Champions and BOB winners in 15 breeds to be health checked
06 Jan 2011 08:03
THE KENNEL Club has announced that dogs of 15 ‘high-profile breeds’ who win best of breed at Crufts 2012 and at general and group championship shows after that will need to be given a clean bill of health by the show vet before their awards are confirmed and they are allowed to continue to compete at the show.
In addition, before the champion title of any dog or bitch within these breeds can be confirmed the dog will have to undergo the same procedure at a group or general championship show.
The move, which will become effective in March 2012, is to ensure that the breeds, ‘some of which suffer from health issues and which attract the greatest criticism, do not bring the whole hobby of dog showing into disrepute’, the KC said on Tuesday, adding: “This requirement is designed to improve canine health and protect the sport of dog showing.”
The breeds are the Basset Hound, Bloodhound, Bulldog, Chinese Crested, Chow Chow, Clumber Spaniel, Dogue de Bordeaux, French Bulldog, German Shepherd Dog, Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Pekingese, Pug, Shar-Pei and the St Bernard.
‘Chemical insults’
Vets will be looking for signs of ectropion, entropion, corneal damage, dermatitis, breathing difficulty on moderate exercise, lameness and skin disorders. With regard to the Crested, the principal issue will be the presence of skin damage arising from hair removal, and signs of clipper rash or ‘chemical insults’ to the skin. Show vets will be given clear guidelines on the issues which need to be considered before deciding whether to allow a dog to proceed in the group competition.
“The vets will be directed only to prevent dogs from going forward if they are suffering from some clinical problem which obviously adversely affects the dog’s wellbeing,” the KC said. “They will not be permitted to exclude dogs merely for aesthetic reasons or because of exaggerations alone unless these are causing the dog some adverse clinical effect on its health or welfare.
“An exploratory meeting to establish the practicalities of these issues has already been held with a number of established show vets. This has been extremely helpful to us in planning for the detailed regulations which will have to be introduced to give effect to this new requirement.”
KC chairman Ronnie Irving said: “The majority of people involved in showing dogs, including the 15 high-profile breeds, are doing a good job in moving their breed forward and many judges are ensuring that health is paramount when they judge. This work should be applauded and recognised. Sadly though, a few judges in some breeds simply can’t or won’t accept the need to eliminate from top awards, dogs which are visibly unhealthy.
“Neither we who show dogs, nor the KC which must protect our hobby, can reasonably allow that state of affairs to continue. I hope also that monitoring the results of this exercise may even, in time, enable us to drop from the high-profile list some of those breeds which prove to have a clean bill of health. This move, along with the other health measures that we have put in place will help the KC to ensure that the show ring is, as Professor Patrick Bateson said it can be: a positive lever for change in the world of dogs.”
Crufts vet Steve Dean said: “The guidance which we will issue to show vets will focus on clinical signs associated with pain or discomfort which will come under the main headings of external eye disease, lameness, skin disorders and breathing difficulty. The vet will be looking for signs such as ectropion, entropion, corneal damage, dermatitis, breathing difficulty on moderate exercise, and lameness. The 15th breed is the Chinese Crested where the principal issue will be the presence of skin damage arising from hair removal and thus signs of clipper rash or chemical insults to the skin will be looked for.
“It is not intended for the vet to act in any way as a show judge of conformation. Veterinary opinion will only lead to disqualification of a dog from further competition where there is clinical evidence of disease. Perhaps the only arguable exceptions are ectropion and entropion, as both are conformatory defects of the eyelid, but both conditions are closely associated with chronic conjunctival inflammation or corneal damage and thus they will be disqualifying signs in their own right.
“By giving dog exhibitors and judges 12 months’ notice of the intent to have a vet examine the BOB from each of the high-profile breeds we hope that judges will ensure that only healthy exhibits will come forward. Therefore, the number of times dogs are excluded from the group following veterinary examination should be minimal. For some of the breeds this will still be a huge challenge but the intent is to improve the overall health and welfare of dogs and if this measure helps achieve this then it has to be a step in the right direction.”
KC secretary Caroline Kisko said: “There are 195 breeds whose participation in the hobby of dog showing is overshadowed by the small minority of people within some high-profile breeds who seem to continue to breed, and occasionally reward, unhealthy dogs and who by so doing are bringing down the reputation of the hobby and the rest of the dog showing fraternity. We must ensure, for the future prospects of dog showing and for the good of dogs, that only healthy dogs go home from dog shows with prizes.
“This action will not only protect the reputation of the majority of dog showing people who put the health and welfare of their dogs first and foremost, but it will also continue to encourage improvement within the high-profile breeds themselves, ensuring that the healthiest are justly held up as an example for others to follow.”
The changes, which will become active from 2012, come after measures were put in place in 2009 to try to ensure that only healthy dogs are rewarded in the show ring, the KC said.
“Judges now have the power to remove dogs that look unhealthy from competition and show monitors can also ask show vets to determine whether a dog is healthy enough to continue competing,” Mrs Kisko said. These existing requirements will continue to be in place at Crufts 2011.”
Regulations to effect these new moves are being developed and will be published in due course, the KC said.
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PIJAC The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council just unleashed it new “Don’t Mess With My Pet” campaign:
You love your pet. You take good care of your pet. How would you feel if the government tried to limit your ability to have pets in your life? …Angry? …Scared? …Betrayed? …Well, it’s happening.
Each year, local, state and federal governments propose thousands of laws that would restrict your ability to own pets – to include pets as vital members of your family. While we believe that some regulations are warranted to ensure that pets are well care for, we also believe that responsible pet ownership should be applauded, supported, and encouraged, not limited!
Unfortunately, many government officials don’t understand how their bills might affect you, the responsible pet owner. Furthermore, they may be basing their decisions on propaganda that, while it seems to call for better pet care, is actually part of an agenda to end pet ownership.
Help us protect responsible pet ownership by defending you and your pets against misdirected and poorly crafted legislation.
Support the “Don’t Mess with My Pet™” campaign by becoming a Member of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC). Your $25 contribution you will help us guard responsible pet ownership…on behalf of you and your non-human family members. As a thank you from us, you’ll receive a free campaign t-shirt.
The January Issue of the AKC’s Gazette included the number of dogs and litters registered just in the month of November for each recognized breed.
In November 2009, there were 17 Neapolitan Mastiffs registered and 6 Neapolitan litters. In comparison there were: 1,645 Boxers and 865 Boxer litters, 413 English Mastiffs and 166 Mastiff litters.
The highest for the month of November was the Labrador with 5,641 registered and 2,597 litters. Wow, that’s alot of Lab’s!
Announced today over at Medical News Today, Vetericyn Inc. launched a New wound and infection product. According to their website: When your dog has an open wound or infection, Vetericyn should be the product of choice because it is easy to apply into the affected area to treat infection while accelerating healing. Vetericyn works quickly to treat the infections or open wounds. In addition, it is safe as water so it will not harm your dog or the environment. Dogs typically lick their injury so any treatments applied should be non-toxic. Vetericyn is non-toxic so it will not cause injury if it happens to be ingested or licked after application. This is possible because Vetericyn works in the same way as your dog’s immune system. As such, the body recognizes it as a friendly infection-treating ally. Vetericyn also creates an optimal environment for healing.
Wounds treated with Vetericyn have demonstrated a reduction in healing time by up to 60%. Vetericyn significantly increases the oxygen content at the wound site within 30 seconds and maintains that oxygen level for up to 36 hours. This increase in oxygen along with the reduction of infection is responsible for these accelerated healing times. As a one-step cleanser and dressing, it eliminates the need for multiple products while reducing the application time and requirements.
Since it is “no-rinse”, it leaves no film or residue to clean off. And unlike traditional antiseptics and topical antibiotics it does not damage healthy tissue. Finally, it is compatible with most gauzes and acrylics and can be used prior to application of other treatments. Indications:
Hot spots
Eye infections
Skin irritations
Rashes
Cuts and scratches
Outer ear infections
The Website also includes a number of testimonials and detailed product information. According to Medical News Today, Vetericyn “works naturally with the animal’s immune system to kill bacteria (including staph and drug-resistant MRSA), viruses, fungi and spores”. Since Neo’s are frequently bothered by staph infections in their dewlap and feet this new product may be beneficial.
Hopefully you don’t have to use it but if you do we’d love to hear a review.
FDA Suspends Temporary Emergency Permit of Pet Food Maker
June 12, 2009
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today it was suspending the temporary Emergency Permit issued to Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food Co., Inc.
Evanger’s, operating in Wheeling, Illinois, deviated from the prescribed process, equipment, product shipment, and recordkeeping requirements in the production of the company’s thermally processed low acid canned food (LACF) products. The deviations in their processes and documentation could result in under-processed pet foods, which can allow the survival and growth of Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum), a bacterium that causes botulism in some animals as well as in humans.
In April 2008, Evanger’s was issued an “Order of Need for Emergency Permit” after the agency determined that the company had failed to meet the regulatory requirements to process a product that does not present a health risk. In June, 2008, FDA issued Evanger’s a temporary Emergency Permit. During inspections conducted between March 2009 and April 2009, FDA determined Evanger’s was not operating in compliance with the mandatory requirements and conditions of the Temporary Emergency Permit.
“The FDA is stopping Evanger’s ability to ship pet food in interstate commerce,” said Dr. Bernadette Dunham. “Today’s enforcement action sends a strong message to manufacturers of pet food that we will take whatever action necessary to keep unsafe products from reaching consumers.”
In order for Evanger’s to resume shipping in interstate commerce, the company must document that corrective actions and processing procedures have been implemented to ensure that the finished product will not present a health hazard.
Botulism is a powerful toxin that affects the nervous system and can be fatal. The disease has been documented in dogs and cats. Signs of botulism in animals are progressive muscle paralysis, disturbed vision, difficulty in chewing and swallowing, and progressive weakness to the body. Death is usually due to paralysis of the heart or the muscles used in breathing.
While FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition is responsible for regulating all human and animal LACF processing, FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine has authority over animal feed and foods. The two centers are collaborating on this enforcement action.
We blogged about Pet Airways when they first launched their site and now it’s official! Pet Airways is now in the air and taking reservations !
Service from LA, New York and Chicago for as low as $149 one way!
Check out the new Pet Airways Commercial:
I think a pet only airline is simply brilliant but I also want to point out that many airlines do transport pets in a very safe and effective manner. The video makes it look like all airlines treat pets like baggage. I have shipped dogs for many years now and know that airlines such as Continental, Alaska and Northwest Airlines have gone to great lengths to improve and ensure the safety of animals in their charge. Continental airlines has recently built a 24 hour veterinary clinic at their hub in Dallas to treat, monitor and overnight board animals in their care!
Of course no airline can cater exclusively to pets unless they are a “pet only airline” but other arlines are doing a good job….but if Pet Airways is flying where I need then of course I am choosing them !
A new website delivers pure, organic products to help you prepare a diet that is natural and wholesome for your dog. Pure Dog Chow based in Washington is now shipping organic salmon oil, cod liver oil, kelp, kefir grains and more!
Several weeks ago we blogged about the Ian Dunbar’s article denounces Pack Theory and Off-lead’s report of the lack of pack behavior in free roaming dogs in Romania. It seems the Pack Theory is under further attack this month by the The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) who issued a statement “
The AVSAB recommends that veterinarians not refer clients to trainers or behavior consultants who coach and advocate dominance hierarchy theory and the subsequent confrontational training that follows from it”
Reported over at VIN, the AVSAB’s executive board also stated that the statement was clearly issued against Cesar Milan.
As usual these groups are over reacting, yes there are con’s involved with Pack Behavior Theory and there are advantages as well.
Cesar is an incredible trainer and no amount of their slander can detract from that fact. Is his training modality fit for every dog ? No. Is his training theory 100% accepted by every trainer? No. But for the dog’s that it does work for in many cases it is a life saver, literally.
Cesar uses a blend of pack behavior theory and positive rewards, all trainers should have a blend of training theories because not every dog or dog owner learns the same way nor do all dogs respond the same.
Instead of demonizing or abolishing training modalities based on pack behavior perhaps the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior should outline the numerous k-9 training theories offering a comparative analysis of the theories without negatively impacting any of them but instead helping trainers and owners understand that each “school of training” has valuable tools that can be used at various times.
