Know Your Dog's Enemies: Heat Stroke Is No Light Matter!

The weather is getting warmer again. Do you know that too much heat can seriously harm and even kill your dog?

Dr. Laci Schaible of VetLive wrote a great post that will help you brush up on your knowledge: Overheating in Dogs, please do read it.

It is easy to underestimate the effect overheating can have on your dog. Don't!

Of all the bad things that happened to Jasmine is the past couple of years, hyperthermia was by far the worst.

Jasmine's was not a typical case of heat stroke. But at the end the result is the same, regardless of the cause.

The day started innocently enough. We took Jasmine in for x-rays. She had x-rays done a number of times before and we didn't think much of it. In fact, the plan was that after that was done, hubby was going to take her to the farm for the rest of the day.

Little we realized the horror we were in for!

Jasmine was showing pain as a result of her neck being manipulated to get the right shots. To relieve the pain she was given a shot of Buprenorphine. Shortly after that her temperature spiked to 42.5°C!

Even though she was given shots to counter the effect of the drug, and alcohol rub downs, her temperature remained quite high for quite a while. It wasn't until almost three hours later when her temperature got back to normal.

Hubby called me that she spiked a fever and he's waiting for her to stabilize before he can take her home.

I was terribly worried. However, I was told that's she's stabilizing and within couple hours she can come home. I was also told that she will be very tired and weak, which should resolve by the next morning.

When Jasmine finally came home she looked like a train wreck!

Being tired and weak didn't even begin to describe it. It took all her strength and determination to make it into the house on her own power. She collapsed on her bed. She needed help to get up and have a drink.

We all slept on the kitchen floor with her that night.

I kept being hopeful that things indeed will improve by morning, but I didn't hold my breath.

Indeed, in the morning she was in a worse shape yet. With help she struggled to go to the bathroom and her pee was brown! She also had what looked like bruises on her tongue.

That was all I could take. We rushed her to the emergency.

They didn't even believe us that with a bit of help to get up she could stand up on her own. After an exam and a set of x-rays we were told that she likely had either her liver or kidneys were failing and that she likely had multiple perforations in he intestine. Say what?

As all this sounded like a death sentence, we insisted on transfer to a teaching hospital.

Their assessment was that her liver, not kidneys, was in trouble and that she doesn't have perforated intestine but a large abdominal abscess. Her platelets and her muscles were fried by the hyperthermia. She was in a bad shape, was going to need intensive care and a surgery but they believed that she can make it.

It was a race against time. Her platelets needed to get to a safe level for the surgery and the surgery needed to be done as soon as possible!

Jasmine has always been a fighter and two days later she was able to get the abscess removed. However, at that point she wasn't able to get up or walk at all!

She spent a week at intensive care but still was not walking. They kept blaming it on her knees but we knew her legs were working fine before all this happened.

We decided that hubby should go and visit her. I was so distraught that we didn't feel that my visit would be of any help.

They wheeled Jasmine out and laid her on the grass.

When she saw hubby, with all determination she could gather, she started struggling onto her feet. With a great effort and a lot of help she made her way towards him. The technicians kept calling out, “she's walking! She's walking!”

The next evening they told us that we can take her home. She was so happy to see me but looked so horrible that I wept. “Yes, darling, we are taking you home,” I kept telling her. That was all she wanted too.

She still couldn't get up without help and her legs kept folding under her.

Her legs felt as if they were just bones and skin. It took another week before she could get up and walk without help or stumbling.

It took another month before she started getting her strength back.

That's how hard the hyperthermia hit Jasmine's body.

Granted that almost dieing in fact saved her life, it was the darkest time in her life. So please, don't underestimate the effect overheating can have on your dog!

Ever since I am very paranoid about Jasmine's body temperature. I always have a thermometer and cooling aids on hand and keep watching like a hawk. I keep monitoring the slightest changes in the color of her tongue and gums.

God forbid she should have to undergo something like this ever again!

Keep an eye on your dog and catch the signs of overheating early!

It's your dog's health!
Jana

Further reading:
Overheating in Dogs
Heat Stroke in Dogs and Cats: Signs, Symptoms and Treatment
Hyperthermia (Heat Stroke, Heat Prostration)

Related articles:
Hypo- Versus Hyperthermia

Shiloh Is Still Looking For A Forever Home

Breed: Hovawart Mix
Female
Date of birth: approx. Feb 2008
Location: Charlotte, NC 

This sweet girl spent most of her life in a rescue and in foster.

She is a true family dog and loves everybody. 

The people of the rescue where she resides say she is one of the most affectionate dogs they ever had. Her favorite past time is to give hugs and kisses. She has no issues with other dogs and is very playful.

So how come she still hasn't found a forever home?

Shiloh was diagnosed with hip dysplasia that was severe enough that it required a surgery on both hips. Post-operative care is a big commitment.

Shiloh is now fully recovered from her surgeries!

She made it through the surgeries and rehabilitation programs without loosing her spirit and sweet disposition. Her special affectionate personality left intact.

She underwent bilateral Femoral Head/Neck Ostectomy (FHO).

Femoral Head/Neck Ostectomy (FHO) is the removal of the femoral head in order to prevent bone rubbing on bone. Fibrous tissue will form a false joint connecting the two bones.

Long term prognosis after successful FHO surgery is excellent. 

The source of discomfort and worsening of degenerative joint disease is no longer a concern. It will be important to keep her on the slim side and her muscles strong.

She is ready to be your faithful companion.

Ready to adopt Shiloh?

Please visit  www.projecthalo.net to fill out an application or contact Rhonda at projhalo@bellsouth.net for more information. PetFinder link http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/15567762.

***

About project Halo

Project HALO is a non-profit, NO-KILL rescue organization based in Charlotte, N.C. It is a 100% volunteer, privately funded organization that rescues homeless, stray and unwanted dogs.

Without volunteers and private donations Project HALO would not exist. The organization takes care of all the vet work including shots, sterilization and heartworm treatment, when necessary.

All of Project HALO's animals are vet current and sterilized prior to adoption. All donations are fully tax-deductible. You can mail donations directly to Project HALO:
PO Box 667924
Charlotte, NC 28266

Additionally, you can make donations of any denomination through PayPal.
Feel free to contact info@projecthalo.net with any questions, comments or suggestions.

Related articles:
Shiloh Is Headed For A Second Hip Surgery And Hopes To Find A Forever Home
Hip Dysplasia Prevention And Treatment Options
Hip And Elbow Dysplasia: Are They The Same Thing?

How The Oddysey Started: Jasmine's ACL Injury

Morpheus: What happened, happened and couldn't have happened any other way.
Neo: How do you know?
Morpheus: We are still alive. 

—The Matrix Reloaded

When Jasmine started limping in the summer of 2008 we didn't think too much of it. It wasn't the first time it happened.

Jasmine had injured her hind leg three times before that.

After an exam and x-rays, we were always told it was probably just soft tissue injury and sent home with recommendation of restricted exercise. Each time it did seem to have resolved on its own eventually.

This time it was different.

With passing weeks I started to feel that perhaps we should take her to the vet again after all. Things weren't getting worse, but they weren't improving either, and Jasmine was showing less enthusiasm for exercise. This hasn't happened before and wasn't like her at all--we always had a hard time holding her back.

At the beginning of September we took her to her vet at the time. He couldn't elicit the drawer sign but suggested an appointment with an orthopedic specialist just to be sure.

He mentioned the words ACL injury and that was the first time we ever heard about such thing.

After I researched what an ACL tear was I really wished it was something else!

Jasmine was putting some weight on the leg even though she was limping heavily, particularly after rest following exercise. She wasn't holding her knee up as would be typical either.

However, after a visit with the specialist, and a set of x-rays, the diagnosis was in and it was breaking my heart.

Yes, Jasmine did indeed have a partial ACL tear in her left leg, and if that wasn't enough, her right knee didn't look so great either. 

The recommendation was to do a TPLO surgery on the left knee immediately, with a prospect of another surgery once that heals. When I've learned what TPLO was I didn't like it the least bit.

To Jasmine, her legs were the most important part of her body! They took her places! 

Such an invasive surgery and the recovery ... taking almost a whole year out of her life ... I really didn't want to do that if I could help it.

I spent endless hours researching and looking high and low for other options. We considered conservative management with a knee brace. But Jasmine was only 5 years at the time and she was a very active dog.

Brace didn't sound like a good solution for her.

I was talking to many people and one vet from Australia mentioned that prolotherapy might be a solution for a partial ACL tear.

It sounded hopeful, and certainly better than a surgery. I found a vet in our region and discussed that with her. She said that it could be an option.

Before we booked a consulation with her I brought it up to Jasmine's vet. He didn't know much about it—looked it up quickly and figured it was a terrible idea, saying things such as bone infection and amputation scared the living daylights out of me.

I did talk to a number of vets who successfully uses this technique but the word amputation eclipsed all the positive things I read and heard. 

I called the consulting vet immediately and told her what Jasmine's vet thought. She was trying to explain that while there is some degree of risk they take precautions and it is very safe.

As she noticed I wasn't really hearing her, she said there was a new treatment out there which we could consider—stem cell regenerative therapy. It really is a shortcut to what the prolotherapy is designed to achieve."

Stem cell therapy? Ok, a new idea that didn't have the word amputation tied to it. 

I asked her how it worked—this certainly sounded interesting!

So back to research. The more I was reading about what the stem cells were, the more exciting the whole idea sounded. We discussed it with my husband and he also felt good about it.

So back on the phone with Jasmine's vet.

"Stem cells? From bone marrow?" he asked. "And what about rejection issues?"
"No," I said, "stem cells from Jasmine's own fat tissue".

This time he didn't even bother looking it up. "Sounds like a scam," he said.

Well, it didn't sound like a scam to us. 

I went back online to see if i could find any testimonials about this treatment in dogs. Didn't find many, but found some. And more importantly, this felt right.

I made a list of vets in our area certified for the procedure and starting calling them.

Ideally we wanted to find one who already had experience with this. 

It turned out that nobody in Canada—or in Ontario anyway—had actually done it yet. As we really wanted somebody who did, we decided to call around south of the border. Couldn't find anybody either.

Ok, this was pretty new stuff, huh?

Still though, it did feel right. So back to calling vets near by. One of them spent at least fourty minutes discussing things with me on the phone. He did feel that surgery might be the best option, but was open to the stem cell idea. "Knees love being operated on," he said.

Well, knees might ... but what about the dog?

We discussed it all again with my husband and figured that we do want to see where the stem cell route might take us. So we booked a consultation with this new vet.

When we brought Jasmine in, he started examining her head to toes.

"Hey, doc, the knees are over here in case you can't find them," we thought. But he explained how the bad knees would affect other things.
"I want to treat the whole dog," he said.
Our jaws dropped. "Wow, now there is a novel concept!"

Skipping through a series of events that stemmed from an additional abdominal exam the vet did while he had Jasmine under to take his own x-rays, a cancer scare, an exploratory surgery, several weeks later we were all set to go ahead with the treatment.

As destiny would have it though, a week before the planned treatment, Jasmine came home limping really badly, not using her left leg at all. 

We took her in immediately and our fear was confirmed, her ligament was now totally gone.

So there we were, back to the drawing board. 

Do we have to do the TPLO after all? (Personally I'd liked the TTA better, but there was no surgeon in Ontario doing that.)

Her new vet brought up the option of an extracapsular repair as less invasive. 

That confused things further, because we have already discarded this option at the beginning, after reading many articles on how bad this option is for large breed dogs.

However, this new vet already got a lot of our trust in the meantime and he has done this surgery successfuly on large dogs many times in the past.

I asked him the main question: "Is this what you would do if it was your dog?" 

He said that all things considered yes, he would. I was still a bit uneasy about potential failure of the repair, but it was substantially less invasive...

With that decided we didn't feel like abandoning the stem cell therapy idea though. Perhaps it could save her other knee? And while at it, it could maybe help the operated knee heal better?

And so it was all set. 

The first day her vet did the extracapsular repair and extracted a bit of Jasmine's fat tissue and sent it to VetStem to be processed.

Two days later he injected the stem cells into both of her knees, shoulders (which developed arthritis as she was compensating for her bad hind legs) and gave her one IV dose of stem cells also to help our areas that couldn't be injected).

The first month post treatment he seemed rather disappointed, as he couldn't see any difference the stem cell treatment would have been making.

By the second month though, he started to get really excited. 

We couldn't really tell, because we had nothing to compare it with. All along we were just praying that her right leg would hold up through all that.

At the end of the second month Jasmine was hardly limping at all, and the third month she had the bounce back into her gait. Now it started to get really exciting!

So of course, as a number of times before, just when we were so happy how well things were going, three months after the first surgery, Jasmine's right knee just went. 

She didn't do anything crazy or out of the ordinary. Just boom and there it was. That was really disappointing.

So back on the operating table. 

Looking back, I believe that the treatments we chose were the best option for Jasmine. She is living her life as if none of that ever happened and I wouldn't have done anything differently.

As much as I hate that she had to have gone through all that, it seems that it had to happen and couldn't have happened any other way. Look at Jasmine go today!

If it wasn't for her injured knee and our reluctance to put her through an invasive surgery, we wouldn't have found her new vet and her other health issues might have never been diagnosed and treated.

All that also taught me the importance of being involved in my dog's health care decisions, research and second opinions.

It's your dog's health!
Jana

Related articles:

Stem Cells for Dogs? Oh yeah, baby!
Interview with Dr. Robert J. Harman, D.V.M., M.P.V.M. - CEO and founder of Vet-Stem
Digging Deeper: The Science Behind Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy
Jasmine is Vet-Stem's poster child! 
Zeus Gets Stem Cell Treatment 
Jasmine Is Headed For Her Next Stem Cell Treatment 
Jasmine's Stem Cells Are In 
Running With The Wind: Trago's Elbow Dysplasia Surgery And Stem Cell Treatment
In The Beginning There Was Fat: From Vanity To Revolutionary Therapy

Talk To Me About ACL Injuries
ACL Injuries in Dogs: Non-Surgical Alternatives?
ACL Injuries in Dogs and Stem Cell Regenerative Therapy
Newest Surgery For Ruptured ACL In Dogs
Preventing ACL Injuries In Dogs
ACL Injuries In Dogs: Xena's Story 
ACL Injury Conservative Management: Sandy's Story
Surviving The Post-Op: After Your Dog's ACL Surgery
Talk to Me About Arthritis
Don't Forget the Physical Therapy 
My Love Is Sleeping At My Feet: ACL Surgery Complications 
Coco's TPLO Post-Op Diary 
Small Breeds Can Hurt Their ACL Too: Star's Naughty Knee 
One Thing Leads To Another: Why The Second ACL Often Goes Too

Hip Dysplasia Prevention And Treatment Options

The primary cause of hip dysplasia is genetic but other factors, such as husbandry and environmental factors, play their role as well.

Prevention starts with selective breeding.

Responsible breeders screen their dogs’ hips with either PennHIP or OFA x-rays before including them in their breeding population. Genetic testing is not available at this time.

Dogs without obviously dysplastic hips are the only individuals that should ever be selected for breeding. The PennHIP and OFA screening tests are not perfect, but they have gone a long way towards decreasing the incidence of hip dysplasia in some breeds.

Nutrition is a contributing factor to the development of hip dysplasia.

Rapid growth and excessive weight gain in puppies can increase the incidence of hip dysplasia.

A diet too high in protein, calcium or calories (i.e., simply too much food) leads to unnaturally rapid growth, obesity, and/or bones and muscles growing at different rates, all of which can cause a number of joint issues, including hip dysplasia.

Be thoughtful of what and how much you feed your puppy.  Large breed dogs under the age of 18 months should stay on the slim side of normal.  Dogs fed to grow slowly will eventually reach their full size, it just takes them a little extra time to get there.

Does exercise play a role in development of hip dysplasia?

This issue doesn't seem to be entirely clear. It appears that exercise does not cause hip dysplasia to develop. However, if a dog already has  bad hips (even if the problems are not yet visible on traditional x-rays), high impact or strenuous exercise can make things worse.

On the other hand, exercise to promote the strength of muscles, tendons and ligaments and a healthy weight is still very important so this is one of those cases where balance is important.

Early detection means early treatment and better prognosis.

The sooner you find out whether your dog has hip dysplasia the better off your dog will be.

Ever since Jasmine was little, because of her breed, a thorough hip evaluation has been a part of every vet visit. Fortunately, Jasmine's hips are healthy; they’re just about the only part of her body that is without an issue.

Some treatments are only available for puppies up to certain age, and arthritis, if not addressed, only gets worse with time.

Treatment options include the management of the arthritis and inflammation that is caused by hip dysplasia and/or surgical intervention. Which treatments  are best for your dog depends on an evaluation of the joints, your dog's age and general health.

Arthritis management includes weight control, physical therapy, acupuncture, joint supplements, omega-3 fatty acids, stem cell therapy and, while not at all my personal favorite, NSAIDs and other pain relievers.

Surgical options for treatment of hip dysplasia in dogs

Juvenile Pubic Symphysiodesis (JPS) is a preventive surgery that can be performed on at-risk puppies before the age of 5 months. Altering the growth of the pubic bone results in rotation of the hip sockets to better hold on to the femoral heads.

Triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO) can be performed on puppies between 8 and 18 months of age, without significant degenerative arthritis changes or a hip socket that is too flat. It is a similar idea to the JPS but involves surgically repositioning a part of the pelvis. The pelvis is cut in three places and rotated to better hold on to the femoral head.

Femoral Head/Neck Ostectomy (FHO) is the removal of the femoral head in order to prevent bone rubbing on bone. Fibrous tissue will form a false joint connecting the two bones. This surgery is usually recommended only for smaller dogs.

Total Hip Replacement (THR) is quite self-explanatory. It is often the recommended surgical option for older dogs, individuals over 50 pounds or so, and dogs with advanced arthritis.

Dorsal acetabular rim arthroplasty (Darthroplasty) is rather new and actually sounds quite cool. Bone grafts from other sites are used to manufacture a deeper socket so the femoral head sits within the socket better. Long term prognosis with this surgery is not known at this time, however.

There are some other procedures out there, you can check them out here.

Keep in mind that many dogs that undergo surgical treatment for hip dysplasia still do require some level of medical management for arthritis, just far less than they would have otherwise needed.

Whether you choose surgery, conventional medical options, alternative treatments, or some combination thereof, it is important that therapy is tailored to the individual condition and needs of your dog.

Does your dog have hip dysplasia? How did you treat it? Share your story.

It's your dog's health!
Jana

Further Reading:
Hip Dysplasia in Dogs: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
Canine Hip Dysplasia
Surgical Management of Canine Hip Dysplasia
Symptoms and treatment of hip dysplasia in dogs
Hip Dysplasia: Surgical Interventions

Related articles:
Picking the Right Dog to Breed
Hip And Elbow Dysplasia: Are They The Same Thing?
Shiloh Is Headed For A Second Hip Surgery And Hopes To Find A Forever Home
Talk To Me About Arthritis

Syringomyelia Awareness: Teddy’s Story

Teddy's story is courtesy of Two Little Cavaliers, shared by Nicki from Rupert’s Fund.

Syringomyelia is a terrible condition that affects mainly Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. 

However, dogs of other breeds can be affected also; particularly miniturized breeds and breeds with pushed in noses.

The only answer to preventing this horrible suffering is responsible breeding.

Breeders should follow the SM Breeding Protocol. The aim of the breeding protocol is to reduce the incidence of symptomatic syringomyelia in the cavalier breed. The chance of producing an affected dog cannot be predicted without knowing the inheritance.

To learn more about syringomyelia check out Syringomyelia Awareness on Two Little Cavaliers blog.

Teddy’s Story:

Teddy came to live with us in April 2005 at 19 months of age – he had been living in an outside kennel and was not house trained, but he quickly learnt about living life indoors He was a gentle, soft boy, and a wonderful companion for Rupert – they were very close.

I soon realised that something was not right – but even my vet could not believe that we would be so unlucky as to have TWO affected dogs (little did we know…).

Teddy was scratching, to start with on one side only, not making contact with the skin – and just behind his front leg. 

It soon became bilateral, and eventually both ears too. He was not happy being groomed – and was generally such an easy dog, happy to do anything you wanted him to do, so I knew it was not naughtiness.

He was treated for parasites, skin irritation and put on exclusion diets for food allergies, none of which made any difference.


Teddy was MRI’d a year later – and we were shocked to discover that he was indeed moderate to severely affected. 

When we obtained Teddy, we had impressed upon his breeder that we desperately wanted a healthy Cavalier – obviously we had recently been through Rupert’s bad pain episode and feared he would not be with us for long; we also had another little Cavalier who sadly had many health problems, and was euthanised at the age of 7, not too long after we had Teddy.

We were looking for a healthy Cavalier who would be with us for many years…

After Teddy’s diagnosis, we wrote to his breeder explaining what had happened, and asking if she would be prepared to offer us some help with the huge vet bills we were now facing. She wrote back wishing him well and sent us a refund of his purchase price.

Teddy started a program of treatment, having medication every 8 hours. 

We were lucky in that every time he deteriorated, we found or were told about a new treatment or supplement which helped him. It was an emotional rollercoaster, but when you love them so very much, you do everything you can to help.

Teddy’s symptoms

Scratching – initially one side, later both. Behind the front legs and later both ears too. If you touched his chest, that would trigger a scratching episode. It was hard for him to stop scratching, even if you called his name or touched him.

Pain – he NEVER yelped or cried out. Pain was apparent though in his facial expression and demeanour. Eventually he started to vocalise – moaning and groaning noises.

Intolerance of grooming. Particularly hated having his nails trimmed and eventually had to be sedated for this and for clipping his coat.

Sought cool areas to lie, he could not cope with heat/warm rooms.

He was very restless – at his worst times, he could not stay in the same position for more than about 30 minutes and would wander around trying to get comfortable.

Excessive tearing from eyes
Haunted look in his eyes, and ears held lower and back.
His balance was initially very good, but eventually he started limping and his reflexes were affected, and he then started to stumble occasionally.
Mild urinary incontinence

Teddy dropped a lot of coat, his gorgeous bushy tail disappeared and his belly and groin area were actually bald. 

This was believed to be a side effect of the Gabapentin. He was clipped under sedation at the vets in January 2010 – and his coat never grew again, an unsolved mystery.

Teddy had a follow up MRI 2 years after the first one as his symptoms were getting worse. 

There was some progression but not as much as we had possibly expected, which gave us some hope. However symptoms do not always correlate to the degree of severity apparent on an MRI – the width of the syrinx is more significant than the length, also whether it is asymmetrical.

Teddy was on an extensive schedule of medication, for over four years – we tried everything we could to keep him comfortable and happy. 

He also had natural supplements and homoeopathy. Teddy had regular blood tests to monitor the effect of the medications on his body – he had to take a liver support medication, as his liver was affected, possibly due to the drugs.

He developed some urinary incontinence but this was treated homoeopathically with complete success!

Sadly Teddy also battled with Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth so he had to have daily antibiotics; he also developed a heart murmur at the age of 4, which progressed with frightening speed and in just under 2 years became a grade 5/6.

Teddy started vocalising showing that his pain was not under control, he was limping intermittently {neurological rather than injury}. 

He was very restless. It became apparent that life was no longer enjoyable and Teddy did not even want to go for walks anymore. We could no longer keep him comfortable, so he was given his rest peacefully at home on 8th April 2010 at only 6 years of age :-(

We gave the gift of love and put Teddy through the Syringomyelia Cavalier Collection Scheme – a difficult decision to make but it is a huge comfort to us now – it gave value and meaning to his passing and hopefully the tissues harvested from his body will help this very important research.

Teddy loved to be involved in whatever we were doing. He was very close to my husband but he always wanted to be wherever I was – he was my soulmate.

Dealing with chronic conditions such as Syringomyelia is very draining, it’s hard to take pleasure in and enjoy your dog when you feel like you are living on borrowed time. 

Every day you would worry about new symptoms you might be seeing, you tend to blame everything on the Syringomyelia but also have to investigate other possibilities.

Not only is is very draining emotionally, your whole life revovles around the dogs, making sure you or someone responsible is around to dispense their medication. Teddy was on an 8 hour schedule for over 4 years, so we could NEVER have an early night or a lie in. We never resented it, we adore all our dogs and would do anything for them.

It is also draining financailly, even with insurance we were paying out hundreds of pounds a year, not only on veterinary fees, but also travel costs to the practice and to specialists, supplements and complementary therapies.

A considerable amount of time is spent nursing the dogs, also researching the condition and treatments and working with vets. It is tragic that this wonderful breed has to suffer from so many horrible problems, it affects so many lives.

Our experiences have inspired us to help with raising awareness also with fundraising, lately particularly for Rupert’s Fund, which was named for our Rupert. 

Supporting and donating to Rupert’s Fund is one of the best ways of helping our beloved breed – to fund research to find the genes responsible for Syringomyelia and to produce tools to help breeders make appropriate breeding decisions. Obviously it also helps us find MRI Grade A older dogs, which can only help the breed.

***

Rupert's Fund is a rolling fund to MRI scan older cavaliers, age 6+, for critical research into syringomyelia (SM), a neurological disease that is alarmingly prevalent in the breed. International studies have shown at least 35% of cavaliers under 5 worldwide have this often painful condition. Researchers now estimate 70%-plus of all cavaliers will eventually develop SM, and evidence indicates it is taking more severe forms over time.

Why scan? Finding the genetic cause of this terrible disease is critical to the survival of the breed and will give breeders tools to breed away from the problem. Scans are a crucial part of this research, because they are the only way to accurately diagnose SM.

Because SM is a progressive condition -- meaning it tends to develop slowly over time and may not be apparent when affected dogs are younger -- finding older cavaliers with little or no SM is especially valuable to determine how it is inherited and help breeders identify promising lines. But time is running out. With every new generation of dogs, lines are further mixed. Some old, probably healthier lines have disappeared already. The chance diminishes of finding the fully clear dogs that could provide a genetic rescue plan.

Further reading:

CavalierHealth.org
The CKCS Syringomyelia (SM) Infosite
Cavalier Matters
Veterinary Neurologist 
Veterinary Partner: Syringomyelia

Related articles:

Syringomyelia Awareness: What is Chiari Malformation?
The Dark Cloud Of Syringomyelia: Fight For Ella
Fight For Ella Continues 
Ella's MRI Results And Update

Making A Difference: Help Your Favorite Shelter

Do you want to help your favorite animal rescue group or animal shelter?

Making a difference is now easier than ever!

Help your favorite shelter win a cash prize in an America's Favorite Animal Shelter contest sponsored by Care2, ASPCA and Adopt-a-Pet!

Your favorite shelter needs to be listed with Adopt-a-Pet.com, North America's largest non-profit pet-adoption web service, to be part of the contest.

The winning shelter will receive $15,000, and each week a different shelter is selected at random to win $500! 

Over 8,000 animal shelters and rescue groups already post their pets on Adopt-a-Pet.com and those pets are seen by 900,000 adopters who visit the site each month.

The service is free for shelters and for pet adopters and saves hundreds of thousands of lives!

If you don't see your favorite shelter in the list, please contact them and have an authorized shelter representative go to http://www.adoptapet.com/signup to sign up.

Search for your favorite shelter on Adopt-a-Pet.com here.

The “America’s Favorite Shelter” Contest, sponsored by Care2, ASPCA, and Adopt-a-Pet.com, is a chance for animal lovers to rally behind their favorite shelters. These shelters are often the last chance and refuge for thousands of animals. Now’s the chance to celebrate the work they do and help them win crucial funding. What makes your favorite animal shelter special? Say it loud, say it proud, and help them win $15,000.

Spread the word to help save the lives of homeless animals!

• Find your favorite animal shelter or rescue group and VOTE!
  
• Post flyers at the shelter, your local library, veterinary clinics, pet stores, your neighborhood coffee shop, and other local venues. Hand out flyers during your adoption events or at your adoption booths. Download a flyer.
  
• Get noticed by local media. Follow these simple steps to use this contest as a way to draw local media attention to your animal shelter. Get our local media guide with sample press release.
  
• Download full promotional kit 

Arthritis? What Arthritis?

Jasmine is going on eight years of age. She's gone through two near death experiences, a number of surgeries (including bi-lateral knee surgery) and was diagnosed with arthritis in her knees, shoulders, elbows, neck and jaws.

Can you tell?

There were times in the past couple years when we thought we were going to lose her. And look at her now!

It was a long journey.

Every time we fixed one thing, something else popped up. Once the knees were working, she almost died as a result of severe drug-induced hyperthermia. Then she suffered a muscle injury. Then her elbow got sore. Then a muscle again ..

I thought that I might never see her without a limp on one leg or another again.

I am happy that I was wrong!

While there still are issues to be dealt with, she can enjoy what matters to her the most—her mobility!

Jasmine is not on any drugs, NSAIDs or otherwise.

She gets joint supplements and we keep up with physical therapy on maintenance basis. Of course, daily exercise is a must—she wouldn't have it any other way. We're also keeping her at optimal weight.

What I believe really turned things around though, along with stabilizing the knees, was the stem cell therapy.

We are incredibly thankful for every happy active day she gets. There is nothing like watching her living it up!

I don't know what x-rays would show today. I don't really care. All I need to see is my happy mobile dog.

***

With gratitude to all who helped make this possible:

Vet-Stem Regenerative Veterinary Medicine,

for bringing the magic of stem cell therapy to dogs and their true care for animals.

Dr. Rae Worden DVM, of Fergus Veterinary Hospital,

for being the most amazing and caring veterinarian we ever met.

Dr. Leslie Woodcock, of Woodcock Veterinary Services,

 for their loving care during Jasmines physical therapy and chiro.

Dr. Rob Butler, of Guelph Animal Hospital,

for his TCVM expertise.

and all my dear online friends who helped us through tough times.

Thank you!

Related articles:

Stem Cells for Dogs? Oh yeah, baby!
Interview with Dr. Robert J. Harman, D.V.M., M.P.V.M. - CEO and founder of Vet-Stem
Digging Deeper: The Science Behind Adipose Derived Stem Cell Therapy
Jasmine is Vet-Stem's poster child! 
Zeus Gets Stem Cell Treatment 
Jasmine Is Headed For Her Next Stem Cell Treatment 
Jasmine's Stem Cells Are In 
Running With The Wind: Trago's Elbow Dysplasia Surgery And Stem Cell Treatment
Tell-tale Signs Your Dog May Have Arthritis
Nutrition and Dog Arthritis
Talk To Me About Arthritis
Acupuncture Is Not Voodoo
Don't Forget The Physical Therapy
Underwater Treadmill

Talking to Your Vet: How Safe Are NSAIDs?

 by Christopher Durin

As dog owners, we only want what is best for our dogs, so it is always advisable to consult your vet about any concerns for your dog’s health.

However always remember that vets are just people and that whilst their knowledge is great it is not perfect nor complete. 

This is especially true of chronic diseases such as dog arthritis where you as the owner will have a better instinctive feel for what treatments work, what medications are well tolerated and effective and of course what treatments you as the owner are comfortable giving.

I recognize that there is danger of misconstruing my message here.

As a vet for almost two decades, I hold a great deal respect for my fellow veterinarians. I want every dog owner to listen very, very well to what their vet has to say.


However I would also like every dog owner to be informed and to participate in every discussion about their dog's health.

Gather as much information as you can about your dog’s arthritis or joint problems, in particular information about any treatments that your dog will receive, as these treatments may well be lifelong.

Ask lots of questions and think carefully about the answers.

Within this it is perfectly okay to ask your vet if a certain treatment is safe or not.

A 'standard' treatment may not always be the safest treatment option and it is up to you (yes, you) to decide what is an acceptable treatment risk for your dog.

A case in point is the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs in the treatment of dog arthritis.

NSAIDs are the standard medication used to treat the symptoms of moderate to advanced dog arthritis. 

These drugs work by inhibiting the pro-inflammatory action of COX-enzymes. There is no doubt that NSAIDs are very effective in suppressing inflammation in the joints.

However in some dogs they also cause side effects which can severely compromise your dog's health. 

These side effects include vomiting, diarrhea, liver failure, anemia and even death.

Now, I am not telling every dog owner that NSAIDs should never be considered, just that these drugs are not safe for every dog. 

You should ask your vet whether NSAIDs are safe for your dog and if there are ways to increase the safety of these drugs. Your vet may suggest blood tests of the liver and kidneys before and after use, which will find out if the organs are healthy enough to deal with the drug’s effects.

You can read more about the side effects of the NSAIDs in my book "The Risks of Prescription Medicines for Dog Arthritis" on www.dogarthritisplan.com

Another question dog owners should ask is whether there are other treatment options. 

Of course there are countless treatments available but not all will be safe or effective. Your veterinarian or nearby rehabilitation center may be able to provide other services such as acupuncture, trigger point or other physical therapy.

Again, research widely and come to your vet with a whole bunch of questions :)

Of course you are very welcome to read my blog and you can ask me lots of questions about dog arthritis. Start by reading my free ebook at www.dogarthritisplan.com and we can talk from there :) Good luck.

Christopher Durin

***

Christopher Durin is a veterinarian and has been in practice since 1993, with his skill focus and extra qualifications in surgery. Joint problems are a big part of his day and he has cared for a LOT of arthritic dogs and cats over the years. He has recently been diagnosed with an immune mediated arthritis himself, the pain of which makes him appreciate the bravery of our furry friends all the more.

You can also check out his Facebook page Dog Arthritis Doc.

Risks of Prescription Medicines « Dog Arthritis Plan
www.dogarthritisplan.com

Articles by Christopher Durin:
Tell-tale Signs Your Dog May Have Arthritis
Nutrition and Dog Arthritis
Keeping Your Dog’s Muscles Healthy and Strong

Related articles:
Talk To Me About Arthritis
Acupuncture Is Not Voodoo
Don't Forget The Physical Therapy
Underwater Treadmill

Even The Best Veterinarian Can Make A Mistake

"Mistakes are as serious as the results they cause."
—Gregory House, MD

Just recently I read an article Dr. Tony Johnson wrote for Pet Connection blog: When veterinarians make mistakes.

For humans, medical errors injure more than 1.5 million people a year and result in 7000 deaths. No one knows the number of times it happens for for pets, or how many lose their lives as a result, but the numbers are certainly comparable. The government keeps numbers for human medical errors, but their attention for animals is usually limited to making sure they are relatively safe to eat.

Even the best veterinarian can make a mistake, just like anybody else. Veterinarians are humans too!

They can get sidetracked or they can make one with the best intentions. It happened to us, it can happen to you.

Getting mad at your veterinarian for making a mistake is of little use. Don't get mad—get diligent!

The following story is another excerpt from Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life by Dr. Nancy Kay.

If you think that eventually I'll publish the entire content, though, think again—go get your own copy!

For your dog's sake, this is a book you must read!

***

Remember, Your Veterinarian Isn’t Perfect
by Nancy Kay, DVM 

I remember a particular client and patient with a good deal of embarrassment.

A lovely gentleman asked me to evaluate his adorable Tibetan Terrier named Pirate because of a head-shaking problem.

As I routinely do, I performed a thorough physical examination. In the process, I was surprised to discover an enlarged lymph node, possible evidence of a cancerous process.

After we discussed this finding, I collected a small needle sample from the lymph node and sent it off to the lab.

Fortunately, the enlarged node was found to be completely benign.

When I called with the good news, the client expressed tremendous relief.

He also ever-so-graciously informed me that he had taken Pirate to an emergency clinic the night before because his head-shaking had intensified, and a foxtail (a grass-type foreign body) was removed from deep within his ear canal.

I was mortified.

I had been so sidetracked by the enlarged lymph node that I’d failed to examine Pirate’s ear canals.

I completely neglected to address the problem that brought Pirate in to see me in the first place!

“First do no harm.” This is the mantra that guides my professional life, and I’ll bet that your vet feels the same.

As much as we try to do no harm, the truth is that all veterinarians, myself included, have made—and will continue to make—professional blunders.

I am profoundly grateful to the savvy client who catches my error before any harm can come from it.

I’m certain that the majority of my colleagues feel as I do.

As your dog’s medical advocate, you should remind yourself that your veterinarian isn’t perfect (neither is the technician, receptionist, pharmacist, groomer, or anyone else who may be caring for your dog’s medical needs).

So when you recognize what you think may be an error or oversight, for your dog’s sake, speak up as loudly as necessary.


***

Dr. Kay  is the fortunate recipient of the 2011 Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award- presented by the AVMA to the veterinarian who promotes and exemplifies the human animal bond!

DR. NANCY KAY wanted to become a veterinarian for just about as long as she can remember. Her veterinary degree is from Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, and she completed her residency training in small animal internal medicine at the University of California—Davis Veterinary School.

Dr. Kay is a board certified specialist in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and published in several professional journals and textbooks. She lectures professionally to regional and national audiences, and one of her favorite lecture topics is communication between veterinarians and their clients.   Since the release of her book, Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life, Dr. Kay has lectured extensively and written numerous magazine articles on the topic of medical advocacy.  She was a featured guest on the popular National Public Radio show, Fresh Air with Terry Gross.

Dr. Kay is a staff internist at VCA Animal Care Center, a 24-hour emergency/specialty care center in Rohnert Park, California. As a way of providing emotional support for people with sick four-legged family members, Dr. Kay founded and helps facilitate the VCA Animal Care Center Client Support Group.  She also facilitates client communication rounds for VCA Animal Care Center employees.

Dr. Kay was selected by the American Animal Hospital Association to receive the 2009 Hill’s Animal Welfare and Humane Ethics Award.  This award is given annually to a veterinarian or nonveterinarian who has advanced animal welfare through extraordinary service or by furthering humane principles, education, and understanding.  The Dog Writers Association of America selected Dr. Kay for two awards.  The first was the 2009 Eukanuba Canine Health Award recognizing Speaking for Spot as the publication that best promotes the health and well being of dogs. The second award was for the Best Blog of 2009 (www.speakingforspot.com/blog).

Dr. Kay’s personal life revolves around her husband (also a veterinarian), her three children (none of whom aspire to be veterinarians) and their menagerie of four-legged family members. When she’s not writing, she spends her spare moments in the garden or riding along the beach atop her favorite horse. Dr. Kay and her family reside in Sebastopol, California.

Articles by Dr. Kay:
Reasonable Expectations: The Ability to Discuss Your Internet Research With Your Vet
Finding Dr. Wonderful And Your Mutt's Mayo Clinic: Getting Started
A Different Way to Spay
Making Tough Medical Decisions For Your Dog: Lily's Story


Related articles:
Speaking For Spot: The Single Most Important Dog Book You Will Ever Read

Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Bad Odor

Is your dog stinky?

The average dog shouldn't be any stinkier than the average person!

In fact, I'd say much less so! (And I'm not even taking bad cologne choices into consideration.)

Of course, a bad cologne choice, at least according to our human standards, can make your dog quite stinky. A good roll in a deer poop or dead fish will certainly do the trick. So would an encounter with a skunk.

When the source of the bad odor is obvious, all you have to worry about is destinkifying your dog.

I am quite sure that a dog covered in something nasty won't escape your attention. But what if your dog is stinky without an apparent cause?

Bad odor can be a sign of a health issue!

1. Bad breath (halitosis) is most commonly caused by dental disease.

Do not take that lightly. Dental disease can cause a lot of pain, and the bacteria associated with dental disease can lead to life-threatening infections affecting the heart, kidney and liver!

Other oral diseases, such as mouth ulcers and melanoma or other tumors of the oral cavity can also cause very bad breath.

Even scarier—systemic issues, such as kidney failure or diabetes can be the culprit behind bad breath.

2. Infected ears (otitis) can generate quite a bit of bad odor.

Infected ears can be quite painful and if left untreated, you're risking serious complications, including deafness, problems associated with the sense of balance, and chronic ear inflammation that requires lifelong management.

3. Another common source of bad odor is anal sac disease.

Healthy anal sacs produce an incredibly foul smelling liquid, but under normal circumstances it is only released when a dog defecates or is terrified enough to use them as a defense mechanism.

If you are routinely smelling anal sac material during the course of day to day life, something is wrong. Impacted glands may releases at inappropriate times (like when your dog scoots across the carpet), and  the micro-organisms in an infected anal sac can produce quite a  pungent odor of their own.

4. Skin diseases

Allergies, seborrhea, and bacterial or yeast infections can also be behind your dog's bad odor. With Jasmine, I have learned to use my nose for early detection of skin in trouble.

The odors associated with skin diseases usually occur in tandem with other symptoms, such as an abnormally greasy coat, itching, flaking, or skin lesions.  But, many owners first notice the smell and often report that “I give my dog a bath and the smell is back the next day.”

5. Gas (flatulence)

Everyone farts, but if your dog produces immense amounts of stinky gas on a regular basis, something is amiss. Abnormal flatulence can be a sign of a dietary issue or of gastrointestinal diseases.

Healthy dogs don't stink!

Bad odor is just as important to pay attention to as any other symptom.

The number one rule when faced with a smelly dog is to look for and deal directly with the underlying problem, not to find a product that will mask the odor or to relegate your dog to the back yard.

It's your dog's health!
Jana

Further reading:
Dog odor
Unnatural Sources of Odor On Pet Dogs
Doggy Odor
Why Does My Dog Stink?
My dog smells bad and has itchy skin

Related articles:
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Excessive Drinking
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Excessive Panting
Symptoms To Watch For In Your Dog: Bad Breath (Halitosis)
Where There Is Smoke, There Is Fire: A Symptom Is Your Friend!
When Is It An Emergency?

Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog now available in paperback and Kindle. Each chapter includes notes on when it is an emergency.

Natural Flea Control for Dogs

by Lorie Huston, DVM

Fleas are a common parasite for both dogs and cats. As a veterinarian, my clients frequently ask me how they can protect their pets from these parasites. Normally, I recommend a monthly topical product, such as Revolution® or Frontline Plus®.

However, many of my clients are hesitant to apply these products to their dogs and cats and prefer a more natural means of flea control.

Can Natural Flea Control Work?

Natural flea control methods can be effective for some pets. However, pet owners need to realize that natural flea control methods are generally labor intensive and will require vigilance as well as time and patience on the part of the pet owner.

In cases where the pet suffers from severe flea allergies or flea sensitivity, natural flea control methods may not be enough in and of themselves to control the pet’s symptoms.

Are All Methods of Natural Flea Control
Safe for Your Dog?

Not all methods of natural flea control are safe for dogs.

Garlic is a commonly used flea preventive.

However, garlic can be associated with toxicities as well. 

Garlic can effectively destroy red blood cells and lead to hemolytic anemia. The toxic dose of garlic is dose related and the amount of garlic that is added to foods for flavoring is unlikely to be dangerous. However, there does some to be some variability between animals regarding the dose of garlic that will produce toxic effects. And the dose of garlic needed to repel fleas is likely to be far higher than that used for flavoring food.

For these reasons, garlic used for flea control is of questionable safety and, in my opinion, is not recommended.

Essential oils are also often used as natural flea control products. 

For dogs, some of these essential oils are safe and may be effective.

However, essential oils of any type should be used cautiously in cats due to the potential for toxicity. 

Pet owners that formulate their own mixtures of essential oils for flea control should be especially careful and should carefully research the effects of each essential oil used in the mixture.

What Methods of Natural Flea Control are Safe for Dogs?

1. Regular grooming is a frequently overlooked means of flea control but should be the mainstay of natural flea control. 

A flea comb used daily to check for fleas and flea dirt can not only remove live fleas from pets but can also give pet owners a good idea of the efficacy of their flea control methods.

Pet owners that frequently find flea dirt and live fleas while combing their pet with a flea comb should consider that their flea control may not be working well.

2. Bathing is another frequently used method of flea control. 

If your pet has large numbers of fleas and you need to remove the live fleas quickly for your pet’s health, a bath may help reduce the population of fleas on your pet directly after the bath.

However, it is important to realize that if the pet has been living in the house and has live fleas, there are also immature fleas, flea eggs and pupae present in the home. These immature life forms can live in carpeting, in cracks in hardwood and other types of flooring, and in upholstery and bedding and can re-infest your pet very quickly after the bath.

Therefore, bathing alone will not be effective in controlling fleas for your pets. However, in conjunction with other methods, you may have better success.

3. Natural pyrethrins, chemicals derived from chrysanthemums, can also be used for flea control and are commonly found in commercially available flea control products. 

(There are also products available with synthetically derived pyrethrins.) Products with pyrethrins should be used according to label directions to avoid toxicities.

4. Neem oil, a product produced by an evergreen tree, is found in numerous types of flea shampoos, sprays and powders. 

It has been used to control fleas in dogs and cats but seems to be variable in its efficacy. It does appear to be safe for both dogs and cats.

Ridding the Environment of Fleas

Though adult fleas live most of their lives on your pet, adult fleas produce eggs that fall off your pet into the environment, which is usually your home. These eggs live in the home as they progress through their life cycle and develop into more adult fleas, which in turn infest your pet. In order to prevent this re-infestation, it is necessary to remove the immature life stages from the environment.

Frequent vacuuming is one of the most effective ways to remove these immature fleas. 

Vacuum all flooring surfaces, including hardwood, tile and other types of flooring, in addition to the carpeting in your home. Be sure to use the vacuum on the upholstery in your home as well. Remove the contents of the vacuum bag from your home after you have finished vacuuming so the fleas do not continue to reproduce inside the bag.

Also, launder any bedding, especially bedding on which your pet sleeps.

Another technique that some people report success with is using a pan filled with water and a small amount of dish detergent placed under a night light. 

The theory is that the fleas will be attracted to the light and will jump in the water and drown. This method may or may not be successful but is unlikely to be dangerous.

Some sources advise using a candle placed in the center of the pan of water/dish detergent. However, especially with a pet in the area, I would be concerned about the potential for fire damage caused by an untended candle and urge caution with this technique.

Other products, such as diatomaceous earth and boric acid (borax), are also sometimes suggested for controlling fleas in the home. 

While boric acid appears to be safe, it is messy and some pet owners object to it for that reason. There is some concern about the safety of breathing the dust of diatomaceous earth for both pets and people.

Finally, nematodes are also available as a means of controlling fleas in the outdoor environment (i.e. the yard or garden). 

Nematodes are specific types of worms that live in the soil and ingest fleas, flea eggs and flea larvae. They can be purchased and seeded into the yard and garden.

In almost all cases, integrated flea control (controlling adult fleas on your pet as well as ridding the environment of fleas) is the most successful way to control fleas.

Have you found a flea control method that works well? Share your secrets with us. Let us know what methods have worked well for you and which ones have not by leaving a comment below.

***

Lorie Huston has been practicing veterinary medicine for over 20 years. Besides a successful career in a busy small animal hospital in Providence, RI, Lorie is also a successful freelance writer specializing in pet care and pet health topics. 

Currently, she is the feature writer for the Pet Care section at Suite101.com and the National Pet Health Examiner at Examiner.com. Lorie also publishes her own blog, The Pet Health Care Gazette and manages an increasingly popular facebook page, The Voice of Pet Care. 


Articles by Dr. Huston:
Lyme Is Lame (Pun Intended)
The Ticking Bomb
Don't Let Heartworm Become A Heartbreak!
Summer Perils: Blue-green Algae
Your Dog And Leptospirosis
Canine Parvovirus
Canine Distemper Virus
Why Is My Dog So Itchy? Top 5 Causes Of Itching In Dogs 
Vaccination Concerns and Potential Side Effects

Further reading:
Fleas: Know your Enemy
Plants that Repel Fleas 
Natural Flea and Tick Remedies at PetMD