The Natural Diet: A Happy Ending for a Very Sick Wolfhound Puppy

I thought I would share this heartwarming story about a wonderful young Wolfhound named Aoife who was very, very ill. Instead of my telling her story, I asked her owner to do so as she imparts the seriousness of the young Lassie's condition. Her owner contacted me for assistance as Aoife's state was grave, and I was happy to help. I am thrilled that Aoife's story has, to date, a good ending and though many times dogs respond in nearly miraculous ways to the Natural Diet, it is necessary to stress that sometimes genetics and autoimmune-mediated diseases can require many more solutions. One such issue that I hear more about is Leaky Gut Syndrome or Intestinal Permeability. Once little-known, it has become more frequent with severe complications and sadly, unhappy endings.

Update and Correction on Breeding & Ethicality

Correction:

First, I am reporting a correction to my recent Breeding & Ethicality Blog Post. Mainly, that one of two wolfhound maiden veteran bitches were bred.

An error happened when the gender of one of these two cases was realized to be that of a dog and not a bitch. The mistake occurred in the case of the reportedly eight-year 11-month-old hound. The inaccuracy transpired when I misinterpreted the hound’s gender due to its ambiguous registered name beginning with what appeared to be a pronoun having a typographical error. Of note, the Secretary of the IWCA whom I initially shared my discovery also had not detected my mistake until eleven days later when she notified me. I am sorry for the error.

Update:

Unsurprisingly, no action will be taken by the BOD regarding the other published Listed Breeder who did breed a maiden, veteran, nearly eight-year-old bitch. The Secretary believes it is plausible that this particular bitch may not quite have been eight-years-of-age at the time of whelping due to their estimation that it may take three to possibly six months for stud (male or female) records to be published. Initially describing such conduct as serious and a risk to the health of the bitch, the Secretary now has stated that the maiden bitch may have been 7.5 years to almost eight years of age (!) and although this still is past the range mentioned in the Standard of Behavior for Breeders, "Breed only those bitches that are in excellent health, generally between the ages of 24 months and 6 years", the IWCA BOD is tolerating such conduct on the pretense that the "Standard of Breeder Behavior provides a general age range and is not an absolute."  

The latter in italics and quotes are their words -- not mine. Is anyone reminded of the phrase copping out?

The BOD undermining their very own requisite document to avoid enforcement is not a new twist for many of us. I cannot help but be reminded of the old floor game "Twister -- The Game That Ties You Up in Knots" which required players to twist themselves into tight and uncomfortable positions while whirling the spinner. Seemingly, people are bending themselves into extreme postures to avoid fulfilling administerial duties with the result that now breeding a veteran, maiden Wolfhound bitch not quite eight years of age is considered passable! Despite the fact that according to the IWCA age qualifications, they reached Veteran status at six years of age and in Canada they did so at seven.

After some quick checking, it seems that once a litter is registered with the AKC, it takes approximately two months for the dog to appear in the AKC Stud records. However, again, the timeliness of the published information is wholly dependent on when the breeder submits the paperwork which, depending on the breed, could be between 4 to 12 weeks after a litter was whelped or many months later. In this case, a prospective puppy owner who previously owned an AKC registered wolfhound from this breeder informed me that a puppy or puppies were available from this specific breeding so it is logical to assume the breeders registered the litter as soon as possible in order to receive the individual certificates to sell the puppies as quickly as possible. Most likely there was only a brief amount of lag time between whelping and published records. Nonetheless, whether my estimation is correct, one person innocently asked why the BOD does not monitor the AKC Stud Book for incidents such as this? Ha! Ha!

By the way, it is interesting to note that The Kennel Club of England has breeding restrictions in place regarding the age limit for mating bitches. Their ceiling is eight years at the date of whelping. They, however, may grant opportunities for exceptions provided an application be made before the mating, if the proposed dam has previously whelped at least one other registered litter, and veterinary evidence of the dam's fitness accompanies the application.

More to come I am sure......

Another Important Note on Blastomycosis

Last week I forgot to include that the areas in which Blasto is frequently diagnosed includes Upstate New York! In fact, the Merck Manual Consumer Version states that:

"Most cases of blastomycosis occur in areas of North America where the fungus lives in the soil near river beds:

• The Ohio and Mississippi River valleys (extending into the middle Atlantic and southeastern states)

• The northern Midwest

• Upstate New York

• Areas of southern Canada that border the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence River

Natural Factors Oil of Oregano 1 FL OZ 2 Pack Buy on Amazon

Moreover, I wanted to especially highlight a remedy included in my last post from Dr. Becker at Mercola about Blasto as it may have been overlooked by some. That being Oil of Oregano which is an excellent support for a body fighting a fungal infection. More on the benefits of such can be found here.

In fact, my family uses Oil of Oregano at the first sign of a cold, as well as I have used it if my pollen allergies start acting up. This remedy is remarkable and we swear by it. Taken in its purest form via a dropper in a glass of water at the first sign of a sniffle or cold coming on, we repeat it up to four times daily for a day or two. Be forewarned, it is absolutely awful tasting, and you must hold your breath while downing the water but it works magic for us. You think I am exaggerating but I am not -- its awful tasting -- however, I sure as heck prefer taking Oil of Oregano than cold medicine to lessen the severity of constant sneezing, coughing, stuffed-up nose, sore throat and on and on...

Update on Canine Influenza from May 27 Post

This notice is being sent out to provide up-to-date and accurate information about the Canine Influenza Virus to help prevent the spread of the virus to healthy (unexposed) dogs. The information provided is not intended to alarm dog owners and handlers.  

There are recently confirmed cases of the Canine Influenza Virus (H3N2 strain) that was first brought to and identified in Chicago, Illinois in the spring of 2015.  The most recent outbreaks concern the following states: Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina.

Canine Influenza Virus is an extremely contagious airborne disease that is easily spread among dogs, and in rare instances, can be contagious to cats. If you believe one of your dogs may have contracted the Canine Influenza Virus, immediately isolate it from other animals and contact your veterinarian.

Here is some additional information about Canine Influenza Virus and tips for how to minimize the risk and reduce the spread of the disease:

Canine Influenza Virus

• Canine Influenza Virus is spread through:
  • Close proximity to infected dogs (it is airborne and can travel up to 20 ft.)
  • Contact with contaminated items (bowls, leashes, crates, tables, clothing, dog runs, etc.)
  • People moving between infected and uninfected dogs
  • 80% of all dogs that are exposed to the virus will contract it
  • The virus lives up to 24 hours on soft surfaces and up to 48 hours on hard surfaces.
• Some exposed dogs will be subclinical carriers - meaning some dogs will contract and spread the virus without showing symptoms.
• Dogs show clinical signs within 24-48 hours and can shed the virus for up to 28 days from exposure.
• Most dogs will completely recover with proper treatment.
• Dogs that regularly interact with dogs outside of their own family or frequent places where many dogs gather are most susceptible to exposure to Canine Influenza Virus.

Symptoms

• Dry, hacking cough (similar to kennel cough)
• Lack of appetite
• Lethargy
• Discharge from the nose or eyes
• Fever (normal temperature is 101 – 102)

Prevention

• The best protection is vaccination. There is now a single vaccination for both the H3N2 and H3N8 strains of the virus. The vaccination requires a booster shot two weeks after the initial vaccine. Vaccination provides the best chance of immunity within 7-14 days of booster shot.
• Isolate sick animals and keep them isolated for up to 30 days after symptoms subside.
• Practice good sanitation. Use a bleach and water mixture diluted to 1-part bleach x 30 parts water to disinfect common areas such as tables, bowls, leashes, crates, etc. Allow items to thoroughly air dry for a minimum of 10 minutes before exposing dogs to them.  Bleach breaks down quickly so solution should be made daily. Keep in mind that bleach becomes inactive in UV light. If mopping use two buckets so as not to cross contaminate areas
• Wash your hands frequently, ideally between handling different dogs. At the very minimum, hand sanitizer should be used between handling dogs.
• Use disposable gowns or wipe down clothing and shoes with a bleach solution between dogs or after leaving an area where dogs congregate.
• Food/water bowls should be made of stainless steel instead of plastic because scratched plastic is hard to fully disinfect.

Treatment

• Treatment of Canine Influenza Virus requires veterinary assistance. If you believe your dog may have Canine Influenza Virus, please contact your veterinarian immediately. Untreated, the illness may progress to pneumonia or other, more serious problems. H3N2 can lead to severe secondary pneumonia which can cause extremely sick dogs with potential fatalities.
• Most dogs take 2-3 weeks to recover from the illness.

Containment

• Any dog suspected of having Canine Influenza Virus should be immediately isolated from other dogs and should not attend dog shows, day care, grooming facilities, dog parks, or other places dogs gather. Dogs are contagious for up to 30 days once they have started showing symptoms.
• Contact your veterinarian to let them know that your dog may be showing symptoms of Canine Influenza Virus. If your dog is going to a veterinary hospital or clinic, call ahead to let them know you have a suspected case of Canine Influenza Virus. They may ask you to follow a specific protocol before entering the clinic to minimize the spread of the disease, including waiting in your car until they are ready to examine your dog.
• Keep sick dogs at home and isolated from other dogs and cats until you are certain the illness has run its course (typically 3-4 weeks).

Consideration for Event Venues

• Use a bleach and water mixture diluted to 1-part bleach x 30 parts water to disinfect common areas including show floors, grooming tables, ring gates, in-ring examination tables and ramps, and x-pens. Allow solution to completely dry (at least ten minutes in order to assure virus has been killed). Bleach breaks down quickly so solution should be made daily. Keep in mind that bleach becomes inactive in UV light. If mopping use two buckets so as not to cross contaminate areas.
• When wiping down hard surfaces paper towels are preferred over cloth.
• Consider having two exam tables at every ring so that they can be cleaned and allowed to air dry frequently in between classes.
• Provide hand sanitizer in each ring and in grooming areas.
• Exhibitors should consider grooming dogs at their cars instead of using grooming areas where dogs are in very close proximity.

Dr. Jerry Klein is a veterinarian in the emergency room at Chicago’s largest veterinary emergency and specialty center. He was personally involved in treating hundreds of dogs sickened by the H3N2 virus during its initial outbreak in Chicago in spring of 2015. He is also an AKC licensed judge.

AKC Canine Influenza Warning!

Many of us have just returned from the Irish Wolfhound Club of America National Specialty and should be aware of this recent warning from AKC on May 25, 2017, about a Canine Influenza outbreak in Georgia and Florida. Keep in mind that there were exhibits in attendance from these areas and though I am not aware of any hounds that were ill; remember that dogs may shed the virus without displaying symptoms. So, be alert if you have returned from the National Specialty.

“We have received notice of confirmed cases of canine influenza in dogs that were at events in Georgia and Florida over the past 7-14 days. Please monitor your dogs closely. As you know, the virus has an incubation period of 2-5 days and dogs may be shedding the virus while showing no signs. Dogs with fevers, poor appetites, coughing, sneezing, runny eyes/noses should NOT be exposed to other dogs or people. If your dog is ill or exhibiting symptoms, the best option is to seek veterinary attention and refrain from bringing the dog out in public until they are medically cleared by your veterinarian. ”

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For more detailed information on canine influenza, please view this article.

Exercise for the Veteran Irish Wolfhound

It is necessary to keep in mind that exercise for our veteran hounds is vital. Notably, those hounds who have suffered an injury, such as our Danny, but also, those experiencing an overall loss of muscle mass with a weakening of the hindquarters that gradually worsens over time. In many cases, the latter is often diagnosed via digital radiographs or M.R.I. as spondylosis, aka arthritis of the spine, which can be minimized with drugs such as anti-inflammatories, such as steroids. However, the disease is not reversible. Also, I use systemic enzymes such as WobEnzyme that are beneficial for addressing inflammation. Even more, holistic supplements can be utilized such as Shark Cartilage or Green Lipped Mussels purchased at Wholistic Pet Organics which increases synovial fluid levels and hopefully rebuild cartilage and elasticity.

As far as exercise, I am not necessarily referring to free bounding and galloping in the fields. Although his form can be both liberating, toning, and otherwise healthy; it can be harmful because many older hounds will overdo it and can injure themselves or further aggravate a pre-existing injury. I recommend leashed exercise for older hounds who will benefit from this method of conditioning of reserved but nonstop action.

If a hound has not been exercised previously then one should begin slowly with daily 20-minute sessions in a regular beat -- as my canine physical rehabilitationist refers to it as a "don't stop and smell the flowers" pace. This type of exercise is a regular body conditioner that can strengthen muscling, for example, the gluteal muscles responsible for extending and abduction of the hip and limb. As the veteran sighthound gets accustomed to the daily walks over two weeks or so, you can build up their distance by 1/2 mile or 10-minute sessions in the proceeding weeks, gradually building up to 2 to 3 miles daily. You will see and feel a difference on the hound, and hopefully, this training, and possibly the use of an anti-inflammatory steroid such as Methylprednisone, along with laser therapy, and the natural supplements I discussed above, can prolong their lives with us.