HEALTH

http://www.poodlepedigree.com is a great place  to check for completed health checks as well as the pedigrees of dogs.

The Poodle Health Registry is also keeping information of inherited diseases amongst poodles.

The Veterinary College of UC Davis, who originated the test for SA (an inherited skin disease) no longer offers it as there were too many false negatives.

UC Davis is a great place to take dogs for health testing and for any health related concerns you might have. They have the finest equipment and often their prices are much lower than your local veterinarian will charge (they probably send out to UCD anything that needs testing).

Tests for Juvenile Renal Dysplasia are offered in Canada. (Our home bred dogs are all tested.) Many breeders refuse to test for this disease citing too many carriers are being detected. Having purchased two dogs with the terminal disease, I believe the tests are probably more accurate than some people would wish them to be. Our own experience has been that carriers can be effectively diagnosed but dogs that test positive should have blood and urine tests and, if still in doubt, an ultra sound of the kidneys. My dogs, that are from some old established lines and dogs from Sweden, that also came from older established lines, proved to test as Positive but Immune. (Similar to dogs that have been innoculated against a disease will often test positive for the disease) Merlin, Corbacho Silver Enterprise, tested Positive Immune and bred to a carrier produced puppies Clear of the disease. It suggests the possibility that once all dogs carried an immunity but somehow it has been lost. Perhaps one or two frequently used studs or bitches might have lost their immunity through mutation. I would be interested in other people comments on this. 

Carriers of juvenile renal dysplasia are perfectly healthy dogs but bred to another carrier produce terminally ill puppies born with abnormal or missing kidneys. These puppies seldom live beyond three years. 

 I remember a time, when hip displasia was first being tested for, people refused to test because so many dogs failed. In England, where the original test was very, very strict, my dogs, the founders of my line, were the second through sixth dogs to pass. The first dog was the father of two of mine that passed. Corbacho Butterwell MacCarthy "Perry", my first silver, was given a letter from the board, that inspected hips for certification, stating he had perfect hips but was too old to receive a certificate. They had deemed dogs over seven could never possible have perfect hips and had mandated testing was to be done before that age. I believe he was nine or ten when tested. His great grandson, Corbacho Navy Blue, (son of the first dog that passed, English Champion Abendow Captain Cuttle,) was chasing a young dog in heat when he died at aged 18. How many dogs of that age can still run....Of course how many dogs of that age remember why they are running... He died happy, with hips that had carried him, pain-free, for a long lifetime.

Flea and Tick Control.

I have always advised against using spot-on or oral products for flea and tick control. Many of these products have been removed from the market in Europe.

I reprint part of an artical by Matthew Daly, Associated Press, titled EPA targets flea and tick pet products:

Washington- Products intended to treat cats and dogs for fleas and ticks kill hundreds of pets each year and injure tens of thousands, the Enviroment Protection Agency said Wednesday, (March, 17, 2010) as it outlined plans to make the products safer.

The EPA said it will develop stricter testing and evaluation requirements for flea and tick treatments that are applied to a pet's skin. The agency also will begin reviewing labels to determine which ones need to say more clearly how to use the products.

The EPA's effort follows increasing complaints from pet owners that the "spot-on" products have triggered reactions in dogs and cats, including skin irritations, neurological problems and deaths. Cats and small dogs appear to be particularly vulnerable, the EPA said, especially when given products intended  for larger animals.

Steve Owens, assistant administrator of EPA's Office Of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, said new restrictions will be placed on flea and tick products, with additional changes for specific products likely-including possible changes in some product formulas.

"These are poisons," Owens said, "These are products designed to kill fleas and ticks-and they do their jobs."

The EPA is committed to better protecting the health and safety of pets and families, Owens said, but added that pet owners "need to carefully read and follow all labeling before exposing your pet to a pesticide."

The agency announced last April it was increasing scrutiny of topical flea and tick products because of the growing number of bad reactions reported.

The EPA said it received 44,263 reports of harmful reactions associated with topical flea and tick products in 2008, up from 28,895 in 2007. Reactions included skin irritations, vomiting, seizures and the death of an animal in about 600 cases. An EPA spokesman said he did not have a breakdown of how many deaths were dogs and how many were cats.

Dog and cat owners say their pets have suffered burns and welts on their skin; started to drool excessively; began to shake uncontrollably; lost control of their legs; or experienced other neurological problems after using the flea and tick treatments..........  The article continued.

Often parks, and areas where dogs are exercised, are sprayed with products containing similar ingredients. I have witnessed dogs, of different breeds and sizes, suffering from the neurological problems after absorbing the product  through their skin. In the past many of the dips, that have been removed from the market, produced similar problems. The symptoms can mimic mild epilepsy and can be misdiagnosed as such. The one difference I have noted is that usually the dog does not loose bowel or bladder control and often tries to respond to their owner. If your pet has ever had a bad reaction to any product, please report it to the EPA. Remember, if it is bad for your pet it probably isn't healthy for you or your children when you hug your pet and inhale the product.  

                                            BEAUTY SECRETS

A Wet/Dry Vac on the blow cycle makes an excellant hair dryer for poodles! After towel drying as much as possible, use a narrow nozzle close to the skin, it gives the dog a great massage to. Dry one side of the back first, slowly enlarginging the dry area. Do not jump from one area to another. I move onto the head and ear then the tail and finally the legs. You can dry the inside of the legs on the other side of the dog as well as the outside of the legs facing you. Turn the dog around and repeat. You can train your dog to lie down for this. Put a towel under them to soak up the wet side. (Merlin often sleeps through this process, only waking to turn over.) 

Vinegar and Water (50% of each,) or a Vinegar and Water Douche cures yeast infections in poodles ears! Recognize the infection by a nasty smell and brown guck in the ear. In the summer, I use this regularly, prevention is easier than curing.

Puff a little ear powder into your poodles ears and pluck the hair out from deep in the ear. The powder makes it easier to grip the hair with your fingers and it is safer than putting having a 'tool' in your dogs ears, should they move suddenly. The ears should always be completely hair free after a professional grooming. If not, change your groomer!

Absorbine, Superpoo Horse Shampoo is a great dog shampoo that dilutes down and penetrates thick poodle coats. If you have a flea on your dog it will quickly "abandon ship" because it cannot take the citrus in the shampoo. The shampoo does not kill eggs. I use a pyrethin dip for this, it also puts mosquitoes off from biting. I like this better than using internal medicine or something so toxic that a spot on the shoulder kills or neuters fleas all over the body. (When you hug your dog around the neck you are close to inhaling that medication. Pyrethin dips come from chrysanthemums. Do not use them on a cat.

For the sake of your back and so your dog knows that grooming time is not play time, use a table. You can use any small table or spend money buying an electrical one that can be elevated (I love mine and wish I had bought it years ago, before I ruined my back. The price of these has made them more affordable.) You can use your shower or bath tub for bathing your dog but if you have the room, a double laundry sink can have a dual purpose. It is perfect for bathing the little puppy in one side and then as they grow, let them stand with front legs in one sink and back legs in the other. They always stand completely still for the whole process and again, it saves your back. My dogs were trained to put their front legs on the edge of the sink and I just used to boost them up into it, now they can walk into it from my elevated table. Merlin loves our concession to old age.

If you only have one poodle it is worth letting someone else do all the clipping but, when you have returned, for your second Corbacho poodle, yes you probably will end up owning at least two, it is worth learning to at least tidy them up between professional groomings. Get some really good equipment. I will always advise you on what you need. Get a good instruction book and have confidence. Your dog will not trust you if you don't trust yourself. Poodles are smart that way. Modern grooming equipment has made it much more simple than using the hand operated shears I started with. (Yes, I really am that old. I still have them and have used them during a power outage. I still hate them even though I can do as good a job with them as with electrical shears.)

HOW TO APPLY FOR A CALIFORNIA ASSISTANCE DOG TAG

If you live in California, are disabled and use the services of an assistance dog or Service dog you can receive your dog license in the form of the California Assistance Dog tag at no cost.

For more information, and I recomend taking a copy of this with you when you apply, go to

http://www.ehow.com/how_5313646_apply-california-assistance-dog-tag.html

Your local animal control can ask for proof of your disability, disabled license plates for your car or a disabled placard will meet this requirement. You should never disclose your particular medical condition. They may ask you what service your dog does for you. To meet this requirement you can tell them your dog alerts you to changes in your medical condition, helps with mobility, opens doors or picks up dropped items etc. Your dog does not need to have been trained by any one other than you to qualify as a service animal. Please train your dog to be a perfect companion, so all of us can enjoy our service dogs. 

I have recently found it necessary to make use of my own, well trained poodle, Digby, (Corbacho Just In Time) to aid my mobility. His ability as a service dog has been constantly questioned because he is beautiful and in full show clip. Why do people think that our beautiful breed cannot be intelligent and useful to! My response to people who question me is to tell them that he is not just a pretty face, he has brains too!

I first started training standard poodles as service animals in 1970, when I was approached by a person with agoraphobia, the fear of outside space. I am so greatful to that person, not only was it a joy to see how the dog gave them the confidence to venture outside after years of being locked into their home but it gave me an interest in how our dogs could serve in other ways. Since then we have supplied our dogs to psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, retirement homes and individuals to help improve lives. I even returned to school and received a Masters Degree in Counseling so I could use the information to  find new ways for our dogs to assist.

Thank you to all the people who love and benefit from our smart, beautiful service dogs. Your partnership with our dogs is inspirational and much more rewarding than a "Best In Show".

To be continued....