7
June
2010
June
2010
Raising Large Dogs – CBS News Video0
Dr. Debbye Turner Bell showed off large dog breeds and gave advice for pet owners.
Raising Large Dogs – CBS News Video – Watch CBS News Videos Online
24
May
2010
May
2010
What I Learned at the Dog Show0
by David Martosko, HumaneWatch.org
I spent this weekend at the Myrtle Beach kennel Club’s all-breed dog show in Florence, South Carolina. The club invited me down to talk about the threats its members are facing from the Humane Society of the United States and the rest of the animal rights movement. Since I had never been to a dog show, I said yes. (I grew up thinking that “fancy” was an adjective. Silly me.)
I’m not a big fan of people who pooh-pooh things they’ve never tried or seen up-close. If one of my children says she “doesn’t like” something on the dinner table before taking even a tiny bite—well, let’s just say that doesn’t wash in my house.
And I’ve always thought the whole “dog show” community was rather mysterious, a kind of benevolent secret society with its own rules, customs, and vocabulary. Sorta like Deadheads, but with a lot better grooming and a lot less fleas.
Truth be told, the dog breeders I met this weekend do have their own peculiar ways of saying and doing things. But they’re really just ordinary people with a shared hobby. They’re really into what they do. And they taught me a lot in just a Saturday. Here’s some of what I learned.
——-
- When you go to a dog show, bring your own chair. But don’t be surprised if someone offers to lend you theirs. (I’m typing this in someone else’s customized, embroidered lawn chair.)
- Dog shows are competitive, but the people involved are remarkably supportive of their human opponents. I heard a steady stream of “congratulations!” offered to blue-ribbon holders from handlers who were trotting away empty-handed.
- If you’re a first-timer who asks “what kind of dog is that?” too loudly, somebody might look at you funny.
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These people treat their dogs like royalty. It was 90 degrees in the shade on Saturday, and the dogs had shade, electric fans, and cold water—even if their owners didn’t. - Judging from this weekend, the typical show-dog handler isn’t a stuffy Brit wearing Saville Row tweed. She—yes, she—is an energetic 40-year-old married mom whose husband packs up the kids and brings them along on the trip.
- Sometimes the kids strut the dogs around the ring. The under-18 handlers even have their own judging category in which their skills are being judged, not the qualities of their dogs.
- The name of the game is “conformation” (not “confirmation,” as I used to think). Dog show breeders are trying to breed animals that “conform” to a set ideal of how a breed can look, “gait,” and behave if they do everything right. (I read an article in Wired this week about how Cheetos in the factory are checked every 30 minutes against a “reference sample” from Frito-Lay headquarters, just to make sure the ideal color, texture, and crispiness is being matched. It’s kinda like that, but it takes years for these folks to make a single Cheeto. And Cheetos don’t pee on you.)
- Watch where you step in the parking lot.
If this particular dog show is any indication of what’s typical, the “dog fancy” is a lot of fun for a lot of people who contribute a lot of money to the economy—and aren’t hurting anyone. “If we’re not having fun here,” one judge told me, very much off-the-cuff, “we shouldn’t be doing this.”
For the life of me, I can’t figure out why the Humane Society of the United States has such a visceral hatred of everything they stand for.
I think what’s going on is that HSUS, PETA, and other animal rights groups are conflating breeders whose main goal is to sell puppies with those who just happen to really love Pomeranians, Pinschers, or Poodles. This latter clique of people (far larger than the former) shows their favorite animals because they’re proud of them, not because they believe it will make their next litter worth more money.
It’s not hard to understand HSUS’s stated motivation for attacking people who breed dogs. The group wants everyone to believe that rampant pet overpopulation in America is all their fault. But personally, I just don’t see it.
I didn’t meet “puppy millers” this weekend. I met hobbyists, just like if I were at a model railroad convention, an antique fair, or a swim meet. They ask after each others’ kids. They visit each other in the hospital. They have knitting circles where the dogs watch approvingly. They’re 50 percent garden club, 50 percent church pot-luck. Zero percent animal abusers.
I asked one breeder how much money she had spent raising her champion dog, a mammoth Anatolian shepherd. “Who knows?” she answered. “I never really added it up. If you’re pinching pennies you probably aren’t treating the dog right.” In addition to the two purebred dogs she was showing, she had “two rescue mutts at home, and they have the same food, supplements, and everything else my show dogs get.”
And when I asked one of the veteran breeders how many of her peers raise dogs so they can sell the litters commercially, she looked at me like I was from Mars. “We all sell dogs, son,” she told me. “But none of us make a cent doing it. And I know where all my dogs live. If anyone can’t provide for them, we take ‘em back.” And then, almost as an afterthought: “I sure don’t want any of mine going to the pound or a rescue.”
Everyone I asked about this had the same kind of answer. If they found out that any of their puppies wound up in a shelter, they’d sure do something about it.
So why all the hostility from the Humane Society of the United States? Why did I hear from North and South Carolinians who had beaten back attempt after attempt from HSUS to have them taxed, registered, regulated, raided, and otherwise priced out of their hobby? What is it about these men, women, and children, so passionate about running up and down a concrete floor with their pets, that demands intervention from activists who think they know better?
Maybe it’s that HSUS thinks the only way to shut down “puppy mills” is to paint every dog breeder with the same broad brush. Maybe. I haven’t yet really wrapped my mind around why HSUS is opposed to everything I saw this weekend. I just know that it is.
As with pretty much every group of ranchers, dairymen, biomedical research scientists, and chicken farmers I’ve met, the breeders I spoke with this weekend had varying levels of awareness about the looming political threat from HSUS. Some of them can’t be bothered to be bothered. Others are fired up at the mere mention of Wayne Pacelle’s name.
“Somebody has to take that guy on,” one 50-ish man barked when I brought up the name of HSUS’s CEO. “That whole movement is nuts. After I showed up to lobby against HSUS’s last North Carolina breeder tax, I started getting calls in the middle of the night, untraceable phone calls, from these people saying they were going to come on my property, take my dogs, and burn my house down. I told ‘em my new rifle has an awesome night scope. That pretty much ended it.”
I spoke to the crowd after the Best In Show was awarded, in this case to a fluffy pekingese named “Noelle.” I told them that their problem is the same as the one faced by pork producers, egg farmers, dairymen, and even cancer researchers. But it was up to them to reach beyond their circle of friends—outside their comfort zone—if their kids and grandkids were going to keep being Junior Handlers and continue to raise the dog breeds they’ve come to love.
At the end of the day, I have to be skeptical of HSUS’s blanket condemnation of pet breeders. I’m confident that there are some horrible ones out there, as there are with any group of people (including animal activists…), but any legislative or cultural movement that lumps the people I met this weekend in with the bad actors is just plain wrong-headed.
Because the dogs I met in South Carolina were among the best-cared-for animals I’ve ever seen. Anyone who’s truly interested in animal welfare would want to make sure more dogs—not fewer—are treated this way. So how ’bout it, Wayne? Why aren’t you promoting dog shows?
Probably because you’ve never been to one.
23
April
2010
April
2010
Dog psychology: The importance of bonding with your dog0
by Diane Garrod
People may laugh when you say things like “you should build a relationship with your dog” or “it is important to build a strong bond with your dog.” People can barely surmise or commit to doing this with human relationships, let alone with understanding another species and their needs. Yet, creating a bond with your dog is important because it minimizes behavior problems. Dogs are social creatures, they need to build strong ties with members of their family and a bond is what makes you worth listening to. Being worth listening to means you are respected. Respect to a dog equals having confidence in you as the leader, the provider, the hunter.
A bond cannot be forced. It is offered willingly and loyally. It is a natural by-product of positive training techniques. It is a real feeling of being a part of your life, family and community.
People say, “I thought love was enough” when it comes to bonding with their dog. The reality is love is not enough. It is part of the equation. …
Read more: Dog psychology: The importance of bonding with your dog – by Diane Garrod – Helium.
22
April
2010
April
2010
Canine Reproduction Seminar Article0
Dr. Scarlette Gotwals, DVM University of Florida
Stages of the Estrous Cycle
Proestrus: Vulvar swelling and bloody vaginal discharge marks the beginning of proestrus.The first day of bleeding is called the first day of heat. The duration of proestruscan vary from as little as 1 day to 21 days. Proestrus is a time of rising estrogenlevels preparing the reproductive tract for breeding.
Estrus: Is the period of receptivity. Behaviorally it begins the first day the bitch stands. Hormonally it begins on the day of the LH surge and is marked by rising progesterone levels and decreasing estrogen levels.
Diestrus: Normally begins 7 to 9 days post the actual LH surge. Progesterone levels continue to rise and the vaginal cytology cornification abruptly declines. The diestrus period lasts until the bitch whelps or the serum progesterone returns to a basal level.
Anestrus: Is the period of time between the end of diestrus and the next proestrus period.
Important Hormones of Estrous
Estrogen: Estrogen is the first significant hormone of the estrous cycle. Rising estrogen levels result in the clinical signs of estrous. Estrogen causes vaginal and vulva swelling and bloody discharge. Under the influence of estrogen, the vaginal lining thickens resulting in the changes seen on exfolliative vaginal cytology. Estrogen rises during early proestrus, reaches a peak level and then declines. Changes in estrogen level cause the bitch to show behavioral changes. Even a spayed bitch administered estrogen will develop vulvar swelling, become fully cornified on vaginal cytology, stand, flag, and accept a male. However, estrogen blood levels are quite variable from bitch to bitch and do not correlate accurately with ovulation.
LH (LueteinizingHormone): LH is the biological trigger leading to the events resulting in ovulation. The LH surge is the central timing event of the bitch’s cycle. After a variable period of elevated estrogen the bitch will be stimulated to have a surge in LH. Ovulation occurs 2 days post the LH surge. In the bitch the ova are not mature and capable of being fertilized until an additional 2 days have passed. The mature ova live another 1 to 3 days. Counting the LH surge as day 0, the bold bitch’s peak fertile period is days 4, 5 and 6 post the LH surge. Determining the actual day of the LH surge requires daily blood testing. The LH surge causes the follicular cells to convert from secreting estrogen to secreting progesterone. The time of the LH surge can be estimated by monitoring progesterone serum levels.
Progesterone: Progesterone is needed to maintain pregnancy. In the dog progesterone levels are baseline prior to the LH surge (typically <1> 5 ng/ml by day 2 to day 4 post the LH surge and continue to rise to >10-15ng/ml by the end of the peak fertile period. The initial rise in progesterone correlates closely to the LH surge and can be used reliably to plan breedings during the bitchs peak fertile period.
Gestation Length
Bitches whelp 65 +l- a day from the LH surge, regardless of the day bred. Bitches that whelp at no less than 59 days were bred very late and those that whelp over 65 days were bred early. When bred ideally a bitch should whelp 60-61 days from the first of two breedings. If the day of the LH surge is not known a due date can be estimated from the first day of diestrus. Bitches whelp 57+/- a day from D 1 (the first day of diestrus).
Advanced Ovulation Timing Tools: Vaginoscopy The vaginal mucosa becomes edematous as a result of high estrogen levels in proestrus. On vaginoscopy the vaginal wall has a billowing pillow appearance. Close to the LH surge the decreasing serum estrogen level and rising progesterone level causes a decrease in vaginal edema. The loss off edema in the previously swollen vaginal folds results in a wrinkled or crenulated appearance of the surface. Maximal crenulation or angulation of the folds occurs a few days later corresponding to the optimum fertile period. As diestrus approaches, the vaginal mucosa takes on a blotchy white and pink appearance. Vaginoscopy is a very useful tool in estimating the LH surge.
Blood Progesterone Levels
The blood progesterone level is the number one way to accurately determine the optimum fertile period in the bitch. Progesterone is also the best tool for quickly staging where a bitch is in her estrous cycle. The standard is quantitative progesterone levels (numerical values reported by an outside lab). There are many veterinary as well as human labs that offer timely, cost effective quantitative progesterone analysis.
For areas of the country without a quick lab turn around, or affordable outside testing, there are several semiquantitative progesterone kits commercially available. These kits include Stat-Pro (ICG/Synbiotics), Target (Biometallics), PreMate (Camelot Farms) and others. The in office kits are useful for providing a quick estimate of progesterone levels. In-office kits can and do work well for many uncomplicated breedings. For fresh chilled breedings, frozen semen breedings, bitches with previous infertility, or breedings to dogs with decreased semen quality, quantitative progesterones provide a greater degree of accuracy.
Progesterone levels are baseline prior to the LH surge; increase to 1.5 to 2.0 around the time of the LH surge and increase to >5 ng/ml by the peak fertile and often are > 10 to 15 ng/ml by the end of the fertile period. The time of the LH surge can be closely estimated from the initial rise in progesterone levels. Accuracy is related to the testing interval.
LH (Lueteinizing Hormone)
To accurately find the day of the LH surge blood must be drawn daily once the bitch is at least 60 percent cornified on vaginal cytology. Intensive blood testing is expensive and time consuming. For frozen semen breedings and some chilled semen breedings it can greatly increase the chance of success. Quantitative LH testing is not widely or readily available. ICG/Synbiotics has the only commercially available semi-quantitative in-office LH test. The test generally performs well.
The Need for Advanced Ovulation Timing (OVT)
Whenever breeding must work it is advisable to use the tools of ovulation timing. Proper ovulation timing reduces the variables of breeding and provides the best chance for conception and maximum litter size. Proper ovulation timing puts the bitch owner in the driver’s seat.
Natural Breedings:
Many dog breeders are very busy and have to plan in advance for a breeding. They need the breeding to work when planned. They do not have time for missed breedings. OVT maximizes conception rate and provides a more accurate due date.
Subfertile bitches or bitches who previously missed
The number one cause of a missed breeding is improper timing. Whenever a bitch does not conceive, OVT should be required for the next breeding.
Bitches with abnormal cycles or who have split heats
Without OVT it is very difficult to know when a bitch is definitely ovulating.
Bitches requiring planned C-sections
The best way to accurately predict a due date is with accurate ovulation timing. The majority of bitches whelp 65 +/- one day from the day of the LH surge regardless of when bred. If the OVT is accurate the C-section date can be narrowed to a 2 or 3 day window the day the breeding is actually done. This is a big help in assuring mature puppies at surgery.
Stud dogs that have low fertility
Many stud dogs are able to maintain a high conception rate with OVT despite having subnormal semen quality or low counts. For these dogs OVT tailors breeding days to their particular problem.
Busy Stud Dogs
When access is limited, OVT may make the difference between success and failure.
Fresh Chilled and Frozen Semen Breedings
Fresh chilled or frozen/thawed semen lives for a much shorter time than fresh semen. It is imperative to use advanced OVT for these breedings.
Ovulation Timing Protocol
When to start testing:
Call the veterinarian who will be doing the timing when the bitch comes in to season to plan the breeding. If you need a Brucellosis test take the bitch in within the first 3 days of heat. There are a few general steps to follow; if a bitch has an ultra short season (5 to ? days of bleeding) start timing immediately, if she normally has 9 to 11 day seasons start timing by day 5, if she normally has 14 day seasons start timing by 8 days, if her seasons last 3 weeks start timing by day 10. For fresh chilled or frozen breedings you always want to be sure to start ovulation timing early enough. When in doubt, start ovulation timing early. If the stud dog is close by and you do not have to allow for travel time you have more flexibility in when to start ovulation timing.
Testing Frequency:
The higher the stakes the more frequently you need to test. If the breeding is local and there is unlimited access to the stud dog you may need to only check a progesterone level every 3 to 4 days. For breedings requiring the bitch to travel testing is generally done on alternate days. Frozen semen breedings usually require daily blood testing.
Value of even one progesterone:
A single progesterone value will give one of three results: low, mid range, or a high progesterone level. If the level is very low then you know you have at least 4 days or longer before a breeding will be needed. If the level is mid range (2.0 to 4.0 ng/ml) you need to start breeding within two days; if the level is high (>5.0 ng/ml) you should start breeding immediately; if the level is very high (> 1 5.0 ng/ml) you need to evaluate if the bitch is still in season and if she is, breed ASAP. Breedings beginning when the bitch already has a very high progesterone may be too late and you will need to start sooner for subsequent breedings.
Ovulation Timing FAQ’s
What is ovulation timing?
Ovulation timing is the process of using blood hormonal values in the bitch to predict when her optimum fertile period is. The bitch ovulates two days after her LH surge (Lueteinizing Hormone-the biological trigger resulting in ovulation). Following ovulation the eggs require an additional two days to complete maturation and to be fertile. Therefore the optimum fertile period in the bitch is days 4, 5 and 6 post the LH surge (day 0). Since LH blood levels are often only present for a short time, 16 to 24 hours., we use a second hormone, progesterone, to estimate when the LH surge occurred. Blood progesterone levels are generally less than 1.0 ng/ml prior to the LH surge and rise to 1.5 to 2.0 ng/ml, around the time of the LH surge. Post the LH surge progesterone levels continue to rise and are usually >5.0 ng/ml by the beginning of the fertile period and are often >10-15ng/ml by the end of the fertile period. Blood progesterone levels are the single best indicator of the fertile period in the bitch.
How are blood progesterone levels monitored?
The gold standard for measuring progesterone levels is quantitative assessment by an outside lab. In areas of the country where access to timely progesterone results are limited there are several in office semi-quantitative kits available. The in-office kits are less expensive than lab values but are more subject to errors in interpretation. I personally prefer actually knowing what the value is. I am fortunate to have access to a lab that runs progesterones daily. Samples collected in the morning have same day results usually by 6 to 7 PM.
When should I use ovulation timing?
Ovulation timing (OVT) should be utilized any time a breeding is important. OVT provides control over a breeding and documents breedings occurring during the bitch’s optimum fertile period. OVT is essential any time where there is a reduction in the quality of semen used (e.g. fresh chilled semen breedings, frozen semen breedings, older stud dog, heavily used stud dog. etc.). Another advantage with OVT is knowing more accurately when the bitch is expected to whelp. The bitch whelps 65 +/- a day from her LH surge regardless of the days bred.
How many visits are required to time a bitch?
Generally the first progesterone level is checked during the first 5 to 7 days of heat. Subsequent progesterone levels are checked every 2 to 4 days until the fertile period is determined. If a bitch has a very short season (<9>104) can knock out the sperm count for 4 to 6 months.
Does the dog have all the necessary genetic clearances?
Seeing is believing. The stud owner should readily give you copies of all genetic clearances. Know what you need to ask for.
Fresh Chilled Semen Breedings
Fresh chilled semen breedings are a great way to accomplish breedings over a distance without shipping the bitch. The highest success is achieved with proper preparation, selection of adequate candidates and finding experienced veterinarians for the collections and inseminations.
Selection of Candidates
Ideal candidates for chilled semen breeding are dogs and bitches free of any underlying health condition and in their reproductive prime (2 to 4 years old). Bitches that have any history of reproductive problems are best bred naturally to a highly fertile dog and do not generally make good candidates for chilled semen breeding. Likewise the semen quality needed for successful chilling is much higher than what is needed for a successful natural breeding. There are many dogs with marginal semen quality that have successful stud careers. These dogs do not chill well and will not produce offspring with this breeding method. The trick is to select high quality candidates thereby maximizing your chance for success.
Selection of Stud Dogs in Advance
Before a breeder offers their dog at stud for fresh chilled semen breeding they have several questions they need to answer:
Does their dog have suitable semen?
Fresh chilled semen breedings require average or above quality semen. The dog should have > 70% motile semen with at least medium speed and average or better quality of forward progression. A dog with >80% motile semen is generally a better candidate. The stud’s semen count should be well into the normal accepted range for the breed. There should be less than 20% morphologic defects and few additional cells. The dog also needs to be free of prostatitis. A general rule of thumb to estimate a normal sperm count is 10 million sperm per pound of body weight. For example:
Typical Sperm Counts:
Breed – Weight Good Sperm Count Typical Range
Bull Terrier 60-70 lb. >600 million 400 to 1,500 million
Labrador Retriever 70-80 lb. >700 million 400 to 1,500 million
Mastiff 150 lb. > 1 billion 800 to 2,500 million
English Cocker 30-35 lb. >300 million 300 to 600 million
A Chill Check performed in advance is a good way to predict semen quality on arrival. Chill Checks should be performed as part of a routine semen analysis on any dog where the breeder plans to make the dog available by this breeding method. To perform a chill check the semen is processed exactly as it would be for an actual chilled breeding except the extended semen is placed in the refrigerator instead of shipping. Small aliquots are removed every 12 hours for three days, and evaluated, after sufficient warming, for percent motility, speed and quality of forward progression. Generally a good candidate for a chilled semen breeding should start out >70% motility and have only a 10 – 15% drop in motility in the first 24 hours and have a sperm count in the normal to high range for the breed.
Is the dog easy to collect? Will a suitable teaser bitch be available when needed?
The success of a chilled breeding is very dependent on getting the best collection possible. Although many experienced studs will provide a semen sample without a teaser bitch, the count and quality of the ejaculate is maximized when a suitable teaser bitch is available. Clearly it is the stud owners responsibility to find a teaser!! An estrous teaser bitch can make or break a fresh chilled semen collection!! Performing a test collection in advance provides the opportunity to address these issues.
Sperm Count Motility and Quality
Example of Semen Collection with aced without an estrus teaser bitch: (68 LB Bull Terrier)
Without teaser 254 million 70%, average
With teaser (next day) 864 million 80%, good
Which collection would you want shipped to you?!
Will the stud owner be able to make the dog available when needed for the breeding? Will the collecting vet be flexible? Who will take the semen to FedEx or to the airport?
When the semen is needed will affect the best time of day for the collection. Generally collections should be performed as close to the shipping time as possible. The goal is to have the shortest interval from collection to insemination as possible. For FedEx shipments this will be late afternoon; for counter to counter airline shipments this may be early morning. The stud owner and collecting vet need to be very flexible. If you know you have limitations on availability discuss this well in advance so contingency plans can be made.
Has the dog had sufficient sexual rest to provide a suitable collection? Will the stud owner commit not to use the dog on another bitch, at the same time collection is needed forshipping?
It takes 60 days to form a new sperm cell and another two weeks for epididymal transport. It is true that dogs are continually releasing new sperm but dogs do experience a significant decrease in total sperm cells with successive collections. Fresh Chilled semen breeding success can be optimized by assuring there will be sufficient sperm numbers. A high sperm count can offset a reduction in quality on arrival at the destination. Depending on the dog a few days rest may be all that is needed, but a week or longer is better. Also do not do a test collection within 2 to 3 days of when the dog will be needed; why waste the best collection for testing at that point?
Ovulation Timing: Selection of Insemination Days
Ovulation timing is a discussion of its own. The best success with chilled semen breedings is achieved when bitches are bred during their optimum fertile period 3 to 6 days post LH surge. Chilled semen does not live as long as fresh semen and is not as forgiving of error in the selection of breed days. Considering the expense, as well as the emotional drain, it is important to be as accurate as possible in selecting breeding days.
It is important to utilize the best tools available to you in ovulation timing. In my opinion quantitative progesterones are the most accurate, but there are also several in-office progesterone kits (Synbiotics/ICG, Biometallics, Camelot Farms etc.) that are helpful for areas in the country that do not have timely, inexpensive, serum progesterone values available. There is also an in office LH serum test available (Synbiotics/ICG) that will identify the day of the LH surge with daily testing. LH testing may be overkill for some fresh chilled semen breedings, however it increases the accuracy and may be added assurance for veterinarians new at the fresh chilled process or in cases where less than ideal candidates are being bred.
Semen Collection and Processing
Collections should be scheduled to allow for the shortest time interval possible between collection and insemination. For FedEx shipping, schedule the collection as late as possible, allowing time for unforeseen problems and time to easily make shipping. It is often better for the stud owner to hand deliver the semen to the FedEx center. Check last shipping times well in advance and confirm that the destination does have AM delivery available. Also allow for the possibility that the dog may have to be collected twice to get a sufficient sample.
Whenever possible only the sperm rich fraction should be used. The best way to isolate the sperm rich fraction is to have an assistant fractionate at the time of collection. In cases where clear separation does not occur, it is important to remove excess prostatic fluid. Including excess prostatic fluid can significantly decrease semen quality on arrival at the destination. A general rule of thumb is to centrifuge the ejaculate when there is > 1 cc of sperm rich fraction for small breeds, >1.5 – 2.0 cc sperm rich for medium breeds, >2 cc sperm rich for large breeds and >2.5 cc sperm rich for giant breeds. The semen can safely be centrifuged at slow speed, the supernatant removed, and the pellet re-suspended in the extender.
Semen should be diluted according to the buffer directions. Take into consideration the size of the bitch and the insemination method. Generally 2 to 3 cc is adequate for small breeds, 4 to 6 for larger breeds and up to 10 cc for giant breeds. If a surgical insemination is planned the volume may need to be adjusted. When reconstituting a sperm pellet you do not need to calculate a ratio, just dilute up to a suitable volume for the breed.
Evaluate the semen to be certain it is sufficient to get the fob done. If there is any question concerning whether the dog released completely, perform a second collection. If full release was achieved the ejaculate will be fairly clear. If he did not release fully, a second collection will have a significant number of sperm. When in doubt collect a second time!! Usually centrifuging will be necessary. If significantly more sperm cells are obtained and are of the same quality the two fractions can be combined. If the collections are different in quality clearly label the tubes and ship both tubes to the inseminating vet.
If the semen quality is obviously questionable call the inseminating vet or bitch owner and get their authorization prior to shipping. Nothing is more frustrating than to receive poor quality semen that doesn’t have any chance of working.
Semen Packaging (ICG Fresh Express or similar kits)
When packaging the extended semen be sure the tube seals completely and does not leak. Placing the tube inside of a plastic bag will allow the semen to be recovered should the tube leak. It is important not to place the inner box containing the semen in direct contact with the frozen Kool-it bricks. Place newspaper around the inner box on one side of the container and the frozen bricks on the other side. If this is not done the semen could freeze, within the first few hours, and be DOA (dead on arrival) 1 ! Remember there is only a few degrees temperature difference between frozen and a safe chilling temperature.
When the environmental temperatures are below freezing, there are a few things that can be done to reduce the risk of the semen freezing and being DOA. You can use only one frozen Kool-it brick in the kit to reduce the influence of internal freezing. If using. FedEx or other courier service it is safest to deliver and pick up the kit directly from the nearest FedEx center. The delivery trucks do not have temperature controlled storage compartments. At the centers, the packages are kept indoors which reduces the risk of freezing. In extremely cold climates you can also use refrigerated instead of frozen bricks. Refrigerated bricks will serve as a heat sink to absorb cold while still functioning to keep the semen chilled.
When there is sufficient extended semen I will often keep a small aliquot behind, about 1/2 cc. The sample is placed in the refrigerator until the next day. In the morning it can be warmed and checked for viability. If there is a discrepancy between the quality you have versus the quality at the destination, it can provide information as to where the problem may have occurred.
Semen Shipping
In selecting a shipping method the goal is to have the shortest interval possible from collection to insemination. Dogs with high quality chilled semen often work fine with FedEx overnight shipping. FedEx generally provides delivery within 18 to 24 hours of collection. Dogs with marginal chilled semen work beat if the time from collection to insemination can be minimized. Counter to counter airline is best in these cases. Airline shipping provides the shortest interval from collection to delivery often allowing insemination within 6 to 8 hours of collection. Check in advance whether the airline servicing your area will accept chilled semen. Some airlines will not ship chilled semen. I have had the best luck with Delta Dash and US Air.
Insemination Method
The fresh chilled semen method is designed to work with vaginal inseminations. With proper selection of candidates the semen quality on arrival should be more than adequate for vaginal inseminations. The success rate for vaginal inseminations should be 80% when you receive good quality semen that that has a high count and is >70% motile. The success is strongly related to the quality of semen you receive.
Surgical inseminations will increase the pregnancy rate. You have to decide at what point the gain in success rate is worth subjecting the bitch to surgery. A surgical insemination when the chilled semen quality is excellent (>80%) barely increases your chances. A surgical insemination when the chilled semen quality is good (60-70%) slightly increases your chances.
A surgical insemination when the chilled semen quality is marginal (40 to 50%) may make the difference between success and failure. A surgical insemination when the chilled semen quality is poor (<20%) may not make any difference at all.
Transcervical Emanations (TCI) are a viable alternative to surgical intrauterine inseminations. An endoscope is used to visualize the cervical Os and a catheter is placed visually through the cervix into the uterus. TO-1 achieves direct intrauterine insemination without surgery. Currently there are only a handful of veterinarians offering this service. TCI is the method of the future and will become more widespread. Over time this should replace surgical insemination in the majority of cases.
22
April
2010
April
2010
The Responsibility of Allocating Frozen Semen from Dead Dogs0
(Author unknown)
Now that there are genetic tests for many defects in our breeds, we can perform these genetic tests on the semen of long dead dogs. This makes the subject of the best use of frozen semen from some of the greats in our breeds of renewed interest. We can now certify a dead dog as being free of some of the genetic defects which are important in our breed. Testing gives us important pedigree information as well as new interest in using the banked semen from these dogs. The trustee of the banked semen of important dead dogs has a responsibility to the breed as a whole to use this semen appropriately.
Many of us have frozen semen from our beloved dogs with no objective other than having personal access in the future, and that is an appropriate use for most frozen semen. However, some dogs have been very important in their breeds; these are dogs who are sound in mind and body, who reproduce better than themselves, and who may represent ‘lost’ bloodlines.
Important stud dogs were usually heavily used when they were alive. They were often used to improve the quality of the bitches brought to them, and consequently were bred to bitches of lesser quality than themselves. It becomes much more important to rigorously screen bitches that are candidates for the use of the frozen semen, since the supply is limited. The best interests of the breed should be the prime consideration when allocating this semen, and it should be used with bitches who are likely to complement the stud dog and further the quality of the breed as well as producing very saleable puppies for the purchaser. It can no longer be used with indifferent quality bitches to improve the line of a bitch owner.
Frozen semen from a great dead dog should, it stands to reason, command a higher price than that of the best live dogs. Further, as it is limited, it should be sold as a commodity which is not contingent on the production of a given number of live puppies by the bitch for payment to be rendered. As long as the semen has been used once and produced puppies, it should be assumed to be ‘good’. It should only be sold in quantities suitable for transcervical or surgical implantation, never wasted in a vaginal insemination. As time goes on, we should be able to do in vitro insemination in dogs, thus further extending the usefulness of each straw of semen. At that point, even the DNA of dead sperm should be capable of fertilizing an egg. It is very likely that by waiting to use some of this semen, you will be able to make it stretch to accomodate more breedings.
With a high purchase price and no free rides if puppies aren’t produced, it is then in the best interests of the bitch’s owner to perform all possible tests to assure that the bitch is in perfect condition to be bred, and that the insemination is timed and performed in the best manner possible. In this way, the best interests of the bitch owner and breed will coincide and the likelihood of this semen being wasted by less than diligent breeders will be minimized. This semen should never be sold to someone who cannot demonstrate serious objectives which have the possiblity of enhancing the breed in general. People who just want to ‘buy the name’ of a great dog should not be allowed to use the semen.
Questionnaire to Aid in Selecting Qualified Bitches
- Conformation of the bitch.
- Is the bitch within the standard for height and bone? Describe.
- Does the bitch have a properly angulated shoulder? Describe.
- Does the bitch have a properly angulated rear assembly, and does it balance the front assembly? Describe.
- Does the bitch have a proper head for the breed? Describe.
- Does the bitch conform to the breed standard in all parameters? Describe.
- What do you hope to improve on you bitch by using this semen? Describe.
- Temperament
- Does the bitch have a suitable temperament according to the standard? Describe.
- Is the bitch’s temperament stable? Describe.
- Has the bitch produced stable puppies? Describe.
- Can the bitch respond to training in the breed’s appropriate work? Describe.
- Is the bitch a ‘good mother’? Describe
- Breeding History
- Age of the bitch.
- List all health clearances.
- Has she produced puppies? Describe.
- Has she been bred and failed to whelp or produced dead puppies? Describe.
- When was her last litter?
- How many litters has she had? Describe.
- How many breeding attempts? Describe.
- How many puppies lived to adulthood of those whelped. Describe.
- Health
- Supply the health history of all the dogs back 3 generations in the bitch’s pedigree.
- Supply the health history of siblings.
- Supply the health history of puppies produced by the bitch, and what sires were involved.
- Pedigree
- Furnish the bitch’s pedigree. Comment on the pedigree.
- Explain how you think the pedigree of your bitch is compatible with that of the dog.
- Explain where you think your pedigree is lacking and what can be improved by the stud dog.
- Explain where you think your pedigree can improve on that of the stud dog’s.
- Puppies
- What do you intend to do with the puppies?
- How many litters do you have in a year ? — in total?
- How many puppies do you have returned in a year? — in total?
- What puppies do you expect to keep from a litter?
- How many dogs are in your home? Your kennel?
- What breeding plans have you for the puppies?
Other considerations such as housing and the like are discussed in the article Information Required Before Contracting For Stud Service; you may wish to ask these questions as well. What you hope to elicit from the questions above is information about the bitch owner’s knowledge of the breed, the line, and the bitch. You would hope to find a wealth of knowledge about the health of the bitch’s line and about the breeder’s future plans for the line.
The best interests of the breed itself should be the determining factor in the allocation of frozen semen from dead dogs. There should be no hurry to use it up. Some should be allocated, if it is applicable, for the genetic testing which is available in your breed (if any). It may be very difficult to say ‘No’ to people who wish to use the semen. It may be in your best interests to remove youself from the process somewhat and use a series of questions such as we have suggested here. Perhaps you would be more comfortable to give a voice in the decision process over to a third party who is knowledgeable about all aspects of pedigrees and who is not associated with your breed. This would allow you to truthfully say to those clamoring to use the semen that it is out of your hands — or at least that you have to consult with someone over its use. Whatever else you may have felt about the stud dog while he was alive, once he has died, his semen becomes a very different kind of resource to the breed than it was while he lived.
via The Responsibility of Allocating Frozen Semen from Dead Dogs.
28
March
2010
March
2010
HJÄRTEFRÅGAN – Lägesrapport om LUPA projektet0
Lägesrapport om LUPA projektet
LUPA projektet rörande dilaterad kardiomyopati (DCM) förlöper bra. Detta projekt omfattar inte bara Grand Danois utan även Newfoundland, Doberman, och Irländsk varghund. Den gren av DCM projektet som har kommit längst i dagsläget är Doberman, följt av Newfoundland. Grand Danis och Irländska varghundsgrenarna har kommit ungefär lika långt. Det som fram för allt bidragit till hur lång de olika rasgrenarna inom DCM projektet har kommit är hur omfattande provinsamling som skett INNAN LUPA projektet startade. Få prover var insamlade från Grand Danois och Irländska varghundar innan projektet startade och därför är dessa två rasgrenar lite efter de andra två.
Vi tycker att arbetet inom Grand Danoisgrenen har hittills förlöpt bra. Projektet kräver initialt 50 hundar med konstaterad DCM samt 50 friska hundar (>6-7 års ålder utan tecken på DCM), av vilka inga av hundarna får dela en förälder. Vi har i dagsläget omkring 35 hundar med DCM och ungefär samma antal friska hundar där ingen av hundarna delar en förälder. Vi behöver sålunda FLER PROVER från fall med konstaterad DCM samt fler prover från gamla friska hundar (>6-7 års ålder utan tecken på DCM).
Det har totalt insamlats över 200 prover, mycket tack vare Monica Stavenborns fantastiska insats i projektet. Många av de provtagna hundarna är emellertid unga och det är därför inte känt om, och i så fall, vid vilken ålder de kommer att utveckla DCM. Dessa prover är emellertid väldigt värdefulla i ett senare skede av projektet när prover från många hundar behövs för att studera misstänkta gener mer i detalj. Under hösten har två veterinärstudenter kontaktat många av ägarna till de provtagna hundarna för att följa upp vad som hänt med dem sedan provet togs. De är nästan färdiga med sin rundringning och beskriver för oss hur trevliga och hjälpsamma alla ägare har varit. Vi är mycket tacksamma för den hjälpen och hoppas att det är i sin ordning att vi kan få samma hjälp i framtiden om vi skulle behöva göra en ny uppföljning. Vi behöver komplettera befintligt material med blodprover från gamla friska hundar (över 8 år) samt hundar med verifierad klinisk DCM.
Dessa prover är emellertid väldigt värdefulla i ett senare skede av projektet när prover från många hundar behövs för att studera misstänkta gener mer i detalj. Under hösten har två veterinärstudenter kontaktat många av ägarna till de provtagna hundarna för att följa upp vad som hänt med dem sedan provet togs. De är nästan färdiga med sin rundringning och beskriver för oss hur trevliga och hjälpsamma alla ägare har varit. Vi är mycket tacksamma för den hjälpen och hoppas att det är i sin ordning att vi kan få samma hjälp i framtiden om vi skulle behöva göra en ny uppföljning.
Vi är också glada för att en molekylärgenetiker anställts på heltid för att enbart arbeta inom DCM projektet. Hon heter Susanne Björnerfeldt och finns stationerad i Uppsala. Hon är redan sedan en lång tid tillbaka inblandad i DCM projektet, hon har bland annat sorterat upp alla Grand Danoisproverna och upprättat en databas över provtagna hundar. Hon kommer under hösten arbeta mest med DCM hos Newfoundland, men i och med att vi börjar närma oss det nödvändiga antalet hundar kommer hon att arbeta mer med Grand Danois . Vidare är vi mycket nöjda över att Grand Danoisgrenen av DCM projektet har expanderat och omfattar numera inte bara de nordiska länderna utan även fram för allt Tyskland (Dr. Jan-Gerd Kresken, Dr. Ralph Wendt och Dr. Gerhard Wess) och Storbritannien (Dr. Joanna Dukes-MacEwan och Dr. Hannah Copeland). Projekten i bägge dessa länder sker givetvis i samarbete med uppfödare och nationella rasklubbar. Sedan en månad tillbaka är även en Amerikansk gren av LUPA projektet på väg att startas upp I samarbete med Amerikanska Grand Danoiskubben. Denna gren leds av Dr Mark Oyama och Dr. Kathryn Meurs. Vi är mycket glada över detta stora internationella intresse och engagemang.
Det är vår förhoppning att kunna utföra den initiala screeningen efter sjukdomsgener (den så kallade “genome wide association” analysen) under 2010. Förhoppningsvis förlöper vidare analyser enligt planen och vi hoppas att kunna rapportera intressanta resultat därefter. Fram tills dess är vi mycket intresserade av få tillgång till prover Grand Danoishundar, de med DCM samt från gamla hundar utan DCM. Viktigt utöver provet och underskrivet djurägarsamtycke är även att vi får tillgång till eventuell klinisk dokumentation, t.ex. journalkopior från veterinärkliniker och/eller ett ifyllt frågeformulär som vi använder oss inom projektet. Djurägarinformation/samtycke samt frågeformulär finns att nedladda på rasklubbens hemsida. Slutligen vill vi påminna att det fortfarande finns medel avsatta till gratis obduktioner av Grand Danoishundar som avlidit/avlivats på grund av misstänkt DCM. Kontakta någon av oss nedan eller Monika Stavenborn, e-post kennelkingsize@telia.com tfn 08-582 444 30, om ni vill utnyttja denna möjlighet.
Jens Häggström e-post jens.haggstrom@kv.slu.se
Katja Höglund e-post katja.hoglund@afb.slu.se, tfn 018-67 21 18
via HJÄRTEFRÅGAN.
28
March
2010
March
2010
HJÄRTEFRÅGAN0
| HJÄRTEFRÅGAN | |
 |
Då SGDK under flera år sett en ökning av hjärtsjukdom, främst dilaterad cardiomyopati, hos Grand Danois, beslutades 2004 att instifta SGDKs Hjärtfond. Fondens syfte är att kunna möjliggöra fler obduktioner av Grand Danois då det är den enda absolut säkra diagnosalter- nativet. Klubbens ambition är naturligtvis att så små- ningom, med bl a hjälp av obduktionsresultaten kunna göra en kartläggning av förekomst av cardiomyopati hos vår ras. Huvudansvarige för detta projekt är professor Jens Häggström, SLU i Uppsala. Vi är glada för att SKK tror på detta projekt och därför lovat att förvalta fondens medel. |
EU-Projekt
SGDK har under 2008 deltagit i ett EU projekt det s.k. LUPA projektet som pågår i fyra år med start 1/1-2008. “Using the dog as a model for unraveling the genetic background of human diseases” är det fullständiga namnet på arbetet, d.v.s. hunden får vara modell för utredning av människans sjukdomar. Ett tjugotal olika sjukdomar ingår. Sverige deltar bl.a. i det s.k. cardio work package som omfattande sjukdomar som kroniska hjärtklaffsdegeneration (förändringar), cardiomyopati (hjärtmuskelförändringar som bl.a. medför att hjärtat blir förstorat) och blodtrycksproblematiken. Gällande cardiomyopati undersöks 4 raser: dobermann, grand danois, irländsk varghund och newfoundlandhund. Den sistnämnda rasen har hunnit längst. Från grand danois finns nu i Sverige lite över 150 blodprover. Flera blodprover behövs och framförallt från äldre friska och sjuka hundar. Vi hoppas på att ännu flera uppfödare och ägare förstår hur viktig denna forskning är och ställer upp med sina hundar för provtagning!
Vi letar efter gener som orsakar dilaterad kardiomyopati hos Grand Danois
Dilaterad kardiomyopati hos grand danois
Syfte:
Syftet med projektet är att hitta gener som orsakar dilaterad kardiomyopati (DCM) hos grand danois. Karakterisering av dessa genotyper kan komma förbättra diagnostik och behandling hos drabbade hundar och människor. Resultaten kan även komma till användning i framtida gentester vilka förhoppningsvis kan identifiera individer med ökad risk att utveckla DCM.
Vi behöver er hjälp!
Vi behöver komplettera befintligt material med blodprover från gamla friska hundar (över 8 år) samt hundar med verifierad klinisk DCM.
Provmaterial: 4 ml EDTA – blod
Märk proverna med hundens namn och registreringsnummer i SKK samt skicka med journalkopia.
Kontaktperson för närmare information
Katja Höglund Tfn 018-67 21 18
E-post katja.hoglund@afb.slu.se
Stort tack för visat intresse!
Forskare vid SLU:
Göran Andersson Leif Andersson Susanne Björnefeldt
Jens Häggström Katja Höglund Kerstin Lindblad-Toh
Nicolette Salmon Hillbertz Monica Stavenborn Anna Tidholm
___________________
Djurägarinformation
Dilaterad kardiomyopati (DCM) är den vanligaste hjärtsjukdomen hos stora hundraser. Sjukdomen förekommer också hos andra djurarter, inklusive människa. Sjukdomen innebär att hundens hjärtmuskel tappar sin sammandragningsförmåga och inte förmår att pumpa blod i samma utsträckning som en normal individ. Detta kan leda till att blod ansamlas i de stora venerna som leder till hjärtat, vilket i sin tur leder till utträde av vätska i lungor och buk (hjärtsvikt). Vidare är det vanligt att drabbade hundar har rubbningar i hjärtats rytm (arytmier). En del hundar kan ha sjukdomen men kan leva ett till synes normalt liv trots DCM, men sjukdomsstecken brukar i regel förr eller senare utvecklas. Dilaterad kardiomyopati är således en sjukdom som leder till dödsfall och lidande hos drabbade hundar. Därför är det av intresse att undersöka faktorer som leder till DCM i syfte att utradera sjukdomen. Vissa studier indikerar att DCM förmodligen nedärvs som ett autosomalt dominant anlag hos vissa raser, d.v.s. att den sjukdomsalstrande genen är lokaliserad till en icke-könskromosom samt förekomst av den alltid leder till sjukdom. Det är emellertid inte känt exakt vilka genförändringar som kan ge upphov till DCM. Därför behövs vidare studier i raser som är drabbade av DCM. Detta projekt syftar till att identifiera och karakterisera den sjuka genen hos hund, vilket i förlängningen kan leda till en gentest som skulle underlätta avelsarbetet att få bort sjukdomen. Resultaten kan i förlängningen visa sig värdefulla även för människor som lider av DCM. Vi ber er därför att be dig om att få använda material från er hund i det ovannämnda projektet. Det står som djurägare helt fritt att när som helst avsluta ditt deltagande i studien.
Vad innebär ditt deltagande för Dig och din hund:
I studien behövs blodprov från ett stort antal sjuka och friska hundar. Blodprov utförs enligt rutinen genom att lite päls på ett framben eventuellt klipps, spritas och en stas-slang sätts på. Därefter placeras en tun nål i en ven på benet och blodprovet tas. När provtagningen är färdig tas nålen bort. Ett litet plåster sätts på frambenet och hunden kan omedelbart röra sig fritt igen. Totalt tar provtagningen cirka 5 minuter i anspråk. Ingen efterbehandling eller restriktioner är nödvändiga efter provtagningen. All information om din hund är konfidentiell.
Kontaktpersoner för vidare förfrågningar
Professor Jens Häggström: Tfn: 018-67 21 24
Leg Vet VMD Katja Höglund: Tfn: 018-67 21 18
Leg Vet Monica Stavenborn (Grand Danois): 018-672680
Leg Vet, Docent Anna Tidholm (Newfoundland): 08-505 304 00
via HJÄRTEFRÅGAN.
4
February
2010
February
2010
Ongelmakoiran valmistusopas0
Tässä ohjeet ongelmakoiran valmistamiseksi normaalin alun saaneesta pennusta.
Hössötä pennun kanssa mahdollisimman paljon kotona. Reagoi pennun jokaiseen vingahdukseen silittelemällä, juttelemalla ja tyynnyttelemällä.
Älä vie pentua katsomaan toisia koiria tai jos viet huolehdi, että toiset koirat ovat rajuja tai eivät pidä pennuista.
Älä anna vieraiden tulla tervehtimään koiraasi – haluathan, että se on vain sinun koirasi.
Älä missään nimessä vie koiraa katsomaan mitään pihapiirin ulkopuolella. Älä ainakaan ennen kuin pentu täyttää neljä kuukautta. Näin koira oppii varomaan kaikkea kodin ulkopuolella.
Tönäise pentu pois kun se puree niin se alkaa purra yhä kovempaa ja lisää. Tämä on koirasta hauska leikki ja saat ostaa uusia vaatteita – niin ja pian laastariakin.
Aina kun pentu raapii tai tuuppii sinua silitä sitä. Huomioi koiraa aina kun se nousee sinua vasten. Ja jos koira haukkuu sinulle, niin ala heti jutella koiralle.
Kun pentu näkee toisia koiria, nosta se syliin tai ainakin kiristä hihnaa ja jännity itse. Jos koira alkaa tuijottaa toista koiraa älä kiellä, vaan kun koira alkaa murista laita nakkia heti sen nenän eteen.
Mikäli pentu murisee muista aina tyynnyttellä sitä!
Jos pentua pelottaa jokin tilanne, älä stressaa sitä vaan vie se välittömästi pois tilanteesta ja säälittele pentua. Voit jopa itse alkaa säikkyä kyseistä paikkaa.
Jos koira murisee ruokakupilla, silittele sitä aluksi ja heitä sille aina lisää makupaloja välittömästi kun pentu murisee – jatkuvasti tietysti yhä kauempaa, koska koira on oppinut jo rähisemään.
Muista eläinlääkärillä hokea ‘ei mitään hätää’ samalla kun silität koiraasi hermostuneesti. Koirasi oppii näin välttämään eläinlääkäreitä.
Älä koskaan kehu pentua sen käyttäytyessä rauhallisesti! Näin se oppii riekkumaan ja riehumaan.
Kun koira haukkuu, muista aina palkita sitä huomioimalla ja heittämällä makupaloja. Saat aikaan koiran joka ääntelee tauotta.
Älä koskaan ota koiraltasi mitään pois – mikä on koiran on koiran.
Silloin sinun ei tarvitse ulkona miettiä kuinka otat siltä pois koiran mahdollisesti noukkimat tupakantumpit, purukumit tai kuolleet hiiret koiran nauttiessa ne kaikessa rauhassa ja tämän jälkeen ripuloidessa loppuillan ja yön.
Mikäli koirasi rimpuilee sylissä tai hoitotoimenpiteitä tehdessä päästä se aina välittömästi pois. Koirasi oppii, ettei sen kynsiä saa leikata tai turkkia hoitaa. Ja sinä saat sitten myöhemmin maksaa eläinlääkärille nukutuksesta, kun kynnet on kasvaneet liian pitkiksi ja ne on leikattava.
Heittele koirallesi jatkuvasti leluja, varsinkin jos se haukkumalla sinua leikkimään kutsuu. Näin saat tuotta virkeän koiran joka stressaa itseään … niin ja sinua.
Mikäli koirasi juoksee kotona ympyrää jahtaa sitä. Mikäli koira ei anna ulkona kiinni juokse sen perässä ja yritä tarttua sitä kiinni. Koira oppii, että sinä tulet aina perässä ja että olet hidas.
Opeta koira olemaan vetämättä riuhtomalla sitä hihnasta ja karju sille samalla. Älä vahingossakaan kehu, kun hihna on löysällä tai kehu kiljahtelemalla innostuksesta. Koirasi oppii hyvin, ettei sillä ole merkitystä kuinka hihnassa käyttäydytään.
Vietä ensimmäinen kuukausi – pari jatkuvasti koirasi kanssa kahden äläkä koskaan jätä yksin. Lähde sitten takaisin työelämään normaalisti heti kymmenen tunnin päiviksi, jotta voit hankkia koirallesi uusia sohvakalustoja. Ja kun tulet kotiin huomioi koiraasi syvällä innostuksella ja mitä enemmän koirasi hyppii ja kiljuu ja riehuu sen enemmän kehu sitä. Olihan sillä yhtä kova ikävä kuin sinullakin.
Pian koirasi kertoo koko naapurustolle milloin olet töissä. Ja näin naapurisi pitävät sinua hyvin ahkerana.
Muista aina viimeiseksi lähtiessäsi koskea kaukosäätimeen (kun suljet television tai stereot) jotta koira tajuaa syödä kaukosäätimiä normaalien koirien tapaan. Älä jätä koiralle päiväksi fiksua tekemistä, jotta se varmasti designeeraa huonekalujasi.
Ennen lähtöäsihän olet juoksuttanut koiraasi ulkona pallon ja keppien perässä. Näin koirastasi on hyvä aloittaa liikunnallinen ja toiminnallinen päivä kotona.
Älä hae apua kokeneilta koiraihmisitä vaan kysele kadulla tulevilta [tai netin keskustelupalstoilta] ohjeita koiran kouluttamiseksi ja vaihda aina uuteen metodiin sellaisen kuultuasi. Pian koirasi on yhtä sekaisin siitä, mitä siltä odotetaan kuin sinäkin.
Älä koskaan kiellä pentua mistään – pian sillä ei ole hajuakaan, ettei se saa aina toteuttaa itseään. Äläkä myöskään kehu kun koira toimii oikein – tämäkin auttaa vahvistaman koirasi epävarmuutta.
Ja muista: Älä missään nimessä ole yhteydessä kasvattajaan ennen kuin haluat luopua koirastasi.
…niin ja jos haluat viksun koiran älä noudata näitä ohjeita.
Artikkelin on kirjoittanut Camilla Ketonen
29
October
2009
October
2009
Dilatoiva kardiomyopatia koiralla0
Dilatoiva kardiomyopatia (DCM=dilated cardiomyopathy) on sydänlihassairaus. Sydänlihas ei pysty supistumaan normaalisti, mistä seuraa sydänlihaksen toimintahäiriö (EKG:ssä ja ultraäänitutkimuksessa todettavat muutokset). Kun sydänlihassolut vähitellen menettävät supistumiskykyään sydän, erikoisesti sen vasen kammio laajenee (dilatoituu) ja sydämen koko suurenee. Näin ollen koko sydämen supistumisvaiheen toiminta heikkenee. Koronaarisuonet ja sydämen läpät ovat terveitä. Syytä tähän sydänlihassairauteen ei tunneta, mutta mitkään muut sairaudet eivät kardiomyopatiaa aiheuta. Sairaus on ns. primaarinen (ensisijainen) sydänlihasairaus.
DCM:lle on usein tyypillistä, että vasemman kammion toiminta heikkenee ilman näkyviä muutoksia koiran terveydentilassa (ns. prekliininen dilatoiva kardiomyopatia). Tämä oireeton vaihe voi kestää tyypillisesti noin 1-4 vuotta. Oireettomalla dilatoivalla kardiomyopatialla tarkoitetaan sairautta, joka esiintyy näennäisesti täysin terveellä eläimellä. Oireeton vaihe voidaan havaita ainoastaan sydämen ultraäänitutkimuksella todettuna systoolisena vajaatoimintana tai rytmihäiriöinä. Heikkenevä sydänlihaksen toiminta johtaa sydämen vajaatoimintaan ja näkyviin kliinisiin oireisiin. Kliinisessä muodossaan sairaus ilmenee lihasten supistumisvajauksena ja voi johtaa sydämen vajaatoimintaan. Tämä taas saattaa johtaa äkilliseen sydänkuolemaan.
Ultraäänitutkimus on yksi parhaista menetelmistä, jolla arvioidaan sydämen toimintaa. Tässä tutkimuksessa voidaan “nähdä sydän sisältä” ja mitata erilaisia sydämen kokoon ja supistuvuuteen liittyviä suureita. DCM ultraäänitutkimuksessa tutkitaan vasemman kammion systoolista toimintaa mittaamalla ns. left ventricular shortening fraction ( LV SF(FS)). Tutkijoiden mielipiteet eroavat jonkin verran hyväksyttävästä minimiarvosta eri roduilla. Tarkan numeerisen arvon määrittäminen on myös vaikeaa ja taitoa vaativaa. On havaittu, että FS arvot myös vaihtelevat rotukohtaisesti ja koon mukaan. Tavallisesti arvot ovat välillä 25 % – 45 %, mutta alin arvo voi olla matalampikin. FS raja-arvoalueella olevien yksilöiden tilaa kardiomyopatian suhteen on mahdoton määrittää yhden yksittäisen tutkimuksen perusteella. Usein suositellaan tällaisten koirien uusintatarkastusta ½-1 vuoden kuluttua. Ultraäänitutkimuksessa voidaan tarkastella myös muita sydämen systooliseen toimintaan liittyviä parametrejä, mutta näiden arvoja on vielä vähemmän rotukohtaisesti tutkittu.
Keuhkoalueen röntgenkuvauksessa saatetaan DCM tapauksessa todeta sydämen suurentumista, ja mikäli vajaatoimintaa esiintyy, tyypilliset keuhkomuutokset. Pelkkä röntgentutkimus ei kuitenkaan ole täysin riittävä kardiomyopatian diagnosointiin ja hoitosuunnitelman tekemiseen. Varsinkin alkavaa tai oireetonta sairautta on röntgenillä mahdoton todeta.
Piilevän kardiomyopatian diagnosointi tai terveystodistuksen antaminen voikin olla vaikeaa ja erikoisesti eläimen terveeksi toteaminen ei koskaan ole lopullinen kardiomyopatian suhteen. Tänä päivänä yleinen käsitys on, että terveystodistus eläimelle voidaan antaa korkeintaan vuodeksi kerrallaan.
Prekliinisessä dilatoivassa kardiomyopatiassa koiralla ei ole oireita. Sairauden edettyä kliiniseen muotoon oireita ovat tyypillisesti yskä, hengitysvaikeus, yölevottomuus ja rasituksen siedon alentuminen. Tällaiset oireet DCM potilaalla johtuvat nesteiden kerääntymisestä elimistöön sydämen huomattavan vajaatoiminnan johdosta. Yhtäkkiset heikkous- tai tajuttomuuskohtaukset ovat äkillisen rytmihäiriön tyypilliset oireet.
Jos koiralla todetaan prekliininen tai kliininen dilatoiva kardiomyopatia, on harkittava eläimen lääkityksen muotoja. DCM hoidossa on ratkaistava miten vakavaa tilannetta ja millä lailla oireilevaa koiraa lähdetään hoitamaan. Ultraäänitutkimus, EKG ja sydämen röntgenkuvaus auttavat hoidon suunnittelussa. Lääkitys joudutaan päättämään yksilöllisesti DCM etenemisen ja sydämen vajaatoiminnan asteen sekä koiran kliinisen tilan mukaan. Elinaikaennuste on koirayksilökohtaista, mutta yleisenä ennusteena pidetään 6-24 kuukautta (kliinisten oireiden alettua, lääkityksestä huolimatta). Jotkut koirat saattavat menehtyä yhtäkkiä rytmihäiriöiden johdosta.
Dilatoivaa kardiomyopatiaa esiintyy monilla koiraroduilla ja se on “hankittu” sydänsairaus. Sairaus ei ole synnynnäinen epämuodostuma, vaan sairaus, joka kehittyy eläimelle vasta syntymän jälkeen, myöhemmällä iällä. Eläimellä voi olla perinnöllinen “taipumus” sairauteen.
Ultraäänitutkimus on kallis tutkimusmenetelmä, joka vaatii lisäksi lausunnon antavalta eläinlääkäriltä suurta ammattitaitoa. DCM on myös usein kliiniseen muotoon edettyään erittäin nopeasti etenevä tauti. Toisaalta hankalaksi sairauden tekee sen tuntematon periytyminen ja diagnoosin asettamisen vaikeus.
via Kirsi & tiikeritytöt: Dilatoiva kardiomyopatia koiralla.
29
October
2009
October
2009
SKL – FKK ry – Dilatoiva kardiomyopatia0
ELL Nina Menna, Vetcare Oy ja Mäntsälän eläinlääkäriasema
Dilatoiva kardiomyopatia (DCM) on sydänlihaksen rappeutumissairaus, joka johtaa sydämen laajenemiseen ja supistumiskyvyn laskuun. Rappeutumisen seurauksena sydämen seinämät ohenevat ja veltostuvat, eikä sydän enää pysty pumppaamaan riittävästi hapekasta verta elimistön käyttöön. Dilatoivaa kardiomyopatiaa esiintyy keski- ja suurikokoisilla roduilla. Koska sairaustapaukset esiintyvät pääsääntöisesti suvuittain ja taudinkuva on kullekin rodulle tyypillinen, on dilatoivalla kardiomyopatialla geneettinen tausta. Jalostukseen käytettävien koirien säännöllisillä tutkimuksilla DCM -tapaukset voitaisiin löytää aikaisemmassa vaiheessa ja jättää pois jalostuksesta. DCM potevaa koiraa ei saa käyttää jalostukseen.
Dilatoivan kardiomyopatian oireet näyttävät ilmaantuvan yhtäkkiä, mutta todellisuudessa sairaus kehittyy pitkään, jopa vuosia piilevänä ilman, että koirasta näkyy mitään ulospäin. Vasta, kun elimistön korjaavat mekanismit eivät enää pysty peittämään sydämen heikkenemisestä johtuvia ongelmia, alkavat oireet näkyä. Koira laihtuu ja sen ruokahalu laskee. Se alkaa yskiä ja rasituksen sietokyky sekä liikkumishalu vähenevät. Tyypillisimmin yskää esiintyy yöllä ja aamulla levon jälkeen. Koira saattaa myös hengittää normaalia pinnallisemmin ja tiheämmin. Joskus ensimmäinen oire on elimistön hetkellisestä hapenpuutteesta johtuva yhtäkkinen pyörtyminen tai äkillisen sydämen rytmihäiriön aiheuttama kuolema, joka usein liittyy voimakkaaseen rasitukseen.
Dilatoivasta kardiomyopatiasta kärsivää koiraa ei voida parantaa eikä sairauden kehittymistä pysäyttää, mutta laadukasta elinaikaa voidaan pidentää lääkityksen avulla. Hoitona käytetään nesteenpoistolääkitystä, verisuonia laajentavaa lääkitystä sekä sydänlihaksen supistumisvoimaa lisäävää lääkitystä. Joissakin tapauksissa tarvitaan myös sydämen lyöntirytmiin vaikuttavaa lääkitystä. Rajua liikuntaa on syytä rajoittaa ja koiran ruokintaan on kiinnitettävä erityistä huomiota.