Veterinary Marijuana?

 "People need to understand that this isn’t about getting my dog high. It’s about improving his quality of life.”

Denise, a pet owner who turned to marijuana to help her dog, dying of cancer

Would you give your pet Marijuana to save their life, 

or help them to eat, 

or be able to die without suffering terrible pain?

Read this article and decide after you hear her story.

Veterinary Marijuana?

I'd love to hear your opinion.

Veterinary Orthopedic Surgeons Use Human Technique To Repair Canine CCL

Veterinary Orthopedic Surgeons have developed a procedure to repair the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) problems in dogs, that is used in humans. Adapted from human ankle surgeries, the surgeons clean up the joint tissue and meniscus of the knee, stabilizing the ligament. With a small incision, they insert a device into the leg that ultimately replaces the function of the ligament. The surgeon drills a hole through the bones to anchor it in place.

This is an X-ray of a CCL repair

Every year, about 1 million canines undergo surgery for torn ligaments in their knees. I suspect most of these are the working breeds and bird dog breeds.

This surgery is quicker and it's an easier way to ease their pain. The procedure has less potential for serious complications with a quicker recovery time than traditional surgery that actually involves cutting the dogs bone.

The surgery costs $2200.00 - 2400.00 and the dog is back on his feet in about 12 weeks with little sign of injury. The dog must be healthy and weigh more than 40 pounds, in order to have thick enough bones to endure the drilling for the connection.

IF you'd like to read more and see a little film clip explaining the surgery, please click here:

Science Da1ly Orthopedic Video

How Our Dogs Learn From Our Human Behavior

Ever feel like you're being watched? Well, you are! Your dog watches everything you do when you and your dog are together. If you don't believe me, just try eating a sandwich when you think he isn't looking.

Most likely, he will be begging, or staring you down for a bite of that sandwich in no time. The longer your dog has known you, the better he knows you and your habits.
Dogs are like children in the sense that they learn from repetition and reward. Unlike children, it only takes twice, maybe three times to be habit for the dog especially if food is involved.  Food is a great motivator in training.

Your dog will know when you go to the kitchen to make food. He will recognize when you are leaving for the day, or a trip. He will know if you are energetic, or even sad. He knows when to beg for food or a treat, to get a response.

He knows what the can opener is for!

Our dogs learn all this by watching our cues. The movement of our arms, the tone of our voices, and our actions, all tell our dogs what is going on in their world. They watch. They learn. They remember. And they respond. What bird hunter, can't say, that he could put on his hunting vest and boots, then pick up his gun and hat and walk out of the house without his bird dog knowing? I know for a fact it can't be done in my house.

There was an interesting study done on how the canine learns and thinks, when it comes to interacting with humans. Science Daily published an article on the subject and you can read that at:

Canine Connection: Study Explores How Dogs Think and Learn About Human Behavior

Are Dogs Picking Up Our Human Behavior?

Have you ever thought, "This dog thinks he's human?" I know I have. And it was usually because of something smart my dog surprised me with.  Like manipulate me into getting up from my comfortable couch to get them a treat, cookie, or chew bone. And sometimes, it can just be a look. A certain, eye to eye contact, that is not staring, but mutual.  A meeting of the minds.

The Max Planck Institute, in Leipzig, Germany is studying just how much human behavior our dogs are capable of learning and understanding. For instance, do dogs understand it when we extend our arm and fore finger and point? Studies show they do, approximately 90% of the time. Hidden food was the reward in the test. 

Studies were also done to test how dogs perceive  our eye movements. Could a person use their eyes to "direct" a dog to where the food is hidden, with no other clues?  Once again, studies show they can.

The eyes are very important when it comes to communication. Here is an interesting test they did, to find out how important it is for your dog to see your face and eyes when communicating.

They put 3 people in a room and set them each in a chair. Person #1 had no obstruction of the face or eyes. Person #2 had a blind fold covering the eyes only. Person #3 had a red bucket completely covering their head and eyes. A dog was brought in and instructed to beg from the human. In every test, the dog would choose Person #1 whose head and eyes could be seen. Seeing your face and eyes are an important part of communication.

Another example of this was a test they done with 2 humans and a dog. One human laid a treat down and instructed the dog to leave it alone. Then the human just sat there with their eyes open, looking straight ahead. The dog was a little temped, but didn't touch the treat.  Next they placed a person in a room who laid down the treat and again instructed the dog to leave it alone. But this time, the person sat with their head straight ahead, eyes closed. Guess what? The dog walked around the treat once or twice, then ate it! This shows that dogs are aware of what we can see when our eyes are open.  They apparently won't touch the treat if we've got an eye on them, but if we fall asleep, the dog has no conscious at all!

"Mapping" is a technique, that was once thought of as a human behavior, not something that canines were capable of. Studies have proved this theory to be wrong. "Mapping" is this: Lets say your dog has 10 toys and he knows the names of each one. You buy a new toy, name it "red toy" and put it in the mix, and then ask your dog to fetch the "red toy". The dog knows the name of all his toys and by the process of elimination, he figures out which one is the "red toy".  We teach this to first graders as well. The child has a picture of a pig, a cow, and a crow.  The child is asked to circle the crow. The child already knows what a pig and a cow are, so the other one must be the crow. Again, it's the process of elimination. It's amazing that some dogs are capable of this kind of "thinking and reasoning".

I think this stuff is amazing. I've always believed that dogs are smarter than some humans we give them credit for. I'm so glad to see studies being done. I think human lives are improved ten fold with animals, but especially dogs. We are only beginning to know how helpful they can be in our society and just how much they are capable of.

Do you think you could hide food some place in a room and direct your dog to it, with only a point, or eye movement, and no other clues? Most bird dogs are taught to pay attention to cues and whistles  from their master, as well as most working breeds.  But how about the eyes? Can you direct you dog with just eye contact? Go ahead. Try it.


For the paper on the study, Click this: Human-Like Social Skills in Dogs?  You should find it online in PDF form.

New Hope For Heart Problems in Dogs

A new study at the University of Florida, and funded by a grant from the AKC, is looking at some new procedures for better treatment of Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis  (SAS). The current treatment for this disease is insertion of a balloon, similar to a human who gets a angioplasty to clear blocked arteries.
In dogs it's called Valvuloplasty.

The study will look at the safety of a double balloon valvuloplasty on dogs that currently have S.A.S. They will also look at new ways to decrease the heart's pressure gradient, post-operatively. And they will be testing a new balloon that actually has little blades on it to cut out the narrowed area below the aortic valve. WOW. Can you imagine that?

I was amazed by what the doctors did to save my husbands life when he had a heart attack. I didn't know they were doing this kind of stuff for our dogs too!

Currently these procedures can cost as much as $10,000.00 to $15,000.00. The hopes are, that in the future, they will be able to get the cost down to about $2000.000 - $3000.00. An Angioplasty in humans cost around $50,000.00.

If you'd like to read more about the study, here's an easy link:

A Heart-To-Heart on Severe Subaortic Stenosis

 

 

 

Hooking Up Veterans With Dogs

War Dog Memorial in Guam- A soldier and his canine partner stop to pay their respects.

Rep. Michael Grimm, R-NY, spent 8 years in the Marines serving his country, before he started representing NY. He knows a little something about Veterans and their needs and has a wonderful idea on how we can help them.

His idea also includes saving shelter dogs. Pairing them with Veterans who will train the dogs to help other veterans. Many Veterans who are dealing with Post Traumatic Stress have trouble with a lack of focus and purpose in their life. Something we all need, every day. Training the dogs, is suspected to give them focus and purpose, by the fact that the dog they are training will go to a another Vet to help make his life easier.

It's not known for sure if training the dogs can help reduce Post Traumatic Stress, but Grimm would like to launch a pilot program to find out. The bill is co-sponsored by Reps. Peter King of New York, Leonard Lance of New Jersey,  and  Michael Michaud D-Maine.

The Human Society has endorsed the idea, and has already implemented a program of their own in D.C. called,  Dog Tags.  Camp Pendleton in California, also has a similar program called Operation Heroes and Hounds. Both programs use homeless and shelter dogs.

This is a no brainer - a true WIN WIN WIN situation. A soldier saves a dog, who saves a soldier, who saved the first soldier.

God bless the soldiers who protect us, they are our Heroes. And 

God bless the dogs who are their Heroes.

This article was originally posted on the web site Army Times, by Rick Maze.

Photo courtesy The Blog Of Record

Take Pause, For The Paws

In 2010, scientist did a study on the structure of the canine paw. The information gained will help veterinarians tremendously in diagnosis, and effectiveness in treating canine paw injuries.

Recently there were two papers published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research,  that map out the major anatomical regions of the canine paw.  Researchers were able to identify some important implications for how the structures may affect the spread of injury and disease.

This study is particularly important to the working dog breeds, including our Gordon Setters.  Although all dogs are at risk of injury to their paws, it's the working dogs that really "use" their feet on the job. Whether it be competition, hunting, trialing, searching or leading, these dogs put their paws through a lot of abuse. When our dogs are running through the woods they really give their paws a pounding. I've always worried about them "poking their eye out"! Turns out I should have been more worried about their feet!

Studies show that nearly half of all working dog injuries, are to the feet and lower part of the body. These beautiful creatures do so much for us, the least we can do is take care of the wounds they receive in their service to us.

I'd like to give Big Kudos to The American Kennel Club (AKC) for the grant they provided for this study.

If you'd like to read more about the research and other findings in this study, please click on this link:

AKC Canine Health Foundation

Thanks to Sport for the use of his Paws for demonstration purposes! 

Can You Hear Us Now, Cabelas??

Ladies, this is your chance to speak out! Terry Scoville, at Womens Hunting Journal, is putting together a list of what we ladies would like to have in hunting apparel. Terry is fed up with the "tremendous inequities amongst what is offered to men and not women who participate in the same outdoor pursuits."

As a small woman, I agree totally. I am not "one size fits all". That's the worst size of all!  I know there are other small women out there (Leigh) and (Emily) but this isn't just about being small and not finding the right clothing for the hunt. It is about finding quality hunting clothing that is available and is actually made for a woman.

I don't understand why the market is so limited in women's hunting apparel. I've had my blog now for over a year and I've seen women involved in all kinds of hunting. There are bird hunters, deer hunters, elk, moose, antelope, bear and bore hunters. There are shooters,  bow hunters, and lots of women who fish. Including me. All that is a market in itself!.......for someone.

"Do you hear us Cabelas?"

Please got to Terry's blog,  Womens Hunting Journal, and lend her your support. If there is anything you want just comment on this post: Cabelas please return my call!   Terry will list your items.

If you're a guy, you probably don't have any problems finding what you need. But could you support Terry in her efforts? Just add your name to the list of supporters. Thanks a bunch guys! 

    .....and please, will you help spread the word?          

GSCA Does Study on Gordon Setter Health

In 2004, the The Health & Genetics Committee of the Gordon Setter Club of America, commissioned Margaret R. Slater, DMV, PHD, to do a National Health Study on Gordon Setters. The purpose of the study was to determine the frequency of specific health problems affecting Gordon Setters and whether or not there could be a relationship between sex of the Gordon and certain health problems. Cancer is the most prevalent, by far. The study examined aprox. 1125 Gordon Setters. They covered a wide range of health problems from skin disorders to Cancer, from behaviors, to causes of death. There's a detailed copy of this study on the Gordon Setter Club of America's website. To see that report Click on the Link in our Favorite Links, "Gordon Setter Club of America". That will take you to the Home Page of GSCA. Click on Gordon Setter Health Survey: Final Report.

Another Look at the 49TH Day -By: Ed Bailey

Photo By: Karen Thomason


I came across an article that had been published several times, but I had missed. It is called, Another Look at the 49th Day, and was written by Dr. Ed Bailey and published in Gun Dog Magazine in 1994 and again in 1998. This article is all about puppyhood and the stages of social, physical, and psychological growth they experience. There is a thought that puppies should go into the new owners home at exactly 49 days. We, have subscribed to this thought as well, with our kennel. But this article is about studies that were done in the 4o's and 50's, and challenges that idea. It certainly has me re-thinking a few things. Good read and lots to learn about the development of puppies from birth to about 2 years old. It may even give you some insight to your own dogs behavior. Click on the Title for a LINK to the Article, Reprinted by Caliber Kennels.