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
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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”.
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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
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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
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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
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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,
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“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
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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
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