November 10, 2011
Dah's SA returns
Here is a link to some pictures following
Dah's journey with SA.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7520941@N04/sets/72157623083239644/with/5162496181/
While we had hopes of Dah remaining symptom
free, it has
returned, as it so often does. However
we hope that those of
you who see this, and perhaps have a dog
with SA, will recognize that
it is, for the most part, only cosmetic
and can be dealt with, treated and
we can love and enjoy them for many years.
For those of with you with Standard Poodles
who are Affected
with this disease, we STRONGLY encourage
you to post the
information on the Poodle Health Registry
so that, in the future,
others may avoid this sad event.
http://www.poodlehealthregistry.org/
Important Links
Orthopedic Foundation for Animals
Canine Health Information Center
Journal of the American Animal Hospital Assn
We firmly believe that all
responsible breeders should do whatever they can to
increase the knowledge concerning
health issues in Poodles.
This means testing your dogs,
ensuring that those results are made public on the
appropriate websites
(minimally on your personal website and OFA/CHIC, but can
also be listed CERF, Poodle
Health Registry, Poodle Pedigree Database among others)
and participating in studies
that will ultimately lead to solutions to some of these issues.
August 2006: We have submitted
DNA samples from all of our dogs to the
UC Davis Standard Poodle Disease
Marker Study.
Canine Diseases
DISTEMPER Canine Distemper
is caused by a virus closely related to the human measle virus. It is considered
the most serious viral disease of dogs in the world. Approximately 50%
of nonvaccinated, nonimmunized dogs infected with CD virus develop clinical
signs of the disease and approximately 90%
of those dogs infected with
CD die. All the bodily secretions of an infected animal contain the virus,
it is highly contagious, and
it is primarily spread by an airborne route. It's more frequent and acutely
affects pups under 3 months of age. Early clinical signs include anorexia,
diarrhea, and dehydration.
As the disease progresses,
fever, depression, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea may be observed
accompanied by signs of respiratory
distress. Coughing, labored breathing, inflammation of tissues
around the eyes and nose,
and mucopurulent oculonasal discharge may occur. If dogs recover
from Distemper they often
have lifelong complications.
PARVOVIRUS Parvo is
caused by a virus that attacks the lining of the small intestine of all
canines. Infection results in enteric disease characterized by sudden onset
of vomiting and diarrhea, often
with blood. Susceptibility
cannot be avoided. Any puppy exposed to the virus during the susceptibility
period will most likely come down with the disease, regardless of many
vaccination schedules. The virus
is spread by a fecal-oral
route. This means that the virus is passed, by the billions, in the stool
of
an infected canine and then
ingested by another canine. It can live in the environment for years and
still be infectious, and can
be spread on hands, boots, feed dishes, etc.
CORONAVIRUS Corona is
caused by another species-specific virus which attacks the small intestinal
lining. The symptoms of the disease include lethargy, anorexia, and depression.
The sudden onset of vomiting occurs, in which blood can sometimes be found.
Diarrhea is moderate to severe and is
projectile. Feces is yellow-orange
colored with blood and mucous occasionally found.
LEPTOSPIROSIS Lepto
is an acute infectious disease that is characterized by depression, fever,
and
loss of appetite. The mucous
membranes are usually deeply congested. Jaundice sometimes occurs indicating
severe liver involvement. The kidneys can also be damaged, resulting in
Uremia, vomiting, dehydration, Polyuria (excessive urination), and polydipsia
(excessive thirst). It is a bacterial disease which seems to be having
an upswing in varying locales across North America. The organism is shed
in
the urine of infected animals
and is contagious by penetration of abraded skin or mucous membranes.
INFECTIOUS TRACHEOBRONCHITIS
(KENNEL COUGH) Infectious Tracheobronchitis (ITB) is
often inappropriately labeled
"Kennel Cough" which is more of a syndrome rather than a distinct
disease entity. Some of the
more commonly involved organisms at work are CAV-2, Parainfluenza,
and Bordetella Bronchiseptica.
The syndrome is highly contagious and may cause a dry, retching
cough that can lead to a severe
Pneumonia.
CANINE ADENOVIRUS TYPE 2
and TYPE 1 Infections are primarily respiratory, evidenced by Pneumonia,
Bronchitis, Tonsillitis, and Pharyngitis. CAV-2 is one of the causes of
Infectious Tracheobronchitis (ITB) that is often labeled "Kennel Cough."
CAV-2 has not been associated with
Corneal Opacity ("blue eyes"),
Uveitis or virus localization in the kidneys, which may be characteristic
of Canine Adenovirus Type
1 (CAV-1) infections. This virus is spread in the bodily secretions of
infected dogs and a wide variety of carnivorous wildlife. Infectious Canine
Hepatitis is rare in dogs today.
PARAINFLUENZA Canine
Parainfluenza is a highly contagious respiratory disease which contributes
to upper respiratory disease
and Infectious Tracheobronchitis. It is one of the three major diseases
that causes ITB which is also
labeled "Kennel Cough." Characteristic clinical signs of CPI Infection
is coughing that may be intensified
by activity or excitement. Environmental factors such as drafts,
colds and high humidity may
enhance susceptibility to the disease. Typically, CPI is self-limiting,
with
a course of 5 to 10 days duration.
However, secondary bacterial infection of the respiratory tract are
not uncommon, and may complicate
the clinical syndrome.
BORDETELLA BRONCHISEPTICA
Bordetella is also one of the three most common causes of Canine
Upper Respiratory Disease
Complex, known as "Kennel Cough." The symptoms include a harsh, dry cough,
aggravated by activity or excitement. The cough is followed by retching
or gagging in an attempt to
clear small amounts of mucous
from the throat. Body temperatures may be elevated as secondary
bacterial infection takes
place. This disease is highly contagious and is readily transmitted
to susceptible dogs.
LYME DISEASE Lyme Disease is caused by a bacterial organism known as Borrelia Bugdorferi. It is transmitted by the bite of an infected tick. The most common clinical manifestation is one of pain in multiple joints..
RABIES Rabies is an invariably fatal disease which affects all warm-blooded animals (including humans). The virus is spread in the saliva of infected animals and can be absorbed across abraded (broken or irritated) skin, mucous membranes, and even the eye.