lrcc newsletter dec 2009=reduced - labrador retriever club...i am always looking for candid pictures...

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Who’s WhoLabrador Retriever Club of Canada

LRCC NEWSLETTER WINTER 2009

Chairperson: Kim Beverly -Ontario [email protected]

Vice Chairperson: Heather Dobson –Ontario [email protected]

Secretary: Mary-Anne Lauzon -Ontario [email protected]

Treasurer: Diane Kendall -Ontario [email protected]

DirectorsBritish Columbia: Debbie Waterer [email protected]

Alberta: Judy Hunt [email protected]

Saskatchewan/Manitoba: Joyce Love [email protected]

Ontario: Paul Pobega [email protected]

Quebec: Jean-Louis Blais [email protected]

Atlantic: Gerald Dagley [email protected]

Disclaimer: The LRCC News is a forum for news, comments and discussions. We take no responsibility for the claims or statements made in the advertisements. The views and issues published, while subjected to editorial process, are specific to the author and are in no way necessarily the views or opinions of the Editor or the Board of Directors of the Labrador Retriever Club of Canada.Ad Submissions Options:Hard Copy: including original photo (all photos handles with care and returned, clear text, pencil sketch of the way you’d like to see the page, payment (see below)RATES:Regular full-page ad: $30.00 (members) $45.00 (non members)Commercial ad: $1.00/ per each LRCC member and issue (i.e. 130 members =$130.00)Featured dog ad: $15.00Feature ads (not always offered): $15.00Front Cover: $85.00Back Outside Cover: $40.00Lab Clubs (specialty events no charge)

Payments for ads to be sent to the Treasurer: Diane Kendall 610 Morning Sideroad, RR#2 Newmarket, Ontario L3Y 4V9

Note: ads will not be published if payment is not received prior to the Newsletter Deadline

Deadlines:Winter-Spring (2010)April issue, March 20th deadlineSummer- August (2010) issue, July 30th deadline Fall-December issue, Dec. 10th deadline

CoverHobocreek’s Wee Aila Jasmine “Jas” out of Ch. Pinamark’s Victoria at Cheshire x Ch. Traynors Hairtrigger Wyatt WCX SH. Our puppy owners from Cranbrook got this great shot and sent this picture as Jas goes down daily to visit this little buck. She sits quietly for hours at a time and he tolerates her

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LRCC News

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Each addition of the LRCC News will now include articles relating to breeding, whelping and general health issues related to dogs in general. These articles will fall under the title of NEED A REFRESHER? We hope you find these informative.

Who’s Who 1

Table of Contents 2

Message from the Chair 3

Secretary’s Report 3-4

Directors Reports 4-6

Letters to the Editor 6-8

Genetics of Coat Colour in Retrievers 8-11

Epilepsy Research 11- 15

Need a Refresher? 15-40

A Fireside Chat With… 41- 48

Clearances, Brags & Litters 48-51

Specialty Results 52- 57

The Weekend that Was 58-59

More Results 60-67

Newsletter Contacts:Tari [email protected] Sutton: [email protected] Grant:[email protected] Mayer: [email protected]

Editors note:Well here we are already with another addition of the LRCC Newletter. I have to admit that it’s not quite as scary the second time around. I’m pleased to share some members brags and clearances that were passed on. Keep them coming. It only takes a minute to fire me off an email and you can always send a show shot later on and I will connect them. We also received some articles of interest from members and I hope you the reader find them interesting. Again send it and we will fit it in. I am always looking for candid pictures of members and their dogs to add some flair. Search through your pictures on that computer and you will be surprised at what you can come up with. For this addition I was able to find several shots of members showing their dogs beautifully but .... well you be the judge. For those who are my subjects I mean no harm but did find it fun once I started looking at the people in my pictures instead of looking for “the best dog pictures.” Unfortunately most of my photos are from Ontario and the upper U.S. States meaning that the rest of Canada is safe from my lens but no doubt many of you have some good candids to share. Send them to me and I would be thrilled to share them.

Tari Yates LRCC Newsletter Editor

mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

Message from the ChairMessage From The Chair

When I turned the calendar over to ‘December’ and glanced out the window, it didn’t appear to match up with what traditionally I expect to see outdoors. Nor did it feel like winter was coming; temperatures were mild and not a flake of snow to be found! Hard to believe the festive season was on the doorstep! My own Labs had enjoyed a very long, dry fall with the older dogs basking in the sun’s warmth while the younger two and I got re-acquainted with field work. Certainly an “Indian Summer” like that would be welcomed again in the coming years.

The LRCC Executive/Board is awaiting word from the Canadian Kennel Club about our Breed Standard that was published for comment. As soon as there is word, we will make sure it is p a s s e d a l o n g t o t h e m e m b e r s h i p . T h e Educat ional Committee completed the update on the LRCC Breed Handbook midsummer and it is now uploaded and downloadable off the LRCC site in a .pdf format. It’s an excellent guide for first time Labrador

purchasers but also full of g r e a t r e f e r e n c e s f o r breeders to have at their finger tips. The Labrador Retriever Club of Alberta is hosting the 2010 National in early June. As soon as the LRCA has their National site complete and ready to release information, we will have a link up to it on the LRCC site. Many have asked about Nationals in coming years and they are confirmed them as follows: 2011-Ontario, 2012-Quebec, 2013-Maritimes and 2014-British Columbia.

I know the membership has now been given the option of receiving the Newsletter in paper and print form or via a readable .pdf file online at the clubs site. By offering an online edition, we hope to cut down on production costs and work load of the Editor.

The LRCC Googlegroup is still a way of getting in touch with fellow LRCC’ers to discuss all manner of things Labrador and Labrador related. Not a member yet? Well please do join us:

http://groups.google.ca/group/lrcc-membersonline

Let me take this opportunity to wish you, your families and your Labradors best wishes for a prosperous 2010.

Yours in Labradors

K i m B e v e r l y , C h a i r 2008-2011

[email protected]

S E C R E T A R Y ’ S REPORT (DECEMBER 1, 2009)

Season’s Greetings Fellow members,

With 2009 coming to an end and 2010 upon us, it’s membership renewal time and all the forms were sent out the f i r s t week o f December. You’ll notice we have added a question (highlighted in red) on your membership renewal form this year. With our new and improved beautiful website, we can now v iew the Newsletter on line thus reducing the expense of p r i n t i n g , ma i l i n g and postage. If you still wish to rece ive a hard copy , p l e a s e i n d i c a t e t h i s p r e f e r e n c e o n y o u r membership renewal form. Otherwise, the automatic

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http://groups.google.com/group/lrcc-membersonlinehttp://groups.google.com/group/lrcc-membersonlinehttp://groups.google.com/group/lrcc-membersonlinehttp://groups.google.com/group/lrcc-membersonlinehttp://groups.google.com/group/lrcc-membersonlinehttp://groups.google.com/group/lrcc-membersonlinemailto:[email protected]:[email protected]

LRCC News

default will be set for “on line” reading. For those of you who have already returned your renewal but perhaps did not indicate your preference, please feel free to email me at anytime.

All good wishes for an exciting 2010!

Mary-Anne [email protected]

D I R E C T O R S REPORTS

LRCC B.C. DIRECTORS REPORT

Hello from British Columbia.

Lots has been happening in BC and you can check you the results of our Regional in July and Island Lab Spec ia l ty tha t I have submitted for this issue. Unfortunately I was unable to attend the National this year but here it was a great time.

Winter has hit the north of BC suddenly in December with temperatures going into the -40’s. Even the

dogs

hesitate to venture outside.

M a r l e n e F l e t c h e r a t Lonsdale Kennels has a little brag for their black bitch: Rosefields Lonsdale Iron Lady---( aka Tory ) Obtained her CD at the Castlegar show under Canadian judge Margaret Chandler & 2 High in Class under American

judge and Lab Breeder Larry Tanner from Spokane Wash. Way to go Marlene and Tory

Hope you will all have a wonderful holiday season and I wish you the best for the coming New Year.

Respectfully submitted

Yours in Labradors

Debbie Waterer

SaskatchewanNo clubs as yet active within LRCC Manitoba Labrador Retriever Club of Manitoba The LRCM Specialty held in conjunction with Manitoba Can ine Assoc i a t i on i n August was a success and seemed to be enjoyed by all. Judge was Andrew Brown who to date has not forwarded his cr it ique. Hopeful ly by the next newsletterSeptember brought our annual Heart and Eye clinic and it continues to be well attended and meets the needs for clearances.Our annual WC was set aside for the running of the Labrador Retriever Club of Canada National WC as

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there would only be a matter of weeks between and attendance of one or both would possibly be in jeopardy.Plans are underway for a First Aid course for dogs in the New Year and the LRCM is attempting to recruit Dr Hutchison or one of his colleagues for a seminar on Reproduction and Problems.A Sanction Match / and correctional Obedience Fun Match is being also planned for the end of January. Ontario Directors Report Fall 2009

I was pleased to attend the National and Regional in Winnipeg Manitoba this year. It was nice to see members from our National club who came from afar to s u p p o r t o u r N a t i o n a l specialty. Many fellow members are representing the breed well. Although they are not members of our club, it is worth noting that Tom and Gail Shearer from Kentucky were present at the National. They did extremely well with their black bitch. Their bitch went Best in Specialty at bo th shows , won t he Sporting Dog Specialty and went Best in Show three times at the all breed shows. I’m sure the drive from Kentucky was well worth it.

The Labrador Owners Club w i l l b e h o l d i n g t w o Obedience Trials on Feb. 20, 2010 in Jerseyville, Ontario.

With regards to puppy referrals, the LRCC website has been reworded to direct t h e v i e w e r t o t h e m e m b e r s h i p l i s t f o r breeders to select from. Although this changes how we could previously keep track of referrals, since this change there have been no direct inquiries to me for puppy referrals from the site itself.

Congratulations to Tari Yates for produc ing a wonderful newsletter. Any articles or information for the Newsletter please send t o T a r i a t l r c c . news@gma i l . c om . Please note your 2010 membe r sh i p r e newa l s indicate whether you wish to view the newsletter online or have a hardcopy mailed to you.

I ’ d l i ke t o t hank ou r Executive for the time and effort they voluntarily apply to our National Club. There is much that they do behind the scenes to keep our club in order.

Wishing everyone a safe and Happy Holiday Season.

Yours in Labs,Paul PobegaOntario Director

L R C C A T L A N T I C DIRECTORS REPORTHello

December is here and the shows in the Atlantic region have ended. Lab boosters were held in the 4 Atlantic Provinces and I was able to attend 3 of them. The boosters did increase the Lab entry and everyone seemed to appreciate the Eukanuba prizes.

Labor Day weekend at the Halifax Kennel Club Shows, t h e A L R C L a b r a d o r Speciality Show was held with Valer ie Walters judging conformation and Deb Desjardine judging Obedience and Rally.

There were 35 entries in conformation and 14 in obedience.

Nancy and I were Secretary and Cha i rman for the ALRC , WC test that was held in Sept in Conjunction with Easter

F l y w a y H u n t i n g a n d Retriever Club’s WC.

There were 4 dogs that passed WC, 1 passed WCI and 1 passed WCX.

Having two Tests on the same day seemed popular and we are planning to have this again in Sept 2010.

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Thanks to the Eastern Flyway Club for hosting this event for us and working 2 WC tests the same day.

I was pleased to see dogs earn their Rally titles, TT, C D , C G N , W C a n d Championships in our area this year. It is nice to see so many people out with their d o g s e n j o y i n g t h e s e activities.

The ALRC Specialty for 2010 will be held in Moncton on May 8. The Judge for conformation will be Sally Bell of Boradors. There will be three sets of points for Labrador Retr ievers in Conformation, Rally and Obedience. Hope some of you can include this show in your plans for next year.

Respect fu l ly submitted Y o u r s i n L a b r a d o r s Gerald Dagley

Letters to the Editor

Thursday, November 12, 2009

LRCC News Editor

Re: Letter to the Editor regarding the Summer 2009 Fireside Chat

I a m r e a d i n g w i t h d isappo intment in the recent LRCC News and specifically the fireside chat section, where when asked about the use of dogs for b r e e d i n g t h a t h a v e “Prelims” (preliminary X-rays in advance of hip and elbow clearance), a member of our e x e c u t i v e i s o p e n l y suggesting that “…I don’t feel there is any more risk involved (in using prelims) t h a n b r e e d i n g w i t h clearances”.

The LRCC bylaws states that members must, “breed only to or from stock that, except

i n a r i go rous l y c on t r o l l e d t e s t breeding, must be: a) X-rayed clear of Hip Dysplasia and Elbow Dysplasia, and should be certif ied by the Ontario Veterinary College (“OVC”) or t he O r thoped i c Founda t i o n f o r Animals (“OFA”), or PennHip.

Why then in our bylaws, do we on one hand allow our members to breed dogs on prelims by not enforcing or requ i r ing the need of clearances (should vs must), while we also require that we must: “Sell all pets sold in Canada on non-breeding contracts, which can be removed only with hips and eye clearances provided t h e y a r e s o u n d i n temperament and their qua l i ty i s su i tab le for breeding”.

T h i s r a t h e r i r o n i c requirement in the bylaws suggests that we as club members are holding all non-LRCC breeders to a higher standard than we are imposing on ourselves, and that a member of our e x e c u t i v e i s i n f a c t advocating breeding without clearances since in her words “I don’t feel there is any more risk involved”.

While it is clear that the bylaws do not specifically require an LRCC member to have clearances prior to breed ing, they c lear ly int imate that breeders “should” breed to the higher standard and wait until the appropriate age of canine development to obtain clearances. It is this higher standard that we as the national club should be encouraging breeders to ma in ta in and no t the minimum standard which

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has been suggested is just as good.

How many times have we, as notionally reputable breeders because of our LRCC association, chastised the “back-yard breeder” for not doing clearances? Yet, the clear interpretation by the public reading this issue of the magazine is …. join the LRCC and it is OK to breed without clearances … and a member of the Executive is advocating it!

As a member of this club for d e c a d e s , I a m n o w struggling with what we really stand for and are trying to promote with respect to the breed.

It is my view that as the national club representing the interests of the Labrador breed, that we should be raising the bar when it c o m e s t o b r e e d i n g standards (i.e. clearances) and while the bylaw clearly a l lows breed ing us ing prelims, it is my view that members of the LRCC Executive, the ones that many breeders look to for advice and guidance in their breeding decisions, should not be advocating a lesser standard when our own b y l a w s r e q u i r e n o n -m e m b e r s t o o b t a i n clearances.

As a veterinarian with over 20 years of practice, with Penn Hip certification, who owns and ope ra t e s a rehabilitation centre for dogs where dysplasia cases are seen routinely, I know that “prel ims” did not always provide the same a n s w e r s w h e n t h o s e animals are subsequently “certified”.

Breeding on prelims will not in the long-term improve our breed in Canada and advocacy for this position does nothing for the LRCC repu ta t i on . Pe rhaps consideration should be given to correcting the obvious double standard in the bylaws and in a way that promotes improvement in breeding standards and the breed itself.

For consideration of LRCC members

Tracey Griffin, DVM

Cedarbrae Labradors

-----------------------------

Letter To The Editor

December 10, 2009

I regret that I disappointed Dr. Griffin and anyone else with my answer regarding my opinion on the use of dogs with preliminary

clearances. I was asked to give this interview as an experienced, long time breeder and not as a membe r o f t h e LRCC executive and thus, my opinions do not represent t h o s e o f t h e L R C C executive.

Perhaps I didn’t understand the question correctly. I was answering this question as it applies to my breeding program. As evidenced by my comments throughout the interview, clearly I place g r e a t v a l u e i n t h e certification protocol. My unfortunate choice of the word “ r i sk” may have implied otherwise. Of course there is some risk that a dog will not obtain cert i f ied c learances at eighteen months of age but in my breeding program (7 or 8 generations), when I have used this practice, the benefits have outweighed the risks. I do not advocate t h i s p r a c t i c e f o r t h e inexperienced breeder. I thought I was being asked if any of my dogs that I had b r e d o n p r e l i m i n a r y clearances did not become certified at eighteen months of age. The answer is “No”. The Code of Ethics allows for the breeding of d og s t h a t h ave b e en radiographed clear of hip and elbow dysplasia. I have availed myself of this practice, on occasion, in my

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breeding program but not w i t h o u t c a r e f u l consideration, knowledge, a n d e x p e r i e n c e a n d certainly not comparable to the actions of a back-yard breeder.

I acknowledge Dr. Griffin’s opinions, which I agree h a v e m e r i t , a n d a r e important in all my breeding decisions.

Mary-Anne Lauzon

Kriscoland Labradors

GENETICS OF COAT C O L O R I N RETRIEVERS

Sue Taylor, DVM, DACVIM

Professor of Small Animal Medicine Western College of Veterinary Medicine U n i v e r s i t y o f Saskatchewan

The traditional unit of heredity is the gene, and there are 50,000 to 100,000 genes in dogs which determine the inher i tance o f many normal traits as well as the inheritance of genetic defects. Approximately 10 of these genes influence coat color. Some of these

10 genes determine color i t s e l f w h i l e o t h e r s influence the distribution of color or the intensity of color in individual hairs or in the entire coat.

Within each cell of the body (except for the sperm and egg cells) there are 39 pairs of c h r o m o s o m e s ( 3 8 autosomes and a pair of sex chromosomes XX in females, XY in males). One member of each pair o f c h r o m o s o m e s i s supplied by the sire, and the other is supplied by t h e d a m . E a c h chromosome is made up of genes, the units of inheritance. Each gene is a sequence of base pairs (on a DNA strand) that codes for a particular trait (or set of traits). While the 2 chromosomes in a pair are not identical, they contain genes for all the same traits. These genes are lined up in sequence, so that each one occupies a specific site on the two paired chromosomes.

This means that each dog has two versions of every gene, one inherited from its sire and one from its dam. They may be

identical, or they may be different alleles of the g e n e ( a n y o f t h e variations on a gene). If both members of a gene pair (alleles) are identical, then the animal is said to be homozygous for that g e n e ( t h e d o g g o t identical genes at that particular site from its sire and its dam). If the alleles are different, then the dog is heterozygous for that gene.

S o m e a l l e l e s a r e dominant to o the rs , masking the presence of the recessive gene in the pair. For example, if both A and a are present (Aa) and A is dominant to a, the dog will look just as if it was genetically AA. That dog will, however, pass on the dominant A allele to approximately half of its offspring and it will pass the recessive a on to the other half of its offspring. This is one way in which dogs and bitches can pass on h idden genetic traits to their offspring.

There are many different ways in which the genetic makeup of a dog can determine its coloration.

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We know that there are at least ten sites on the chromosome where a gene pair occurs which can influence coat color. Some of the genes govern color itself (black, brown, ye l low) whi le others influence the distribution of color, resulting in light colored points (as in D o b e r m a n s ) , d a r k muzzles (as in mastiffs a n d G r e a t D a n e s ) , brindling (as seen in Boxers and whippets), ticking (as seen in some hounds) or spots (as seen in beagles). In addition, genes at many of the sites on the chromosome interact with genes at o t h e r s i t e s s o t h a t together they produce a different result than if they were present in isolation.

The topic of coat color genetics in dogs is very complex, but if we restrict o u r d i s c u s s i o n t o r e t r i e v e r s w e a r e fortunate because there are essentially only 3 genes that vary between these dogs to influence coat color. The other 7 sites are constant so that retrievers don’t have dark masks, points, ticking, spots or brindling.

I n r e t r i e v e r s , t h e important variable regions are known as the B, E and C regions. At each of these locations on the chromosome, the pair of alleles that are present will significantly influence the color of the coat. Genes at B and E actually determine the color of the coat (black vs. chocolate vs. yellow), while genes at C determine the shade or the intensity of the lighter pigments.

Site B: Black vs. Brown

The gene pair at this site determines the amount and quality of dark (black) pigment in hairs. Black coat color is dominant so dogs that are genetically BB or Bb will be black with black noses (unless they are yellow – see below).

D o g s t h a t a r e homozygous fo r the recessive b (bb) can not form black pigment (even in their noses) – these dogs will be chocolate or liver colored with brown noses (unless they are yellow with brown noses – see below).

Labrador and Flat-Coated Retrievers can be BB

(Black), Bb (Black) or bb (chocolate/liver).

BB – b lack dog not carrying chocolate

Bb – black dog carrying chocolate

Bb – chocolate dog

C h e s a p e a k e B a y Retrievers are all bb

Golden Retrievers are all BB (black pigment) – their red/yellow color results from the recessive gene pair ee at site E.

Site E: Non-yellow vs. Yellow

Yellow is on an entirely different spot on the c h r o m o s o m e s o i s independent of black/chocolate status. The gene pa i r a t s i t e E determines the ability to distribute dark pigment in the coat. The dominant allele (E) allows for a solid dark color (as in black or chocolate dogs), so that dogs that are genetically EE or Ee will be black or chocolate depending on

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the gene pair present at s i t e B . O n l y d o g s homozygous fo r the recessive allele (ee) will have yellow or red hair - they will be yellow or red regardless of which gene pairing occurs at the B location.

All Golden Retrievers are ee

A l l y e l l ow L ab rado r Retrievers are ee

All Flat Coated Retrievers and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are EE

Site C: Rich vs. Dilute pigment

The gene pair at this site determines the depth of pigmentation in dogs that are not black. The allele C allows for full rich color of the tan, red or golden coat, while the allele cch lightens or dilutes the p i g m e n t a t i o n . C i s incompletely dominant to cch

In chocolate or liver dogs:

CC : dark brown

C cch: medium brown

cch cch: light brown

In yellow or red dogs:

CC : dark bronze or red

C cch: medium shades

cch cch: nearly white

LABRADOR COLORS

BLACK DOGS

B B E E - b l a c k , n o recessives

Bb EE - black, carries chocolate

BB Ee - black, carries yellow

Bb Ee - black, carries yellow and chocolate

YELLOWS

BB ee - yellow, carries black

Bb ee - yellow, carries black and chocolate

bb ee - yellow, carries chocolate

CHOCOLATES

bb EE - chocolate

bb Ee - chocolate, carries yellow

COMBINATIONS:

1. Yellow X Yellow is always yellow

2. Chocolate X Chocolate is usually all chocolate. If both the sire and the dam carry yellow (bbEe) then

wil l get ¾ chocolate pups, ¼ yellow pups.

3. Black x Black has many possibilities depending on

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the recessives carried - but realize that most black dogs are BBEE ( c a r r y i n g n e i t h e r chocolate nor yellow) so most likely the pups will all be black.

Black X Black matings:

B B E E ( b l a c k , n o recessives) X BBEE: All pups are black (BBEE)

BbEE (b lack , car r ies chocolate) X BBEE: all pups are black (BBEE or BbEE)

BbEE (b lack , car r ies chocolate) X Bb EE : ¾ pups are black (BBEE or BbEE) and ¼ pups are chocolate (bbEE)

BBEe (black, carries

yellow) X BBEE: all pups are b lack (½ carry yellow, ½ do not)

B B E e ( b l a c k , carries yellow) X BBEe: ¾ pups are b lack (BBEE or BBEe), ¼ pups are yellow (BBee)

B b E e ( b l a c k , carries yellow and

chocolate) X BBEE: all pups are black

BbEe (b lack , car r ies yellow and chocolate) X BbEE (b lack , car r ies chocolate) : ¾ pups are black and ¼ pups are chocolate

BbEe (b lack , car r ies yellow and chocolate) X BBEe (b lack , car r ies yellow) : ¾ pups are black and ¼ pups are yellow

BbEe (b lack , car r ies yellow and chocolate) X BbEe (b lack , car r ies yellow and chocolate): 9/16 pups are black (BBEE, BbEE, BBEe or BbEe), 4/16 pups are yellow (BBee, Bbee or bbee) and 3/16 pups are c h o c o l a t e ( b b E E o r bbEe).*

*Realize, of course, that in " m i x e d " l i t t e r s t h e proportions of each color as listed is an approximation of what should happen if that mating resulted in hundreds of puppies.

EPILEPSY RESEARCH

In September, 2008 my friend Maggie Black and I were driving home from the Huron River LRC specialty show when Maggie said, “I’m going to be show secretary next year, and YOU a re go ing to do something.”That would be the 2009 Mid-Jersey specialty. Well I had a major case of burnout after 2003 when I had run a health clinic, a match show, a Hutch seminar, and finished up my 2nd year as treasurer. I had been sitting on my hands since then and only attended a couple of meetings when compelling programs were given. So, my reply was, “I am not!”“Yes you are!”“No, I’m not!”“You are too!”That’s what you think!”“Yes you are. Just let me know what you are going to do.”Maggie was going to be out of luck, and that is all there was to it. A couple of weeks la te r as I was straightening up the garage, I stood looking at the 5 flying saucer puppy pans when suddenly it popped

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into my head. That’s it! A garage sale to benefit epilepsy research! I could ask club members and exhibitors to bring their unwanted dog items and I could sell them at the specialty.

E p i l e p s y h a s b e e n a problem for me. In the ‘90’s I produced 2 back-to-back litters with the same stud, almost one year apart. When the first litter turned 18 months, the pup I kept had a seizure. A couple of months later, got a call from a distraught owner, telling me her dog started having seizures too. If you have ever seen a dog seizure, you know what a terrible experience it is. And the worst is when a child has to see his or her dog seizing. With two dogs seizing and know ing the re was a second litter out there, I was in a panic. But there was nothing I could do at this point. I didn’t want to frighten the owners of the other pups, so I had to wait it out. Every year on their birthdays, I called all the owners to say “happy birthday” and ask how the dogs were. In time I was to learn that 5 out of the 17 puppies had seizures. Ten years later, seizures struck again. The original bitch was not in this pedigree. It seemed, in spite of all my efforts, the epilepsy gene had come back to haunt

me. I felt so helpless all those years, now maybe there was something I could do. I went online and started looking to see what I could learn. One thing that I knew I wanted to do was to give the proceeds of the garage sale directly to the researchers. I did not want one penny to be spent on administrative costs. There were a number of teams doing research, and some of them a t d i f fe ren t ve t schools seemed to be cooperating. They were asking for help from the dog community. That sounded good to me. I picked up the phone and called the number for Gary Johnson, DVM, PhD, at University of Missouri,

Co l l e ge o f Ve t e r i na r y Medicine. My call was answered by Liz Hansen. Liz is the -------Project Coordinator.Liz was very he lp fu l and wi l l ing to answer my ques t ions . Could they accept direct contributions? “Yes.” That was a good start. I was absolutely amazed by the rest of what Liz had to say. As a minimum to initiate a mapping study, UM needs to have 25 sibling pairs in which one s ib l ing has seizures and the other does not. Family groups are also important, so wherever an epileptic dog has appeared, it is useful to send samples from the affected, plus as many of the normal siblings, parents, and grandparents as possible. The funding

n e e d e d t o c o n d u c t t h e initial mapping s t u d y r u n s b e t w e e n $15,00-20,000. Currently UM has DNA f r om 38 seizing labs, but very few with DNA from their normal siblings. Samp les f rom random normal d og s a r e n o t needed, because U M h a s D N A from over 5000 L a b r a d o r s t h rough wo r k with Guide Dogs

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for the Blind and Guiding Eyes for the Blind. Sibling pairs and family groups w h e r e e p i l e p s y h a s appeared are the key to being able to map epilepsy in this, or any breed. There are likely to be many forms of inherited epilepsy in dogs. There have been over 30 different forms identified in humans and laboratory mice. Liz said, when they started the ep i l epsy resea rch project, they assumed there would be many samples from the popular Labrador Retriever. To their surprise, that was not to be the case. The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog breeders have gotten behind epilepsy research. By

March, 2009 they had blood from over 1200 dogs, 63 of which are affected. An initial mapping run has already been completed for GSMD’s, and the data is in t h e p ro ce s s o f b e i ng analyzed. T h e r e s e a r c h e r s a t University of Missouri are cooperating with other researchers in the USA and also in Finland, France and England. Most of the mapping has been done in Finland and France so far, but in July UM will have the new SNP chip and will be

c apab l e o f do i ng t he m a p p i n g s t u d i e s o n campus. Other breeds that have some mapping data already being analyzed include Saint Bernards, Standard Schnauzers, and Chinooks. Ten other breeds are ready to map, and will be evaluated in the coming months.If the lab community, with our huge number of dogs, gets behind this we could have well more than the initial 25 pairs in no time at all. 25 pairs is next to nothing. As with everything else, the trick is to do it!After our conversation, I had to wonder why they had so few blood samples submitted. That is when I

read the literature they have online. I didn’t have to read very far before one thing jumped right out at me. “Complete families are critical to locating specific g e n e s a n d m a r k e r s . Wherever possible, submit samples from all siblings, bo th parents , and a l l available grandparents.” Good grief! A typical litter would have 8 puppies, 2 p a r e n t s , a n d 4 grandparents. 14 dogs! I figure, if I hadn’t talked to Liz first, I probably would have stopped right there.

Can you imagine rounding up all those dogs, collecting the blood, and shipping it to Missouri? I can’t. I think

LRCC News Page 13

LRCC News

only very, very few people would be able do that. While it might be the ideal, it is not something most people could or would do. So let’s state it one more time. They need 25 sibling pairs in which one dog has seizures and the other does not have seizures to run the initial mapping study. So what do you have to do to participate? 1. Round up a sibling pair.

Owners with non-seizing

dogs are usually willing to participate, but have little motivation. I had one such owner who needed a little extra help. They forgot all about it when they took their dog to the vet. I ended up going to their house, picking up the dog, and taking her to my vet one day when my girl w a s g o i n g i n f o r a progesterone test. Everyone was happy and that gave me a sibling pair. If you can get your hands on other related dogs, great.

2. Collect the blood. The ideal plan is to get 2 s i b l i n g s , p l u s a n y relatives, collected at once. That way you can put all blood samples in the same package and save on shipping costs. Blood can be kept a couple of days in the refrigerator, so you c a n b u n d l e b l o o d collected a couple of days apart. So far I have heard of only one vet who charged for the blood draw and the fee was very small. Be sure to print out the sample hand l i ng page ( see below) and take it with you to the vet.

3.Package the blood. Ask your vet to have a freezer pack ready when you come for the blood draw. Vets get freezer packs with vaccine

shipments and always have plenty to spare. The blood is sent in several tiny purple top tubes. Each tube is labeled with the dog’s call name and the owner’s last name. You can wrap the tubes in a couple layers of paper toweling so they do not come in direct contact with the freezer pack. Next, start wrapping the pack and the blood with a single layer of newspaper. Keep adding layers to make a nice cocoon that will fit snugly in the box. Newspaper is an excellent insulator. Your vet may have boxes you can use. The boxes do not have to be large.

4. Shipping the blood. The b l o o d m u s t b e s e n t overnight. If you don’t get carried away with the box, the cost will be around $30-40. You may not want to trust the USPS to deliver it on time. I’ve had really great experience with FedEx and their online tracking system gives blow-by-blow updates of a package’s journey. You can give Liz’s ema i l add re s s a s t he recipient so she will be informed when you drop it off and when it arrives. One other tip – if the weather is warm, take the package to be shipped late in the day as possible. That way it will be sure to keep cool for the duration.

Paper work. Yes, I know we don’t really like this part very much, but you can do it. There is a simple form for each dog that is put in the package with the blood sample. There is an online form that is filled out ONLY for the dogs that have seizures. The form asks for some th ings on l y the breeder can answer and o ther th ings on ly the o w n e r s c a n a n s w e r. Because of that, I print the form and highlight the questions that only the ownercould answer. I then ask t h e o w n e r f o r t h a t information and fill out the online form out myself. I figure as the breeder, I am the one who has most at stake in doing this. If you prefer, you can send the printed form via snail mail.

6. One last suggestion. When theblood samples from your sibling pair arrives at UM, call Liz or s e n d h e r a n e m a i l ( [email protected] ) alerting her to the fact that another sibling pair is in their possession. So yes, there is some work involved, and some expense too. But what a small price to pay when a test will be developed with some help from us, the breeders. Do you have access to a sibling pair, and maybe relatives too? If you can't

get a sibling pair, which is the ideal, a dam/puppy or sire/puppy pair is of great use. You would want one that seizes and one that does not. Please help. With your cooperation, the researchers will help us so that we need never produce seizing dogs again. This is so worthwhile! Here are links that will give you the information you need to participate.h t t p : / / w w w . c a n i n e -e p i l e p s y . n e t / D o c s /DNAsampl.pdf This one is supposed to be sent in with the blood sample. I had to send it in separately for one dog & that was OK. h t t p : / / w w w . c a n i n e -epilepsy.net/Srvy_Ins.htm This form is to be filled out ONLY if the dog has seizures. You can complete it online or print it out and mail it to UM.

h t t p : / / w w w . c a n i n e -e p i l e p s y . n e t / D o c s /DNAhowto.pdf This one talks about what they are looking for. Don’t get hung up on the part about entire families. Think pairs!!! Additional family members are icing on the cake. h t t p : / / w w w . c a n i n e -e p i l e p s y . n e t / D o c s /SampHand.pdf This one ta lks about the b lood collection & has the address for sending it. The Mid-Jersey board gave the Garage Sale a big

thumbs up, and it will be held at our specialty on October 15th & 16th, 2009. So, while you are at it, how about holding a “garage sale” at your club’s next specialty. You can contact me and I can give you some hints about running a sale. If we all cooperate, we can beat epilepsy. Your c on t r i bu t i on o f b l ood samples is what is needed. You will feel proud to have m a d e a s i g n i f i c a n t contribution to eliminating e p i l e p s y i n L a b r a d o r Retrievers. Joan [email protected] 842-6961

Need a Refresher?

Arthritis, Bone and Joint DiseaseJoints are susceptible to a n u m b e r o f d i s e a s e s , including arthrit is. Any condition that damages a joint may produce arthritis. Causes of these conditions may include degenerative d i s o r d e r s , t r a u m a , infections, and immune disorders

LRCC News Page 15

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LRCC News

Arthritis (Degenerative Joint Disease, Osteoarthritis)

Veterinary Services Department, Drs. Foster &

Smith, Inc.Holly Nash, DVM, MS

Depending upon whom you talk to, the terms 'arthritis,' ' o s t e o a r t h r i t i s ' a n d 'degenerative joint disease' may or may not be used to describe the same thing. In this discussion, we will use the terms interchangeably

What is degenerative joint disease (DJD)?

Degenerative joint disease is characterized by the loss of the smooth cartilage that covers and protects the end of the bones in a movable( s y n o v i a l ) j o i n t . T h e cartilage has no nerves so w h e n i t t o u c h e s t h e cartilage of another bone, there is no pain. When the cartilage wears away, the bone is exposed. The bone does have nerves so when the two bone ends in a joint touch each other it results in pain and inflamation signals that arthritis is present. In degenerative joint disease we also see smal l bony project ions (osteophytes) form on the bone that is close to the joint. This adds to the pain. This type of arthritis is

progressive, meaning it continues to get worse

What causes degenerative joint disease?

Degenerative joint disease can occur as a result of wea r and t ea r on an otherwise normal joint and occurs as the dog ages. This i s c a l l e d p r i m a r y degenerative joint disease. Osteoarthritis may also occur as a result of another condition affecting the joint such as hip dysplasia or elbow dysplasia. Then it is c a l l e d s e c o n d a r y degenerative joint disease.

Which dogs are at risk of developing degenerative joint disease?

Certainly any dog with a congenital joint problem, like dysplasia or patella luxation is going to be more p r o n e t o d e v e l o p i n g degenerative joint disease. Dogs who have had injury to a joint such as a fracture involving the joint, or a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in the knee will be more l ikely to develop arthritis.

What are the symptoms of degenerative joint disease?

The symptoms of arthritis will vary as to which joints are involved, the age of the dog, and the severity of the disease. In general, the first symptoms may be an

altered gait since the dog will try to put more of his weight on the unaffected limbs. There may be muscle atrophy (reduction in the size of the muscle) in the affected limb because the dog is using it less, or at least putting less weight on it. For instance, in a dog with hip dysplasia involving b o t h h i n d l i m b s , t h e muscles of the hind limbs may be thin, whereas, the muscles of the chest and shoulders may be increased in size because the dog is putting more weight on the front legs.

D e p e n d i n g u p o n t h e amount of pain the dog is experiencing, there may be changes in appetite and behavior (e.g., the dog may go off by himself more often). The jo ints are generally not swollen and the pain is the dull aching type, so dogs do not often vocalize or cry out in pain. Some dogs will lick or bite at the area that is painful.

Some will seek out warmth or soft places to sleep.

How is degenerative joint disease diagnosed?

The veterinarian will obtain a good history of the dog's signs from the owner and perform a complete physical exam. Radiographs (x-rays) are taken, and further laboratory tests or more detailed exams of the

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affected joint(s) may be performed.

How is degenerative joint disease treated?

Degenerative joint disease can be treated medically and surgically.

Some forms of degenerative joint disease can be treated with surgery. For example, hip replacements in dogs with hip dysplasia are becoming more common. Other procedures can also be performed but their success rests upon how many bony changes have occurred in and around the joint. Please see the article on the specific joint disease for extended discussion on the surgical t reatment options for that disease.

For an extensive discussion on the medical management of arthritis in dogs, please s e e C a u s e s a n d Management of Arthritis and Other Joint Diseases in Dogs.

What is the prognosis for dogs with degenerative joint disease?

Degenerative joint disease is progressive - it will continue to worsen. There are ways we can medically treat the disease to slow down the progression and many dogs respond well and can live comfortably for years. In more severe

cases, surgery may be performed including actual joint replacements. In these cases, the recovery is usually very good.

© 2009 Drs. Foster and Smith, Inc.Reprinted as a courtesy and with permission from PetEducation.com (http://www.PetEducation.com) On-line store at http://www.DrsFosterSmith.comFree pet supply catalog: 1-800-323-4208

Causes and Management of Arthritis & Other Joint Diseases in Dogs

Veterinary Services Department, Drs. Foster &

Smith, Inc.Holly Nash, DVM, MS

Many pets develop some form of joint disease during their lives. It can be mild, even unnoticeable to the pet owner, or it can be d e b i l i t a t i n g , s e ve r e l y affecting the pet's quality of l i f e , o r e ven c aus i ng complete lameness. The major i ty o f cases fa l l somewhere in between.

Whi le some pets may develop joint disease in the first half of their lives, signs

usually do not appear until the latter half of life, which varies depending on your pet's breed. Dogs are more susceptible to arthritis than cats, and the larger dog breeds are more vulnerable than smaller breeds.

The most common signs of j o i n t d i s e a s e i n c l u d e s t i f f n e s s , l imp i ng , o r favoring a limb - particularly after sleep or rest ing, inability to rise, reluctance to jump or even climb stairs, and noticeable pain.

Causes of Arthritis

There are many diseases that affect the joints of dogs, so many, in fact, that t h e r e a r e 1 0 m a j o r classifications.

Joint diseases occur as a result of:

• Ligament, tendon, or muscle disease, e.g., ruptured anter ior cruciate ligament

• Fractures involving the joint

• D e v e l o p m e n t a l disorders, e.g., hip dysplasia, elbow

dysplasia, osteochondritis dissecans, Legg-Perthes disease

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Congenital disorders,e.g., W o b b l e r ' s s y n d r o m e ( c e r v i c a l s p ondy l omye l o pa t hy ) , luxated patella

• Dietary and hormonal d i s e a s e , e . g . , hyperparathyroidism, obesity

• Metabolic disorders, e.g., von Willebrand's disease (hemophilia) in dogs

• Cancer

• Degenerative joint d i s e a s e (osteoarthritis)

• Inflammatory joint disease, e.g., Lyme disease, rheumatoid arthritis

• Degenerative spinal joint disease, e.g., intervertebral disc d i s e a s e , c a u d a equina syndrome

Management of Arthritis

Medical treatment of hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis has greatly improved in the last several years thanks to t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n a n d approval of several new supplements and drugs. Because hip dysplasia (and other types of dysplasias) are pr imari ly inher i ted conditions, there are no products on the market that prevent their development.

Th r ough p r ope r d i e t , exercise, supplements, anti-inflammatories, and pain relief, you may be able to decrease the progression of degenerative joint disease, but the looseness in the joint or bony changes will not change significantly.

Medical management is indicated for both young

dogs with clinical signs and for older dogs with chronic osteoarthritis. Because of the high cost involved with many surgeries, medical management is many times the only realistic option for many pet owners. Medical m a n a g e m e n t i s multifaceted. For the best results, several of the following modalities should be instituted. For most animals, veterinarians begin w i t h t h e f i r s t recommendations and work their way down this list as

needed to control the pain and inflammation associated with degenerative joint disease.

Weight management

Weight management is the first thing that must be addressed. All surgical and medical procedures will be more beneficial if the animal

is not overweight. Considering that up to half of the pets in t h e U . S . a r e overweight, there is a f a i r c hance t ha t many of the dogs with hip dysplasia/osteoarthritis are also overweight. Helping a dog lose pounds until he reaches his r e c o m m e n d e d weight, and keeping it there, may be the most important thing an owner can do for a pet. However, this

may be the hardest part of the treatment, but it is worth it. You, as the owner, have control over what your dog eats. If you feed an appropriate food at an appropriate level and keep treats to a minimum, your dog will lose weight.

Exercise

E x e r c i s e i s t h e n e x t important step. Exercise that provides for good range of mot ion and musc le building and limits wear and tear on the joints is the

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b e s t . L e a s h w a l k i n g , swimming, walk ing on treadmills, slow jogging, and going up and down stairs are excellent low-i m p a c t e x e r c i s e s . A n exercise program should be individualized for each dog based on the severity of the osteoarthritis, weight, and condition of the dog. In general, too little exercise can be more detrimental than too much, however the wrong type of exercise can cause harm. While watching a dog play Frisbee is very enjoyable and fun for the dog, it is very hard on a dog's joints. Remember, it is important to exercise daily; o n l y e x e r c i s i n g o n weekends, for instance, may cause more harm than good if the animal is sore for the rest o f the week and reluctant to move at all. Warming the muscles prior to exercise and following exercise with a "warm-down" period are beneficial. C o n s u l t w i t h y o u r veterinarian regarding an e x e r c i s e p r o g r a m appropriate for your dog.

W a r m t h a n d g o o d sleeping areas

Most people with arthritis find that the signs tend to worsen in co ld , damp weather. Keeping your pet warm, may help him be more comfortable. A pet sweater will help keep joints warmer. You may want to consider keeping the

temperature in your home a little warmer, too. Providing a firm, orthopedic foam bed helps many dogs with arthritis. Beds with dome-shaped, orthopedic foam distribute weight evenly and reduce pressure on joints. They are also much easier for the pet to get out of. Place the bed in a warm spot away from drafts.

Massage and physical therapy

Your veterinarian or the veterinary staff can show you how to perform physical therapy and massage on your dog to help relax stiff muscles and promote a good range of motion in the joints. Remember, your dog is in pain, so start slowly and build trust. Start by petting the area and work up to gently kneading the muscles around the joint with your fingertips using a smal l , c ircular motion. Gradually work your way out to the surrounding muscles. Moist heat is also beneficial.

Making daily activities less painful

Going up and down stairs is often difficult for arthritic pets, and for dogs, it can make going outside to urinate and defecate very difficult. Many people build or buy ramps, especially on stairs leading to the outside, to make it easier for the dogs to go outside.

Larger breed dogs can especial ly benefit from elevating their food and water bowls . E levated feeders make eating and drinking more comfortable for arthritic pets, particularly if there is stiffness in the neck or back.

Oral Disease-Modifying Osteoarthritis Agents

G l u c o s a m i n e a n d chondroitin: Glucosamine and chondroitin are two ingredients of supplements that have become widely used in t rea t ing both animals and humans for osteoarthritis. Due to the overwhelming success in t reat ing pat ients w i th o s t e o a r t h r i t i s , t h e s e products have come to the forefront of therapy and are becoming the most popular products for managing arthritis today.

Glucosamine is the major s u g a r f o u n d i n glycosaminoglycans and hyaluronate, which are important building blocks in t h e s y n t h e s i s a n d maintenance of cartilage in

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the jo in t . Chondro i t in enhances the synthesis of glycosaminoglycans and inhibits damaging enzymes in the joint.

W h e n a d o g h a s h i p d y s p l a s i a o r o t h e r osteoarthritis, the joint wears abnormally and the protective cartilage on the surface of the joint gets w o r n a w a y a n d t h e resultant bone-to-bone con t a c t c r ea t e s pa i n . G l u c o s a m i n e a n d c h o n d r o i t i n g i v e t h e car t i lage- forming ce l l s (chondrocytes) the building b l o c k s t h e y n e e d t o synthesize new cartilage and to repair the existing damaged cartilage. These products are not painkillers; they work by actua l ly healing the damage that has been done. These products generally take at least six weeks to begin to heal the cartilage and most a n i m a l s n e e d t o b e m a i n t a i n e d o n t h e s e products the rest of their lives to prevent further cartilage breakdown. These products are very safe and show very few side effects. There are many different glucosamine/chondroitin products on the market, but they are not all created equa l . We recommend products such as Drs. Foster and Smith Joint Care and Cosequin.

A S-Adenosyl-L-methionine (SAME, Denosyl SD4): A recent product, Denosyl SD4, has been advocated for the management of osteoarthritis in people. The efficacy of this product for t h e m a n a g e m e n t o f osteoarthritis in animals has not been fully determined, however it is being used as a treatment for liver disease in dogs and cats. It has both anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties.

P e r n a M u s s e l s : P e r n a canaliculus, or green-lipped mussel, is an edible shellfish found off the shores of New Zealand. The soft tissue is separated from the shell, washed severa l t imes, frozen, and freeze-dried. It is then processed into a fine powder and added to products. It is made up of 6 1 % p r o t e i n , 1 3 % c a r b o h y d r a t e s , 1 2 % glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), 5 % l i p i d s ( i n c l u d i n g eicosatetraenoic acids, or ETAs), 5% minerals, and 4% water. It also contains g l u c o s a m i n e , a G A G precursor and one of the building blocks of cartilage. G l u c o s a m i n e , G A G s (unbranched chains of complex sugars) and ETAs (a type of Omega-3 fatty acids) are the compounds in the mussel believed to contribute to its beneficial effects. ETAs are the key ingredients that help in the anti-inflammatory activity

and thereby the reduction of joint pain. GAGs are the m a i n c o m p o n e n t s o f cartilage and the synovial fluid found in joints.

Te t r a c y c l i n e s : S o m e t e t ra c y c l i n e s s u ch a s doxycycline and minocycline have been shown to inhibit enzymes that break down cartilage. The results of one research study suggested that doxycyline reduced the degeneration of cartilage in dogs with ruptured cruciate ligaments. Further studies need to be done to evaluate t h e b e n e f i t o f t h e s e t e t r a c y c l i n e s i n t h e treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs.

Injectable Dises-Modifying Osteiarthritis Agents

P o l y s u l f a t e d G l y c o s a m i n o g l y c a n (Adequan): Adequan is a product that is administered as an injection. A series of shots are given over weeks a n d v e r y o f t e n h a v e favorable results. The cost and the inconvenience of weekly injections are a deterrent to some owners, especially since the oral glucosamine products are so effective. This product helps prevent the breakdown of cartilage and may help with t he s yn thes i s o f new cartilage. The complete mechanism of action of this product is not completely understood, but appears to work on several different

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areas in cartilage protection and synthesis.

Hyaluronic Acid (Legend): Hya lu ron i c ac id i s an important component of joint fluid. Including it in the managment of osteoarthritis may protect the joint by increasing the viscosity of t h e j o i n t f l u i d , reducinginflammation and scavenging free radicals.

Most of the research on hyaluronic acid has been done in people and horses, but it may also be effective in dogs. This is an injectable p r o d u c t w h i c h i s administered directly into the joint.

Other Oral Supplements

Methyl-sulfonyl-methane (MSM): MSM is a natural, sulfur-containing compound produced by kelp in the ocean. MSM is reported to enhance the structural integrity of connect ive tissue, and help reduce scar tissue by altering cross-linkages which contribute to scar formation. MSM has been promoted as having powerful anti-inflammatory a n d p a i n r e d u c i n g properties.

Creatine: Creatine is an am ino ac id de r i va t i ve formed in the liver, kidneys, and pancreas from the am ino ac ids a rg in ine , glycine, and methionine. It is found in red meat and

fish. Creatine is not a muscle builder, but aids in the body production of adenosine tr iphosphate (ATP), a fuel, for short, intense bursts of energy. In humans, it builds lean body mass by helping the muscle work longer, allowing one to tra in harder, l i f t more weight, and have more repetitions. It is the increase in exercise which results in b u i l d i n g m u s c l e , n o t creatine alone. Creatine may be helpful in dogs with muscle atrophy associated with osteoarthritis.

Vitamin C Vitamin C: acts as an antioxidant and is an important nutrient in the synthesis of collagen and cartilage. Because dogs and cats can manufacture their own Vitamin C and do not require it in their diet like humans do, the efficacy of using Vitamin C in the m a n a g e m e n t o f os teoar th r i t i s i n dogs r e m a i n s u n c l e a r . Supplementing with Vitamin C at a reasonable level will not result in a toxicity and may p rove to have a beneficial effect.

Omega-3 Fa t ty Ac ids : Omega-3 fatty acids are o f t e n u s e d f o r t h e management of the signs of atopy in dogs. Because of their ant i- inf lammatory propert ies, some have advocated their use in dogs with osteoarthritis. Research studies are under way to

d e t e r m i n e t h e i r e f f e c t i v e n e s s i n t h e m a n a g e m e n t o f osteoarthritis.

Duralactin: Recently, a p a t e n t e d i n g r e d i e n t obtained from the milk of grass-fed cows has been studied and marketed for t h e m a n a g e m e n t o f musculoskeletal disorders in dogs. It is called Duralactin, has an t i - i n f l ammato ry properties, and is a non-prescription product. It may be used as a pr imary supportive nutritional aid to help manage inflammation or in conjunction with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory d r u g s ( N S A I D s ) o r corticosteroids.

Anti-inflammatory Drugs

Buffered Aspirin: Buffered aspirin is an excellent anti-inflammatory and painkiller in dogs (Do NOT give your cat aspirin unless prescribed by your veterinarian.). It can be used along with glucosamine/chondroitin products. With all aspirin products used in dogs, there is a risk of intestinal upset or in rare cases, gastric ulceration. Because of these p r o b l e m s , i t i s recommended that if a dog develops signs of GI upset, the product be discontinued until a veterinary exam can be performed. (By giving aspirin with a meal, you may be able to reduce the possibility of side effects.)

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LRCC News

Using buffered aspir in formulated just for dogs m a k e s d o s a g e a n d administration much easier.

C a r p r o f e n ( R i m a d y l , E t o d o l a c ( E t o G e s i c ) , Deracoxib (Deramaxx), Ketoprofen (Meloxicam): These are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) developed for use in dogs with osteoarthritis. T h e y a r e s t r o n g a n d effective painkillers and anti-inflammatory agents. They a re p resc r i p t i on products and because of potent ia l s ide ef fects , careful adherence to dosing quantity and frequency must be fol lowed. The manufacturers recommend periodic bloodwork to be done on animals that are on this product to monitor any developing liver or other problems resulting from t h e i r u s e . T h e s e productsare often used initially with glucosamine therapy and then as the glucosamine product begins to work, the NSAID dose may be reduced or even el iminated. Any NSAID should not be used with aspirin, corticosteroids, or o t h e r N S A I D s . Acetaminophen (Tylenol), and ibuprofen have many more potential side effects and are not recommended without veterinary guidance.

C o r t i c o s t e r o i d s : Corticosteroids have been

used for many years to treat the pain and inflammation a s s o c i a t e d w i t h osteoarthritis, however, their u s e i s c o n t r o v e r s i a l . Corticosteroids act as a potent anti-inflammatory, but unfortunately, have many undesirable short- and long-term side effects. Because of these s ide effects and the advent of newer, more specific drugs, corticosteroids are generally only used in older animals with flare-ups where all other pain control products have failed. Corticosteroids are a prescription product and come in both a pill and injectable form.

Holly Nash, DVM, MSVeterinary Services

Department, Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.

Dr. Holly Nash received her D o c t o r o f Ve t e r i n a r y Medicine degree from the University of Minnesota, and a Mas t e r ' s Deg ree i n epidemiology (the study of t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n , distribution, and control of disease) from the University of Wisconsin. She has worked in a primarily dairy practice, as a veterinary epidemiologist, and most recently as a companion animal veterinarian.

Dr. Nash has always been interested in the human-

an ima l b ond and t h e education of animal owners, and finds being Editor of PetEducation.com a perfect match. She enjoys, and has had experience, working with many different species of animals, and is a member o f t h e A m e r i c a n a n d W i s c o n s i n Ve t e r i n a r y Medical Associations, the S o c i e t y o f A q u a t i c Veterinary Medicine, the Association of Reptilian & Amphibian Veterinarians, and the Association of Avian Veterinarians.

Dr. Nash enjoys living in the rural Northwoods with her husband Bob, and their dog named Kip, and cat, Eddie.


Elbow Dysplasia Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc. Race Foster, DVM

Elbow dysplas ia, more commonly seen in fast-g r o w i n g l a r g e b r e e d puppies, is not a simple condition to understand nor easy to explain. Elbow dysplasia is really a

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syndrome in which one or more of the fo l lowing conditions are present:

• Osteochondrosis• Fragmentation of the

coronoid process• Ununited anconeal

process• Elbow incongruity

Normal bone growth

Many bones in a newborn puppy are not just one piece of bone, but several different pieces of bone with cartilage in between. This is especially true of long bones of the limbs. As the puppy grows, the cartilage changes into bone and several pieces of a bone fuse together forming one entire bone. For instance, the ulna, a bone in the forearm starts out as 4 p i e c e s o f b o n e t h a t eventually fuse into one.

Normal elbow anatomy

In the healthy dog, the elbow joint itself is fairly complicated. The elbow of the dog corresponds to ours anatomica l ly but rests relatively closer to the chest wall than it does in man. The bones that form the joint are the humerus, ulna, and radius. The lower end of the humerus has two rounded knobs (the lateral and medial condyles) on it with a hole between them that extends completely through the bone (the

supratrochlear foramen). The radius and ulna bones basically act as one bone as t hey a r e he l d t i gh t l y t o g e t h e r b y s e v e r a l l igaments . They move together at all times. The upper end of the ulna has a hook-like process that fits n e a t l y i n t o t h e supratrochlear foramen of the humerus and a curved ridge called the trochlear notch that fits against and rotates between the medial and lateral condyles. At the base of this notch and on either side of it are the medial and lateral coronoid processes that the condyles of the humerus rest on, therefore supporting the weight of the dog. Finally, there is the upper end of the radius that also lies be tween the corono id processes of the ulna and it also helps support the weight of the animal as it is transmitted down through the humerus. In the normal dog, all of these surfaces that rub or ar t i cu la te against each other are

covered with cartilage and are perfectly smooth. They are constantly lubricated by the jo int f lu id that is contained by the capsule that surrounds the joint.

Osteochondrosis

In osteochondrosis, there is an abnormal i ty of the cartilage and the bone underneath it. In the elbow joint, this most commonly occu r s on the med ia l condyle of the humerus. T h e c a u s e o f o s t e o c h o n d r o s i s m a y include genetic factors, trauma, and nutrition. The signs of this abnormal bone growth usually develop between 6 and 9 months of age, and generally appear a s l a m e n e s s . Osteochondrosisis is more common in rapidly growing, large breed puppies. In the c o n d i t i o n t e r m e d osteochondrosis dessicans, a por t ion of car t i lage loosens from the underlying bone. It may break loose and float free in the joint, or remain partially attached to the bone like a flap. In either case, this is an extremely painful situation.

Fragmentation of the medial coronoid process (FMCP)

Fragmentation means that the bone in this area of the ulna starts breaking up or degenerating. This occurs very early in the life of the

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dog, oftentimes before six months of age. We see it mostly in the larger breeds s u c h a s t h e G e r m a n Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Rottweiler, Doberman, and the giant breeds. However, as we become better at diagnosing this disorder, it is being recorded in more and more breeds even some of the smaller ones such as the Springer Spaniel, Cocker S p a n i e l , a n d G e r m a n Shorthair. Although the exact cause is unknown, it is thought to have strong genetic transmission, as it has been found to be passed from generation to generation in certain lines of s e v e r a l b r e e d s . Osteochondrosis and a f r a g m e n t e d c o r o n o i d process frequently occur in the same joint.

Ununited anconeal process (UAP)

Generally, by 20-24 weeks of age, the anconeal process should have fused with the ulna. In UAP, the hook, or anconeal process, never attaches correctly to the rest of the ulna as the puppy is developing, but rather floats loose. It is held fairly close to where it should be by ligaments be tween i t and o the r portions of the bone, but it is not solid enough to remain exactly where it should. This leads to joint instability, preventing the

humerus and ulna from i n t e r a c t i n g c o r r e c t l y. Addit ional ly, the loose anconeal process is often caught abnormally between the ends of the ulna and humerus thus irritating and b ru i s i ng t he a r t i cu l a r sur faces . An unun i ted a n c o n e a l p r o c e s s i s commonly found by itself with the elbow dysplasia syndrome, although it larger breeds it is often seen with fragmentation of the medial coronoid process.

Symptoms of e lbow dysplasia

P a t i e n t s w i t h e l b o w dysplasia will usually display an obvious limp, may hold the leg out from the body while walking, or even attempt to carry the front

leg completely, putting no weight on it at all. Signs may be noted as early as four months of age. Many affected animals will go through a period between six and about twelve

months of age, during which the clinical signs will be the worst. After this period, most will show some signs occasionally, but they will not be as severe. As these dogs continue to mature, there will probably be permanent arthr i t ic changes occurring in the joint. This will cause many obvious problems and it may become necessary to utilize oral or injectable medications to make the animal more comfortable. Elbow dysplasia is therefore a lifelong problem for the affected animals. Some of these pat ients can be helped with surgery. In some, surgery can even e l iminate the prob lem totally.

D i a g n o s i s o f e l b o w dysplasia

Many dogs will have more than one of the conditions that may contribute to elbow dysplasia. In addition, b o t h e l b o w s m a y b e involved. The symptoms of front leg lameness and pain in the elbow lead us to think about elbow dysplasia as a diagnosis. However, there are other conditions that can affect the front leg of a young dog that will mimic the signs of elbow dysplasia very closely. Therefore, it is n e c e s s a r y t o t a k e radiographs (x-rays) of the elbow(s) to ver i fy the diagnosis.

Page 24 LRCC News

Of the above three, an ununited anconeal process is by far and away the easiest to show with x-rays. The fragmentation of the medial coronoid process and the osteochondrosis can be more difficult. The dog general ly needs to be h e a v i l y s e d a t e d o r anesthetized to obtain good x-rays, since the limb needs to be manipulated and positioned in ways that are often painful. High quality radiographs are a must. In a d d i t i o n , i t m a y b e necessary to have the radiographs sent to an expert veterinary radiologist who can discern the very minor changes that may appear in a dog with elbow dysplasia.

Treatment of e lbow dysplasia

Tr e a t m e n t o f e l b o w dysplasia varies with what distinct abnormalities are p r e s e n t . F r a g m e n t e d co rono id p roces s and osteochondrosis are often treated medically, without surgery. The young dog is placed on a regular, low-impact, exercise program ( s w i m m i n g i s o f t e n p r e f e r r ed ) . We i gh t i s m a n a g e d c a r e f u l l y . M e d i c a t i o n s s u c h a s n o n s t e r o i d a l a n t i -i n f l a m m a t o r y d r u g s (NSAIDS) are given to d e c r e a s e p a i n a n d inflammation. Depending on the severity of the

condition, surgery may be performed to remove the fragmented process or cartilage flap.

United anconeal process is usually treated with surgery in which the ununited process is removed. In some instances, small pins or screws may be used to join the process with the rest of the ulnar bone.

Prognosis

Usually, after the dog is 12 to 18 months of age, the lameness will have become less severe and some dogs will function very well. The l o n g - t e r m p r o g n o s i s (out look) , however, i s g u a r d e d . U s u a l l y , degenerative joint disease (arthritis) will occur as the animal ages, regardless of the type of treatment.

Race Foster, DVMDrs. Foster & Smith, Inc.Dr. Foster received his D o c t o r o f Ve t e r i n a r y Med i c ine degree f rom Michigan State University where he earned the 1983 Feline Medicine and Surgery A w a r d f o r a c a d e m i c achievements in fe l ine medicine.

A member of the Michigan and Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Associations, Dr. Foster is the co-author of four books on pet health, care, and behavior, and has a special interest in

consulting and working with professional dog and cat breeders, especially in the area of preventative animal health. Dr. Foster was instrumental in leading the company onto the Internet and continues to play a very a c t i v e r o l e i n s i t e development and direction. H i s c o m m i t m e n t t o educating pet owners led to t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f PetEducation.com, and he continues to play a visionary as well as contributory role in this highly regarded information-rich web site.

Dr. Foster lives in Minocqua, Wisconsin with his wife, four children, and their many pets. In his free time, Dr. Foster enjoys a variety of outdoor activities with his family, as well as reading and writing articles about pet health and care.


Life is like a dogsled team. If you ain't the

lead dog, the scenery never

changes. ~ Lewis Grizzard~

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Hip Dysplasia i n D o g s ; D i a g n o s i s , Treatment, and PreventionVeterinary & Aquatic Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith

What is hip dysplasia

To understand hip dysplasia we must have a basic understanding of the joint that is being affected. The h i p j o i n t f o r m s t h e attachment of the hind leg to the body and is a ball and socket joint. The ball portion is the head of the femur while the socket (acetabulum) is located on the pelvis. In a normal joint the ball rotates freely within the socket. To facilitate movement the bones are shaped to perfectly match each other; with the socket surrounding the ball. To strengthen the joint, the two bones are held together by a strong ligament. The l igament a t taches the femoral head directly to the acetabulum. Also, the joint capsule, which is a very strong band of connective tissue, encircles the two bone s add i ng f u r t h e r stability. The area where the bones actually touch each other is called the articular surface. It is perfectly smooth and cushioned with a layer of spongy cartilage.

In add i t ion , the jo in t contains a highly viscous fluid that lubricates the articular surfaces. In a dog with normal hips, all of these factors work together to cause the jo in t to function smoothly and with stability.

Hip dysplasia is associated w i t h a b n o r m a l j o i n t structure and a laxity of the muscles, connective tissue, and ligaments that would normally support the joint. As joint laxity develops, the articular surfaces of the two bones lose contact with each other. This separation of the two bones within the joint is called a subluxation, and this causes a drastic change in the size and shape of the art icular surfaces. Most dysplastic dogs are born with normal hips but due to their genetic make-up (and possibly other factors) the soft tissues that surround the joint develop abnormally causing the subluxation. It is this subluxation and the remodeling of the hip that leads to the symptoms we associate with this disease. Hip dysplasia may or may not be bilateral; affecting both the right and/or left hip.

What is hip dysplasia?

To understand hip dysplasia we must have a basic understanding of the joint

that is being affected. The h i p j o i n t f o r m s t h e attachment of the hind leg to the body and is a ball and socket joint. The ball portion is the head of the femur while the socket (acetabulum) is located on the pelvis. In a normal joint the ball rotates freely within the socket. To facilitate movement the bones are shaped to perfectly match each other; with the socket surrounding the ball. To strengthen the joint, the two bones are held together by a strong ligament. The l igament a t taches the femoral head directly to the acetabulum. Also, the joint capsule, which is a very strong band of connective tissue, encircles the two bone s add i ng f u r t h e r stability. The area where the bones actually touch each other is called the articular surface. It is perfectly smooth and cushioned with a layer of spongy cartilage. In add i t ion , the jo in t contains a highly viscous fluid that lubricates the articular surfaces. In a dog with normal hips, all of these factors work together to cause the jo in t to function smoothly and with stability.

Hip dysplasia is associated w i t h a b n o r m a l j o i n t structure and a laxity of the muscles, connective tissue, and ligaments that would

Page 26 LRCC News

normally support the joint. As joint laxity develops, the

articular surfaces of the two bones lose contact with each other. This separation of the two bones within the joint is called a subluxation, and this causes a drastic change in the size and shape of the art icular surfaces. Most dysplastic dogs are born with normal hips but due to their genetic make-up (and possibly other factors) the soft tissues that s

lrcc newsletter dec 2009=reduced - labrador retriever club...i am always looking for candid pictures...

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