The goal of our breeding program is to produce dogs suitable for assistance work. These goals fall into four categories: health, temperament/ behavior, trainability/performance and conformation. To accomplish our goals, we must evaluate each breeding in an effort to improve our program.

The health of our dogs is our first priority. Evaluation of the hips and elbows is by radiographs. Puppies as young as 12 weeks can be evaluated by the PennHIP (www.pennhip.org) methodology or preliminary OFA (www.offa.org) technique when the dog appears to have reached their full growth. These methods are screens for hip dysplasia. The elbows are done at the same time as the hips, looking for degenerative changes, suggestive of elbow dysplasia. The hearts are evaluated by a board certified Veterinary Cardiologist, for the presence of a heart murmur suggestive of Subaortic Stenosis (SAS) or other problem. CERF (www.vmdb.org) exams, performed by a board certified Veterinary Ophthalmologist, evaluate the eyes for abnormalities. Affected dogs in any of these categories are unsuitable for breeding or assistance work.

Temperament and behavior are the next qualities to come into consideration when evaluating our dogs for breeding qualities. The dog must be calm yet attentive to command requests by the handler. Aggression, either toward other dogs or people is always unacceptable. Extreme hyperactivity with little control and destructive tendencies are unwanted behaviors. These traits, when seen in multiple dogs from a single litter are suggestive of an underlying problem and the dogs will not be used for breeding.

Trainability and performance is essential. The dog must be capable of learning very specific and critical skills. These skills range from the simplest command taught by the puppy raiser, e.g. “sit”, to the more advanced commands, e.g. “get it”. Commands will vary with the dog’s ability to learn and the applicant’s specific requirements.

Conformation and beauty are the least important of the goals. Its value is in released dogs, which are adopted by the puppy raiser or sold, to the lucky owner. Although our released dogs are unsuitable as working dogs, they are well-socialized, obedience trained and make wonderful pets.

As Valentines Day approaches with the Easter Bunny not far behind we all need to be mindful of the rich, sweet temptations in our lives. Our dogs are taught not to counter surf, to restrain themselves from snatching tidbits from little hands and vacuuming morsels from the floor because assistance dogs “Just can’t do that”. Well, there are other reasons for that too.

Chocolate is the first one I always think about. Two problems usually occur with chocolate exposures. Everything made with chocolate is rich, so lots of fat and sugar are ingested which can cause vomiting and diarrhea. The chocolate, however, is directly toxic because it contains theobromine and caffeine, which are both methylxanthines. The methylxanthines can cause excitement, agitation, rapid heart rate and shaking. Without proper treatment chocolate toxicity can be fatal. Baking chocolate has 7 times more theobromine than milk chocolate. Call your veterinarian for advice if your dog eats chocolate.

One of the newer poison problems we have been seeing is from sugarfree candy. Candy (gum, toothpaste, soft drinks, etc.) containing xylitol have been recognized by the National Animal Poison Control Center to be a risk to animals. Dogs ingesting large amounts of xylitol products may have a sudden drop in blood sugar resulting in depression, loss of coordination and seizures. The signs develop quite rapidly after the ingestion, sometimes less than 30 minutes. Immediate medical is care required.

Up until around 1989, grapes and raisin were thought to harmless little treats for our dogs. Wrong. The exact mechanism of action remains unknown. Sensitive dogs have an increased risk of initially developing vomiting and diarrhea followed by acute renal failure (kidney failure). Although this is a potentially fatal condition, if it is identified quickly, it is potentially treatable, but why risk the chance.

Kidney Failure in Dogs from Eating Grapes

Grapes and raisins seem like such innocent little sweet treats but to our dogs they can be deadly. They can cause the kidneys to stop functioning (acute renal failure-ARF).

Exposure to grapes can occur in various ways: off the vine, on the ground, “stolen”, wine processing, etc. For many years dog owners used grapes and raisins as training aids.

At this time, the exact mechanism of the toxicosis involved is unknown. Researchers do not know if chronic, long term ingestion of grapes/raisins causes the same type of problems as a single, large ingestion. Various sources of grapes have been examined (grocery store, backyard, winery, seedless, seeded) without reaching any conclusive associations with toxicity. The grapes were found to be free of pesticides, heavy metals and mycotoxins (fungus toxins). It is unclear if the skins must be ingested for the toxicosis to occur because grape-seed oil appears to be safe.

What actually happens to the dog’s kidneys is unknown. In technical jargon, it could be a metabolic disruption, a nephrotoxic mycotoxin or an idiosyncratic reaction.

Since the mechanism of action is unknown, all cases of grape and raisin ingestion should be considered serious and immediate medical attention is needed. The initial clinical sign is vomiting which will occur within 2 hours of the ingestion. Diarrhea, excessive water drinking, and loss of energy will be noticed around 5 or 6 hours after the ingestion. The remaining signs of ARF (loss of appetite, depression, abdominal pain, tremors and shock) will occur 24 hours or later after the consumption of the grapes.

The diagnosis of grape/raisin toxicosis is similar to ethylene glycol (anti-freeze). Chemistry profiles and clinical signs are used to evaluate the function of the kidneys.

Treatment depends on the animal’s condition on presentation. With acute ingestions, first 2 hours, emesis and activated charcoal are an important part of the treatment plan to eliminate the toxic material. After the 2 hour window, emesis is less likely to be effective. IV fluids for the first 48 hours are used to increase the excretion of the toxin through the kidneys and to increase the filtration rate of the kidneys. A large variety of medications may be used to improve kidney function and to improve survival.

The prognosis is variable and dependent on many different factors. The condition of the dog on presentation, success of decontamination and progression of clinical signs all help determine the outcome of grape or raisin ingestion.

Symptoms

Kennel cough is characterized by a “goose honk”, hacking cough. The owner often describes it as sounding like “something is stuck in my dog’s throat”.  Watery nasal discharge may be present but usually the dog is bright, alert and playful. It is rarely a serious condition, but occasionally, pneumonia can be a complication in very young puppies and immunocompromised animals.

Infectious Agents Involved

Many infectious agents are involved in causing kennel cough. The most common are parainfluenza, Bordetella brochiseptica and mycoplasma. Canine adenovirus, reovirus and canine herpes virus are possibly associated with the illness. Although any of these organisms may cause the symptoms, the majority of the cases are the result of more than one organism.

How Does The Infection Occur?

Several of these agents contribute to the infection by inactivating the host defense system called the mucociliary escalator. It consists of tiny hairlike structures (cilia) which line the airways and beat in a coordinated fashion to trap debris, including infectious agents in the mucus. The cilia then transport the debris upward towards the throat where it is either coughed up or swallowed. When the mucociliary escalator is damaged, this protective mechanism is lost.

Incubation Period

2-14 Days

Is It Contagious?

Yes, when the dogs are coughing, they are contagious to other dogs (rabbits, guinea pigs, and cats), but not to people.

How Is It Treated?

Antibiotics are usually not useful in shortening the course of the illness. It is self-limiting and lasts 1-3 weeks. Cough suppressants may be used to allow both the dog and the owner to sleep at night. In more severe cases, where the dog is not eating, has a fever, or is exhibiting signs of pneumonia, antibiotics are indicated.

Vaccination and Prevention

The best prevention is not to expose your dog to other dogs with kennel cough. Adenovirus and parainflenza are included in the DHPP vaccination. Bordetella vaccination can be given as an intranasal product or an injection. As a general rule, the intranasal vaccination provides faster immunity than the injectable product.

Data on Vaccines and Treatment for Giardia

Here are some articles on the Giardia vaccine:
Can Vet J 45[11]:924-30 2004 Nov

Anderson KA, Brooks AS, Morrison AL, Reid-Smith RJ, Martin SW, Benn DM, Peregrine AS
Animal Care Services, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1.

Feces were collected from 107 asymptomatic dogs at a research facility in Guelph, Ontario. The prevalence of Giardia infection was 11% (12/107). To assess the effectiveness of Giardia vaccination for treatment of Giardia carriage, 9 additional asymptomatic Giardia antigen-positive dogs were brought into the facility. The Giardia antigen-positive dogs were then randomly allocated to receive either vaccine (n = 10) or a saline placebo (n = 10). Feces were then monitored monthly for 6 mo for Giardia antigen and Giardia cysts. At weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16 following vaccination, there were more Giardia-positive dogs in the vaccinated group (10/10, 9/10, 9/10, 8/10, respectively) compared with the controls (7/10, 7/10, 8/10, 4/10, respectively). At week 20, an equal number of dogs (5/10) were Giardia positive, and at week 24, fewer dogs were positive in the vaccinated group than in the control group (2/10 versus 5/10, respectively). However, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups. Vaccination was, therefore, not an effective treatment for asymptomatic canine Giardia infections in this setting.

The use of a Giardia vaccine as an immunotherapeutic agent in dogs.
Can Vet J 42[11]:865-8 2001 Nov
Olson ME, Hannigan CJ, Gaviller PF, Fulton LA
Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1.

Dogs (n = 13), which had failed to be cured of giardiosis following chemotherapeutic measures, were treated with a Giardia vaccine (2-3 injections). Clinical signs resolved between 16 and 42 days postvaccination and cessation of fecal cyst shedding was between 21 and 70 days. Vaccination is a potential method of treating giardiosis in dogs.

Efficacy of a Combination Febantel-Praziquantel Pyrantel Product, With or Without Vaccination With a Commercial Giardia Vaccine, for Treatment of Dogs with Naturally Occurring Giardiasis
J Am Vet Med Assoc 220[3]:330-333 Feb 1’02 Prospective Trial 14 Refs
Patricia A. Payne, DVM, PhD; Robert K. Ridley DVM, PhD; Michael W Dryden, DVM, PhD; Christine Bathgate, BS; George A. Milliken, PhD; Patricia W Stewart, DVM Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Department of Statistics, Kansas State University Manhattan, KS 66506
Objective: To determine efficacy of treatment with a combination febantel-praziquantel-pyrantel product, with or without vaccination with a commercial Giardia vaccine, in dogs with naturally occurring giardiasis.

Design: Prospective trial.

Animals: 16 Beagles naturally infected with Giardia duodenalis.

Procedures: During phase 1, 6 dogs were treated with the parasiticide for 3 days (4 were also vaccinated). Four weeks later, all 6 dogs were treated with the parasiticide again for 5 days and were bathed and moved to clean cages after the last treatment (phase 2). Nine dogs were treated with the parasiticide for 3 (n = 4) or 5 (5) days and bathed and moved to clean cages after the last treatment (phase 3). Fecal samples were collected twice weekly for 24 days after treatment and tested for cysts with a quantitative zinc sulfate flotation technique and for Giardia antigen with an immunoassay.

Results: Dogs in phase 1 were all shedding cysts again by day 24. In phase 2, only 1 dog shed cysts after treatment, and shedding was transient (day 17). In phase 3, neither cysts nor antigen was detected in fecal samples from 2 of 4 dogs treated for 3 days and 4 of 5 dogs treated for 5 days. In 18 of 57 (31.6%) fecal samples, cysts were seen, but results of the immunoassay were negative.

Conclusions & Clinical Relevance: Results suggest that when a combination febantel-praziquantel-pyrantel product is used to treat dogs with giardiasis, bathing and changing the environment after treatment may be more important in preventing recurrence than duration of treatment.

Pets Stressed on the 4th of July

Fireworks, thunderstorms, gun shots, back firing cars…. The list is endless of loud, unexpected noises which can startle our dogs and cause fearful reactions. These types of fears may develop even when you are unaware of an event occurring. Signs of stress may include pacing, panting, restlessness, shaking/trembling, vocalizing, attention seeking and hiding, but they can also display many other behaviors.

What Can I Do to Help?

The 4th of July and New Year’s Eve are miserable nights for our dogs; I do not recommend dogs attending firework displays. They don’t enjoy the beauty and the noise only creates potential fear problems.

Early experiences are very important for the development of puppies, and if dogs are exposed to a wide range of sights and sounds from an early age they are less likely to be frightened to these types of noises as they get older.
It only takes one scary event to ruin all the good background.

Keep the curtains closed to minimize the flash exposure.

Distract your dog by engaging them in some type of activity that captures their attention. This would be a great opportunity for a training session. Use treats to reward the non-fearful behavior.

Create a safe place to sleep through the noise. We know the 4th of July continues late into the night, so if the crate location is still to noisy, you might need to tether your dog in a quiet closet for night, no need to close the door. Closets are usually in interior walls which muffle the noises. This becomes a nice safe den for the dog.

Behavior modification techniques (“counter-conditioning” and “desensitization”) are often successful in reducing fears in dogs. This means a very gradually the dog is exposed to the fearful stimuli and taught it is not frightening by combining it with play or food. Gradually increase in volume as the desensitization continues.

One of the newest products to help dogs with fear problems is DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromones). They are available in a plug-in diffuser (similar to air fresheners) or a collar (similar to flea and tick collars). They need to be started a few days prior to the noise event and continued 2 weeks after. DAP makes the dog more relaxed and more confident when they might otherwise be stressed. I have minimal experience with this product but the reports look very promising, with improvement equal to or better than medication.

If all else fails, there all several medications which can be prescribed by your veterinarian.

What Not to Do

Do not reward fearful behavior.
Do not let your dog go outside.
Do not take your dog to a fireworks display.
Do not punish for being afraid.
Do not force your dog to experience or get closer to the sound that frightens them.

“Dog breath” is not something we need to learn to live with, if we learn to do good dental home care.  Think what would happen if you didn’t brush your teeth?  Brushing removes food particles, bacteria and plaque from the teeth.  Gum disease (periodontal disease) is very common in dogs, while cavities are uncommon.

Most veterinary dental experts recommend daily brushing.  If the plaque is allowed to remain in contact with the tooth surface it will accumulate at the gum-line.  Eventually, these deposits form calculus, irritate the gums, resulting in infection and loose teeth.

The first step is to select the correct toothbrush.  Dog toothbrushes have a long handle and an angled head to match the shape of the dog’s mouth.  The bristles are very soft.  Another choice is a rubber finger brush, but I usually only use those for training.

Pet tooth paste is different from people tooth paste.  They contain enzymes to help control plaque and they can be swallowed without causing stomach upset.  By pressing the toothpaste into the bristles, rather than on top, the paste will have more contact with the tooth surface.

Now it is time to “teach” your dog to have their teeth brushed.  It is important to start slowly.  Begin with a wet wash cloth or piece of gauze being rubbed on the teeth in the same manner you will be brushing.  Do this for 1-2 weeks until the dog accepts the procedure. Now introduce the toothbrush, soaked in warm water and gently brush.  Do this for 1-2 weeks until the dog accepts the procedure. Finally, introduce the toothpaste.

When brushing the bristles should be where the gum and the tooth meet.  Brush in an oval pattern and cover three or four teeth at a time.  Spend most of the time on the upper teeth.  It is not necessary to brush the inner surface of your dog’s teeth because the saliva cleans this surface.

The American Veterinary Dental Society recommends a full dental cleaning every six months for pets, just as dentists recommend for us.  Good dental care is an important part of good overall health.

Other Home Care Products

Dental Diets (Science Diet T/D and Royal Canin DD)

These diets reduce tartar on the teeth.

Dental Spray

These products can be sprayed or squirted into the mouth.  They are antibacterial and anti-plaque washes.

C.E.T. Rawhides from  Virbac Animal Health are monolayer (single layer) rawhides which cannot unroll and cause obstruction in the GI tract.

Research has shown beneficial effects of chewing on rawhides may be as beneficial as brushing.

A relatively new product veterinarians are applying to puppy’s teeth is called FluraFom.  It is a foam fluoride product which hardens the enamel of newly erupted teeth.

B Kramer DVM

What is hip dysplasia?

It is a progressive degenerative condition caused by a “poorly formed hip”. The hip joint is a “ball and socket joint”: the “ball” is the femoral head (top part of the thigh bone) and the “socket” (acetabulum) is in the pelvis. Hip dysplasia occurs when the femoral head does not fit into the acetabulum properly. The pain associated with hip dysplasia is caused when the femoral head pulls away from the joint and rides on the rim of the socket. This is called subluxation (partial dislocation). In response to this instability, the body forms scar tissue and bony changes occur. The ultimate outcome is degenerative joint disease (DJD), i.e. arthritis.

What causes hip dysplasia?

Hip dysplasia is the most common inherited orthopedic disease in large breed dogs. The exact genes involved have not been identified, but it is known that it is polygenic (caused by many different genes). Dogs with hip dysplasia should not be used for breeding, but unaffected dogs can yield dogs with the condition. Nutritional factors (high calorie/ supplemented foods, over feeding, fast growth rate, etc.) and excessive exercise programs (long distance running, jumping, etc.) contribute to hip dysplasia.

How can you screen for hip dysplasia?

Diagnosing hip dysplasia on physical examination is difficult and a presumptive diagnosis at best. Radiographs (x-rays) are necessary. Sedation or anesthesia is required to ensure proper positioning of the dog. Two different techniques are used to evaluate dogs: OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals,) and PennHIP certification. Both of theses organizations have great, informative websites: www.offa.org and www.pennhip.org . With an OFA evaluation, the dog lays on its back with the legs pulled straight back and knees rolled toward each other. This forces the femoral head into the acetabulum. The hip joint is evaluated for conformation (how well the ball and socket fit together, shape of the femoral head and acetabulum), coverage (approximately 60% of the ball must be in the socket) and DJD signs. They will be reported as “Excellent, Good, Fair, Dysplastic”. All evaluations performed in dogs less than 2 years old are preliminary. PennHIP evaluations can be done on puppies as young as 16 weeks. Two radiographs are taken: one with the femoral heads compressed (pushed into the acetabula as far as they will go) and one with the femoral heads distracted (pulled out of the acetabula as far as they will go). A measurement called a distraction index is calculated from these radiographs, the idea being that a tighter fitting hip (one allowing less distraction) is less likely to develop dysplasia. Each dog breed has a different range of distraction indices that are considered acceptable.

How is hip dysplasia treated?

The degree to which the hips are dysplastic does not always correlate with the amount of pain. Since there is no cure for hip dysplasia, the goal of treatment is pain management. Medical management includes anti-inflammatory drugs, acupuncture and nutriceuticals such as glucosamine. Surgical management includes TPO (triple pelvic osteotomy), FHNO (femoral head/neck ostectomy), total hip replacement, and DARthroplasty (dorsal acetabular rim transplant).

B Kramer DVM