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NEWS
Bulletin
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June 2003 -
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THIS ISSUE: |
Profile Dog Food
- Understanding Animal Nutrition
We would like to offer a special thanks to Profile for their
nation wide support of
CKC Performance Events.
CKC will be sanctioning a Weight Pull in Laurel, MS, hosted by South
Mississippi Weight Pull Assoc. on June 14, 2003. Representatives from CKC were
pleased to attend a CKC sanctioned event in Quakertown, PA, hosted by Upper
Bucks Working Dog Club of PA. Look below to find out more! You can find more
information on the other CKC Performance Events and Competitions, by
Clicking Here.
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Upper Bucks Working Dogs of Pennsylvania
Upper Bucks Working Dogs of PA held
their second sanctioned event on May 10, 2003. They awarded a total of 16
titles in Obedience, Agility and Tracking & Article Search. Some people
drove over 400 miles to compete. The Junior Handler Performance Competitions
was a hit with the kids and two competitors walked away with titles in
Obedience 1 & 2. The event was held at Richlandtown Playground, Cherry Rd.
in Richlandtown, PA. You can find out more about this event and others by
Clicking Here.
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South Mississippi Weight Pull Association
South Mississippi Weight Pull
Association (SMWPA) will be holding their third CKC-sanctioned Weight Pull on
June 14, 2003 at the Laurel Mississippi Fair Grounds. We are expecting a large
turn out and welcome everyone to join us! SMWPA will also be offering The
Junior Handler Performance Competitions to their youth members at this event.
The event will be held at the Laurel Fairgrounds in Laurel, MS. You can find
out more about this and other events by visiting their website by
Clicking Here.
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Veterinary Technician Advice
Diseases your Puppy or Dog may get if not Vaccinated
Part II
In the last article I wrote about: (Distemper) the first disease
that a dog or puppy is vaccinated for in the DA2PLPC series, how the disease
makes them sick, and how it is treated and how it affects puppies' health. In
this article, I will cover the next two diseases in the DA2PLPC series, which
are Canine Hepatitis and Canine Parinfluenza virus.
Infectious Canine Hepatitis is a highly contagious viral disease affecting the
liver and other organ, and is caused by Canine Adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1). This
disease is closely related to Canine Adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2) that causes
Infectious Canine Tracheobronchitis, which will be elaborated on in a later
article. CAV 1 is spread only among domestic and wild dogs such as wolves,
coyotes, bears, skunks and foxes, and it is not related to human hepatitis.
A dog or puppy can become infected with this disease by direct contact with an
infected animal, feces, or contaminated objects such as food dishes. In
addition, it is transmitted by inhalation or by fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes.
Four to seven days after the initial exposure to the virus, it begins to
multiply and sheds in the feces, saliva, and urine making this the most
contagious period of the disease. For the first eight days, it will travel from
the tonsils to the lymph nodes and on to the blood stream. From there, it
infects the liver, kidneys, eyes, and other organs, causing extensive cell
damage. It is because of this that the virus can be found in all tissues of
infected animals and shed in all body secretions. An infected canine may even
shed the virus for 6-9 months after recovery, through secretions.
Signs and symptoms of this disease vary from a slight fever to death. A puppy
or dog that has a healthy immune system can fight the disease by producing
antibodies, but it can stay in the kidneys and it can be shed in the urine for
up to nine months posing a threat to other dogs. There are three forms of
systemic disease of this virus. The per acute form usually affects puppies and
causes death with in a short period of three to four hours with little or no
signs of illness. The Acute form usually has a duration of four to nine days
and may involve many clinical symptoms including: fever, apathy, anorexia,
thirst, conjunctivitis, serious discharge from eyes and nose, abdominal pain,
vomiting, tachycardia, leucopoenia, bleeding of the gums, prolonged clotting
time, enlarged tonsils, and swelling of the head, neck and trunk. Central
nervous signs are not common, but they may be seen in a severely infected
animal. It is sometimes very difficult to control hemorrhaging depending on the
severity of the disease because of the prolonged clotting time. Since the liver
is an important organ that performs many vital jobs, any disturbance in its
function is a serious matter that should be treated early.
Treatment for this disease consists of many systemic procedures. Blood
transfusions may be necessary in severely ill dogs with prolonged clotting
time. A 5% dextrose solution in isotonic saline should be given intravenously
along with a broad-spectrum antibiotic. If the puppy or dog develops corneal
edema, then an atropine ophthalmic ointment may be given and the animal should
be protected against bright lights. These signs could be the beginnings of
"blue eye", which is temporary clouding of the cornea of one or both eyes
caused by antibodies that attach to the virus present in the eye. This problem
is common in about one-quarter of dogs, usually puppies under six months old,
which have an acute Infectious Canine Hepatitis. This problem may last for six
months after recovery and may even lead to permanent eye damage. After the
recovery begins, the liver will be able to heal itself but this disease leaves
the dog more susceptible to kidney infections because of the amount of time the
virus remains in the kidneys.
As with all other virus, prevention is the key to keeping your puppy or dog
safe from Infectious Canine Hepatitis and many other diseases.
The third disease in the DA2PLPC series is Canine Parinfluenza Virus. This
disease is almost obsolete, but it is still a good idea to vaccinate against
it. It is transmitted through aerosol spread such as coughing or sneezing,
personnel, cages, food, and water bowls. Though this disease causes mild
problems it can be harbored in the airways of dogs or puppies that may not show
any signs. In puppies and imunocompromised animals, this disease can cause a
secondary bacterial invasion of the lower respiratory tract and life
threatening pneumonia.
The main clinical sign of the mild form of this disease is a dry hacking cough
that can be high pitched because of laryngitis and swollen vocal folds. The
cough may be more frequent during exercise, excitement, or changes in
temperature and humidity of inspired air. A cough can be elicited by tracheal
palpation or by pulling on the collar. A mild naso-occular discharge is
sometimes seen. The clinical course of this disease is usually 7-14 days and
typically, the dog or puppy continues to eat and remains active and alert.
The severe form of this disease is a lot less common and is usually the result
of mixed infections in unvaccinated puppies in animal shelters or pet shops. A
productive cough due to Tracheobronchitis plus bronchopneumonia may be present.
Other signs are conjunctivitis, anorexia, depression, and fever. The severe
form of this disease is sometimes hard to distinguish from canine Distemper,
which can sometimes be fatal.
Radiographs, airway cytologies, cultures, and virology can be used to help
diagnosis Parinfluenza, but reveals many nonspecific findings. Since these test
are not definite this disease is usually diagnosed on circumstantial evidence
of clinical signs and exposure history.
Treatment of this disease varies. The mild form requires no specific therapy.
The severe form however, can be fatal because of lower respiratory involvement
prompting aggressive treatment for bronchopneumonia. All antitussives need to
be avoided. If the cough persist for more than 14 days other tests need to be
performed to rule out other diseases. If possible, this disease is treated on
an outpatient basis to prevent transmission to other boarding and hospitalized
animals. Other treatments include supportive care such as adequate fluid
intake, either oral or IV, airway humidification, and rest.
As with all diseases, prevention is vaccination. I hope you have enjoyed this
article and will be looking forward to the next disease topic, Leptospirosis.
Kami R. Guy, CVT
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FEATURED
ARTICLE II
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Puppy Love = Puppy Lab
by Joe R. Lock, President, Suncoast Retriever/Bird Dog Association
When Mulberry High School agriculture teacher
Sherryl Erdman acquired two Labrador Retriever puppies in January of 2001, she
was in quite a quandary as to what to do with the puppies during the day while
she was teaching school. Sure, puppy day care was available, but that can be
very expensive. The puppies could also be left at home in the crate as many
people choose to do, however, Sherryl just
did not want to leave them at home alone all day.
Sherryl also taught one class of agriculture to special education students.
This gave her an idea. She approached Beth Athans, the school's teacher of the
mentally handicapped, and asked her if she would consider raising the Lab pups
in school as a project for the special students. Beth thought this was a great
idea and the two of them sat down and decided how they would coordinate the
project.
Beth and Sherryl both realized that the project
would be more than just a babysitting service for the dogs. The project would
also be a learning experience for the students. First, they would have to
devise several lesson plans, and the plans would have to cover a spectrum of
several different academic areas. Next, the project had to be approved by
principal George Hatch, which was not a problem at all, as Mr. Hatch thought it
was a great idea.
A section of Beth's classroom was fenced off and doggy sleep pads and
newspapers were put in place. The first week was mainly a socialization time
for the dogs and a get acquainted time for the students. It did not take long
for the rest of the school to learn about the presence of Leo, the yellow male
Lab, and littermate Sadie, the chocolate female, as Beth's classroom was now
getting many visitors. However, this was a good thing. Regular students were
now socializing and working with the special students by visiting and walking
the dogs together around the campus. Beth's class had the pups leash trained
and house broken in a short time.
 The dogs became very protective of the special kids and they
would bark and growl at an unknown visitor. Some students gained a new
confidence by being entrusted with the responsibility of feeding, watering,
brushing, and walking the dogs. The students could see the instant results of
their efforts just in the grateful wag of a tail. "Some of these kids just
don't have many positive things in their lives. The dogs have given them
something positive, " Beth told me.
The students also got some practical math lessons, as they would measure their
growth over several months. The kids would measure the dog's height, length of
body, length of tail, weight, etc., and record it. They were amazed at the
changes they were observing and recording.
The dogs now reside at Sherryl Erdman's home in Lakeland, Florida. Sherryl and
her son Tim have trained them to run in CKC sanctioned retriever hunt tests and
so far the dogs have done quite well. In fact, Leo should earn a title in the
Novice Retriever class sometime next year, with Sadie not too far behind.
If one were to say to Beth Athans or Sheryl Erdman, "If those dogs only knew
how much they helped a group of handicapped kids..." they would both just look
at you, smile, and say in unison, "They DO!"
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| CKC
Outstanding Breeder Merit Award |
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Continental Kennel Club Outstanding Breeder Merit Award
Mr. Willie Sullivan Breeder of
Olde English Bulldogges
"It's all about the dog!"
Every once in a while the Continental Kennel Club
happens to run across an individual whose dedication, hard work and sheer love
for a breed is well deserving of a measure of praise and good merit. For this,
the Outstanding Breeder Merit Award is given with great pleasure and eagerness
to Mr. Willie Sullivan of Sullivan Kennels, located in Taylorsville,
Mississippi.
Willie is considered by CKC to be one of the most credible breeders
of the Olde English Bulldogge breed. He has voluntarily put in over 30 years of
dedication to preserving, caring for, improving and educating others on this
admirable breed.
Willie received his first dog when he was just six years old. When
asked what made him decide to breed the Olde English Bulldogges, his reply was
simple, yet sincere, "I breed them because I love the dogs." It is his
constructive attitude towards the breed that has allowed him the consideration
needed for improving the Oldes'.
His personal goals and standards for breeding derive from his
extended experience with the breed. He has developed his own rules and system
for breeding, with the health and well being of the dogs being the single most
important factor. This starts with the selection of the parent dogs. His
standards for selecting a dog are simple, yet key. Loyalty, watchfulness and
willingness to please him are the main factors a dog must comprise of in order
to be considered by him. These are the building blocks for a sound and healthy
puppy.
Education of the breed and their habits to prospective owners is a
major element that will help to create not only a healthy pet, but also a
healthy pet and owner relationship. A common mistake with most breeders is that
they believe once a puppy or dog has been placed with a family, that their duty
is fulfilled. Taking the time to screen and question the prospective owners is
another step that Willie takes to ensure the health and well being of a puppy
or dog once it has left his care. He also takes the time once a year to follow
up with the new owners to check the status of both the dog and the owner.
Willie is always willing to take the time to eagerly share his
knowledgeable opinions and ideas with anyone who needs information on breeding,
selecting a dog, dog health or on dogs in general. It is not only his
distinguished methods of breeding, but also his helpfulness to others that
makes Willie Sullivan an outstanding breeder and a deserving recipient of this
honor. The Continental Kennel Club gives a sincere thank you to Mr. Sullivan
for his dedication and care for the breed.
 Just
a couple of Willie's beautiful dogs!!!
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| Snapshot of the Month |
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CKC would like to see your canine buddies in action! Each month we will pick a
theme and ask you to submit photos of your dog(s) relating to the theme of the
month. You can
e-mail or mail your snapshot ATTN: Snapshot of the Month, PO BOX 1627,
Walker, LA 70785. All entries must be received by the 30th. The winner
will receive a custom made CKC T-Shirt with their snapshot on the back. All we
ask is that you please include your name, address, daytime phone number and
your dog's CKC#.
June's Theme of the Month
is
"The Dog Days of Summer"
We have chosen "The
Dog Days of Summer" theme
for June. Send us pics of your dog keepin' it cool in the summer heat! We will
accept pictures of all breeds, shapes, sizes and colors, although they must be
CKC Registered.
Congratulations.....
The winner of May's Theme of the Month,
"The Patriotic Dog" is Monette Effler with a picture of her Chihuahua puppy,
Mickey. Below is the winning snapshot! We would like to thank everyone for
submitting pictures for the "Snapshot of the Month" & keep them coming!!
Note: All pictures
submitted become property of Continental Kennel Club and
may be used at our discretion.
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| Breed Of The Month |
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BREED OF THE MONTH
The American Pit Bull Terrier
Origin:
United States
Other Names: Pit Bull, Pit Bull Terrier,
American Pit Bull, Pit
Group: Mastiff
Weight: 45-90 pounds
Height: 17-23 inches
Coat: Short, stiff and shiny, close to the
body
Color: All colors permissible
This month "Breed of the Month" spotlight is dedicated to a breed of dog that
has been long deserving of positive attention. Never before has there ever been
a breed of dog that has been persecuted, shunned, banned, mistreated and their
reputation completely obliterated as the American Pit Bull Terrier.
While the precise origin of the American Pit Bull Terrier in not known today,
its ancestors can be traced back to at least 150 years or so. We follow its
roots back to England, when bull baiting was still very much a popular sport.
Over a period of time, these "bull-dogs" were bred to terriers, which in turn
led to the refining of the breed in the United States.
The American Pit Bull Terriers reputation precedes him even today. They were
originally bred for guard work, hunting, game baiting, and unfortunately, later
used at dog fighters' disposal. Today the breed is used for many things and
capable of overcoming any challenge that is placed before them. They are able
to take on anything a handler can throw at them such as; weight pulling, guard
work, personal protection, tracking and article search, hunting, handicap
assistant dogs, herding, flock guard, and many more. The one activity that the
American Pit Bull Terrier excels in the most is just being loved by a family.
Ironically, the American Pit Bull Terrier inherited all of its good-natured
traits from its harsh past. There are very few breeds that can compete with the
dedication that a Pit Bull gives to its family and the dogs' loyalty is one
trait that you can easily trace throughout the breeds past. Few dogs other than
the American Pit Bull Terrier would boldly face a rampaging bull, or fight to
the death on command for his owners' approval and affection. Pleasing their
family and protecting is what they live to do.
Contrary to the conjured and exaggerated stories we are all so familiar with
hearing, the American Pit Bull Terrier is a gentile, compassionate, and lively
breed. They adjust well to training and are capable of being excellent pets.
The only acceptable excuse for an aggressive dog is an ignorant owner. There is
no argument to that. These dogs are not aggressive by nature, nor do they hate
people and other animals. Bad press, ignorant ownership, poor socialization
towards other animals and people are the culprits in this silly witch-hunt.
The American Pit Bull Terrier is a breed that is in dire need of protection or
will surely face extinction. It is already banned in some locations and suffers
severe persecution in others. Responsible ownership is the only tactic that is
going to save this breed. Thankfully, there are a growing number of people who
serve as positive ambassadors for the breed. It is these breeders and owners
who take the time to educate others on how tremendously wonderful this breed
really is. They are slowly making a difference, and the breeds' reputation is
slowly starting to make a change for the better.
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| Employee
of The Month |
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EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
The management at CKC would like to take the time to congratulate
Kelli S. for being recognized as our "Employee of the Month", for the
month of June. Kelli's hard work, optimistic attitude,
friendliness towards others, dedication and over all performance in
the work place has not gone unnoticed. We would like to thank
Kelli for all that she has done for us by presenting her with this
token of our appreciation.
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| CKC
Q & A |
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E-mail your questions and comments about CKC and our monthly newsletter to
editor@ckcusa.com. In each month's newsletter we will have responses to
the most commonly asked questions.
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NOTE: The
CKC Monthly Newsletter is available by subscription only. Your contact
information is secure and will never be shared with a third party.
Got a question? Or maybe you'd just like to say how much
you enjoy the Newsletter? Send your comments to:
editor@ckcusa.com
Copyright© 2003 Continental Kennel
Club, Inc. - No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express
written permission by the publisher.
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