Dog Health: Dog Therapy for Injuries

When vets couldn't help Chantal Gray's one-year-old Labrador retriever, Trinity, she knew she had to try something new.

He has dog health problems, he was continually limping, but the vets were baffled because Trinity's X-rays were coming up inconclusive. They couldn't find anything wrong.

That's when Gray did what every Labrador retriever loves to do -- she hit the water.

"Trinity had a soft tissue shoulder injury," says Gray. "And because it's always a good idea for humans to work in water when they have joint injuries, we thought we'd try it with her."

So once a week for the next five months -- Gray hopped in the pool with Trinity at Ottawa's K9 Common Scents, rehabilitation facilitation and aquatics centre for dogs, and worked with Trinity while she strengthened her joints in a relatively painless way.

Five months -- and approximately $700 later -- Trinity had stopped limping.

"It was a good experience," says Gray. "It gave us reassurance that we were doing everything we could to help her recover. Trinity is part of the family -- we hated to see her in pain."

Pet therapy, whether it is hydrotherapy, acupuncture or massage, is a growing trend in the industry. This alternative method is being used to treat anything from joint and back pain and arthritis to anxiety issues.

Working the same way they do for people, these ancient methods of healing are being used on pets as a low-impact method, to aid in mobility and pain management. And more pet owners are adopting this often costly alternative to help their pets get back on their feet.

"It's absolutely a trend," says Kelly Caldwell, editor-in-chief and art director for Dogs in Canada magazine. "It's part of the shift we see in the importance we put on our animals as part of our lives."

Caldwell says opting for alternative therapies for pets can do more than strengthen their mobility and muscles -- it can literally work as a pick-me-up for pets.

"You have to be careful because animals can adopt the same mentality as humans when they are injured," says Caldwell. "When they are sore, they can get depressed because they're just sitting there sedentary. At some point, as the doctor always tells humans after an injury, you have to get up and move around."

Helping your pet recover through alternative therapies is also a great way to get your pet off of costly medications, which is better for their systems -- and our dog health -- in the long run.

And it is also a great way to strengthen the animal-human bond.

"If you view your pet as part of the family, you'll get into that pool," says Caldwell. "You will want to be part of their recovery. There is nothing worse than seeing your pet in pain."

Gray says if Trinity's issue reoccurs, she'll definitely consider hydrotherapy again.

"It is a more natural way to go," says Gray. "The only bad part about it is smelling like wet dog for the rest of the day."

Source: http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=526f296a-2364-4bc1-b9f8-2bbb56a0b097

Dog Health: A Purebred Dog - A Pure Heartache

All that Phil and Donna O'Brien wanted was a Great Dane puppy.
What they got was heartache.

Three years ago Phil and Donna purchased a six-month-old Great Dane from a local breeder. At the time they went to pick her up, the breeder told them that the dog had drank some mop water but assured them that the pup was fine, and to give her lots to drink.
They took her to the vet and the vet checked her over.
A couple of days later Jewel ,as they had named their new puppy, started having seizures.
Alarmed, Donna took the dog back to the vet.

The vet told them that there was something "not right" about the dog health and they should take her back to the breeder.

Phil and Donna were reluctant to do that as they had already fallen in love with the dog.

However, the seizures got worse, causing Jewel to not only twitch, but to violently shake and flail around. Donna describes the seizures that started happening one after the other as violent, causing the dog to flop back and forth on the floor.

With a heavy heart Phil reluctantly took the dog back to the breeder. The dog died a short time after.

Instead of a refund, the breeder promised them another puppy.
Thinking that it was a fluke that Jewel had had seizures, they picked up their new puppy almost a year after they had gotten Jewel, a male puppy they named Duke.

Duke is now a beautiful 2-year-old Great Dane.
A few weeks ago things started to go wrong with him.
He started losing weight, and it seemed as though every move he made caused him great pain.
The O'Briens noticed that if anyone went to pet the dog, he would lower his head. When they were out walking the dog would keep his nose close to the ground. Donna said She had laughed at the time, saying that Duke had the nose of a Bloodhound.

What was really going on?
It turns out that Duke has Wobbler's Syndrome, a disease that is common in young Great Danes.
The following was taken from a Veterinary website, which describes what Wobbler's syndrome really is.

". The outstanding symptom of Wobblers is a slowly developing, progressive, uncoordination and paralysis of the hind limbs. This paresis and/or uncoordination is caused by pressure on the spinal cord as it passes through the vertebrae of the neck, the last three being the most prominent sites. The animal may appear clumsy, "wobbling" or display swaying of the rear legs. On slick surfaces it may be difficult or impossible to walk. The dog may fall when attempting to turn and the toes of the hind feet may drag when walking. The dog usually has its legs spread out as far as possible trying to better balance itself. Initially front leg involvement is minimal or undetectable. As the disease progresses, a characteristic short choppy rolling stride is seen on what appears to be somewhat rigid forelimbs. As the
compression of the spinal cord becomes more severe, the front legs can have the same signs as the rear legs. There is usually little or no neck pain but the dog may stand with the neck flexed which usually alleviates some of the spinal cord pinching. Many dogs will object to neck manipulation and may even collapse when the movement is forced. "

Wobbler's syndrome can be genetic and when purchasing a Great Dane the breeding line should be checked thoroughly to make sure that it hasn't affected that lineage.

To Phil and Donna, who had never even heard of the dog health disease before, it came as a shock.

When a few weeks ago, the dog showed reluctance to walk, and it seemed to take him a long time to lie down and be comfortable, they once again took him to the vet where he was diagnosed with Wobbler's. He is losing weight from lack of excercise and a poor appetite.

Duke's prognosis is not good. He is on many painkillers and steroids in an effort to prolong his life a bit, but Phil and Donna know that in the end, Duke will probably have to be put down.

Duke, when he stands, bends his body into a U shape as seen in the photos at right. His back legs are splayed, he drags his front paws when he walks and he rarely keeps his head up for more than a few minutes.

Sometimies surgery is an option, but for Duke it is not. His Wobbler's is severe.

Besides the hundreds of dollars the O'Brien's have spent on the dog and on vet bills, the worst part is the heartache of losing another dog that they love. Their vet has told them that this latest round of pills and pain killers is the last step. When they stop working, Duke will have to be euthanized.

For Phil and Donna the thought of losing another beloved pet is devastating. They fear what their two little girls will feel when Duke doesn't come home anymore.
They are shocked about the whole affair.

Because they bought from a breeder who is registered with the Canadian Kennel Club, they had thought that the puppy would be healthy.
Now they know better. Just being registered with the CKC is not enough. There are several other dogs in this city who are having health problems with puppies they've purchased from this breeder, and these puppies have been reported to the CKC so that they can investigate.
What is foremost in the O'Brien's thoughts is that they want to prevent other people from going through the heatrtache that they have experienced. They want this breeder to stop breeding dogs.

They ask the public to contact them if they have a Great Dane puppy that has or is experiencing health problems.

Duke is a gentle giant, the main reason why Phil and Donna chose to purchase a Great Dane. He has been a therapy dog for the old age homes and the residents there will be missing his companionship too. This is a dog who is loved, and who will be missed by everyone who has met him.


Following are a few things you should ask breeders before purchasing a purebred puppy of any breed: Not all breeders are malicious, some just aren't as knowlegable as they should be.

1 How long has the breeder been breeding this breed of dog?

2. Is the breeder knowledgeable about the breed? Does he/she demonstrate a knowledge of the Standard of the Breed? Responsible breeders try to breed dogs as close as possible to the breed standard.

3. Does he or she represent his dogs as honestly as possible and try to assist the serious novice in his understanding of the breed?

4. Is he or she involved in competition with their dogs (conformation, obedience, agility)?This indicates valuable experience with the breed.

5. Does she/he trace health problems in the dogs he sells? If new to the breed, has breeder carefully researched the genetic problems that may lurk in the background of his lines? The breeder should be knowledgeable about and working to control and/or eradicate conditions, including those that are particular to the breed, such as renal dysplasia, portal systemic shunt, hip and eye problems, allergies, Von Willebrands disease, thyroid disorders, and inguinal hernias? ASTC pamphlets can tell you more about breeding healthy dogs and renal dysplasia.

6. Have the puppies been raised in the home?
Puppies used to home activity will more easily adapt to new families and homes. Puppies require proper socialization by gentle handling, human contact, and a wide variety of noises and experiences, and should not be removed from their dam or littermates before 8 weeks of age. (The ASTC Code of Ethics suggests puppies not be sold before 12 weeks.)

7. Have the puppies' temperaments been evaluated and can the breeder guide you to the puppy that will best suit your lifestyle?
A very shy puppy will not do well in a noisy household with small children, just as a very dominant puppy won't flourish in a sedate, senior citizen household. A caring breeder will know the puppies and be able to help you make a good match.

8. How often is the dam bred?
Breeding every heat cycle is too often and may indicate that profit is the primary motive for the breeding.

9. On what basis was the sire chosen?If the answer is "because he lives right down the street" or "because he is really sweet," it may be that sufficient thought was not put into the breeding.
10. Are the puppy's sire and dam available for you to meet? If the sire is unavailable can you call his owners or people who have his puppies to ask about temperament or health problems? You should also be shown pictures or videos''

11. Where did you find out about this breeder? Responsible breeders usually breed only when they have a waiting list of buyers and don't need to advertise in newspapers or put a sign in the yard.

12. Will the puppy be sold with a mandatory spay/neuter contract and/or limited registration (which means that if the dog is bred, the puppies cannot be CKC registered)?
A breeder who cares enough about the breed to insist on these for a pet puppy is usually a responsible breeder.

13. Do the puppies seem healthy, with no discharge from eyes or nose, no loose stools, no foul smelling ears? Are their coats soft, full, and clean? Do they have plenty of energy when awake yet calm down easily when gently stroked?
If the puppy is in good weight, a slight, clear nasal discharge may be due to pinched nostrils, quite common during the teething phase. They generally open as the puppy matures. Small umbilical hernias almost always close with age.

14. Does the breeder advise you to have the puppy checked by a veterinarian within 2 days (48 hours) of sale, with additional time allowed if the puppy is sold on a Saturday or Sunday, and provide a written agreement to refund the purchase price or take the puppy back and replace it if it is found to be unfit by a veterinarian? Has the puppy received the necessary immunizations and been checked for parasites and treated if necessary?

15. Does the breeder provide a 3-5 generation pedigree, a complete health record, and material to help you with feeding, grooming, training, and housebreaking?
A registration form should also be provided and clearly explained.

16. Are there a majority of titled dogs (the initials CH, CD, etc. before or after the names) in the first two generations?
The term "champion lines" means nothing if those titles are back three or more generations or if there are only one or two in the whole pedigree. Also, remember that not all champions are created equal and that a champion may or may not produce quality puppies.

17. Does the breeder have only 1 or at most 2 breeds of dogs and only 1 litter at a time?
If there are several breeds of dogs, the breeder may not devote the time it takes to become really knowledgeable about our breed. If there are several litters at a time, it is very difficult to give the puppies the attention they need and may indicate that the primary purpose for breeding is profit, rather than a sincere desire to sustain and improve the breed.

18. Will the breeder be available for the life of the dog to answer any questions you might have? Is this someone you would feel comfortable asking any type of question?
If you feel intimidated or pressured, keep looking!

19. Will the breeder take the dog back at any time, for any reason, if you cannot keep it? This is the hallmark of responsible breeding (and the quickest, best way to make rescue obsolete).

20. Responsible breeders also do not sell puppies to pet shops or commercial pet mill establishments, donate puppies for raffles or auctions, crossbreed or sell crossbred puppies, or give stud service to unregistered dogs.


Story source: http://www.soonews.ca/viewarticle.php?id=17309

Dog Health Day Clinic Held for Valley’s Indigenous Families

Dog health can impact on the well-being of children and the families that keep them.

RSCPA vets recently joined with North Coast Area Health representatives to host a dog health day, based at the old preschool building in Bowraville.

The two-day clinic, on April 28 and 29, gave indigenous families from Bowraville, Nambucca Heads and Macksville, an opportunity to have their dogs desexed, microchipped, vaccinated, and wormed to try to stop the spread of communicable diseases and control the dog population in the communities.

“By bringing down the population, you ensure that every dog gets more love and care, and the family has more time to devote to them,” North Coast Area Health environmental health officer Robert Barnett said.

The local community at Bowraville identified to the local health service that there was a high number of roaming dogs in the community, which posed a health risk for everyone.

The RSPCA has run similar programs in Wilcannia and Walgett, which aimed to educate people on how to keep their pets and family healthy.

Conditions that can be passed from dogs to humans include hydatids, round and hook worms and ringworms.

Cats, which were also desexed and health-checked on the day, can be a concern for pregnant women due to toxoplasmosis.

“The main way to prevent catching anything from your dog is to wash your hands after handling them and before eating,” RSPCA training co-ordinator Narelle Maxwell said.

“Also, it’s important to keep the animals’ sandpit clean. It comes down to simple things, and it’s important to educate kids on how to keep their animals and themselves healthy.”

Three RSPCA vets and two vet nurses were on hand over the two days for the animals that were brought in. More than 50 animals were seen, some for

simple health checks and others for desexing operations.

The days gave local animal controller, Reg Clough, an opportunity to gain the practical experience needed to become authorised to install microchips in animals.

It is a service he would be able to offer locally into the future.

Among the locals to bring along their pets was Gillian Williams from Nambucca Heads, with two of her own dogs and Oof, her son’s Irish wolfhound. She said it was a good opportunity to have the dogs looked over and make sure they were in perfect health.

RSCPA vet Ann-Margaret Withers said the two-day program was the first of its kind on the north coast, but could be expanded to Kempsey and Coffs Harbour, due to its success in Bowraville.

The team thanked the local Gumbaynggirr elders, who suggested the use of the old preschool as an ideal location for a make-shift animal hospital and Macksville Hospital, which came on board with supplies when the group’s oxygen ran out.

Dog Health Food: Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Dry Dog Food

An outbreak of Salmonella has been linked to contaminated dry dog food for the first time ever, said officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

CDC officials said dry dog food may be an under-recognized source of illness in humans, and they are unsure how the bacteria got into the dog food. Usually, Salmonella comes from undercooked meats and eggs.

“They are a number of possible ways that that could happen,” said Dr. Casey Barton Behravesh, a CDC epidemiologist, who co-authored a report on the finding. “That’s something we are still trying to figure out.”

Humans became infected with Salmonella in 2006 and 2007 from dry dog food produced by Mars Petcare in Pennsylvania. Dogs were not affected, according to the May 16 issue of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, but a number of those affected were infants.

"The most important thing is to wash your hands right after you handle any dry dog food, any other pet food, pet treats, even supplements or vitamins," Barton Behravesh said. "In addition, keep infants and other young children away from pet food, because kids tend to want to see what their dogs are eating and grab at the pet food and play with it or even put it in their mouth."

Source: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,356203,00.html

Dog Health Care | Dog Obesity Awareness

When we talk about “obesity”, humans normally come in our mind. But what if it is dog obesity and not humans? Strange, right? We ought to know that dog health and obesity awareness is a perfect way to save the man's best friend. Maybe it was too distinct for people who lived many years ago; but fortunately not for people living in the modern society nowadays. Dogs of today, like humans, experience obesity as one of the major health risks.

Dogs that eat excessively and with unhealthy binges can become obese. This situation often triggered by some environmental factors could create more problems in a dog health if not controlled. Dogs also develop certain diseases if they are overweight that can lead to more serious complications including death. Obesity in dogs tends to put extra weight developing arthritis on their joints and other parts of the bones. It can also develop other muscle and joint problems like spinal disc disease, hip dysplasia, and cracks on the joint ligaments.

We all know that overweight causes diabetes in humans. It certainly does happen to dogs, too. More fat stored in the dog's body generates more insulin in order to cope with its increasing mass. Dogs have the tendency to resist too much insulin in the body, so this results to diabetes. Skin problems also occur if a dog is overweight. Excessive fat deposits are stored in the skin makes the owner find it hard grooming his dog. Dogs without proper grooming oftentimes accumulate bacteria, dirt, or other elements that can harm their skin. This eventually develops rashes, skin ruptures, and infections that are very dangerous on your dog health.

Overweight dogs are prone to heat stroke especially during summer time. Too much fat deposits accumulated in their skin lowers their heat tolerance. Obese dogs can also develop respiratory problems and heart diseases. Thick fat deposits covering the chest cavity, thus making the lungs and the heart expand hardly whenever the dog breathes. If the heart and the lungs can no longer produce the right amount of oxygen and circulate it within the dog's body, it could kill him. Inflamed pancreas, which is very painful, can seriously affect dog health. Lastly, obesity in dogs can create a liver malfunction because of too much fat deposits accumulated in the area. This may even cause the death of your dog.

These health problems are all life threatening to both humans and dogs. But in the case of our pet dogs, it all depends upon the owner on how he secures his dog health. It is important that dog lovers should create a healthy exercise schedule for their dogs like taking them for a walk every afternoon or letting him run through a field. This does not only benefit the dogs but their owners as well. Owners must also create a healthy diet for their dogs. Diet meals with necessary nutrients should include the right combination of fiber, meat, vegetables, vitamins, and minerals in order for the dogs to stay healthy.

Dog lovers should always give more water to their dogs when they feed them fiber. This can prevent constipation. Above all, they should also remember that before trying out new things on their dogs, it is best to consult the veterinarian first. Give your dogs the best love and care you can. Your dog health and obesity awareness is a perfect way to save the man's best friend.

Dog Health Care: How To Spot A Reputable Dog Breeder

Anyone can be a dog breeder - owning a female dog that has produced puppies qualifies you for that dubious distinction. But how can you spot a reputable breeder? Answering "yes" to most or all of the following questions is a great start.

Does the breeder do health screenings? Reputable breeders submit their dog health tests to registries such as the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals to document they are free of heritable disease. They may test for hips, elbows, eyes, thyroid and cardiac. Ask to see official paperwork from both parents' registries.

Does the breeder have a contract? Look for two important components: a "return to breeder" clause requiring you to return the dog should you no longer be able to care for it, no matter the age or reason; and a spay-neuter requirement for pet-quality dogs.

Does the breeder sell puppies on "limited registrations"? The American Kennel Club permits breeders to register pet-quality ("nonbreedable") dogs this way, which means they cannot be shown and none of their offspring registered.

Does the breeder know the puppy's family history? Breeders intent on producing quality puppies have met or researched multiple generations in the family tree and can offer insight into expected longevity, temperament and health.

Is the breeder active in some facet of the dog community? Many reputable breeders enter dog shows for an independent opinion on how close their dogs are to the breed standard. Others "prove" their dogs in field and hunt work, obedience, agility and tracking.

Does the breeder avoid the "hard sell"? Reputable breeders will talk buyers out of a puppy if they feel it is not a good match. No reputable breeder ever sells through a pet store or online auction.

Source: Newsday.com

Dog Health | Deadly Dog Illness Hits For Just 3rd Time

MILWAUKEE - A deadly bacterial strain that attacks dogs in animal shelters has struck for a third time, and a shelter medicine expert credits quick countermeasures for preventing more dogs from dying.

The latest dog health outbreak was at the Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha County, 10 miles west of Milwaukee, where seven dogs died over 10 days and two others became ill, prompting the shelter to stop taking dogs in or adopting them out.

The Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Madison said Friday that the dogs had the strain of bacteria -- streptococcus equi zooepidemicus -- that rapidly attacks the respiratory system, although at least one of the three dogs the lab examined also had parainfluenza virus. More tests were being done.

The case is just the third documented outbreak of the illness that causes dogs to become lethargic and feverish and then invades the respiratory system, said Kate Hurley, director at the Kort Shelter Medicine Program at the University of California-Davis.

One good thing is that the illness has been limited to shelters, and only rarely occurred there, she said.

"People's pet animals are really at minimal risk," she said. "Even within shelters this is very rare."

The first outbreak was at a Las Vegas shelter where as many as a dozen dogs a day had been dying in late 2006 until the illness was diagnosed in February 2007.

"The staff estimated that over 1,000 dogs had died with this bleeding from the nose and mouth and acute respiratory disease that is characteristic of this," Hurley said.

The second outbreak was last February in a Miami shelter where about a dozen dogs died.

"It doesn't seem to have been able to escape from a shelter or a greyhound kennel type of environment and spread into communities," Hurley said, "and it may be because the disease course is just so rapid.

"Once they are symptomatic, they tend to go downhill very rapidly and maybe there just hasn't been time for it to spread."

The exact mode by which the disease spreads isn't known, she said.

"It does seem to be highly contagious," she said. "It's possible that it's airborne within a facility or it's spread on caretakers' feet and on objects or on common surfaces," Hurley said.

It has not occurred in places such as dog day-care facilities, she said.

"It may be that there is some other compromise with stray animals coming together in shelters with a poor vaccine history that contributes to susceptibility to this kind of outbreak," Hurley said.

"Or it just may be luck that it hasn't struck in a doggy day care or boarding type facility," she added. "The fact is we don't know everything about this disease yet.

"But certainly it's not spreading dramatically and it's not widespread in the United States."

The Waukesha case shows the value of recognizing the disease as soon as a dog dies and then treating other dogs with antibiotics before they start showing symptoms.

"That's exactly what we recommended to the shelter in Waukesha," Hurley said.

"When we get on top of it really quickly, then it's been a lot easier to get the outbreak under control, so that's good news."

Lynn Olenik, executive director at the Waukesha County shelter, said Friday that the two other dogs that showed early symptoms responded to antibiotics and were expected to survive. No other dogs or other animals at the shelter seem to be affected.

The bacterial strain is becoming better known among shelters and veterinarians, according to Hurley. Still, "I think there's a number of veterinarians and shelters who aren't aware of this because it's so new and it's not widespread."

She recommended keeping dogs vaccinated for other canine respiratory disease and in good health to reduce chances of getting the disease.

Also, "keep your animal out of a shelter by making sure that it has two kinds of identification," she said.

That way, if it winds up at the shelter, it can be quickly identified and sent back home.


Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-wi-dogdeaths,0,6463906.story