The Dark Cloud Of Syringomyelia: Fight For Ella

Ella's Story is shared with us by Annie Mac @acavaliersvoice of Fight For Ella, check out her blog for the full story and more information!

Syringomyelia is one of mankind's “great gifts” to dogs--Cavalier King Charles Spaniels to be specific, although it can affect other breeds as well. There is a website set up for stories about different breeds affected by this disease, Friends of Lola.

As we selectively breed for our own specific purposes, it is our dogs that end up on the short end of the stick. I believe that we should, for once,  put our interests aside, and start doing what is right by our best friends. Let's breed responsibly with the welfare of our dogs in mind!

In the meantime, it is very important to make yourself familiar with any hereditary diseases that might affect the breed of your choice.

It is estimated that over 50% of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are affected by syringomyelia!

What Is Syringomyelia?

Syringomyelia (SM) is a disease that is just as nasty as it is trying to pronounce it. However, phonics aside, if you are considering getting a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, or already have one, I urge you to learn about this condition.

Technically speaking, syringomyelia is caused by a partial blockage of the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). As a result, pressure builds  and the fluid is pushed into the spinal cord where it forms fluid pockets called “syrinxes”, damaging the spinal cord. Affected dogs can suffer significant pain, weakness, incoordination and even paralysis.

Syringomyelia can occur as a complication of trauma, inflammation or a tumor. The most common cause in dogs, however, is a hereditary malformation.

In Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, syringomyelia is caused by a skull malformation that compresses, and often herniates, the back part of the brain near where it attaches to the spinal cord. In other words, the skull is too small for the brain.

Not all affected dogs will show symptoms, or their symptoms can be overlooked or misinterpreted. That's why owner awareness is so important! It can save your dog's life.

One of the typical symptoms is scratching the air near the neck, often only on one side of the body. That's why syringomyelia is often referred to as the 'neck-scratcher's disease. Some of the other symptoms can be

• sensitivity around the head, neck or shoulders
• restlessness
• lethargy
• reluctance to exercise
• difficulty moving or incoordination
• limb weakness
• symptoms associated with pain

The only way to conclusively diagnose syringomyelia is with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Your vet will likely want to exclude other causes of scratching and discomfort first.
For more detailed information about the condition and available treatments please visit these websites 

CavalierHealth.org
The CKCS Syringomyelia (SM) Infosite
Cavalier Matters
Veterinary Neurologist 
Veterinary Partner: Syringomyelia

Ella's Story

When I received the call in January 2010 from Ella's neurologist with her MRI results telling me she had a severe case of Syringomyelia with a large syrinx, my world stopped. I thought I did not hear it right. I was the one who read about Syringomyelia and knew all the symptoms and demanded she be seen by a neurologist. I started to notice something was off with Ella probably when she was about 2 years old.

She was almost 4 when she was diagnosed. It was nothing major, it just seemed like she scratched more than usually.  I tend to notice everything about her. Her vet said that it was probably food allergies so we changed her food and I didn't really think anything about it.

Then several months later she just looked funny walking up the stairs. I can't describe it but no one else could see what I saw. I even took her to see her vet to watch her go up the stairs.

I felt like someone taking their car into the shop and it works only when you are there. People thought I was crazy. She would put one paw in front of the other and she always seemed to walk on one side. She always seemed to scratch at her ears, which was diagnosed as an ear infection.  All of these things may sound like typical dog behavior and some of it could be but looking back on it, they were pieces to a puzzle.

It was probably in April 2009, I noticed the lack of energy. I would think she was just tired from day care. I would laugh and say what is wrong with you? In April a Cavalier Meet-Up group began in Charlotte and I said I would write a newsletter and I included some health information.  It was there that I read about Syringomyelia.

My heart stopped. I immediately bought the book For the Love of Ollie and donated to SM research. I don't know, maybe deep inside I knew that something was wrong with Ella.  All of my friends could not see it and the only way to really diagnose it was with an MRI which for me cost $1700. 
The other things I noticed was the restless nights. She seemed to never get comfortable. Always making a bed or rubbing her face on the covers.  I heard about the "phantom scratching" and I didn't really see that. I started to look to see if she was scratching on one side.  She was always scratching on one side.  I paid close attention to all the things she was doing.

It then went downhill real fast.  In about two weeks she was hiding under the bed, under the table, laying on the floor, shaking her head constantly, hardly able to walk up the stairs, dullness in the eyes. Again I went to my vet and he said not to jump to any conclusions it's probably an ear infection and allergies and we still want to rule those out before I recommend her go to a neurologist.

I knew she had Syringomyelia.  That weekend I took her to my cousins house and the thing Ella likes to do more than anything is run after the ball.  I threw the ball and she was did not move.  I started to sob. I called and demanded for them to let me see a neurologist.  She went that following Monday.  I thought I caught it before anyone.  My friends did not even think she needed to see a neurologist so when I found out her condition was severe I was shocked.  I think it was because of the rate of her progression.

Now that I knew she had it, the hardest part for anyone that finds out their dog has Syringomyelia is deciding what treatment option to take.  I can not recommend which is the best option because it is different for each dog.  Her neurologist said he could not tell me she would be around in 3 months and I couldn't live with that. She had a severe case and it was progressing fast. She was first put on medication but she had surgery a couple of weeks later.

She continues to be on several different medications and I am blessed to have her with me each day. I am constantly reminded of how lucky I was to know about this condition because if I didn't I do not know how much damage to her spinal cord would have been done.

***

Now it has been over six months and she is doing great! Please see the links on my blog because they offer valuable information and I also included support groups.
 Please see Fight for Ella Continues for and update

Related articles:

Fight For Ella Continues
Ella's MRI Results And Update

Brad Pitt Doesn't Believe in Germs. Could he be right?

By Dino Dogan

Why did I ask Dino Dogan to write this post for me? Because I knew that if he writes it it's going to be awesome! What does this post have to do with dogs? Read it and judge for yourself. (If you don't like reading and want to listen to this instead, you can do that here)

If you’ve never seen the movie 12 Monkeys (aff) - starring Brad Pitt and Bruce Willis - do yourself a favor. Buy it, rent it, steal it....do whatever you have to do to watch it because it is that great. My top 5 all time favs.

One of the most memorable scenes was when Jeffrey (Brad Pitt’s character) and Cole (Bruce Willis’ character) were in the insane asylum discussing the Germ Theory.


It went like this.

JEFFREY: You know what "crazy" is? "Crazy" is "majority rules". Take germs for example.

COLE: Germs?!

JEFFREY: In the 18th century there was no such thing! Nobody'd ever imagined such a thing -- no sane person anyway. Along comes this doctor...Semmelweis, I think. He tries to convince people... other doctors mostly...that there are these teeny tiny invisible "bad things" called germs that get into your body and make you...sick! He's trying to get doctors to wash their hands. What is this guy...crazy? Teeny tiny invisible whaddayou call 'em?..."germs"!

I have to admit, I went little bananas in the theater when I heard this dialogue because the story of Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis is one of the most fascinating tales of off all time IMHO.

It goes like this.

Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis was a Hungarian physician working at the Vienna General Hospital back in 1847.

There are three logistical facts you should know about his story.

1. Vienna General was divided into two wings. One wing was used as a training-ground for young student doctors where any and all types of operations, surgeries, and general care was being provided to patients for free since it was a teaching hospital.
   
2. The other wing was tended to by midwives and catered to half the preggos that came through the door.
   
3. Mortality rate for new mothers -due to something they called child bed fever- was 10% in one of the wings.The other wing had the mortality rate of 4%.

If you read that and thought to yourself “ahhh...the midwives were screwing up on the job and killing one out of 10 new-mothers”, then my friend I am forced to diagnose you with an Authority Bias. 

The fact is that  the 10% mortality rate was well known around Vienna and the wing that gave you one of 10 chances of surviving a pregnancy was the wing that was inhabited by authoritative doctors in white coats.

If you are surprised, don't be.

Doctors have a long history of being plain old wrong.

In 1960s doctors cited research that “showed” commercial formulas to be superior to Mother’s milk. In fact, by the early 1970s, over 75% of babies in the United States were fed on formulas, almost entirely commercially produced. (source: Wikipedia)

This supposed research has been debunked since then, but not until it took hold in hearts and minds of many folks especially in underdeveloped nations. Thanks to industrial strength ad campaigns performed by PR geniuses like Edward Bernays.

Sidenote: I could be wrong on this, but I believe that the Culture Code (aff) of wealthy Mexicans is that its “peasant like” to feed the kid its Mother’s milk (based on my observations alone, I would love for someone to comment on this). In other words, in Mexico, the baby formula is preferred (a show of status of sorts) over Mother’s milk.

Another example of doctors being moronic is when they acted as shills for tobacco companies.

From 1920s until it became illegal few decades later, doctors advertised cigarettes.

In China, doctors still recommend cigarettes to their patients.

Not coincidentally, tobacco industry in China is run by the Chinese Government.

From pills that plain-old don't work (or make things worse) to unnecessary surgeries; doctors -those authority figures in white coats- have a long history of being wrong.

The reason is simple. Show me an expert and I will show you someone who has interests other than your own.

But lets get back to Semmelweis.

Semmelweis eventually suspected that whats killing new mothers were these “cadaver particles” carried on the hands of white-coats as they went from doing autopsies to delivering babies.

What might be even more disturbing is that a study after study shows that doctors washing their hands is still a novelty act to this day.
See: Superfreakonomics (aff) A bestselling book by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

In any case, Semmelweis devised and implemented a system where all doctors, nurses and midwives are to wash their hands diligently in a lime solution when moving from one patient to another. The mortality rate plummeted to less than 1 patient in a 100 for both hospital wings.

And now for the truly bizarre twist.

Despite Semmelweis’ best efforts to spread his system of “washing hands in a lime solution” to other hospitals, he was not only unsuccessful at it, but he was ridiculed and eventually discredited and wound up in the same place Jeffrey (Brad Pitt) and Cole (Bruce Willis) had their conversation about Semmelweis. The insane asylum.

The average white coat back then would say something like this:

Note: You must sound Indignant as you read this next line.

What? Me? I'm to blame for these women dying? Surely you jest. But I’m a doctor. Of higher class and stature than these peasants who can't even afford to pay for their own medical treatment. Why should I, a nobleman, have to wash MY hands to handle mere peasants? Why Semmelweis, you are crazy indeed.

Your average doctor from 1840s would probably sound something like that but do you think your average doctor from today would sound different?

As it turns out, another physician and a scientist wrote the last chapter in the book on Semmelweis’ life. That physician was Louis Pasteur who -in 1865- developed his Germ theory of disease thanks to another scientific breakthrough (i.e. microscope).

Semmelweis was ultimately redeemed and proven correct but unfortunately he was long dead by then. He died in that insane asylum at the age of 47.

Semmelweis’ story ends there, but ours doesn't.

The truly remarkable part of this story is that Louis Pasteur confirmed the existence of something people have known about -at least colloquially- for thousands of years.

In the year 50BC (approx) M. T. Varro wrote "in swampy places minute creatures live that cannot be discerned with the eye and they enter the body through the mouth and nostrils and cause serious diseases."

That's as far back as we can trace. In between 50BC and 1846 there were many instances  where “minute creatures” were suspected of nefarious doings.

I suspect that part of the reason doctors were resistant to change (wash their hands) is because they simply didn't know. They didn't have access to the Internet back in 1846. Information was scarce. But my point is...the information was out there.

Do you think experts -generally speaking- consider themselves well informed?

Do you think they all believe that they are correct in their assertions? (Whatever assertions those might be)

Do you think that experts are the only ones prone to this kind of self-deception?

Do you think you (and I) might suffer from the same doctoropathy disease from time to time?

Whats my point? Not sure, but lets see if we can tie one on.

How about....

To a worm in horse radish, the world is all horse radish.

When making our judgments, its safe to assume that we are all just a worm in horse radish. We don't have all the information and therefore none of us are qualified to pass our judgments on another. Especially if those judgments will send someone to an insane asylum.

***

Dino Dogan is a blogger, writer, biker, dog trainer, singer/songwriter, Martial Artist. Currently working on Human-Dog Problem Tree; a thesis in human-dog relationship. Check out Dino's great blog at Dogan Dogs Video Blogs, or connect with Dino on Twitter or Facebook.

Book Review: The Nature of Animal Healing

The Nature of Animal Healing: The Definitive Holistic Medicine Guide to Caring for Your Dog and Cat
by Martin Goldstein, DVM

We have tapped into Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) about a year ago as our last resort to deal with Jasmine's mysterious condition. She was having progressive episodes of panting/pacing and general discomfort for which there seemed to have been neither an answer or a cure. Based on testimonials of people who have successfully used this approach for their dogs I have learned about it and we had added it to our arsenal.

The results we have been seeing inspired me to pay more attention to alternative modalities. I picked up The Nature of Animal Healing: The Definitive Holistic Medicine Guide to Caring for Your Dog and Cat because I felt I didn't know enough about the holistic medicine approach. And was I ever right! I didn't know nearly enough!

Dr. Martin Goldstein, DVM started out with a conventional veterinary practice. His veterinary experience, as well as his own struggle with ill health, lead him to reassess the efficiency of the sole use of  modern western approach to treating disease.

“If a society obsessed with naming and treating symptoms is getting sicker, perhaps a new perspective is in order.”
—Dr. Martin Goldstein, DVM, The Nature of Animal Healing

Is this something to think about? The amazing progress of medical science is unprecedented. But are our dogs healthier today than they have been say a hundred years ago? Or are they being plagued with more diseases as ever? Allergies, autoimmune disease, degenerative disease, cancer ... you name it.

If cancer, for example, was simply a price to pay for dogs living longer, why do young dogs get cancer? Why do children get cancer?  Doesn't that mean that something other than age is in play?

Dr. Martin Goldstein came to evaluate his outlook on health and disease. Should we also?

Healthy dogs don't get sick?

Sounds like quite a paradox, doesn't it? Our dogs' bodies have been designed to maintain health. They were designed to fight off bacteria and viruses, they were designed not to get cancer.

Disease is a process used by nature in an attempt to get itself healthy.
—Dr. Martin Goldstein, DVM, The Nature of Animal Healing

Is the disease the problem or is it what caused it in the first place? And what does symptom-based treatment do for your dog's overall health then?

The Nature of Animal Healing: The Definitive Holistic Medicine Guide to Caring for Your Dog and Cat is a great book to read if you want to get an understanding of what holistic veterinary medicine is all about. I found the reasoning very interesting to say the least. You don't have to subscribe to what it says, but I think it is something to ponder. Logically this makes a lot of sense to me.

One problem I see with this book is that it is not new and some of the information might be outdated. I know that the described treatment for cancer (IAT) seems presently discontinued due to serum production problems outside of the U.S. Which is too bad because it sounded very interesting.

I think we all should read this book, whether we choose to believe it or not.

It's your dog's health!
Jana

Glossary of terms

HOLISTIC
Handling or dealing with an entity in its entirety or wholeness rather than with emphasis on its parts or various aspects
–www.wordsmyth.net

HOMEOPATHIC
Treatment of a disease with small doses of a agents that would, if taken in larger amounts, produce in a healthy individual symptoms like those of the disease.
–www.wordsmyth.net

ALLOPHATIC
Treatment of disease with agents intended to produce effects that are different from those of the disease.
–www.wordsmyth.net

Summer Perils: Blue-green Algae

Guest post by Lorie Huston, DVM

Summertime brings with it a number of health hazards for dogs. Among them is the danger of poisoning from blue-green algae.

Blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, is common in stale or stagnant water and is often found in ponds, lakes, reservoirs and other bodies of standing water. Waters affected by blue-green algal blooms are
usually of poor water quality. These waters contain large amounts of organic matter and minerals that support plant growth, especially of the algal variety. Algal blooms are most common in hot, humid weather. Often, the algal bloom will be most profuse on the windward side of the lake, pond or reservoir.

It can be difficult to identify a toxic algal bloom. Often, the water will have a greenish, pea-soup type of appearance. Not all algal blooms are toxic but if there is any doubt about the quality of the water in question, it is best to keep your dog away from the area.

Dogs become poisoned with the toxins found in blue-green algae when they swim or drink from waters where a bloom has occurred. Blue-green algae contain several toxins, two of which are hepatotoxins (a toxin affecting the liver) and one which is a neurotoxin (a toxin affecting the central nervous system).

The two hepatoxins are known as microcystins and nodularins. These are produced by specific species of blue-green algae, *Microcystis* and *Nodularia. * Other species of blue-green algae, most notably  *Anabaena*, *Aphanizomenon * and *Oscillatoria, * produce the neurotoxin, which is specified as anatoxin-a or anatoxin-as.

Symptoms in affected dogs depend on the specific type of blue-green algae present in the water and the type of toxin the algae produces. Symptoms commonly seen with the hepatotoxins include:

• depression
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• weakness
• abnormal coloration of the skin and gums
• shock
• death resulting from liver failure

When affected by the neurotoxin, the most common signs seen in dogs are:

• muscle rigidity
• tremors
• seizures
• paralysis
• respiratory paralysis
• death

Skin irritations have been noted in people that contact blue-green algal blooms as have gastrointestinal and respiratory problems.

The onset of clinical signs is generally fairly quick, usually within a few minutes to a few hours of ingestion. Treatment is symptomatic, aimed at treating the individual clinical signs and providing supportive care. The
outcome is often fatal. There is no specific antidote available for any of these toxins.

***

Lorie Huston has been practicing veterinary medicine for over 20 years. Besides a successful career in a busy small animal hospital in Providence, RI, Lorie is also a successful freelance writer specializing in pet care and pet health topics. Currently, she is the feature writer for the Pet Care section at Suite101.com and the National Pet Health Examiner at Examiner.com. Lorie also publishes her own blog, The Pet Health Care Gazette and manages an increasingly popular facebook page, The Voice of Pet Care. In addition, she co-moderates DogTalk, a weekly twitter chat that focuses on a variety of dog topics.

Don't Dismiss Everything You Read Either!

Make up your mind, woman! First you want us not believe everything we read and now you take a hundred eighty degree turn?

This is not a hundred eighty degree turn though. However contradictory to my earlier article this might sound, it really isn't. There is a lot of information out there, some of it is accurate and some of it is not. Some of it is based on scientific research and some of it may be old wives tales. Some of it conforms to common belief and some of it does not.

I do believe that the best thing you can do for your dog is to start with basic accepted knowledge as your foundation. Turn to reliable sources to learn about your dog's condition and familiarize yourself with the recommended treatments. You cannot make any good decisions without that.

Isn't this enough then? Perhaps...

If a fact is commonly accepted does that make it true? Not that long ago people believed the Earth was flat! If somebody has an opinion contrary to the common belief does that make it wrong? Obviously not!

Some ideas might be too new

When I started looking into stem cell regenerative therapy as a treatment option for Jasmine, there wasn't a whole lot information available. When I brought the idea up to Jasmine's vet at the time he knew nothing about it and dismissed it immediately simply because of that. When I tried to look it up at the VeterinaryPartner.com there was no mention of it at all.

However, after researching the theory it felt right. And it sounded better than an invasive surgery. In spite of the fact that it was not a commonly accepted idea, we decided to see where that road will take us. It is an amazing treatment and we are very happy we didn't dismiss the idea.

That was two years ago, meanwhile this therapy is gaining popularity and it did earn a mention on VeterinaryPartner.com. I do believe that this therapy might be the future of veterinary medicine. And yet it was pretty much a leap of faith back then.

Does common equal best?

Take a look at NSAIDs for example. Commonly used to manage arthritis and often prescribed to manage pain and inflammation after injury or surgery, NSAIDs indeed do bring relief to many dogs. They can however also cause serious side effects and in extreme cases death. Jasmine almost died when we did try putting her on Previcox! In any case, most drugs will put additional strain on your dog's system.

Are drugs the only solution? Quite often they are not. There may be other safer treatments. They might not work the same for every dog but neither do drugs. Will you be presented with these alternatives by your veterinarian? Depends on the veterinarian, but I think the odds of that are quite low.

Science or old wives tales?

I think science is amazing and the discoveries and knowledge it provides are irreplaceable. But does it always offer the best answers?

One problem I see with science is that the conclusions depend on the subjective choice of what is being studied in the first place. The pressure for quick, measurable results has had strong influence on what research is allowed to go on. I believe that this often leads to research that is narrow-focused, short-cut oriented, and results in band-aid type of solutions rather than true cures.

I believe that science often doesn't ask enough questions before coming up with answers. Science itself, after all, is just a tool to finding a solution and not an solution in itself. Any tool is only as good as the one using it.

Today we have quite a good understanding of diseases and conditions. But how many cures do we have, as opposed to managing treatments? And why is it that the more advanced veterinary science gets the more sick our dogs get?

Does the fact that something is not scientifically quantified mean that it won't work? Gravity worked long before it was discovered!

I read about a very interesting treatment (I will get into more detail in a later article) that did not get accepted because the author refused to do double-blind studies. His reason? He believed that his treatment worked and he didn't feel that it was right to condemn one third of his patients (those who would be on placebo) to death just to prove a point.

Unlike modern medicine, holistic approaches seek the root of the problem aiming to cure your dog rather than treating his symptoms. Some of these treatments might work better than others. But they are out there and I do believe they are worth considering.

After a lot of prodding and probing in attempt to find a cause of Jasmine's mysterious symptoms, her commonly accepted options boiled down to either pain killers or steroids. The choice between the two being a coin-toss. When I was searching for other solution I heard about Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) for the first time. This type of treatment is very different and could be considered an old-wives-tale-based approach. But while it lacks in scientific evidence, the benefit is evident.

So what is the conclusion?

Keep your eyes peeled! Don't accept or dismiss things easily. Study your options. Follow the odd trails to see where they lead. Choose the best tools regardless who's toolbox they come from. It's your dog's health!

Jana

Useful Tips: Deer Fly Patches

Do you feel like you're under siege? Are you and your dog getting swarmed by deer flies every time you try to go for a walk in the great outdoors?

This year deer flies are especially bad in some regions. They are persistent and their bites hurt. Have you tried pretty much all available natural bug repellent products out there but none of them seems to work?

Our dogs love their nature walks. But the deer fly attacks can spoil the best of fun and we simply had to avoid most areas. Then we discovered the Tred-Not Deerfly Patches. Very simple and yet quite an effective product – non-toxic, odorless sticky tape. You attach the patch to the back of your cap or hat. It attracts the deer flies and they get stuck as they land. You won't believe how quickly the patch gets covered!

I am not saying that you won't get the odd bite. However, most of them really seem to gravitate toward the patch.

How does this help your dog? Strangely, it does. Deer flies seem to go after the highest moving point. We find that as long as our dogs stick close to us, the deer flies seem to leave them mostly alone.

Unless you arrive in the woods at the deer fly dinner time, the Tred-Not Deerfly Patches are really quite an effective way of protecting yourself and your dog from their bites.

Jana

ACL Injury Conservative Management: Tucker's Story

My Conservative Management Experience, and Success the Second Time Around
by Mandie Shaner

Tucker is my (almost) 6 year old American Bulldog. I should have known from our first meeting at the shelter when he jumped a waist high gate to greet us that it was going to be a wild ride, but he never ceases to amaze me with his antics. Tucker is one of those dogs that can just look at you and make you giggle uncontrollably. He's part dog, part cow and 100% lummox. Some of what makes him so goofy, is also what makes him so prone to cranial cruciate ligament (abbreviated CCL) injury. He is extremely top heavy with a giant head and chest, but somehow his tiny back legs did not manage to follow suit, and over the years he has experienced damage to both of his knees. Some breeds of dog are also more prone to cruciate ligament injury due to the conformation of their legs, and Tucker is also at a disadvantage in this regard. His back legs somewhat turn in, making them a lot less stable than other dogs with similar weight.

In October 2007, Tucker was diagnosed with a full CCL tear, and our veterinarian recommended a TPLO right away. Without knowing anything about the surgery or what it entailed, we decided to not decide at that moment and do some research on our own. Through our research we found an alternative to surgery called Conservative Management. Conservative Management for dogs is a somewhat loosely defined term basically meaning rest, anti-inflammatory medications and supporting the natural healing process of the leg over a period of 4-8 weeks. The idea behind CM as a CCL treatment technique is that by reducing the load on the knee for one to two months you can give the joint a chance to build up muscle and scar tissue to compensate for the loss of the injured knee ligament.

We really felt we owed it to Tucker to at least try to heal him using a more natural approach, and we gave CM a "go" for a few months. The CM practices we tried the first time around were restricting him to leash walking only for bathroom breaks, confining him to a small, carpeted area of the house while we were gone, using Rimadyl to help with inflammation, and trying a dog knee brace. Despite all of our best attempts and hard work, we were unable to see the results we wanted, and after a few months of CM we opted to go with a Traditional Repair surgery (which we were again advised against by our veterinarian who strongly preferred the TPLO), from which Tucker has healed completely.

In late 2009, Tucker once again became intermittently lame in his rear leg, but this time it was the non-surgical leg. He had been limping on and off on his surgical leg for about a year following the traditional (which is an extracapsular repair using the leader line technique) repair, but had seemed to finally be getting around ok until this new lameness began. At first it started that he would only limp in the morning, but it gradually progressed to toe touching every other day. We decided to take him to the veterinarian to have the drawer sign test performed and get a definitive diagnosis.

As expected, Tucker tested positive for the drawer sign, although the veterinarian said that he did not think it was a full tear as of yet due to the fact that Tucker was not toe touching on a regular basis. Despite not believing it was a full tear, he recommended a TPLO or TTA be done within the next month. I explained to the veterinarian that I wanted to try Conservative Management, and he wished me luck, informing me that generally only dogs under 30 pounds have success without surgery.

After leaving the office that day we began a strict Conservative Management regimen. Remembering all of the trials, tribulations and difficulties we encountered during Tucker's Traditional Repair surgery, I really wanted to make sure we could make CM work this time and avoid the trauma of surgery.

Luckily, my husband and I both work from home doing freelance WordPress web development, and one of us would be able to stay with Tucker at all times to make sure he was staying calm, quiet and resting. This second time around I did things a bit differently. I still kept him confined to controlled, leash walking when he needed to use the bathroom, but I also made it a point to walk a half a block or so each time we went out. My logic here was that it was important to keep the joint somewhat strong and moving while his body was working build up scar tissue and muscle around the torn ligament. I was careful to make sure that he did not get overly excited, jump and/or run, because I was sure that any strenuous activity or quick motion would tear the ligament for sure and set us back.

Along with the short leash walks, he was confined to a small, carpeted space in the home at all times. This was slightly different from the first attempt in that this ensured he would not be able to get up quickly and run to the door if he heard something, or be able to slide on the non-carpeted areas of the house. I felt absolutely terrible forcing him to stay in such a confined area, but I knew I was doing what was best for him.

Of great importance for any dog with CCL issues is proper weight management. During the time leading up to his second CCL injury, Tucker had been getting one too many handouts while visiting our relatives in Pennsylvania, and had subsequently gained a significant amount of weight. As part of his Conservative Management plan I decided to cut back on his food intake, and switched him to a higher quality, protein rich food. Over the first month of CM he lost about 5 pounds, and got down a total of 12 pounds during the entire CM period. We have worked hard since then to keep the weight off, and it seems to be an important part of maintaining his joint health.

The inflammatory process can be very damaging to the body in both humans and dogs. Managing inflammation is an integral part of any successful round of Conservative Management. This time I really wanted to go as natural a route as possible, but seeing how much pain Tucker was in at the beginning of the CM period, I decided we should at least start him on a round of Rimadyl to make him more comfortable. The only downside to the Rimadyl is that it tends to make him feel so much better that he forgets he is hurting! To keep this in check I adjusted the dosage to ensure he was not in any pain, but made sure he was aware of it enough to take it easy on himself. Concerned about the effects of long term use of NSAIDs on the liver, I wanted to transition to a more natural approach to inflammation control as soon as possible.

After about the first month of the Rimadyl I found information on using Yucca Root to help ease inflammation, and thought I would give it a try. I transitioned from one to the other over the period of about two weeks, knowing in my head that I would keep him on the Rimadyl if I noticed a decline in the way he was feeling. After completing the transition to Yucca he seemed to be doing just fine, and we've been keeping up with the Yucca Root extract ever since. His dosage is 9-10 drops of yucca extract in his food with a bit of water to dilute it.

In addition to the Yucca, we began giving 1000 mg of Omega-3 Fish Oils twice per day during Conservative Management. The idea behind the Omega 3 fatty acids is that it helps to lubricate the joints and reduce inflammation. We've had nothing but positive results from using this supplement, and it is another one we continue to use. We also had always been doing the Glucosamine/Chondrointin supplements, and continue to use these as well. Cosequin seems to be the most palatable variety, as well as a vet favorite, but we've tried many brands with similar amounts of success.

After about 8 weeks of CM, significant improvement in Tucker's knee health was seen, and he was no longer limping or toe touching as he once had been. This was a long 8 weeks of strict CM, but in the long run it was worth avoiding the cost, risk and recovery process associated with any of the surgical procedures. We are aware that CM is not defined as a “fix” for an injured cranial cruciate ligament (CCL), but with the use of supplements and an alternative, holistic anti inflammatory medication like Yucca, we have seen great results. Over time his leg will build up the scar tissue necessary to stabilize the joint, and hopefully do so without any major arthritic consequences.

Overview of My CM Protocol:

1. Weight Management - We cut down on treats and snacks while transitioning to a higher quality food which we fed less.
2. Inflammation - We started with Rimadyl and Omega 3 Fish Oil (1000 mg capsules, twice per day). After 1 month of the Rimadyl I transitioned to Yucca Intensive, and give 9-10 drops diluted in food.
3. Joint Support - Glucosamine and Chondrointin supplements are good to support joint health in any dog.
4. Rest - Make sure your dog stays in a confined area without distraction. Carpets are preferable, avoid steps, jumping, running or rough play during this time. Toys such as frozen kongs filled with peanut butter or bully sticks are a good way to help them alleviate boredom.
5. Controlled Exercise - Take a few, short, leash walks per day under controlled conditions to ensure your dog maintains muscle, and to also encourage the growth of scar tissue around the injured ligament.
6. Pay Attention to Your Dog - Your best friend will tell you how they're doing. Go at their pace, and avoid doing too much, too soon!

***

Mandie Shaner is the founder of Dog Knee Injury, an owner resource dedicated to helping people facing CCL injuries in their pets. She also is active in Pit Bull advocacy/animal rescue through Save A Bull, and co-owns a WordPress web development company: Design SEO Hosting.

Don't Believe Everything You Read!

Have I gone mad? I am a blogger and I want you to read my blog! Here I share what I've learned about dog health issues, and what I believe are the best treatment options. I even have a vet to go over the medical information to make sure it is correct!

So what am I talking about?

One of the most important things I've learned through Jasmine's ordeals is to question everything! Today, there are as many different expert opinions as there are experts. This is true for dog training, dog nutrition, and often even for medical treatments. Unless I can find at least three independent sources that agree on any one fact, that fact is no good to me!

I want to help you to get an understanding of health issues your dog might be going through. However, the main purpose of my blog is to help you to educate yourself! Only when you understand the condition and the available treatments you can make good decisions for your dog.

While most of the veterinary science are hard facts, a lot of it is open to opinion and interpretation.

And even hard facts, as hard as they may be, change over time. Not that long ago people believed that the Earth was flat! Drugs were approved as safe just to be pulled off the market later. Treatments that were looked down upon are now becoming popular. Nothing is really written in stone.

How do you find a vet you know you can trust? How do you pick the treatment that is best for your dog if you don't understand your options and cannot discuss them with your vet? Knowledge is the key.

Is this little pill really going to make your dog all better or are the side effects worse than the condition you're treating? Always ask questions!

Here are some good resources of core veterinary information. Read, compare, discuss, form an opinion – in that order.

1. VeterinaryPartner.com
   This is a great website I refer to often. Doesn't have all information you might be looking for, but probably 98% of it. Some articles are easier to understand than others, but it is a good website to compare notes on.
   
   
2. Vetinfo.com
   Another great website loaded with veterinary information. The layout is a bit hard to navigate, but the information is good.
   
   
3. Wikipedia.org
   This is usually the first place I look when I'm trying to learn about anything. It does have a lot of veterinary and general medical information. It is not an easy read, but wikipedia tries very hard to provide the latest, most accurate and most objective information.

I'll add other links as I think of them.

Jana

Human: The Yard Animal

Did you take your dog for a walk today? Or do you think that he's fine because you have a yard?

Dino Dogan of Dogan Dogs Video Blogs wrote such an awesome article about this topic that I just have to share it with you.

I had a conversation with a friend yesterday. She wanted to get a dog but lives in a small studio apartment. Also, she was very surprised that one of her neighbors has a Great Dane. "They must be living on top of each other", she commented.

I told her that dogs really don't need a lot of room, they are cubbyhole dwelling animals, they love finding a cozy little spot and curling up with a good bone.

She then said that she doesn't have a yard; "the dog needs a yard to run around in". She added.

I thought this point was worth closer examination.

Do dogs really need a yard?

Most people believe that dogs need a yard. Now don't get me wrong, if you have one you might consider letting your dog use it, however, you should also consider the fact that yard-dwelling dogs are likely to develop territorial aggression, incessant barking and gate-charging behavior. Which led me to start thinking about who is the yard really for?

This is my conclusion.

The yard is NOT for dogs, its for humans.

Its easy(er) for us to put our dogs in the back yard and let them do whatever. This way we don't feel so bad for not taking them on a walk which is what they (dogs) really need and want.

So to all you apartment dwelling humans, not having a yard and taking your dog for a nice, long walk instead is in fact preferable.

Say 15-30 minutes in the morning and 30-45 minutes in the evening. You might not like it, but your dog needs a walk more then he needs a yard.

On weekends, I would recommend longer walks and more time-in overall with your dog.

What else do humans rationalize in our minds and say "oh, its for the dog" that isn't?

I think grooming is another such delusion humans engage in.

We think that bathing a dog, clipping the dog's nails and whatever else they do at the dog salon benefits the dog somehow.

At best, we are compensating for lack of long walks (a natural nail trimmer for dogs) and since we are a "clean" culture having a filthy dog would result in our inability to cohabitate; which brings up an interesting question.

Who would suffer more if there wasn't for the other? 

Don't get me wrong. Whatever we can do to make ours and the dog's existence better, happier, smoother, etc., I'm all for it. But next time you think you are doing something for your dog, ask yourself.

Am I doing this because it benefits me somehow?

Trace your rational thought back in your brain and it will no doubt lead to an emotion. What emotion did you discover?

We all know which emotions are good and which ones are bad, so make it good.

Can you think of the time when you rationalized your actions to make it seem you’re benefiting someone else; when in fact, it was benefiting you in some way?

***

Check out Dino's great blog at Dogan Dogs Video Blogs, or connect with Dino on Twitter or Facebook.

Where There Is Smoke, There Is Fire: A Symptom Is Your Friend, Treat It With Respect!

Do you feel that something isn't right with your dog? Don't shrug it off! You know your dog better than anybody and if you feel that something isn't right, go with your gut feeling.

How important is this? 

If you're as paranoid as I am, sometimes you might just make a nuisance of yourself. That is a small price to pay for nipping problems in the bud when something really is wrong. I can tell you that my gut feeling has been right about 95% of the time. Only the 5% was just me being paranoid!

Looking back, what I regret is not being paranoid, but letting myself to be lulled into accepting that it  really was nothing. Why? Because Jasmine has paid for that!

Nothing wrong?

Ever since she came to us Jasmine was suffering with digestive issues and bad stools. So we kept taking her to vets. They checked stool samples and never found anything. They'd give her antibiotics which for some reason would temporarily help. They'd put her on prescription diet which, frankly, didn't make any difference.

So what did we do? After a hundred of vet visits we accepted that her digestive system is weak and that's the way she is. What we should have done? We should have kept looking for a vet who'd take things seriously enough to keep looking for a reason until they'd find one!

Why? Because Jasmine was suffering from food allergies which over time developed into eosinophilic gastroenteritis (a type of IBD)! This was diagnosed only five years later when we took her to a new vet for an ACL injury consultation!

Nobody mentioned food allergies before and, if they were thinking it, they figured that the prescription diet was supposed to solve it. Except that the food contained the very ingredients Jasmine is allergic to!

And it doesn't stop there! I do believe that her food allergies, and resulting digestive issues, were at the root of her many other problems she ended up having to deal with!

One bad apple can spoil and whole bunch and one part of your dog's system not working properly will affect the rest of his body!

A symptom is your friend!

We all wish our dogs remained healthy and some indeed do. Many however will suffer from health issues at some point in their lives. How would you know if your dog was having a health problem? Regular veterinary checkups surely help. But quite often a symptom is the only clue you might get.

A symptom is your friend. Without a symptom, how would you know there is a problem?

What constitutes a symptom?

A symptom is a sign of a disease. This is nothing unfamiliar to us. Runny nose, sneezing, coughing, itching, pains and aches... we all know those. When we get sick, we can feel the symptoms and we can also more or less clearly (and more or less incessantly) communicate them to others.

With dogs, some symptoms are easy enough to notice. But many of them can sneak up unrecognized or masquerade as normal signs of aging.

Is there such a thing as normal signs of aging?

If your dogs is not as active and playful as he used to be, it is likely because he's in pain. Dogs don't slow down because they get wiser! If they had a choice, they'd remain eternal puppies. It is their bodies what is slowing them down, not their spirit. While conditions such as arthritis often do come with age it doesn't mean that they should be overlooked or ignored. You don't want your dog to suffer in pain, do you?

How to detect a symptom?

Because our dogs cannot tell us what's bothering them, we need to become adept in seeing the symptoms. Any change in your dog's habits, behavior and physical appearance should be considered a symptom. Take note of anything out of the ordinary. Has your dog suddenly become stubborn? Perhaps his hearing isn't working as it used to. Has he become withdrawn or snarly? He might be in pain. Does he drink more than normally? Has his coat changed? Has his body proportions changed? Does he spend the night pacing around the house? All these are likely signs of a medical problem.

Where there is smoke, there is fire!

You noticed a symptom, now what? Get the the bottom of it! I've learned the hard way how important this is. Getting a clear diagnosis isn't always easy. If there is a symptom, there is a reason for it. Don't take 'it's probably nothing' as an answer. How often do you see smoke and there is no fire?

Important note: A symptom is not a disease but a sign of one. Dealing with the symptom alone rarely solves the problem.

Dog Owner's Guide: Is it an emergency?

Jana

Related Articles:
It's Your Dog's Health
Does Your Vet Listen To You?
Help! My Dog Is Purple!
Veterinary Drive-Thru: Coming Soon To A Veterinary Hospital Near You!
A Praise To Our Dog House DVM
A Word On Pain
The House Is On Fire! Bridget's Pancreatitis

Dog Health Issues Group

Come and join our Dog Health Issues group!

What medical issues do/did you and your dog face?

When dealing with a serious health issue, having somebody else's experience to lean on is invaluable. I wish I had that when Jasmine was going through her ordeals. Let's help each other with our experiences!

Share your experience and benefit from experience and support of others!

Click here to join.

To Neuter Or Not To Neuter… That Is The Question

Guest article by Jennifer Coates, DVM

Apologizes to William Shakespeare, but the decision whether or not to spay or neuter a dog is a big one for owners.  Just like any medical procedure, there are pros and cons, risks and benefits that should be made clear before a final decision is reached.   Unfortunately, veterinarians rarely go over all of these details before surgery, so here is a primer for those who are interested.

The most common argument made for routine spay/neuter is pet overpopulation.  Millions of homeless dogs and cats are euthanized every year in animal shelters throughout North America, and every pet owner needs to take responsibility for this problem.  If your dog produces a litter, you have contributed to pet overpopulation.  Even if you find homes for all the pups, you have very likely taken a home away from a dog waiting to be adopted in a shelter.  You may think that you will be able to stop your un-spayed/neutered dog from roaming and breeding, but the length to which intact males and females in heat will go to reach each other can overwhelm even the best “security system.”

Reducing pet overpopulation is incredibly important, but it does not take into account the well-being of the single individual.  Here are some pros and cons to take into account when deciding what is best for you and your dog:

Pros                           

• Eliminating messy heat cycles (females)
• Eliminating the risk of pyometra, a potentially fatal uterine infection (females)
• Greatly reducing the risk of mammary cancer if a dog is spayed before her first heat cycle (female)
• Eliminating the risk associated with giving birth (females)
• Eliminating the possibility of testicular cancer and a reduced incidence of some other types of cancer (males)
• A much lower risk of some types of prostate disease, e.g. prostatic hyperplasia and infections (males)
• Reducing aggression and other unwanted behaviors like marking, roaming and mounting (males and females)
• In many jurisdictions, reduced pet licensing fees (males and females)
• Reduced “frustration” in an intact individual kept from breeding (males and females)

Cons

• An increased incidence of urinary incontinence (females)
• A possible decrease in longevity:  A recent study has shown that female Rottweilers neutered after the age of 6 were 4.6 times more likely to reach the age of 13 than were dogs spayed before the age of 6. (females)
• An increased risk of prostate cancer (males)
• A change in the appearance of the scrotum, although testicular implants are available (males)
• An increased incidence of ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries (males and females)
• Surgical complications (males and females)
• An increased possibility for weight gain (males and females)

So you can see that the choice is really not as easy as it is sometimes portrayed to be.  In my opinion, however, the standard recommendation that most dogs should be spayed or neutered still holds.  It is the rare pet owner that can dedicate the time and effort needed to prevent unwanted litters, and the tragedy of pet overpopulation is so overwhelming that I see it as the “tie-breaker” in an otherwise difficult decision.

***

Jennifer Coates, DVM graduated with honors from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999.  In the years since, she has practiced veterinary medicine in Virginia, Wyoming, and Colorado.  She is the author of several books about veterinary medicine and animal care, including the Dictionary of Veterinary Terms: Vet-speak Deciphered for the Non-veterinarian. Jennifer also writes short stories that focus on the strength and importance of the human-animal bond and freelance articles relating to a variety of animal care and veterinary topics.  Dr. Coates lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband, daughter, and pets.

Trainer's Corner: The Super Puppy Program!

 by Julie Nutter

Have you ever stumbled upon something that makes you wish it would take an entire nation (at least) by storm? It’s rare, especially for me, to come across something that has such a profound impact that I am literally dumbfounded at the fact that more people haven’t taken it and ran with it. After having witnessed and experienced imprinting, I am absolutely flabbergasted that it’s not on the top of every breeder’s - and I do mean every responsible breeder in the world - list of things to do with a newborn pup.

What’s this Imprinting?

Imprinting is an invaluable tool that increases puppy’s tolerance to stress. It utilizes a few simple exercises, such as tickling the puppy’s feet - a mild stressor to the little lady - to increase her ability to cope with the world around her, effectively making her a super puppy.

It sets a dog up for the rest of her life. Weird things don’t seem to be as weird to these dogs; they approach with a curiosity that borders on enthusiasm. They don’t cower at loud noises, hide under the bed when you drag out the nail clippers, and they’re honestly much easier to live with and to train.

If you’re shopping for a puppy, this is one thing you should refuse to do without; especially if you plan to do the imprinting exercises yourself. They help to forge a bond between you and your new puppy, effectively putting you in an important, crucial position in her life...

... You become the lowest point of stress.

Let’s say, at six weeks, you place your puppy into a tunnel. It’s new; she’s never seen it before, yet now she’s in the middle of it.

If you’ve done imprinting, chances are, your puppy is - whether she’s scared or not - going to fly through the weirdness to get to you, where it’s safe. This would tell me that she’s looking to you for guidance and trusts you. She’s going to take direction from you and would stand in the middle of the “battlefield,” unfazed, still beside you, still doing whatever job you asked her to do.

A puppy who has not gone through imprinting would most likely figure out, eventually, to go to the other side. Even a well bred puppy might have a mini break down if placed into this situation. In the middle of the tunnel, she only has one option (because in this exercise, one of the exits would be blocked) and the puppy’s mom or dad would be on the other side, calling her through.

Well, a six week old puppy who hasn’t dealt with the mild stressors that imprinting would have brought to her life probably doesn’t have much in the way of coping skills, which means that her tolerance to stress is just above zilch. She doesn’t know how to problem solve, so it’ll take a little bit of something called self-realization to happen.

Self-realization is the point at which the dog realizes that she has two options - freak out, or fix it. That’s when she should exit, effectively going to her lowest point of stress: her new human.

We do these exercises with very young puppies because they have very good Bounce Back! which means that a lot of very scary stressful things could happen to them, and though they would be afraid momentarily, they would get over it and go back to their puppy lives very quickly, and without much fuss.

When we introduce them to these minor stressors, we are slowly building up this Bounce Back, making it stronger and giving them the ability to deal with extremely stressful situations. (Though I know no owner wants to place his/her dog into a stressful situation, we do so all the time! Asking your dog to stop playing with her friends and come back to you is stressful, as is having to do obedience in a roomful of dogs and people she would rather be playing with!)

The deal with this is that adult dogs don’t have as much Bounce Back! as young puppies, especially if they have not gone through imprinting or Confidence Building Classes. A dog who has gone through imprinting and Confidence Building should have phenomenal bounce back, and you can tell the difference between them and most other adult dogs.

Face it, we all want to be our dog’s lowest point of stress. We want them to be able to handle themselves in stressful situations with relatively good bounce back. We want to be the one she runs to for guidance, the one she can rely on to always be there for her, and the one she can always trust to have her back. Imprinting really does put a puppy on the right track for the rest of her life.

Besides, who doesn’t want to brag that their puppy isn’t just a puppy… but a Super Puppy?

(Note: When I say “mini freak out session” think momentary deer-in-the-headlights, where the dog is unsure as to what she’s supposed to do, or what she can do to relieve her stress. It can last anywhere from 2 seconds to a couple of minutes. Should you decide to do this exercise and your dog is still freaking out - not hanging out, but freaking out - in the tunnel some two hours later…something is wrong. Contact your vet to rule out medical problems and seek a trainer for help!)

(Another Note: I once saw a dog decide a tunnel was her “lowest point of stress.” She refused to come out, and guarded the entrances of the tunnel. Since she’s dog friendly, we made a big production of playing fetch - which she loves - with her dog friend, until she decided that the tunnel was a jerk for not playing with her and came out. Be aware that this can happen, too.)

For more information
I would not search the internet. I tried, and there isn’t much worthwhile to find. Try http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=DG226 Jerry Hope’s book on how to raise puppy superstars. She talk about critical periods, why they’re critical, and what every breeder should do with her puppies during them! Worthwhile if you’d like a doggie superstar!

I personally use
the United States Veterinary Corps five exercises for imprinting to start the puppies out. At three to four weeks, when they are started to be weaned - I add the exercises outlined in my trainer/behaviorist’s Puppy & Adult Life Programs, which include stress, confidence building, symbolism, or fun.

If you have any questions
about the Super Puppy Program!, are a breeder who wants to partake, or if you want to find a breeder that partakes (it takes some asking around!) you can e-mail me at jaennutter@gmail.com or info@northeastdogtraining.com and I will get back to you within 24 hours. 

***

Julie is presently implementing the Super Puppy Program with the freshly born litter she is getting her new puppy from! Read about it on her blog Pawsitive Paws!

Julie is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, and is working on her case studies to become a member of the International Association of Animal Behvaior Consultants. She coaches parents to train their fur-children in Confidence Building for fearful dogs, Agility, Rally, FlyBall, and Obedience. In her free time, she volunteers at local shelters and reads up on the newest dog-world information. You can visit her website at www.northeastdogtraining.org.