comments on the above, please contact us. Sincerely,
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In Memoriam Tuesday, March 5, 2013 Yesterday was a sad day for us. We had to give up on a month long struggle to beat an illness that was destroying our beautiful Nikki. We took Nikki in for testing on Feb. 4, as she was not herself and we suspected something wrong. No tests would tell us what it was we were fighting, all we could diagnose was a severe systemic infection even though we knew there was something else behind it. Blood tests, ultrasounds, x-rays showed nothing conclusive. None of the meds we tried had any effect on slowing this enemy. Her last few days were so painful for her and she needed constant reassurance that we were with her and touching her. She could no longer get up 11
and walk; we had to carry her outside to try to potty. On Saturday, her bloodwork showed that something might be going on in her liver and gallbladder. We treated her with new meds, which again were no help to her. Yesterday, we made the difficult decision to let her rest in peace. We had to have closure (and our vet was anxious too - to have an answer), so the next step was a necropsy. Rod (our vet) called right away with results to give us. Her liver, spleen, and gallbladder were highly diseased. There was no chance of recovery from this damage. Samples were sent out for testing, and it was determined that the cause of death was pancreatic cancer. She is at rest now. She would have celebrated her eleventh birthday in one month. Nikki was a star at the 2003 CSCA National Specialty - Winners Bitch, Best of Winners, and Best Puppy in Show. The judge, Bill Ironside, will be welcoming her at the Bridge. He fell in love with her at that show. She really was not happy in the show ring, so we let her do what made her happy. She loved tracking, easily achieved her Tracking Dog title, but her very favorite thing in life was pregnancy and caring for her pups !! She seemed to glow from the minute she became pregnant, and she got an A+ grade in neo-natal care. Out of two litters, Nikki had a total of four boys and four girls. All four of her sons became AKC Champions (Detour, Spencer, Watson, and Buddy); one of her sons (Spencer) was Winners Dog at the 2008 CSCA National Specialty in Shawnee, PA and also the first Sporting Group Winner for Shogun; another (Watson) has achieved his Senior Hunter title and made us very proud ! Nikki's daughter (Cotton) in Finland has produced some outstanding offspring and she has grandchildren across Europe and one in Columbia. Her greatgranddaughter from Canada will be at the 2013 National trying for her TDX title (no Clumber has achieved this title 12
at the National Specialty; Nikki tried in 2007). She carries on through her descendents, and will not be forgotten. Thank you, Jim and Shirley Fankhauser, for letting this girl share our home and our hearts. Rest well, sweet Nikki. CH Nexus Nicolette TD : April 8, 2002 - March 4, 2013
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Camilla, ShoGun's Duchess of Ipswich
This is a “cheer up” photo of Camilla sent to us after our loss of Nikki. Thank you Harry and Geraldine Nelson and Camilla. Your thoughtfulness is much appreciated.
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Sam, our man in Greece, ShoGun's Land of the Free It is so good to hear from you. I have been thinking about you often, and always mean to write, but I always wait until I take new pictures of Sam with our baby to send and never get around to it. It has been so long since I last wrote, that I think I haven't told you that we had a baby, who is no longer a baby! We have a boy, the two legged kind, who is 17 months old. Sam has been an angel with him, and the two are quite inseparable. Sam is the epitome of patience, endures the occasional tug and shove, done in affection but quite awkwardly and roughly, and follows Anthony around everywhere. Anthony loves, loves, loves Sam, gives him kisses all day long, and in the evening when we let Sam out in the garden for a last round of pee, Anthony is glued to the glass and tracks his every move, not resting until Sam is safely inside the house again. It is really quite touching to see the two of them interact. Sam's overall health is good. Getting a bit older, slower on the stairs, takes a while to get up, but all in all is quite healthy and happy. His eyes are acting up a bit, the vet says it is entropion ( I am not sure if it translates in English). I wanted to ask your opinion on whether to get an operation or if you think it is too risky at his age. I hope all is well with you. I would love to hear from you and learn how the gang is doing! BTW, how are Sam's sisters? I really look forward to hearing from you, and I promise I will revert with new pictures of Sam. Love, Maria
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ShoGun's Platinum Cowgirl
Recent photos of Jewel, ShoGun's Platinum Cowgirl
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Welcome Dori’s Litter Dam: Dori, CH ShoGun’s Nileea Swingin' On A Star BN RE Sire: Julius, CH ShoGun’s ShoGun's Iron Cross 4 Girls: Nileea Coded in Maple, Nileea Coded in Perl, Nileea Coded in Java, Nileea Coded in Lua 1 Boy: Shogun's Coded in Cobol Birth date: January 10, 2013 Proud parents: Lyle and Susan Hall
Visit the Hall’s web site at http://http://nileeaclumberspaniels.com/ 17
The Myth of the Alpha Dog By Dr. Becker Most behavior problems in dogs involve either normal canine behaviors owners don’t like or understand, or undesirable behaviors rooted in anxiety. In order to improve any type of dog behavior issue, the steps must always include: Learning what ‘normal’ means in the canine world Identifying and minimizing risks associated with the behavior Effectively communicating with the dog Learning to read the dog’s signals Meeting the dog’s needs Unfortunately dog trainers, veterinarians and other canine experts have been conditioned over the years to believe ‘bad’ behavior is driven by a dog’s desire to be dominant over his humans. So owners receive the message that exerting control over their dog – showing him who’s ‘boss’ – is the key to improving behavior. This is an anthropocentric focus on the relationship between people and dogs which considers only the needs of the human. The Merriam-Webster definition of anthropocentrici: considering human beings as the most significant entity of the universe interpreting or regarding the world in terms of human values and experiences According to Dr. Karen Overall of the University of Pennsylvania, an Applied Animal Behaviorist, “The entire concept of dominance as applied to pet dogs is almost always based on a profound misunderstanding of the shared history of dogs and humans.” Dog-Human Relationship History Canines have relationships with humans that stand alone among all relationships between people and domestic animals. Anthropological evidence shows that dogs have lived closely with humans for at least 30,000 years, and have been engaged in different tasks alongside humans for at least 15,000 years. And for the past 2,000 years there have been specific breeds of dogs of varying shapes and sizes that engaged in specific tasks helpful to humans. 18
In fact, many of the physical differences among dog breeds developed as a deliberate effort by humans to match desired behaviors to physical attributes. Dr. Overall uses the example of field trial or working English springer spanielsand show dogs of the same breed. These animals look like completely different breeds because they’ve been bred for different behaviors and ‘jobs.’ She theorizes the relationship between humans and dogs developed initially to take advantage of the power of collaboration. Then over time, changes in actual brain function may have occurred with the result that today’s humans and dogs truly rely on each other. Normal Dog Behavior Doesn’t Include a Drive for Dominance To be dominant is to have the ability to control access to resources, and to keep that control by winning out over competitors who also want to control access to the same resources. Dominance is often expressed as aggression. Dominance shouldn’t be confused with having a higher status in a relationship. A higher status individual achieves the ranking not by his own behavior, but by the behavior of the lower status individuals in the group who subordinate themselves to him. In a social hierarchy where there are higher and lower status individuals, dominance rarely leads to aggression or fighting – just the opposite. Flawed Theories of Canine Behavior Early studies seem to have misinterpreted the concept of dominance in canine social hierarchies. The dogs in early experiments formed rank hierarchies based not on their own natural social tendencies, but on how the studies were designed. Further, researchers assigned dominant traits to certain dogs based on their behavior with a bone as puppies. The way puppies interact in a natural setting is actually much more fluid than study results indicate, and it changes over time as they mature. Unfortunately, these early ‘forced hierarchy’ studies led to the erroneous assumption that in healthy human-dog relationships, canines subordinate themselves to their owners. This led to the theory that owners must exercise dominance over their pets in order to elicit acceptable behavior. The ‘show them who’s boss’ approach is flawed, according to Dr. Overall, because: “Our historic and evolutionary relationship with dogs is one of cooperative and collaborative work. A hierarchical relationship like that formerly recommended would not have allowed dogs to work with humans in the ways that they have because humans would have had to make all of the work decisions.” Dogs who do display dominant tendencies have in the past been diagnosed with ‘dominance aggression.’ But given our improved understanding of canine nature, that behavior problem is 19
now more often referred to as ‘impulse control aggression’ or ‘conflict aggression.’ This rightfully distances us from the concept of dogs as naturally striving for dominance over other animals and people. Aggressive Dogs are Anxious Dogs Among the many shared behavior traits of humans and dogs is a tendency to suffer from maladaptive anxiety – anxiety that interferes with normal functioning. Dogs with behavior problems involving aggression have an anxiety disorder. They are, in Dr. Overall’s view, troubled, needy and pathological. One of the worst methods for handling such a dog is to attempt to dominate him – especially when it involves hitting, hanging, ‘dominance downs,’ ‘alpha rolls’ and other similar techniques intended to show the dog who’s boss. Dogs with anxiety disorders have trouble processing information and making accurate risk assessments. The actions dog owners take to demonstrate dominance over a misbehaving pet actually result in an already troubled animal feeling betrayed, terrified, threatened and backed into a corner by his human. As you can imagine, this only results in a worsening of the dog’s condition. **************************************************************************** ****************************************************************************
How Big is Your Pet's Food Bowl? If you’ve ever tried to lose weight, you know that the size of the plates, bowls and utensils you use has a significant impact on how much food you serve yourself and consume. This is a known psychological phenomenon related to optical and size-contrast illusions. It has led to advice to dieters to replace dinner plates with saucers and use smaller utensils. So it comes as no surprise that, according to a study published in the April 2012 issue of the Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition1, the size of a pet’s food bowl and the gadgets used to scoop food are very likely contributing to the pet obesity epidemic. Study Yields Predictable Results In the study, conducted by researchers at the University of Tennessee’s College of Veterinary Medicine, 54 dogs and their owners participated in a four-treatment trial that included kibbled dog food and the following serving combinations: Small bowl and small scoop Small bowl and large scoop Large bowl and small scoop Large bowl and large scoop 20
The dog owners used each of these four combinations during each of four trials. As you might guess, the food portions offered to the dogs using the small bowl with the small scoop were significantly less than all other bowl and scoop combinations. The small/small combination averaged about 151 grams vs. 172, 173 and 185 grams for the other combinations. The small bowl/large scoop and the large bowl/small scoop amounts were almost the same (172 grams vs. 173 grams). Use of the large bowl with the large scoop resulted in a 185 gram serving. These results are consistent with results in human trials. According to study authors, the results emphasize the need for pet owners to use standard measuring cups and for people with overweight pets to use smaller bowls and serving scoops. Lose the Gigantic Food Bowl and Find those Kitchen Measuring Cups Unfortunately, there is a general tendency among many pet owners to buy oversized food bowls for their dog or cat. Since the correct amount of food looks like too little food when it’s placed in a gargantuan bowl, many pet owners add more food to improve the “optics” of the meal. It sounds ridiculous, I know. But it happens … a lot! If you’ve purchased a too-large food bowl for your pet, consider using that bowl for fresh water instead – especially if you have a dog. Interestingly, in many homes with pets, the food bowl dwarfs the water bowl, even though water is one of the most important nutrients in the diet of both cats and dogs. So there’s the jumbo food bowl problem, and also a scooping device problem. Both these problems sabotage efforts to feed portion-controlled pet meals. When it comes to a scooping device for your pet’s food, please don’t use a random plastic scoop from the back of your kitchen gadget drawer. Don’t use a coffee mug, or an empty yogurt cup. Your pet will get more food than she needs. PLEASE use a kitchen measuring cup to portion out your dog’s or cat’s food. You can buy a set of inexpensive plastic measuring cups for just a few bucks. This is especially important for pet owners who feed dry food diets, because most kibble formulas are high in calories. It’s also extremely important for people with cats and small dogs. It’s incredibly easy to make a small pet overweight with a few extra pieces of kibble at mealtime or a few daily treats. How to Count Calories for Your Pet Let’s say your dog is 50 pounds. Now let’s calculate how many calories she needs to stay at her current weight using this formula: Daily calories (canine) = Body Weight (kg) x 30 + 70 In order to use this calculation, first we have to convert her weight from pounds to kilograms. 21
One kilogram = 2.2 pounds, so divide her weight in pounds by 2.2. 50/2.2 = 22.7. Your dog’s weight in kilograms is 22.7. Now our formula looks like this: Daily calories = 22.7 x 30 + 70 And finally, it looks like this: Daily calories = 751 If your dog eats about 750 calories a day, she’ll stay at her current weight. In order for her to lose weight, she must eat fewer calories. Let’s say you and your vet agree your dog should be 45 pounds at her ideal weight. All you need to do is apply the above formula using 45 instead of 50: 45 pounds in kilograms is 45/2.2 = 20.4; 20.4 x 30 + 70 = 682 daily calories. The formula for kitties has a slight variation to account for the ultra-sedentary lifestyle of most housecats: Daily calories (feline) = Body Weight (kg) x 30 + 70 x 0.8 Next you must determine how many calories are in the food you’re feeding and the treats you provide, and adjust the amount downward as necessary. If you feed prepared pet food, don’t follow the label guidelines for how much to feed. Find out how many calories are in a can or cup – this will vary by brand and flavor. You may need to find the product website or call the tollfree number on the label to get the information you need. If you feed raw or cook your pet’s food at home, the recipes you use to build the meals should contain calorie information. You must determine how many calories your dog or cat needs each day to achieve her ideal weight and feed it in portions – usually half in a morning meal and the remainder in her evening meal. And again, don’t forget to factor treats into the equation. 22
How to Soothe Your Dog's Separation Anxiety Do you ever feel guilty when you have to leave your dog home alone? You might feel a little silly but it's OK -many people feel the same way you do. It's only natural to want man's best friend to be happy. Many of the things that we do in our daily lives - work, school, errands, shopping - happen in places where we are unable to bring our dogs. While it's usually for the best, that doesn't mean that we don't miss them…and that they don't miss us. If you have ever met a dog who won't let you get to the front door before turning on the infamous “puppy dog eyes,” you know just what I mean. Dogs can only entertain themselves with what we provide for them. Most of the time, interactions with humans or other dogs in the household are enough to keep them occupied. But when we're away, they're pretty limited in what they can do to stave off boredom. Some dogs seem content to nap away their day while you're away. Other dogs have a much harder time coping with the situation when they're home all alone. These dogs can suffer from lethargy, stress or separation anxiety. So how do you know how your dog feels about being left alone? Some dogs make their displeasure quite obvious by leaving unpleasant “presents” for you to find. You could return home to find your furniture or personal belongings chewed up, the garbage ransacked, paper or pillows chewed to shreds, or you may find that your dog has vomited, urinated or defecated in the house. A dog's reaction to stress is as varied as a human's. Bear in mind that all of these inappropriate behaviors don't happen because your dog is “bad,” but rather scared and stressed out. When stressed, some dogs eat everything in sight and others become almost anorexic. Some dogs groom themselves incessantly to calm their nerves. Others vocalize their dissatisfaction by howling, whining and barking while you're away. (And if you have neighbors nearby, you're sure to hear about it!) If your dog shows any of these behaviors while you're away, "environmental enrichment" can help. This is the process of adding intriguing elements to their surroundings which keep them thinking, playing, and (best of all) avoiding inappropriate behaviors. When you give your dog plenty of fun things to do and see, his unhappy time alone can be transformed into a very satisfying day. Here are some suggestions for curbing separation anxiety: Hire a dog walker Invest in doggy day care Leave plenty of fun toys for your dog (like puzzle toys that you fill with treats) Tire him out with some active play before you go (sleeping dogs don't make trouble!) Try something that will hold his interest while you are gone, like the Dog Sitter DVD 23
If your dog shows any of these behaviors while you're away, "environmental enrichment" can help. This is the process of adding intriguing elements to their surroundings which keep them thinking, playing, and (best of all) avoiding inappropriate behaviors. When you give your dog plenty of fun things to do and see, his unhappy time alone can be transformed into a very satisfying day. Here are some suggestions for curbing separation anxiety: Hire a dog walker Invest in doggy day care Leave plenty of fun toys for your dog (like puzzle toys that you fill with treats) Tire him out with some active play before you go (sleeping dogs don't make trouble!) Try something that will hold his interest while you are gone, like the Dog Sitter DVD You might laugh at the idea of TV for dogs but this might just change your mind. (In fact, some of the world's leading animal behaviorists are starting to recognize the potential benefits of video treatment for separation anxiety.) If you haven't seen the Dog Sitter DVD yet, you really must check it out. It is amazing! This DVD was made especially to entertain dogs for hours on end. It features lots of animals (birds, cats, squirrels, raccoons and more) outdoors in their natural environment. Your dog will think he's outside with his new friends joining in the fun. Dogs have uniquely sensitive hearing and one great feature of this video is the audio. The stereo soundtrack includes some sounds that only your dog can hear. And once you find out which tracks are your dog's favorites, you can even personalize his viewing adventure using the continuous loop scene selection feature. When your dog is stuck inside all alone, the Dog Sitter DVD can bring the outside world in. Lots of people swear by it, and I can certainly see why. My staff and I tried it on our own dogs and they were GLUED to the TV set! Until next time, Dr. Jon
P.S.: This is also a great idea for keeping your dog busy when you need a little time to yourself. One client of mine turns it on while she is working, and her dogs are so entertained that they leave her to work in peace. What a great idea!1/3 24
A Dog's Last Battle Author Unknown Š TheDogPlace
When I grow old or sick and weak And pain would keep me from my sleep, Then will you do what must be done, When life's last battle can't be won? Please don't be sad, I understand, But don't let grief stay your hand. For on this day, above all the rest Your love and friendship must stand the test. We've had so many happy years, Don't spoil it now with pain and tears. You wouldn't want me to suffer so, When that time comes, please, let me go. Take me where to my needs they'll tend, But please, stay with me to the end, Hold me close and talk to me Until my eyes no longer see.
It's one last kindness you do for me. 25
So please don't cry. It must be you Who decides this thing we both must do; We've been so close for all these years, Let not your heart hold any tears When from silent suffering I've been saved. You'll know somewhere my tail has waved. and I was strengthened by the scent of you In this last battle I will do. ************************************************** If You Feed Salmon to Your Pet (or eat it yourself), Please Read This By Dr. Becker The week before Christmas, the FDA determined that the first genetically engineered (G.E.) animal – a type of salmon – will have “no significant impact” on the environment, and will be “as safe as food from conventional Atlantic salmon.” The FDA’s draft environmental assessment1 will be open for public comment for two months, but according to the New York Times, it seems likely the salmon will be approved in the not-too-distant future. (Interestingly, the assessment was completed in early May, but wasn’t released until after the presidential election in November. According to the NYTimes, proponents of the salmon believe the delay was due to fear by the Obama administration that unfavorable consumer reaction could have an impact on the outcome of the election.) According to the FDA, G.E. Salmon is Safe to Eat and No Risk to the Environment AquaBounty Technologies is the company that developed the product, called the AquAdvantage salmon. They have been trying to get FDA approval of the salmon for around 15 years. According to the NYTimes, the AquAdvantage salmon “… is an Atlantic salmon that contains a growth hormone gene from the Chinook salmon and a genetic switch from the ocean pout, an eel-like creature. The switch keeps the gene on so that the salmon produces growth hormone year 26
round, rather than only during warm weather. The fish reach market weight in about 18 months instead of three years.” The FDA’s environmental analysis of the G.E. salmon looked at whether the fish could escape, adapt to life in the wild, and have a negative impact on the environment. One concern is whether the much larger AquAdvantage salmon could spell disaster for the wild Atlantic salmon by taking its food and mates. The FDA concluded the risk of negatively affecting the environment is “extremely remote.” It states the salmon will be raised in inland tanks with little to no means of escape, and in the event of escape, the fish wouldn’t live long due to the warm temperatures and saltiness of nearby bodies of water. The agency also claims the G.E. salmon would be unlikely to reproduce because they would be sterilized, however, according to the Times, the sterilization method is not foolproof. The FDA believes the salmon would have no effect on endangered species, including wild Atlantic salmon. Apparently the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service did not take issue with the FDA’s opinion. Opponents of “Frankenfish” Vehemently Disagree with the FDA’s Assessment According to the Huffington Post, critics of the genetically engineered salmon, “… worry that it could cause human allergies and the eventual decimation of the natural salmon population if it escapes and breeds in the wild.” Opponents think the FDA should compile a more comprehensive environmental impact statement. They feel not enough samples were studied to conclude that the fish would be safe to eat. Others opposed to the breeding of engineered animals believe it’s an issue of ethics. “The G.E. salmon has no socially redeeming value,” Andrew Kimbrell, executive director of the Center for Food Safety (CFS), a Washington advocacy group opposed to farm biotechnology, said in a statement. “It’s bad for the consumer, bad for the salmon industry and bad for the environment. F.D.A.’s decision is premature and misguided.” In a December 21st (2012) press release, the CFS blasted the FDA: “The FDA decision ignores calls from more than forty members of the U.S. Congress who have repeatedly urged FDA to conduct more rigorous review of environmental and health safety, and halt any approval process until concerns over risks, transparency and oversight have been fully satisfied. The public filed nearly 400,000 comments demanding FDA reject this application. Additionally, more than 300 environmental, consumer, health and animal welfare organizations, salmon and fishing groups and associations, food companies, chefs and restaurants filed joint statements with FDA opposing approval.” You can learn more details about the potential risks of genetically engineered salmon at the Ocean Conservancy, the “Stop GE Fish” page at the Center for Food Safety, and by reading Dr. Mercola’s excellent article, Act Now to Stop Genetically Engineered Fish from Receiving Approval.
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Blood Disorder Could Be Triggered by Too Many Vaccines By Dr. Becker Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMT) is a very serious autoimmune disease in which a dog's body attacks its own blood platelets as though they are a pathogenic bacteria or virus. Thrombocytopenia is the technical word for low platelet count. Platelets are components of blood produced in bone marrow. They are critical to blood clotting during what is called primary hemostasis -- the clotting that takes place immediately after an event that damages a blood vessel. When the body's platelet count is depleted, severe bruising or uncontrolled bleeding can occur. Excessive bleeding and bruising can lead to anemia (a low red blood cell count), and if left untreated, death can result. Symptoms of Immune-mediated Thrombocytopenia Most of the clinical signs of IMT are bleeding-related. Common symptoms include lethargy, weakness, increased respiratory rate, bruising, bleeding from the mouth or nose, pale gums, and dark, tarry stools that indicate the presence of blood in the GI tract. Less common signs of IMT are breathing difficulties, including significantly increased respiratory effort, and sudden death. Diagnosis and Treatment Options Diagnosis involves confirming the problem is immune-mediated thrombocytopenia by ruling out all non-immune related causes and other primary conditions that can bring on thrombocytopenia as a secondary condition. Disorders associated with secondary thrombocytopenia in dogs include viral, parasitic, fungal and bacterial diseases, certain types of cancer, and the administration of certain drugs. Diagnostic tests will include some or all of the following: a complete blood count (CBC), chemistry profile, coagulation testing, titers for infectious diseases, an anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) test to evaluate immune response against DNA, urinalysis, chest x-rays, and abdominal ultrasound. IMT is a complex and variable condition, so treatment is individualized. Often aggressive care is required when the disorder is initially diagnosed, and many dogs need to be hospitalized. The immune system response to blood platelets must be controlled quickly, which, unfortunately, means immunosuppressive drugs like steroids, azathioprine, cyclosporine A and others to save the pet's life. Homeopathic vets will use homeopathic remedies for vaccinosis before turning to drug therapy. However, if animals don't respond to natural therapies, immunosupressive drugs will be required to save the pet's life. If anemia is present, a blood transfusion may be required. 28
Supportive care in the form of oxygen and fluid therapy may be given. Underlying diseases must be identified and treated to help control the IMT and lower the risk of recurrence. Longer term, the dog will require immunosuppressive and other drugs based on symptoms. It's not unusual for a dog to be on immunosuppressive drugs for several months after initial diagnosis. Supportive herbs, such as milk thistle can be used at this time to help reduce stress on the organs of detoxification. Any drugs or vaccines the dog received prior to developing IMT should be avoided for the rest of the dog's life, as should all vaccinations and other immune system stimulants (more about this shortly). Most dogs with IMT can live normally if they respond well to medical treatment. Generally speaking, if a dog does well during the acute phase of the disease and throughout treatment, he has an excellent chance of doing well long term. Many dogs can be weaned from all medications, but occasionally a dog may require intermittent drug therapy for the rest of his life. These dogs are good candidates for integrative medical care, which can help reduce flare-ups of autoimmune reactions and reduce the need for long term drug therapy. Controversy Over What Causes IMT A study conducted by the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Purdue University and published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, failed to confirm a link between idiopathic immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (IMT) and recent vaccination. Thankfully, the Purdue researchers also noted that, "‌ the possibility of an association cannot be completely ruled out based on the small sample populations and requires further investigation."1 Dr. Robert Runde, writing for dvm360.com, points out other limitations of the study, including lack of information on the number of vaccines the dogs in the study received throughout their lives. According to Dr. Runde, "‌ it is difficult to conclude whether recent or cumulative vaccinations may or may not increase the risk of idiopathic IMT." It's the opinion of most holistic veterinarians that the vast majority of immune-mediated diseases, including IMT, are triggered or exacerbated by vaccines, particularly bactrins (vaccines against bacterial organisms, such as the leptospirosis and lyme vaccines), as well as killed vaccines (rabies vaccine). Studies like this one that look only for associations between recent vaccinations and immunemediated disease have very limited use, in my opinion. Some animals' immune systems are reactive the very first time a foreign and potentially toxic agent like a vaccine is introduced. The response in these pets is immediate and often overwhelming. Other animals' immune systems (the majority, in my experience), respond to cumulative vaccinations over a period of months or years. 29
Sometimes it's a vaccine alone that triggers immune disease in a pet. More often, it's vaccinations coupled with other medications, environmental toxins, poor quality diet, and other lifestyle stressors. The strength and balance of every animal's immune system is different, so there's no way to predict – unless your dog or cat has had a reaction in the past -- how much danger your pet is in from exposure to the modified virus contained in any given vaccine or the many toxic ingredients it also contains. That's why I strongly encourage pet owners to avoid all unnecessary vaccines and re-vaccinations. ****************************************************************************
Dog Show Economics Who benefits most from dog shows, why puppy mills prosper and show breeders leave and what YOU want to see changed http://www.thedogpress.com/ShowShots/Dog-Show-Economics-133.asp ***********************************************************
Urinary and Fecal Incontinence in Pets Story at-a-glance There are two types of incontinence: urinary, which is the involuntary leakage of urine, and fecal, which is the inability to control the bowels. Involuntary leaking of urine is most often caused by hormone-induced incontinence after a pet is spayed or neutered. The condition is very common in spayed female dogs and less common in neutered male dogs. Other causes of urine dribbling include trauma to the central nervous system, damage to the pudendal nerve, diseases of the bladder, kidney, or adrenal glands, bladder stones, birth defects, and urethral obstruction. Treatment of urinary incontinence depends on what’s causing it. Any underlying disease must be identified and resolved. Treatment of hormone-induced urinary incontinence can often be accomplished using a combination of natural therapies. Fecal incontinence is almost always due to a communication problem between the colon and brain. Problems with a pet’s lower back can compromise the communication pathway with the result that the animal’s brain doesn’t get the message that nature is calling. video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Fr32B8w2HyU
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RETHINKING SPAY & NEUTER By Geneva Coats R.N., TheDogPlace.org Genetics Editor Is pet sterilization a purely beneficial routine procedure? Most breeders today sell companion puppies under contracts requiring spay or neuter as a condition of sale. Ingrained in current culture is the notion of pet overpopulation and to prevent the deaths of animals in shelters all pets should be sterilized. To bolster that campaign, we are told that a sterilized pet is happier, healthier and longer-lived than one who remains intact. What are the facts? SPAY & NEUTER (CASTRATION) SURGERY"PET OVERPOPULATION" In the mid-twentieth century, there was an abundance of pets; many were available “free to good home” via newspaper ads. Few pets were sterilized, and many people unwisely allowed their dogs to roam the neighborhood, producing unplanned litters. According to “Maddie’s Fund” president Richard Avanzino, in the 1970s, our country’s animal control agencies were killing, on average, about 115 dogs and cats annually for every 1000 human residents. This amounted to about 24 million shelter deaths every year.2 Avanzino is also the former executive director of the San Francisco SPCA, and is regarded by many as the founder of the modern no-kill movement in the US. "The Problem" of too many pets and not enough homes to go around began a huge campaign based on spaying and neutering pets. Vets began to routinely urge clients to sterilize their pets as an integral part of being a “responsible owner”. Planned breeding became a politically incorrect activity. A popular slogan today is “Don’t breed or buy, while shelter dogs die.” The crusade for spaying and neutering pets has been very successful. A 2009-2010 national pet owners’ survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association reveals that the vast majority of owned pets...75% of dogs and 87% of cats... are spayed or neutered. (As reported by the HSUS in Dec. 2009): In recent years, according to Avanzino, annual shelter death numbers have dramatically declined to about 12 per thousand human residents, or about 3.6 million deaths each year. This amounts to a staggering 85% reduction in killing since the 1970s. We have reached a nationwide pet shelter death rate averaging just 1.2% per population, effectively a “no kill” rate. Feral cats and kittens account for the majority of shelter numbers but many areas have actual shortages of adoptable dogs, particularly purebreds and puppies, and must import from other regions to fill the need. Dogs are being smuggled into the US by the thousands with rescue groups importing small dogs from Mexico, Brazil, the Caribbean, Taiwan and Romania, to name some of the most popular points of origin. The conservative estimate is that 300,000 dogs are imported into the US each year to meet the demand for pets.
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According to shelter expert Nathan Winograd, every year in this country, approximately 3 million adoptable pets die in shelters.* At the same time, around 17 million US households are looking for a new pet. That is 17 million households above and beyond those who already will adopt a shelter or rescue pet. There are nearly six times as many homes opening up every year as the number of adoptable pets killed in shelters!8 It seems the greatest challenge these days is to find ways to match up the adoptable pets with the homes that are waiting for them. Breed rescues fill this niche admirably, but are privately funded and desperately in need of assistance in order to be able to effectively perform this service. Perhaps some of the public funds budgeted for shelters to kill animals could be better spent helping rescue groups who are proactive in matching adoptable pets to suitable homes. SPAY/NEUTER AND HEALTH Now that we have addressed the issue of pet overpopulation, let’s examine the claim that sterilization surgery promotes better health. While there are some benefits to sterilization, there are some drawbacks as well. Sterilization will naturally serve to prevent any unwanted litters. In bitches, spaying will greatly reduce the risk of breast cancer, pyometra, perianal fistula and cancers of the reproductive organs. Spay surgery itself carries a somewhat high rate (around 20%) of complications such as infection, hemorrhage and even death.5 Spaying significantly increases the rate of urinary incontinence in bitches….about 20-30% of all spayed bitches will eventually develop this problem. This is believed to be most likely caused by the lack of estrogen that results from being spayed.1 Sterilization of males may reduce some unwanted sexual behaviors, but there are few other proven benefits to neutering a male dog. Testicular cancer is prevented, but the actual risk of that cancer is extremely low (<1%) among intact dogs. Contrary to popular belief, studies how that the risk of prostate cancer is actually HIGHER in neutered dogs than in their intact counterparts. Several studies prove significant health risks associated with sterilization, particularly when done at an early age. The most problematic is a delayed closure of the bony growth plates. This results in an abnormal, “weedy” skeletal development that increases the incidence of orthopedic problems like hip dysplasia and patellar luxation. Working and performance dogs, if neutered before maturity, risk the inability to perform the jobs they were bred for. But by far the most startling news to surface this year is the result of a study that shows that keeping ovaries to the age of six years or later is associated with a greater than 30% increase of lifespan in female Rottweilers. Similar studies in humans reinforce this finding. A 30% longer lifespan means that you could have many additional years with your bitch simply by delaying spay surgery until middle-age or later. Behavioral studies show that sterilization increases fearfulness, noise phobias and aggression. Other well-documented adverse health effects of de-sexing include increased risk of bone cancer, hemangiosarcoma, hypothyroidism, and cognitive dysfunction in older pets. Sterilization confers
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an increased susceptibility to infectious disease, and also a higher incidence of adverse reactions to vaccines. So there is no need to feel obligated to sterilize for health or welfare reasons. But what about the need to protect the puppies that we sell from unethical breeders?
PUPPY SALES CONTRACTS Many breeders are justifiably very concerned about their dogs being subjected to neglect or abuse by falling into disreputable hands. To help prevent such situations, it has become commonplace for breeders to include spay/neuter requirements in their pet sales contract, and/or to sell the dog on a limited registration. Another common stipulation, particularly for a show/breeding dog, is requiring that the dog be returned to the seller in the event the buyer no longer wishes to keep him.6 Such contracts are highly effective when selling a puppy to someone who is honest and ethical. However, contracts are easily skirted by the unscrupulous, particularly if the buyer lives in a different region. Someone intent on breeding may do so regardless of contract language, and then sell the puppies without registration. And without personal knowledge of the living conditions at your puppy’s new home, it is impossible to predict what sort of care and attention he or she will receive. Even some show breeders may have very different ideas on what constitutes proper care. There is no substitute for a home check to follow up that initial puppy application! Bottom line, the best insurance for your puppies is making sure that you get to know the buyer personally. If something about the buyer or his attitude doesn’t seem right, then it’s probably best to cancel the sale. If you want to sell puppies on spay-neuter agreements you might consider advising the buyer to wait until the puppy reaches maturity before having sterilization surgery performed. Another idea is to ask your vet if vasectomy would be a viable alternative to castration for your male. This would preserve sex hormones and possibly prevent some of the adverse health effects of castration.
PUREBRED GENE POOLS Sterilization of all dogs sold as companions may have some unintended adverse effects. The nature of breeding for the show ring involves intense selection that severely narrows the gene pool in many, if not most, breeds. Some breeds started with just a small pool of founders. Through the years, overuse of only a few popular sires further reduced the genetic variety available in the breed. When troublesome health problems surface and become widespread, where can we turn for “new blood”? The show-bred population of a breed may have become too small as a result of intense inbreeding or the genetic bottleneck created by overuse of popular sires; or the breed gene pool may have become genetically depleted because of unwise selection for specific, sometimes unhealthy physical traits favored in the show ring. As a result, dogs from the “pet” population may actually be the salvation of the breed gene pool. 33
Trying to guess which dogs are the "best" to keep intact for showing and breeding can be hit-or-miss. Imagine the scenario where a successful show dog eventually develops a heritable health issue, while his brother is much healthier...but brother was neutered long ago, thereby eliminating those good genes forever. What about that Champion's non-show quality sister, who has good health, great mothering instincts and the genetic ability produce exceptional offspring? If sold as a spayed companion, her genes are effectively lost. And what about the very future of the dog fancy? Many people (myself included) bought an intact dog as a pet, and only later sparked an interest in showing and breeding. Developing new breeders is critical to the survival of our sport, but if we sell all companions on spay/neuter agreements, we will lose many fanciers before they have the chance to discover the joy of dog breeding and showing! Sadly, mandatory sterilization laws are sweeping the nation and may further compromise the future of the dog fancy. AKC registrations continue to decline and the push to legally and/or contractually require spay and neuter of most every dog will only worsen that situation. Regardless, there is a huge demand in society for healthy pets; a demand which the responsible breeders could not come close to meeting even if they wanted to...and sometimes, they do not want to. The choice we have as a society is how that demand will be filled. Many believe that only responsible people should be allowed to keep intact dogs and breed on a limited basis. However, the attempt to legally force well-regulated and inspected commercial breeders and the casual small home breeders out of the picture leaves only the unregulated, less visible "underground" producers and smugglers to fill the need for pets. Perhaps it is time to re-think our preconceived notions about who should and shouldn't possess intact dogs! As a dog owner, one must weigh the risks of sterilization against the benefits in order to make that very personal decision. Popular culture and many veterinarians downplay or even ignore the risks involved with spay/neuter because of their own belief in the need to reduce dog breeding in general. Many people still believe that overpopulation remains a pressing concern and that sterilization always promotes better health. Some even believe that breeding a female is abusive. It seems the animal rights groups have done an excellent job of brainwashing the public on these matters! As breeders, we may be wise to re-examine the routine request to have all our companion puppies spayed or neutered. The future availability of pets, the perpetuation of the dog fancy, the health of the individual dogs and the gene pools of the breeds that we love may all depend on keeping a few more dogs intact! *An adoptable pet is one that does not have insurmountable health or temperament issues. Per California’s Hayden law: The California Legislature Defines NoKill Terms ■ California Law, SB 1785 Statutes of 1998, also known as "The Hayden Law" has defined no-kill terms. What is Adoptable? 1834.4. (a) "No adoptable animal should be euthanized if it can be adopted into a suitable home. Adoptable animals include only those animals eight weeks of age or older that, at or subsequent to the time the animal is impounded or otherwise taken into possession, have manifested no sign of a behavioral or temperamental defect that could pose a health or safety 34
risk or otherwise make the animal unsuitable for placement as a pet, and have manifested no sign of disease, injury, or congenital or hereditary condition that adversely affects the health of the animal or that is likely to adversely affect the animal's health in the future."
Adoptable dogs may be old, deaf, blind, disfigured or disabled
*****************************************************. When Good Discs Go Bad Story at-a-glance ●
Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a condition in which a disc develops a problem and the material inside escapes into the spinal column, ultimately causing pain, nerve damage, and even paralysis. The condition is seen more often in dogs than cats.
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There are two types of IVDD: Hansen Type I, which involves the acute, explosive herniation of a disc, and Hansen Type II, which is a gradual, progressive protrusion of disc material.
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There are lots of different symptoms of IVDD, many of which occur in other disorders as well. An abbreviated list includes reluctance to move the neck and head or a lowered head, back pain, crying out unexpectedly when touched, abdominal tenderness, dragging one or more legs, toeing or knuckling over when walking or standing, an odd or tentative gait, and reluctance to sit or stand.
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Treatment for IVDD can involve medical management or surgical intervention, depending on the severity of the disease. If surgery is necessary, there are a variety of techniques that can be used. The goal of any procedure is to relieve pressure on the spinal cord at the site of the damaged disc.
IVDD patients in recovery can benefit tremendously from a variety of physical rehabilitation therapies.
See following for complete explanation: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/12/1 0/intervertebral-disc-disease.aspx
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A year in the life of a surgeon The end of a year is a perfect opportunity to share some interesting information with you. Today's question is: what were my top 10 types of surgeries in 2012? 1. ACL surgery 2. Belly surgery 3. Fractures 4. Knee cap dislocations 5. Mass removals 6. Bladder surgery and/or perineal urethrostomy 7. FHO (hip surgery) 8. Spinal surgery (back or neck) 9. Ear surgery 10. Laryngeal paralysis This is actually very similar to what I did in 2011, which I suppose goes to show you that pets tend to get the same conditions and my clients are willing to do the same procedures. Let's go over these surgeries in more detail. And each time I will mention a few thoughts on prevention.
1. ACL surgery Without any question, this is an extremely common problem in dogs, and occasionally in cats. There are reportedly 100 ways to fix an ACL. We've talked many times about ACL surgery, so let's keep it short. I have tried several over the years, and now use two: the "traditional" technique with heavy nylon sutures and the TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy).
Is prevention possible? Ah... if only we knew how to prevent ACL tears... The main contributing factor that is in your control is weight control. We do know that chubby pets have a higher risk of ACL tears. Since this condition is partially genetic, inbreeding probably doesn't help either, so putting puppy mills and back yard breeders out of business would be a wonderful thing. 36
A variation on the topic is the infamous "deranged knee," a potentially devastating injury, most often in cats. Here, the ACL is torn, in addition to 1 or 2 other ligaments. We've seen a fez of those patients last year, cats and dogs, and they are fortunately doing very well.
2. Belly surgery Aka exploratory laparotomy, belly surgery can be done for a number of reasons: removing body parts (tumors, benign or cancerous), taking biopsies, removing bladder stones (see below), removing foreign bodies etc. A few wise owners who knew their dog is at risk for "bloat" (stomach twisting) wanted a preventive procedure performed, called a prophylactic gastropexy. By tacking the stomach to the inside of the belly, we can prevent the twisting of the stomach. It is a life-saving procedure. Is prevention possible? Besides "baby" proofing your house (and yard) to decrease the risks associated with foreign bodies, there isn't much you can do about preventing tumors.
3. Fractures Fractures are another all-too-common problem we see. A fair amount of dogs and cats were hit by a car, others were victims of falls. They fall from the owner's arms, from the couch, from the bed, in the stair etc. We have also seen a number of pets who had a fracture after someone fell on them. Is prevention possible? Absolutely, in most cases. Use a (tight) leash, close the door, lock the gate, and know where your pet is when you drive out of the garage! Even though some pet owners don't want to hear it, non-castrated males commonly run away (smelling a female in heat miles away) and get hit by a car, so it may be fair to say that neutering save lives and lots of money.
4. Knee cap dislocations We've dealt with virtually every joint dislocation: the shoulder, the elbow, the wrist, the hip, the knee and the ankle! Some are traumatic, some are congenital (ie the pet was born that way). The most common one is the kneecap dislocation, which commonly happens in both knees at the same time.
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The knee cap slides out of the groove where it is supposed to live, at the bottom of the thigh bone (or femur). It is common in dogs, but we've seen quite a few kitties with that condition last year. Is prevention possible? Yes in the case of trauma (hit by a car etc). Since kneecap dislocation is partially genetic, inbreeding probably doesn't help. The classic victim in my world is the $2,000 small breed dog (Yorkie, Maltese, Chichi and "designer breeds") bought at a pet store (ie coming from a puppy mill in 99% of the cases).
5. Mass removals This list is sadly endless: cancer in the jaw, in and under the skin, in the chest or on the heart, in the bone (legs, pelvis, jaw...), in the liver, on the stomach, in the intestine, on the bladder... We've seen it all this year. Thankfully, not all masses are cancerous or malignant. Some are benign or "good." But the only way to know for sure is to send a biopsy to the lab. Is prevention possible? Sadly, no, except for spaying females before the first heat cycle, which virtually eliminates the risk of breast cancer. The same can be said of castration: no testicles, no testicular cancer. Other masses are pretty much impossible to predict or prevent...
6. Bladder surgery and/or perineal urethrostomy We've talked about this condition several times. Basically, male cats can have a blockage in the end of the urethra, which is the very narrow tube between the bladder and the outside world. When a cat gets "blocked" several times, a Perineal Urethrostomy or P/U can be performed to widen the end of the urethra. And yes, it does involve removing their penis. But no, it does not turn them into females. A similar procedure can be performed in dogs, and we've seen a few this year. Is prevention possible? Not that we know of, besides feeding an age-appropriate, balanced, reputable pet food brand, you may be able to decrease the risk of bladder stones.
7. FHO (hip surgery) Another common procedure is the femoral head ostectomy (FHO), a surgery of the hip. It is usually done in pets with hip dysplasia, and occasionally when there is some kind of damage to the hip, either a fracture, a dislocation or deterioration of the bone (such as Legg-Perthes disease in small dog breeds).
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8. Spinal surgery (back or neck) This mostly includes dogs with slipped discs in the back (the number 1 breed being the Doxie). Occasionally, a disc will slip in the neck, and rarely, we will see a cat with a slipped disc. Seeing their pet being paralyzed is on of the most horrifying experiences for a loving pet owner. But I have to say that performing surgery on these pets, and helping them walk again, is one of the most gratifying experiences for a surgeon. We are very fortunate that around 90% of paralyzed slipped disc patients can walk again after surgery. Is prevention possible? Sadly not, although being a chubby dog is a risk factor.
9. Ear surgery Cats can get ear polyps, which can be removed with various surgeries. Dogs (occasionally cats) can get such bad cases of ear infection that one solution is to remove the entire ear canal (NOT the ear flap itself!). Although it is an invasive surgery and complications may occur, patients typically do great. They can finally live without a constant earache. The number 1 breed we see for Total Ear Canal Ablation (aka TECA) is the Cocker. In the past few months, we've also seen a number of cats with tumors inside the ear canal, who had a TECA. Is prevention possible? It is difficult or impossible depending on the situation. Keeping the ear clean can be a struggle in some breeds and some dogs. Dogs, especially Cockers, who suffer from allergies, are at risk, so treating allergies can be a great help.
10. Laryngeal paralysis Again, a topic we've mentioned before. Dogs, mostly Labs, and very rarely cats, can have a condition that paralyzes their larynx, aka voice box. It's a very stressful condition, but the "tie back" surgery allows them to have a bigger airway, which typically works very well. Fairly quickly, these patients go from suffocating to being able to breathe comfortably. Interestingly, we've seen a few non-Lab patients with this condition this year. From memory, we had a few Greyhounds, a Sheltie and a Beagle. Is prevention possible? No, although being overweight makes things worse.
This little year-end exercise is very interesting to me. It helped me look at what I do all day. But it is also interesting to me for a greater reason. About 3 years ago, when I was working at a surgery practice, I published a similar newsletter, with my Top 10. 39
Interestingly, the list in today's newsletter is very similar to the list from a few years ago. Which confirms what I keep saying: that we can do fancy schmancy surgery in general practice without cutting corners or compromising patient care. And to me, that's a wonderful tribute to my referring vets, their practice and their team. And ultimately, the winners are our clients and patients. Dr. Phil Zeltzman ****************************************************************************
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