Toxicity & Your Dog

Breeder/Exhibitor Ed, Health

CHOCOLATE POISONING

Chocolate contains theobromine – a substance toxic to dogs. Baking chocolate contains more theobromine per ounce than semisweet chocolate, which, in turn, contains more theobromine than milk chocolate. While most lethal cases of chocolate poisoning occur when small dogs eat large quantities of baking chocolate, owners should nonetheless keep their dogs and chocolates well-separated.

If you witness your dog eating chocolate or if it shows any signs of chocolate toxicity (anxiety, pacing, hyper-excitability, excessive thirst and urination, vomiting, or seizures): call your vet immediately and tell him or her what type of chocolate your dog ate, how much you think it ate, how long ago it indulged itself, and how much your dog weighs.

If you find your dog within a couple of hours of ingesting the chocolate you can administer peroxide to the animal by mouth to induce vomiting. Hydrogen peroxide 3% is the emetic of choice for dogs and can be dosed at 15 ml in dogs up to 40 pounds and 30 ml in dogs less than 40 pounds. If you can reach your vet he will either instruct you on how to do administer the peroxide or ask you to bring your dog to the clinic to have its stomach pumped.

If more than a couple of hours have passed the toxin will already be circulating in your dog´s system so your vet will provide supportive therapy (such as intravenous fluids and drugs to control hyper-excitability) while your dog´s body works to detoxify itself.

FEBREZETM – IS IT TOXIC TO YOUR PET?

ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center

1717 S. Philo Road Suite 36 Urbana, IL 61802

Date: March 26, 1999

To: Whom It May Concern

there have been comments and discussions posted on the Internet suggesting that the use of FebrezeTM Fabric Refresher in households is dangerous to animals. We have issued the following statement in order to help disseminate accurate information:

“Veterinary toxicologists at the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center are conducting an on- going investigation into claims that use of FebrezeTM in the home caused the death of several pets. All information reviewed to date suggests that there is no evidence that FebrezeTM represents any risk to pets when used according to label instructions. Presently, the center considers the product safe to use in households with pets.

As with any cleaning product, the center recommends that birds be removed from the room until the product application has dried and the area has been ventilated.

Please call 1-800- 345-4735 if you have any questions or have a pet that you suspect is experiencing problems or visit us at http://www.napcc.aspca.org.”

ICE MELTS AND ROCK SALTS – PET HEALTH HAZARDS

Pets may be exposed to ice melts that have been spilled, applied to sidewalks, or improperly stored. The most common clinical signs are vomiting. Other effects include diarrhea, salivation, depression, and loss of appetite, disorientation, increased thirst, seizures and even death.

Before initiating treatment for ice melt products, it is critical to know the ingredients and the animal´s health status. Electrolyte levels should be taken to determine the possible toxin.

Inducing vomiting is controversial if the product contains large amounts of potassium chloride. Activated charcoal does not absorb the salts in ice melts.

If an animal walks on or rolls through the product, etc. bathe the pet and monitor it for skin irritation. Also monitor and correct abnormalities in hydration status, electrolyte concentrations, and heart muscle activity.

There are many brands of de-icing products on the market. The most common ingredients in these ice melts are sodium chloride, calcium carbonate, and calcium magnesium acetate. A few ice melts contain urea.

Sodium Chloride

Sodium toxicosis is possible after large ingestion of ice melts, salt, or rock salt. A dose of 4grams per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of sodium chloride can be lethal in dogs. Ingesting large amounts of sodium levels can be lethal in dogs. Ingesting large amounts of sodium can lead to increased urination. Large amounts of ingested sodium can also lead to swelling of the brain. Also, the digestive upset along with the increased urination may lead to dehydration, further worsening the patient´s condition.

The clinical signs of sodium toxicity are primarily neuroligic. The severity of the signs is related more to the suddenness of onset rather than the magnitude of signs.

Diagnosis of sodium toxicosis is based on serum concentrations and a history of sodium ingestion.

Treatment goals are to replace water and electrolytes. Diuretics may also be of some use. The fluid of choice is 5% dextrose IV. The diuretic recommended is furosamide.

Potassium Chloride

Signs associated with elevated potassium levels include muscle weakness, GI disturbances, and cardiac conduction disturbances. Ingestion of potassium chloride tablets has caused bowel strictures and ulceration.

Treatment includes administration of lactated ringers and furosamide. Due to the irritating nature of potassium chloride-induction of vomiting is controversial. Activated charcoal does not bind potassium.

Magnesium Chloride

Elevated magnesium concentrations can cause low blood pressure and cardiac abnormalities, weakness, and neurological signs.

Treatment is symptomatic and supportive. Vomiting may reduce the amount of absorption if induced with in two hours of ingestion.

Calcium Carbonate and Calcium Magnesium Acetate

These products may cause vomiting and eye irritation. Treat gastric upset symptomatically.

Urea

This product is more toxic to ruminants (cows) than monogastric animals (dogs, cats, people). Ingestion of urea by dogs usually results in local irritant signs such as hyper salivation, GI signs of vomiting, and abdominal pain.

Treatment includes inducing vomiting and monitoring the animal.

According to National Animal Poison Control (800 548 2423) an alternative to the salts is sand or kitty litter.  Also, of the ice melts available-those containing sodium chloride are the least toxic.

Again-most of the danger comes from ingestion of the products

LAWN CARE PRODUCTS

LAWN CARE PRODUCTS Lawn care products have been a concern to pet owners for many years. The public is under the impression that these products are primarily pesticides, and that they are very toxic or pose a significant health threat. Here are some common questions and the answers about lawn care products.

HOW CAN YOUR PET BECOME EXPOSED TO LAWN CARE PRODUCTS? The two most common routes of exposure are orally and dermal. Exposure to liquid concentrates and granules are possible with homeowner storage. Exposure to the diluted liquids is possible during application or before foliage drying. Exposure to applied granular material usually is the result of spills during loading equipment´s, spreader equipment failure, or spreading granules on non-lawn surfaces such as driveways and sidewalks.

DOES EXPOSURE RESULT IN TOXICOSIS? Intoxication from these products is dose related. In most cases, exposure will not result in any adverse effects, there are some exposures that could. Consumption of liquid concentrates while mixing or granules in storage in more likely to result in toxicosis than any
other common exposure. This is because of the higher chemical concentration and total amount of product available to the animal. Consumption to excessive amounts of granules such as in driveways or from spills may result in mild clinical signs. Oral or skin exposure to lawns where diluted liquids or granules are properly applied generally are of negligible risk. This statement is made when considering (1) the low chemical concentration of the liquid application, (2) the large area of application, (3) low liquid volume applied per unit area of lawn, (4) low percentage of dislodgeable chemical residue from foliage, (5) granular deposition in the thatch layer, and (6) less the exposed dose. The exposed dose is then often compared to the no observable effect level (NOEL) determined in the chronic experimental studies and other experimental forensic data.

DO LAWN CARE CHEMICALS CAUSE CANCER IN ANIMALS? Long-term chronic experimental studies in dogs do not support the conclusion that the chemicals identified in table 1 are carcinogenic. The only scientific data that are in conflict with that conclusion is the much publicized work of Hayes et al. (1992). It is the author´s opinion that serious flaws in this epidemiological study have negated the conclusions of this study. Unfortunately, there are no other epidemiological studies.

WHAT INFORMATION DO I NEED TO STRONGLY SUSPECT LAWN CARE CHEMICAL TOXICITY? The clinical signs and clinical history must be compatible with specific chemical exposure . In the case of death, a post-mortem examination should reveal the appropriate chemically related target tissues, and gross and histopathologic findings. The amount of chemical in the exposure must be sufficient to cause adverse effects. Any clinical pathologic findings should be compatible also. An example would be an alleged acute organophosphate-related death depression of brain cholinesterase. Exposure alone is not sufficient evidence to diagnose intoxication. Currently, in most cases, there is not enough information available for these chemicals to determine an expected lethal or toxic concentration in tissues or body fluids. Therefore, the analytical findings of a chemical in animal tissue or body fluids is evidence of exposure but not necessarily intoxication

IS THERE A TOXICOLOGICAL CONCERN ABOUT INERT INGREDIENTS? Since the majority of the applied liquid products are soluble in water and are diluted when mixed with water and are diluted when mixed with water, inert ingredients in the products themselves are of little concern. In general, the inert ingredient in granular products also not of toxicological concern.

IS THERE A CONCERN ABOUT MIXTURES? There are not many good experimental studies using standard mixtures of these products. Because most of these products have different mechanisms of producing toxicity and based on current experimental work with mixtures, it does not appear that most mixtures result in toxicological potentiation or synergy.

WHY DOES POSTING OF LAWN APPLICATIONS OCCUR? In many states and localities, positing of lawn care product application is required by law. Posting serves s a notification that lawn care application occurred. It is part of the community´s right to know. Posting is not related the toxic potential of materials used.

WHY IS IT RECOMMENDED THAT ANIMALS AND HUMAN STAY OFF LAWNS UNTIL LIQUID APPLICATIONS DRY? It is recommended that animals and humans stay off the lawn until the liquid application is dry to limit exposure. As with any chemical (e.g., lawn care product, detergent), there should be an effort by the public to limit exposure. The amount of chemical that is dislodgeable decreases as the liquid dries. The overall difference between the actual exposure dose and a toxic dose is changes little by foliage drying; therefore, the risk is still negligible without drying.

Shock & Wound Care

Breeder/Exhibitor Ed, Health

Shock is lack of adequate blood flow to meet the body’s needs. Adequate blood flow requires effective heart pumping, open intact vessels and sufficient blood volume to maintain flow and pressure. Any condition adversely affecting the heart, vessels or blood volume can induce shock.

At first the body attempts to compensate for the inadequate circulation by speeding up the heart, constricting the skin vessels and maintaining fluid in the circulation by reducing output of urine. This becomes increasingly difficult to do when the vital organs aren’t getting enough oxygen to carry on these activities. After a time, shock becomes self-perpetuating. Prolonged shock causes death.

Common causes of shock are dehydration (prolonged vomiting and diarrhea), heat stroke, severe infections, poisoning and hemorrhage. Being hit by a car is the most common cause of traumatic shock in the dog.

Transporting a dog in shock. Muzzle only when absolutely necessary. (J. Clawson)

The signs of shock, which are caused by the effects of poor circulation and the adjustments made to compensate for this, are a drop in body temperature; shivering; listlessness and mental depression; weakness; cold feet and legs; pale skin and mucus membranes; a weak faint pulse.

Treatment: First evaluate the signs present. Is the dog breathing? Is there a heartbeat? What are the extent of the injuries? Is the dog in shock? If so, proceed as follows:

1. If not breathing, proceed with artificial respiration.

2. If no heartbeat or pulse, administer heart massage.

3. If unconscious, check to be sure the airway is open; clear secretions from the mouth with your fingers; pull out the tongue to keep the airway clear of secretions. Keep the dog’s head lower than the body.

4. Control bleeding (as described under Wounds section that follows).

5. To prevent further aggravation of shock:

a. Calm your dog and speak soothingly.

b. Let the dog assume the most comfortable position, and adopt the one with the least pain. Don’t force your dog to lie down-it may make breathing more difficult.

c. When possible, splint or support broken bones before moving the dog (see MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM).

d. Cover your dog with a coat or blanket. Do not wrap tightly.

e. Transport large dogs on a flat surface or in a hammock stretcher. Carry small dogs with injured parts protected.

f. Muzzle only when absolutely necessary. It may impair breathing.

WOUNDS

In the care of wounds, the two most important objectives are first to stop the bleeding, and then to prevent infection. Since wounds are painful to the dog, be prepared to restrain or muzzle before you treat the wound.

Control of Bleeding

Bleeding may he arterial (the spurting of bright red blood), or venous (oozing of dark red blood), or sometimes both. Do not wipe a wound that has stopped bleeding. This will dislodge the clot. Don’t pour hydrogen peroxide on a fresh wound. Bleeding then will he difficult to control.

The two methods used to control bleeding are the pressure dressing and the tourniquet:

The Pressure Dressing: Take several pieces of clean or sterile gauze, place them over the wound and bandage snugly. Watch for swelling of the limb below the pressure pack. This indicates impaired circulation. The bandage must be loosened or removed.

Apply pressure over the artery in the groin to control arterial bleeding in the leg. (J. Clawson)

An alternate method to control bleeding is to apply pressure over the artery in the groin or axilla. (See CIRCULATORY SYSTEM: Pulse). Often this will control bleeding long enough to permit an assistant to apply a pressure dressing.

If material is not available for bandaging, place a pad on the wound and press it firmly. Hold in place until help arrives.

The Tourniquet: A tourniquet may be needed to control a spurting artery. It can be applied to the tail or leg above the wound (between the wound and the heart). Take a piece of cloth or gauze roll and loop it around the limb. Then tighten it by hand, or with a stick inserted beneath the loop and twisted around until bleeding is controlled. If you see the end of the artery, you might attempt to pick it up with tweezers and tie it off with a piece of cotton thread. When possible, this should be left to a trained practitioner.

A tourniquet should be loosened every thirty minutes for two to three minutes to let blood flow into the limb.

Treating the Wound

All wounds are contaminated with dirt and bacteria. Proper care and handling will prevent some infections. Before handling a wound, make sure your hands and instruments are clean. Starting at the edges of a fresh wound, clip the hair back to enlarge the area. Cleanse the edges of the wound with a damp gauze or pad. Irrigate the wound with clean tap water. Apply antibiotic ointment. Bandage as described below.

Older wounds with a covering of pus and scab are cleansed with 3% hydrogen peroxide solution or a surgical soap. Blot dry. Apply antibiotic ointment and bandage as described below.

Dressings over infected wounds should be changed frequently to aid in the drainage of pus, and to allow you to apply fresh ointment.

Fresh lacerations over one-half inch long should be sutured to prevent infection, minimize scarring and speed healing. Wounds over twelve hours old are quite likely to be infected. Suturing is questionable.

Bites are heavily contaminated wounds. Often they are puncture wounds. They are quite likely to get infected. They should not be sutured. Antibiotics are indicated.

With all animal bites, the possibility of rabies should be kept in mind (see Infectious Diseases: Rabies).

Bandaging

The equipment you will need is listed in the Home Emergency and Medical Kit, in the photo at the beginning of this chapter.

Foot and Leg Bandages. To bandage the foot, place several sterile gauze pads over the wound. Insert cotton balls between the toes and hold in place with adhesive tape looped around the bottom of the foot and back across the top until the foot is snugly wrapped.

A method of applying a foot bandage for a lacerated pad. Tape loosely to allow good circulation. (J. Clawson)

A sock slipped over a gauze square is a good bandage for ease of dressing change.

For leg wounds, begin by wrapping the foot as described. Then cover the wound with several sterile gauze pads and hold in place with strips of adhesive tape. Wrap the tape around the leg but don’t overlap it so that the tape sticks to the hair. This keeps the dressing from sliding up and down, as often happens when a roll gauze bandage is used. Flex the knee and foot several times to be sure the bandage is not too tight and there is good circulation and movement at the joints.

When a dressing is to be left in place for some time, cheek on it every few hours to be sure the foot is not swelling. If there is any question about the sensation or circulation to the foot, loosen the dressing.

Many-Tailed Bandage. This bandage is used to protect the skin of the neck or abdomen from scratching and biting and to hold dressings in place. It is made by taking a rectangular piece of linen and cutting the sides to make tails. Tie the tails together over the back to hold it in place.

A many-tailed bandage may be used to keep puppies from nursing
infected breasts.

Eye Bandage. At times your veterinarian may prescribe an eye bandage in the treatment of an eye ailment. Place a sterile gauze square over the affected eye and hold it in place by taping around the head with one inch adhesive. Be careful not to get the tape too tight. Apply the dressing so that the ears are free.

You may be required to change the dressing from time to time to apply medication to the eye.

The ear bandage is discussed in the chapter EARS.

Elizabethan Collar – An Elizabethan Collar, named for the high neck ruff popular in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. It is a useful device to keep a dog from scratching at the ears and biting at a wound or skin problem. They are recommended for certain disorders discussed in the SKIN chapter. They can be purchased from some veterinarians or pet stores, or can be made from plastic and cardboard. Plastic Flowerpots, wastebaskets and buckets work well.

Elizabethan Collar. (J. Clawson)
The size of the collar if tailored to the dog Cut just enough out of the bottom to let the dog’s head slip through, then fasten the device to a leather collar by strings passed through holes punched in the sides of the plastic. The neck of the collar should be short enough to let the dog eat and drink. Most dogs adjust to them quite well after a few minutes. Others won’t eat or drink with the collar in place. In that case, temporarily remove the collar.

Recycled Restaurant Grease

Breeder/Exhibitor Ed, Health

written by Robert Hart, Vitality Science

Who doesn´t love fried foods? Fried chicken, fried fish, chicken fried steak, fried veggies; lunches and dinners are often accompanied with fried; potato chips, corn chips, tortilla chips, french fries, onion rings… Detail breaks often include meeting fellow officers for donuts and coffee. The tastier donuts are deep-fried- Of course!

The FDA estimates the average American eats 4.7 pounds of trans-fats each year!

The two primary reasons why doctors caution against eating fried foods are:

1. Since saturated fats are impossible to process, they clog the liver and arteries (early on causing GI issues, and over time immune disorders/diseases).
2. High heat destroys any nutritional value the food might have started with; High heat also chemically changes trans-fat oils into potential carcinogens.

Fast Food restaurants are in business to make a profit. Instead of replacing spent oil with fresh oil, they simply top off the fryers with fresh oil.

If you like fried foods that much, eat them at home, where you control the quality of the oil (coconut is very good), as well the cooking time and temperature. CAUTION: Do not reuse the spent oil!

Eventually though, all restaurant fry oil (and fry grease) gets dumped and replaced. Ever wonder what becomes of it?

The law requires all restaurants to have grease traps. The more fried food cooked, the faster the grease traps fill up. Grease removal service is big business. But what do the Grease Haulers do with it?

They “Recycle it”! Grease Haulers make even more money “recycling” the grease from these traps. What could this rancid, carcinogenic, artery and liver clogging goop possibly be used for- an alternative bio-fuel perhaps? No, not exactly.

Here´s a trick question: What could possibly be worse than ingesting 4.7 pounds of high temperature trans-fat oils per year?

So what is the connection to your K-9 partner?

A dirty little secret of the dry pet food industry is that they buy the spent oil! Why? Hint- it´s not to power their generators!

The competition for the pet food dollar is fierce. Each company is outdoing the next with ever more eye-catching packaging. If you have a working knowledge of nutrition, you will be appalled at what is inside the bags.

Dry pet food is extruded under high heat and pressure, destroying any nutritional value it might have started with. And, if that´s not bad enough, the so-called vitamins and minerals they include are the poorest quality, least beneficial, yet they meet the legal requirements to be included as ingredients.

Alas, if their multi-billion dollar advertising budgets were spent on the contents, dogs would be a lot healthier. Buyers beware!

Did you ever wonder what the oily residue was that gets all over your hand if you don´t use a scoop to get the dry food from bag to bowl? Recycled grease and fry oil are actually sprayed on -to give this otherwise tasteless, nutritionless bulk some “flavor”!

If you´re wondering why the FDA hasn´t stepped in, the fact is most of the human dry foods on grocery store shelves are as bad. It seems that the FDA is a feel good government agency that lobbyists steam-roll over.

Don´t think for a minute that canned foods are much better; they´re not! The sickest feed lot animals, those that do not sneak by the meat and poultry inspectors, are sold to dog food manufacturers.

Food digestion is a time sensitive process; too long, or too short leads to health issues. Meals that lack nutritional value are difficult to process. There´s a big difference in an occasional fast-food meal versus a steady diet of fast foods. Over time, a steady fast-food diet leads to health problems.

The movie “Super Size Me” is well worth renting. Your health, and that of your K9 partners´, may depend on you watching it.

“Fully 90% of all disease is caused by an unhealthy intestinal system” Royal Society of Medicine Great Britain

It is no coincidence that today, tens-of-millions dogs are dealing with the same diseases that we are! During the last 40 years, a frequent diet for police officers (and their K-9 partners) has become fast food.

Early warning signs include skin disorders, gas, bloat, abnormal bowel movements. Over time, more advanced GI and immune disorders/diseases develop.

At least 5 generations of domestic dogs have been raised from weaning to the grave on dry foods. Each generation is genetically weaker. Today, many breeds are born with severely compromised GI and immune systems. Failure to thrive, hip displasya, and cancer are but a few examples of compromised immune systems in German Shepherds.

The good news: Most diseases can be reversed (or prevented), especially in dogs. Why dogs more than us? Well, unless you give them junk food treats (dog or human), once you improve their diet, they can´t cheat. Recovery signs follow quickly as vital GI and immune defense systems are reestablished.

You Can Domesticate The Dog, But Not It´s Diet!

To know what the best diet is for your dogs, you only have to observe their wild relatives.

Feral animals instinctively supplement their fresh kill diet by eating grass and dirt for the microflora and soil based microorganisms (SBOs) that are essential digestive aids.

Pesticides, insecticides, chemical run off, and chlorinated lawn water have effectively killed SBOs. Today, these essential digestive aids are grown in environmentally controlled laboratories.

Drinking water is often overlooked as a health risk. Obviously, you don´t want your dog to drink from a puddle, but municipal water contains large quantities of Chlorine, to kill a growing list of pathogens. If your dog drinks enough of it, it will kill the good bacteria he needs!

By the way, antibiotics are indiscriminate killers; they kill off the essential food processing bacteria, as well as the ones causing GI issues. Most of time, all your K-9 needs is a few extra doses of SBOs to overcome a GI problem. An added bonus is that SBO administration does not require withholding food or water!

If you want to make sure your K-9 partner stays healthy, introduce a more natural diet.

No matter what you feed your dogs, if you supplement each meal with essential digestive enzymes, vital oils, and SBOs you will soon have a healthier, happier, more mentally alert and physically stronger K-9 partner.

If your K-9 partner is not responding to improved diet and supplement, chances are the intestinal wall is inflamed. The intestinal wall is your K-9s lifeline. This is where nutrients are absorbed into the body, AND, where waste products are dumped into the intestines for elimination.

If the intestinal wall becomes inflamed, this vital nutrient/waste exchange cannot take place. When that happens, your K-9 partner is not only not getting the nutrition it is desperate for, waste products are building up and recycling throughout its´ body, making him sicker. Natural anti-inflammatories need to be administered before the benefits of any medication, or diet changes will have a positive effect.

Nutritious food, clean water, and essential supplements are vital to maintaining and restoring optimum K-9 performance.

The author of this article is Robert Hart, co-founder of Vitality Science, Inc. The company formulates natural alternatives to restore and maintain optimum K-9 health and performance. Vitality Science had a booth at K-9 Magazines February 07 Seminar in Orlando.

Rawhide And Your Dog's Health

Breeder/Exhibitor Ed, Health

How your dog benefits from rawhide and how to choose the correct chew for your dog…

For centuries, wild canines and their predecessors chewed on the hides of their hoofed prey. Chewing the tough hide provided cleaning action for teeth, exercise for gums, and a source of sport for the young. Only since 1959 have we recognized the dog’s natural desire to chew animal skin and its benefit to domestic dogs.

What is rawhide?
Rawhide is the inner layer of the hide of any cleft-hoofed bovine livestock. Beef hide is premium rawhide made from cows raised for consumption. American beef hide is derived from corn-fed cows within U.S. borders.

What makes rawhide so tough?
Collagen fibers link to make the hide tough yet flexible. Human skin has the same basic structure, but is much thinner.

Where does it come from?
The quality of rawhide is often related to its country of origin:

Oriental Water Buffalo – Raised to work in the fields of countries like China, Thailand, and Korea, they are a common source of rawhide.

South American Range Cows – These animals are fed on grass and typically have little fat and a rough, fibrous consistency. They are warm-weather animals with a thinner skin.

American Beef hide – Corn-fed beef raised in the U.S. supply a thick, palatable, and high-quality chew. American beef hide is considered “the source” of choice for premium chews.

What is it made from?
The animal’s skin is split into inner and outer layers. The tough outer layer is used for leather shoes, garments, and upholstery, while the softer inner layer is cut and formed into different shapes for dog chews.

How is it processed?
The animal’s hide is transported to processing plants where it is split, washed, and cleaned. The hides are then cut, formed, and dried into the many varieties of rawhide you see in the stores.

In less developed countries, a lack of modern roads and refrigerated trucks often requires the use of preservatives to get skins from some outlying areas to processing plants. In the U.S., fresh beef hides are refrigerated during shipping to prevent degradation and avoid preservatives.

Will my dog chew such a hard rawhide?
When collagen in the skin dries out, it becomes stiff. As your dog chews, the saliva moistens and softens the rawhide. Foreign rawhide is often sun parched, while U.S. beef hide is oven dried to prevent over-drying. Smooth, shiny areas on a chew are a sign of heat breakdown and should be avoided.

How can chews help my dog?
Chews offer two valuable benefits to your dog:

Dental Benefits
Infections, kidney, and heart disease can result when poor dental health gives bacteria a channel to enter your dog’s body.

Bacteria in the dog’s mouth break down food particles and convert them to plaque and excess acid. This plaque can become mineralized to form a hard deposit on the tooth surface called “calculus”. The excess acid damages the gums, resulting in gingivitis. Unchecked gingivitis results in periodontitis, the leading cause of tooth loss.

As rawhide is chewed and moistened, it wraps around the teeth and rubs off plaque and calculi. Wild hunting canines tore through their prey’s skin with their canines (front teeth). Modern dogs chew most foods and beef hide with their molars (back teeth), leaving the canine teeth susceptible to plaque and calculus buildup.

Rawhide’s cleaning effect
New research from Harvard University has conclusively proven the dental benefits of chewing rawhide.

Cleaner teeth mean fresher breath
Most bad breath in dogs is caused by gum disease. Inflamed gums, plaque, and calculus harbor the bacteria that creates mouth odor. Even young dogs need dental care – 85% of dogs two years old or more have some periodontal disease. Ask your veterinarian about a program to keep your dog’s teeth clean.

Veterinarian’s role in dental health
Tooth care is crucial to your dog’s health. Your dog’s teeth should be examined by a veterinarian yearly, and cleaned and polished as needed. Veterinarians recommend daily brushing to prevent plaque buildup. Use beef hide chews daily to supplement brushing. Harper’s Dental Chews are specially formulated to reduce the formation of plaque.

Choosing the Correct Chew
Types of Chews:
Best for:

1. BASTED RAWHIDE/BEEF HIDE
Chicken, beef, or other coatings make chews tastier to your dog. Most of these coatings are water-soluble and do not stain. Very, very choosy dogs
2. GROUND RAWHIDE CHEWS
These chews come in all shapes and colors and consist of ground rawhide held together with a binder.
Choosy dogs, dogs with sensitive mouths
3. AMERICAN BEEF HIDE CHEWS
Made from U.S. feeder cattle. It is the premium chew because of its consistency, softness, and taste.
Most healthy dogs
4. RAWHIDE CHEWS
Made from water buffalo, range cows, and others.
Aggressive chewers
5. PRESSED RAWHIDE CHEWS
Made from layers of skin pressed together by machine. It is very hard.
Very aggressive chewers

Choosing size and shape
Your dog’s preference will vary with different beef hide shapes. Fortunately, chews come in every size and shape imaginable. It is important that the chew be large enough and thick enough that your dog cannot easily chew off and swallow a large piece or the whole chew. Rawhide that requires more than 7 days to chew should be replaced due to dirt and bacteria buildup.

Which dog should not have chews?
If your dog has gastrointestinal disease or is eating a therapeutic diet, you should seek a veterinarian’s approval before feeding chews. Dogs with beef allergies or that consistently swallow bones whole should probably not receive chews.

How often should I feed chews?
Rawhide is not a food, but a safe, chewable toy. It is high in protein, low in fat, and has fewer calories per ounce than a typical dog biscuit. An hour of chewing daily is a good rule for thumb for feeding chews.

Shop for Quality

* Select
Thick rawhide/beef hide that lasts.
* Avoid
Paper-thin, tightly wrapped chews with sharp edges.
* Select
Beef hide with natural color variations.
* Avoid
Over-processed chews with a stark white or whitewashed surface.

Prostate Disease In Dogs

Breeder/Exhibitor Ed, Health

Dr. Peggy Root Kustritz is a 1987 graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. She currently is employed as a clinical specialist in small animal reproduction at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine .

Dogs and human males are the only beings that suffer from prostate disease commonly. This is to our advantage, as dog enthusiasts, because much research has been done on prostate disease in dogs in an attempt to better understand it in humans.

The prostate is a gland that encircles the neck of the urinary bladder . Multiple small ducts penetrate the urethra at the site of the prostate, allowing prostatic fluid to intermix with spermatozoa as they are ejaculated, to create semen. Dogs have no other accessory sex glands and, therefore, no other source of seminal fluid; all fluid present in the ejaculate arises from the prostate. Prostatic fluid is secreted at all times, whether the dog is being used for breeding or not. Most accumulates in the urinary bladder and is voided with the urine. Some runs down the urethra and accumulates at the opening of the prepuce, forming the mass of greenish discharge that often is visible on intact male dogs. 

Diagnostic tests used to determine if prostate disease is present and, if so, type and extent of that disease, are the same for all conditions. Rectal palpation of the prostate can be used to assess prostatic size, shape and consistency and to determine if the dog is painful when the prostate is manipulated. Because the prostate encircles the neck of the urinary bladder, which is freely movable between the pelvis and abdominal cavity, an enlarged prostate may pull the bladder too far into the abdomen to be palpable per rectum. Some extremely enlarged prostates can be felt on abdominal palpation, Radiography has been used historically as a diagnostic test for prostate disease but ultrasonography is the technique employed most often at this time. Ultrasonography allows the operator to look through the prostate and guides placement of the needle or biopsy instrument if samples are to be collected directly from the prostate (Figure 2). Because all the fluid in the ejaculate arises from the prostate, semen can be collected and samples submitted for culture and microscopic assessment. Specific results of these diagnostic tests will be described with each disease.

Measurement of proteins in serum, as is used in human medicine, has not been shown to be consistently effective either for diagnosis of canine prostate disease or for determination of adequacy of treatment. Prostate specific antigen (PSA), commonly tested in human males, is secreted in dogs but concentrations do not vary predictably with presence or absence of prostate disease. Blood testing is not a common component of prostate evaluation in dogs at this time.

The predominant male reproductive hormone, testosterone, is metabolized in the body to form dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This secondary compound gradually causes an increase in size of the prostate gland such that all intact male dogs (and all human males) eventually have some degree of prostate enlargement. Prostate disease is fairly common in dogs, with a reported incidence of 2.5%. The average age at which prostate disease becomes clinically evident is 9 years.  (Figure I – Prostate tissue, microscopic view.  The central V-shaped area is the urethra) The prostate diseases most common in dogs are benign prostatic hypertrophy/hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis and prostatic abscesses, prostatic cysts and prostatic neoplasia.

Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy/ Hyperplasia (Bph)

Benign   prostatic   enlargement consists of both hypertrophy (increase in size of prostatic cells) and hyperplasia (increase in number of prostatic cells). This occurs gradually with age and continuing exposure to the hormone DHT. In one study, 50% of dogs examined had some evidence of BPH by 4 to 5 years of age. Because this condition is dependent on continuing hormone secretion, it is seen only in intact dogs.

Many dogs with BPH show no clinical signs of disease. The most common clinical sign in dogs is dripping of bloody fluid from the penis unassociated with urination. Since prostatic fluid accumulates in the urinary bladder, bloody urine also may be seen. Occasionally, blood in the semen is the first problem noted by owners. In all other respects, dogs with BPH are normal. This differs from men, who are most likely to describe frequent passage of small amounts of urine as their primary complaint. Other signs that may be seen in dogs are referable to the greatly increased size of the prostate and include rectal tenesmus 9excessive straining to defecate) and subsequent passage of ribbon-shaped feces.

On rectal palpation, the prostate of dogs with BPH is symmetrically enlarged and non-painful. When examined by ultrasound, the prostate is enlarged but the tissue is uniform in appearance (Figure 3). The prostatic fluid, usually collected by manual ejaculation of the dog, is not inflammatory and semen cultures arc not significant.

No treatment is necessary for dogs with no clinical signs of BPH. The presence of BPH predisposes dogs to prostatitis so it should not be ignored; diagnostics for prostatitis should be performed periodically by your veterinarian (see below). Semen containing blood may be sufficient to effect pregnancy when bitches are bred by natural service or artificially inseminated with fresh semen but bloody semen should not be used for chilled or frozen semen, even if the sample is centrifuged and the bloody prostatic fluid removed immediately. Survival of spermatozoa ejaculated into bloody prostatic fluid is poor when those spermatozoa are stored for any length of time.

The best treatment is castration. Removal of the testes causes an abrupt decline in testosterone concentrations with subsequent lack of DHT. No medical therapy is as ef
fective as castration as a treatment for BPH.

For valuable breeding dogs, medical therapy may be necessary, at least until enough semen can be frozen to ensure the dog’s genetics are still available for future breedings. Herbal therapies used in humans, for example saw palmetto extract, have been shown not to be effective in dogs. Estrogen therapy has been described historically for treatment of BPH. The author does not recommend this therapy. While it may decrease clinical signs of BPH, it decreases the secretory function of the prostate, predisposing it to infection and may be detrimental to production of spermatozoa.

Progesterone therapy also has been described, with either injectable or oral forms of progesterone reported to effectively decrease prostate size and clinical signs of BPH without altering semen quality. Long-term progesterone therapy has not been described.

The drug therapy most recently described is use of finasteride, a human drug for BPH that acts by inhibiting formation of DHT from testosterone. ProscarTM is a 5 mg tablet of finasteride, approved for treatment of BPH in men. PropeciaTM is a 1 mg tablet of finasteride, approved for treatment of male pattern baldness in men, which also is due to DHT.  Either medication can be used in dogs. Work done at the University of Minnesota and Washington State University by Dr. Kaitkanoke Sirinarumitr, Dr. Shirley Johnston and the author demonstrated that dogs with spontaneous BPH respond well to fairly low doses of this drug when treated for 1 to 4 months. The dose used was 0.1 to 0.5 mg/kg daily, which is one 5 mg tablet daily for dogs up to 50 kg in weight. There was no adverse effect on libido or semen quality. Humans are encouraged not to try to father children while on this drug. Studies have demonstrated no birth defects in pups sired by dogs on finasteride.  It must be understood that BPH gradually will redevelop once finasteride therapy is withdrawn. Finasteride is the author’s medical treatment of choice for canine BPH.

Prostatitis / Prostatic Abscesses

Prostatitis is infection of the prostate. The reproductive and urinary tracts of dogs contain a certain number of bacteria at all times and the prostate is well designed to prevent movement of those bacteria into the gland. Any time infection of the prostate is identified, some underlying abnormality of the gland must be investigated. The most common condition underlying prostatitis is BPH. Because prostatitis occurs secondary to other conditions, it may be seen in intact or neutered dogs.

Acute prostatitis is recent infection.  Dogs with acute prostatitis| often show pain when ejaculating and may cry out when urinating or defecating. They may have a fever with decreased appetite and poor attitude. On rectal palpation, the prostate is enlarged and may be asymmetrical and the dog shows signs of pain when it is compressed.

Chronic prostatitis is long-standing infection. These dogs feel well and often, poor semen quality is the only clue that infection may be present. Some dogs with chronic prostatitis present with recurring urinary tract infections as their only clinical sign. On rectal palpation, the prostate is enlarged, may be asymmetrical and is non-painful. This is the most common presentation of prostatic infection in dogs.

Prostatic abscesses are localized, walled-off areas of infection. They may cause significant asymmetry of the prostate on palpation. Dogs may appear healthy or may collapse with system-wide infection and shock if the abscess ruptures into the abdomen. Prostatic abscesses are uncommon.

Ultrasound may be useful in diagnosing prostatitis, especially if an abscess is present

Most ultrasonongraphic changes seen in dogs with prostatitis are non-specific.  Culture of seminal fluid or tissue aspirated directly from the prostate is the preferred diagnostic technique. Three types of cultures should be performed. Aerobic bacterial culture identifies those bacteria that live in air; these are the common names you know, such as E. coli and Strep. Because some bacteria are normal in the urethra, through which the semen flows during collection, some bacteria always will be cultured from a semen sample. A significant result is moderate to heavy growth of any single organism. Anaerobic bacterial culture identifies bacteria that cannot live in air; these are less common but cause more damage if they’re present. Mycoplasma culture identifies mycoplasmas and ureasplasmas, organisms related to bacteria. These are difficult to grow so the laboratory usually is unwilling to give your veterinarian an idea of quantity grown because they cannot differentiate low levels of growth due to technique problems from low levels in the sample from the dog. Because of this, it is difficult for your veterinarian to know the significance of mycoplasma results in all cases. If the author feels that a dog has prostatitis, based on all other parameters, and mycoplasma is the only organism grown, she will treat for it.

Antibiotic therapy is the primary treatment for prostatitis. The appropriate antibiotic must be chosen based on culture and sensitivity results; knowledge of the acuteness of the episode of prostatitis and information about movement of various antibiotics into the prostate gland. The prostate is surrounded with a tight capsule that effectively keeps antibiotics out of the prostate. In dogs with acute prostatitis, this capsule is functionally broken and any antibiotic will likely penetrate prostatic tissue well. In dogs with chronic prostatitis, an antibiotic must be chosen that can move through the prostatic capsule well. As a general rule, fluoroquinolone antibiotics (BaytrilTM, CiproTM) and trimcthroprim-sulfa antibiotics (PrimorTM) are effective against prostatitis. Owners should be aware that long-term use of trimethoprim-sulfa antibiotics may be associated with dry eye and/or anemia; concurrent administration of folic acid may decre
ase this effect,

Antibiotics must be administered for at least 3 to 4 weeks. Semen should be cultured one week and again one month after therapy to determine if infection is resolved. Therapy to combat the underlying cause of prostatitis, such as BPH, should occur at the same time. Once a dog has suffered from prostatitis, it is a good idea to recheck that dog with semen evaluation and semen culture every 6 months until he is castrated. Castration, and subsequent decrease in size of the prostate, greatly promotes resolution of infection. Prostatic abscesses usually are resolved surgically.

Prostatic Cysts

Two types of prostatic cysts have been described. True cysts, also called retention cysts, are accumulations of non-infected prostatic fluid in cystic spaces within the gland. Paraprostatic cysts are large, thin-walled, fluid-filled structures next to the prostate. With either condition, dogs may present with urinary tract signs (difficult urination, blood in the urine) or gastrointestinal signs (lack of appetite, abdominal distension). These are easily diagnosed by ultrasound and are resolved surgically. Prostatic cysts are uncommon.

Proslatic Neoplasia

Prostatic neoplasia, or cancer, always is malignant and aggressive. Usually by the time the owner has noted clinical signs, the cancer has spread from the prostate into the lungs or lymph nodes. In human males, prostatic neoplasia is hormone-dependent and hormone therapies have been described. Canine prostatic neoplasia is not hormone-dependent; in fact, several studies have identified castration as a risk factor for development of prostatic neoplasia in dogs although the increased risk of development of prostatic neoplasia is not so great as to outweigh the benefits of castration. Prostatic neoplasia is the only disorder that can cause significant prostate enlargement in a castrated male dog.

Because disease has spread by the time of diagnosis, dogs with prostatic neoplasia may present with any number of clinical signs including lameness, fatigue, coughing, difficulty urinating or defecating, or weight loss. The prostate is asymmetrically enlarged and very firm on rectal palpation and the dog may be painful as it is compressed.

Prognosis with this disease is poor, requiring your veterinarian to do a definitive diagnostic test. Ultrasonography sliould be performed to permit accurate collection of an aspirate or biopsy specimen to be submitted to a pathologist. 

Treatment is palliative. Anti-inflammatory medications may make the animal more comfortable. Surgical removal of the prostate, as is performed in humans, is associated with many post-surgical complications including urinary and fecal incontinence in dogs and so is not routinely performed. 

Prostate disease is common in dogs and those of you with intact males definitely will have to deal with it at some point. While it has some similarity with human prostate disease, significant differences exist, too, making it dangerous to try to extrapolate your own experience onto your affected dog. Ongoing research will help us better diagnose and manage prostate disease in dogs in the future. 

This article is reprinted on this site with permission from the author.

Poisonous Houseplants

Breeder/Exhibitor Ed, Health

Peripheral Neuropathy-Dancing Doberman

Breeder/Exhibitor Ed, Health

Peripheral neuropathy-Dancing Doberman disease (link)

Panosteitis

Breeder/Exhibitor Ed, Health

Commonly referred to as “Pano” by breeders, this mysterious disease/disorder occurs when the normal process of bone degeneration and resorption fails to happen. As a result, there is an excess formation and thickening of bone, which commonly affects the long bones of either the front legs (humerous) or hind (femur or tibia) legs.

Panosteitis is thought to be a disease of the osteoblasts. Osteoblasts are the cells within the bone that form the tissue and minerals that give bones their strength. Pan (generalized)- os (of certain bones) – itis (inflammation). Therefore it is described as a generalized inflammation of certain bones, specifically it occurs in five of the long bones – the humerous, radius, and ulna of the foreleg, and the femur and tibia of the hind leg.

Males are reported to be of higher risk than females for panosteitis. There is a nearly 4:1 ratio of males to females affected by panosteitis with the clinical signs being more severe and the disease/disorder more nearly chronic in males.

Symptoms are usually a sudden intermittent lameness which may last a few days to several weeks and then shift to a different leg. The lameness may be mild to moderate and seems to be unaffected or unchanged by rest or exercise. Lethargy and loss of appetite may also occur. Typically it usually is seen first in a foreleg.

Diagnosis is usually done by a vet by pinching the middle of the shaft of the affected suspected bone. If a definite pain response if gotten, it is usually panosteitis. If the pain is at the distal end of the long bone, it could be HOD instead.

Age of onset is usually between 4 to 18 months of age.

Causes : although the cause is still unknown, it is thought by some that dogs that are fed a “rich” high protein diet are the ones that will come up lame first. Some breeds appear to be predisposed to panosteitis and those are large breeds where their growing occurs very quickly during the first year. It has been suggested that changing to a lower protein but still highly- digestible food has stopped the course of panosteitis. Growth rate is a possible factor. Interestingly enough, whenever vaccines, flea powder, worm medicine, diet and other environmental factors have been indicated, the common denominator was found to be physiological stress.

Panosteitis is a self-limiting disease meaning that it will “go away” whether it is treated or not.
It occurs only in dogs. Even though cause is unknown, it has been reported that high protein diets may make the symptoms worse and last longer.

OFA – A Genetic Lottery

Breeder/Exhibitor Ed, Health

Genetic Lottery–Do you want to play? (link)