HEALTH
General Canine Health
Feeding/Vaccination/Desexing and Alternatives/Pyometra/Osteosarcoma/Vestibular Disease/Other
Feeding and Vaccination
We feed our girls BARF, and use minimal vaccinations.
We started feeding our first CKCS Sophie, on home made food when she became sick and found she did so much better than on the prescribed food our vet wanted her to have. After that, we were always interested in feeding a more natural diet, but were scared to take the plunge. It all seemed so complicated. So when we got Nellie and Isabella, they did start out their life on dry commercial foods until by chance Nellie won a couple of boxes of BARF patties at the Belgian open show and we have been feeding a BARF diet ever since. Satine unfortunately only started out at 12wks but, she has only eaten BARF in some form or other ever since and all her puppies were raised on BARF for the duration that they were with us.
The results speak for themselves. I regularly get comments about how glossy their coats are -and they only get washed every 4 mths, and how full of life they are. I very rarely go to the vets with them too which is an added bonus. Nellie was feed only BARF the entire time through her pregnancy, whelping and raising of her pups and I had nothing but gobsmacked comments from even vets/vet nurses as to how healthy and well she was.
Unfortunately the one thing I was a little slow on was minimal vaccinations. For many years I was all for yearly vaccinations for everything we need here in Australia, and then slowly more articles started to come out. I also stupidly got Nellie revaccinated with her “yearly” shot while she was raising her pups - because the vet and others said that it was ok. Nothing thankfully appeared to have occurred, but from everything I have now read I would never ever ever. Satine also had a reaction to either her 2nd round of vaccinations (at 12wks) and/or the heart worm tablet given on the same day - this too is a never ever ever, or she may have also had tick poisoning. So many poisons going into the system, something has to give. Thankfully she has had no reactions ever since. I now believe in following the minimal vaccination protocol - vaccinations at 9-10wks, 14-16 wks, and then 12 mths- 3yrs later titre test (dependant on vaccine and vet) to check for levels. After this there should be no need for any more vaccinations. If concerned a titre test can be performed.
For More Information On BARF or feeding more naturally....
Raw Pet Food Research Database.
DogRisk. - nutrition and diseases.
http://www.drianbillinghurst.com/
Raw Meat Diet Article - Dr Karen Becker
Normal Blood Values and Raw Fed Dogs
Dr Jean Dodds's Raw Food Diet Study - full article.
Modulation of the intestinal microbiota of dogs by kefir as a functional dairy product. 2018.
The effect of a raw vs dry diet on serum biochemical, hematologic, blood iron, B12, and folate levels in Staffordshire Bull Terriers. 2019.
Zinc in Dog Nutrition, Health and Disease: A Review. 2021.
Detection of glyphosate residues in companion animal feeds- ABSTRACT 2018.
Glyphosate and Your Campanion Pets. Dr Jean Dodds. 2020
Recommended Books
Dr Ian Billinghurst - Grow Your Pup with Bones; Give Your Dog a Bone; The BARF Diet; Pointing the Bones at Cancer.
W. Jean Dodds, DVM & Diana R. Laverdure - Canine Nutrigenomics the New Science of Feeding for Optimum Health.
Monica Segal - K9 Kitchen -Optimum Nutrition. 2nd Edition coming soon.
Steve Brown - Unlocking The Canine Ancestral Diet - Healther Dog Food the ABC Way.
Dr Conor Brady -Feeding Dogs: The Science Behind The Dry Versus Raw Debate.
Judy Morgan DVM - Yin & Yang Nutrition for Dogs: Maximizing Health with Whole Foods, Not Drugs; Raising Naturally Healthy Pets; Keeping Your Pets Naturally Healthy: Holistic Care and Nutrition for Dogs & Cats.
Karen Shaw Becker and Rodney Habib -The Forever Dog; The Forever Dog Life.
Dr Clare Middle - Real Food for Dogs and Cats (Revised and Updated Edition): A Practical Guide to Feeding Your Pet a Balanced, Natural Diet; Natural Prescription Diets for Dogs and Cats.
Richard H Pitcairn - Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide To Natural Health For Dogs & Cats (4th Edition).
Rhian Allen - Healthy Dog, Happy Dog: Help your dog live a healthier, longer life with a fresh food diet.
Cheryl Schwartz - Four Paws, Five Directions: A Guide to Chinese Medicine for Cats and Dogs.
Rita Hogan - The Herbal Dog. Holistic Canine Herbalism Applications and Practice. - Coming.
For information on knuckling over caused by rapid growth and skeletal deformities...
http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles/knuckling_over.htm
Information on Minimal Vaccinations...
Dr Jean Dodds' Pet Health Resource Blog
Dr Jean Dodds-CHG-VACC-PROTOCOLS
http://www.dogs4dogs.com/blog/2009/08/06/treating-adverse-vaccine-reactions-by-jean-dodds-dvm/
The Purdue Vaccination Studies and Auto-antibodies
Ten Vaccine Myths
Duration of immunity to vaccines - Peter Dobias
Duration of immunity for canine and feline vaccines: A review - Robert Schultz
Duration of immunity to vaccines table
Vets on Vaccines - Dogs Naturally Article
More is Not Better - Dogs Naturally Article
Avoid unnessesary vaccinations with titre tests - Jean Dodds.
Frequently Asked Questions About Titres and Vaccination Protocol By Jean Dodds. 2015
2016 Dodds Vaccination Protocol for Dogs
World Small Animal Veterinary Association - www.wsava.org
WSAVA Guideline for the vaccination of Dogs and Cats
Australian Veterinary Association - www.ava.com.au
AVA Vaccination of Cats and Dogs- 2018
Vaccination FAQ
Dr Shultz/Dr Becker interview in 4 parts.
Desex/Not To Desex - Early/later Desexing- Alternatives to Traditional Desexing
While I am certainly an advocate of desexing if you are not looking to breed, there are many studies that point to health issues if desexing prior to growth plate closure. I strongly believe that hormones do have an effect on growth and that there are many other health benefits to desexing later once the growth plates have closed (approx 18mths for Belgians).
Below are some links in regards to desexing.
Long-Term Health Effects of Neutering Dogs:Comparison of Labrador Retrievers with Golden Retrievers - July 2014
Early Spay Considerations.
Long Turn Effects Of Spay/Neuter in Dogs.
Plos One article: Neutering Dogs: Effects on Joint Disorders and Cancers in Golden Retrievers.
The effect of neutering on the risk of mammary tumours in dogs – a systematic review.
Rotweiller Study Links Ovaries with Exceptional Longevity.
Behavioral and Physical Effects of Spaying and Neutering Domestic Dogs.
Don't Make This Mistake When Scheduling Your Dog's Neutering Procedure.
Stan Rawlinson Neutering (Spaying & Castration) Dogs and Suprelorin.pdf
Tubal Ligation and Vasectomy - Alternative to Traditional Desexing
Zinc Neutering - Non-surgical Neutering
Ovariectomy article - The Whole Dog Journal
Risks and Benefits to Spaying and Neutering your Dog (inc uterus only removal) - The Whole Dog Journal.
A Modified Spay Procedure Preserving Female Dog Ovaries- Dr Becker Article
Ovary Spare Spay - Parsemus foundation - lots of info and video
Epiphyseal Plate Closure in Dogs
AMO_Age of Neutering in Large- & Giant-Breed Dogs.
Correlation of neuter status and expression of heritable disorders.
Gonadectomy effects on the risk of immune disorders in the dog- a retrospective study.
Neutering Dogs. In Depth. Doglistener
Gonadectomy – Rethinking Long-Held Beliefs. Chris Zink 2018.
Demographic risk factors for lymphoma in Australian dogs: 6201 cases
Estrogen's opposing effects on mammary tumors in dogs. 2019.
The effect of neuter status on longevity in the Rottweiler dog 2023
Countering the Effects of Spay. Article.
Pyometra
After Satine contracted open pyometra and after doing my own research, I thought I would put a few articles on the disease as well as treatment and studies here. Alizan used for pyometra treatment is currently "off label" in Australia.
Satine's treatment consisted of :- Day 1 -swab taken, IV fluids, IV antibiotics, Alizan injection and course of tablet antibiotics until end. Day 2- (24hrs after) Alizin injection. Day 7 - Alizin injection. Day 14 ultrasound and Alizin injection. Day 29 (should have been day 28 but for public holiday) ultrasound -determined as clear uterus. Day 43 ultrasound, finish of antibiotic course.
Throughout she was also on (1/2 hr after antibiotic) Vit C, Vit B, Strong Probiotic, Fish oil and colloidal silver in her water.
When Satine next came in season (* Alizan can bring them in several months early), she was swabed on day 2 to check for bacteria levels*. Receiving the all clear she was mated and then an ultrasound was done at about 3 1/2 weeks from matings to check for puppies and uterine health. A further ultrasound was done at 5 weeks which proved to be all clear (despite my panic) and then a final scan was done at 6 weeks. Satine whelped a healthy litter on the 2/11/2012.
As I was not going to breed Satine again, she was desexed 5 weeks after the puppies stopped feeding at 13 weeks - i.e 18weeks after whelping. Her left horn showed fattiness and was friable which would most definately led to the pyometra returning.
*Note that had there been any bacteria present, treatment would have been a course of antibiotics.
**Please note, that advice is to desex once bitch has finished with breeding, as the chance of Pyometra reoccuring is very high.
**Please note that while this was used for Satine, it may not be appropriate for another bitch.
Pyometra - By Dr Michael Bell.
Alizin Revolutionary Treatment for Pyometra - VIRBAC.
Application of the antiprogestin Aglepristone for conservative treatment of pyometra in the dog 2000.
Effects of aglépristone, a progesterone receptor antagonist, administered during the early luteal phase in non-pregnant bitches 2003.
Ingleburn Veterinary Hospital article 2004.
New Aspects of Canine Pyometra 2004.
So you think you know pyometra? 2011.
Breed Variations in the Incidence of Pyometra and Mammary Tumours in Swedish Dogs 2012.
A retrospective study of bitches with pyometra, medically treated with aglepristone. 2014.
DOGSNSW Lecture Part 1. Pyometra Treatment. 2017.
Osteosarcoma
Risk Factors for Development of Canine and Human Osteosarcoma: A Comparative Review. 2019.
Osteosarcoma in Dogs And Cats - Dr Karen Becker. 2019.
VetVine/ AKA -A novel non-surgical option to preserve limbs in
canine osteosarcoma. Histotripsy. Video.
Vestibular Disease
Vestibular Disease in Dogs and Cats - By Vestibular Disorders Association.
Proposed Treatment for Geriatric Vestibular Disease in Dogs.
Acute Vestibular Disease in Old Dogs.
10 TIPS AND EXERCISES FOR DOGS WITH VESTIBULAR DISEASE.
Other Interesting Articles/Studies.
Family Dog Project - An excellent source of scientific articles and research.
Long-term stress levels are synchronized in dogs and their owners. 2019.
Long‐term stress in dogs is related to the human–dog relationship and personality traits. 2021.
OMIA - ONLINE MENDELIAN INHERITANCE IN ANIMALS. UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY.
Survey of canine use and safety of isoxazoline parasiticides. 2020.
