Here are the breeds latest Hip scores as at January 2010

                                                  HIP SCORES

Dogs tested   Average Score

Nov 2008             67                                                     18.1

Jan 2010             80                                                     17.9

It is always advisable to stay under the breed score especially if you are new to breeding and to get a pup from a breeder who uses dogs under these scores to lessen your chance of getting a pup with Dysplasia ...we do not recommend you get a pup from any dogs that are unscored.

                                             ELBOW SCORES

                # Dogs Tested     Accredited           Dysplasia

                                                               Gd 1       Gd 2      Gd 3

Nov 2008           46                   15              18          10           3

Jan 2010            56                  19               22          12           3

                              Grade Interpretation

Grading of elbows for elbow dysplasia is divided into five grades.

Grade 0:
No evidence of elbow dysplasia. This is the optimum grade.

B (borderline):
Subtle changes are seen on the elbow radio graphs which are suggestive of elbow dysplasia but are of insufficient severity to be conclusive. A Borderline grade is a good score.

Grade 1:
Obvious osteophytes indicating arthrosis of the joint. In the high risks breeds this score currently represents a better than average score. In breeds with a low risk of osteochondrosis, a Grade 1 score is less than desirable.

As too many dogs have proved to fall into this category it was decided to split the grade into 1a and 1b. 1a is the more desirable grade.

Grade 2:
More severe arthrosis is present. A grade 2 score is a poor score, and breeding with dogs with this grade is not recommended. This recommendation is especially true in low risk breeds. Breeding from grade 2 dogs can be justified only if the dog has other genetic traits that would be advantageous to the gene pool of that breed as a whole.

Grade 3:
Severe arthrosis and we recommend that in no circumstances should these dogs be used for breeding.

Dogs that are scored either 0-0, 0-B or B-B in both elbows and are between 1-2 years of age at the time of radiography are eligible for a re-check when more than two years of age. Any dog with a score of 0-0, 0-B or B-B when older than two years old is given ACCREDITATION status (i.e. accredited free of elbow dysplasia by radiographic examination).

  Thanks to the NZVA for making this information available.

*** Pennhip scoring is now the preferred choice when scoring as dogs can be done as young as 3 months of age. ****

Hip dysplasia (HD) is the most common heritable orthopaedic condition seen in veterinary practice, affecting virtually every breed. There is no effective cure for this condition, and treatment consists mainly of palliation.

Traditional methods for diagnosing HD have been associated with disappointing progress in reducing the incidence of the disease.  Some of the schemes also had a voluntary submission policy, in other words xrays of really bad hips were never sent for scoring, which resulted in breed scores being better than they should have been.

The only practical means of eliminating or reducing the incidence of HD is through selective breeding, based on well-defined objective phenotypic (physical make up, such as xray appearance) criteria.  In theory, these phenotypic criteria will identify those dogs that lack the genetic predisposition for HD, and therefore will be suitable for breeding.

Most traditional screening systems looked at a single view of the hips, with the hips fully extended. Since this method underestimates true hip laxity, it cannot effectively predict the dog’s susceptibility to HD later in life. In one study, 55% of dogs scored normal by a hip extended radiograph, went on to develop osteoarthritic hips later in life. It is likely that the prevalence of HD in a breed is 2-3 times higher that is actually started from traditional hip-extended scoring schemes.

Therefore, using the extended hip method for selecting breeding dogs will retain a high level of HD in the offspring.

There is also considerable variation in scores when using the hip extended views, both between examiners and from the same examiner.

Hip laxity (looseness) is a measurable objective component that can be used to predict an animal’s susceptibility to develop HD and the osteoarthritis (OA) of HD later in life. Hip laxity, combined with rapid growth and weight gain, increases the risk of OA in the hips.

PennHIP testing measures hip laxity.

PennHIP involves two radiographic views: a compression view with the femoral heads compressed deeply into acetabula (sockets), and distraction view obtained by levering a custom-designed device between the legs to maximally displace the femoral heads from the acetabula.

This is then read by a panel of experts in Pennsylvania to give a distraction index (DI), defined as a measure of how much the femoral head is distracted from the acetabulum when under stress. DI of 1.0 = full distraction. 0.5 = 50% distraction.
Distraction xray revealed 2.5 times more laxity than the hip extended xray, and is therefore much more sensitive at detecting laxity in hips, the prime phenotypic factor in predicting a dog’s susceptibility for developing OA of HD.

Lax hips on PennHIP more highly correlated with OA than lax hips on extended view.
Tight hips on PennHIP are extremely unlikely to develop OA.

Hips with DI < 0.29 are very unlikely to develop OA.

DI > 0.3 is termed hyperlaxity. These hips are at risk of OA, with an increasing risk as DI increases further.  In one study 98% of Labrador Retrievers with DI > 30% developed OA later in life.
DI of 0.3 can be thought of as a biological threshold, separating normal disease-free hips from OA prone hips.

DI can be measured from 4 months of age, and is a good predictor of susceptibility to OA, but the strength of the prediction improves at 6 months and again at 1 year.  As DI increases over 0.3, the risk of OA increases, but rate of OA risk increase is breed related. Some breeds such as the German Shepherd Dog, are much more likely to develop OA as their laxity increases beyond 0.3. Other breeds are much less likely.

Majority of dogs certified suitable for breeding by hip extended radiographic scheme were found under PennHIP to have hip laxities corresponding to OA susceptibility, showing the prevalence of hip dysplasia to be far higher than previously thought.

Heritability denotes the reliability of the phenotype in predicting the genotype. In other words, it indicates how reliable measuring a physical characteristic is (such as hip laxity) in predicting the genetic make up of that individual.

High heritability means all the variation in phenotype is explained by the genes, and no environmental component exists. So, if a factor was found to have a high heritability, its measurement would give a clear indication of the genetic make up, and there would be no influence from other factors such as diet.
The higher the heritability of a selected trait and the stricter the selection criteria chosen, the more rapid the genetic change per generation of breeding. So, a highly heritable trait, which then is very strictly chosen for when selecting dogs for breeding, will lead to a very rapid change in the breed.

However, given the extremely high incidence of hip laxity, if we were to select dogs for breeding which had very good scores only (<0.3) we would be left with a very small population of dogs to breed from. As an example, Golden Retrievers with distraction index less than 0.3 constitute less than 5% of the population. To avoid problems associated with inbreeding caused by breeding from such a small group, a more moderate approach has been taken.

In is therefore prudent to choose breeding stock from those in the breed who have a distraction index less than the median score for the breed. This then represents the “tightest half” of the breed.
This will then apply continuous selection pressure while maintaining genetic diversity. In time, the breed median will steadily change and the breed scores will improve.

More rapid genetic change could be achieved by applying stricter selection pressure, which individual breeders are more than welcome to do.

PennHIP does not evaluate dogs in a pass/fail manner, it just gives a measure of hip laxity that a breeder can use to make an informed choice about whether to breed from that individual dog. We will not advise whether the individual is suitable for breeding or not, since there are obviously many other factors taken into consideration when selecting a dog for breeding than its hip score alone.
It is the owner’s responsibility to decide whether to breed from individual dog or not.

As a guiding principle, tighter hips are better hips, and a good starting point would be to accept for breeding any dog with a DI less than the breed median for the preceding year. Breed medians are updated continuously.

All xrays taken are submitted for evaluation, even ones that are obviously dysplastic.

When taking PennHIP xrays, there is a risk of cavitation risk. This is due to bubbles of nitrogen gas forming in joint fluid as the joint is stretched, as happens when we crack our knuckles. Cavitation causes no harm, but can make scoring the hip laxity difficult or impossible. 4% of hips will have cavitation when distracted, which may increase joint laxity artificially. DI can be measured if only one hip cavitates, but cannot be done if both cavitate. This happens in less than 1% of cases. In such a case, the procedure would need to be repeated.

Phil Macleod and Paul Eason have both now been accredited to perform PennHIP testing. This means we can offer this effective means of testing the susceptibility of a dog developing OA from HD later in life, at both our Papakura and Pukekohe clinics.

Testing involves a full anaesthetic, and a day stay in the clinic. Results are normally available in a few weeks, since they have to be sent to the USA for reading.

Here are a few conditions, in brief , full details will follow below of each condition .    

                                            BLOAT

Gastric torsion -volvulus is also known as bloat or twisted stomach , it is an extremely serious condition and should always be considered a life threatening .Because the Dogue is a deep chested dog they are prone to this condition , so it is always wise to feed them split there daily meal into two ,as dogs fed once a day are more likely to get bloat , and to avoid exercise after eating for at least an hour with limited water intake. Some people fed there dogs using raised feeders to reduce the risk of bloat , but there is no scientific evidence to confirm it lessens a dogs risk.

                             Gastric Torsion Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJVgNB5wSng&feature=related

                                  Hip / Elbow Dysplasia

Hip and Elbow dysplasia these are a major problem with the breed mainly because they are a large breed they grow very fast and if care is not taken when they are young this can have a disastrous effect on them as they get older , it is always wise to make sure any breeding dogs are hip and elbow scored before breeding to reduce this in the breed and also avoid young ones from using stairs and jumping up and down off things until at least 6-8 months of age . ...because they have large chests there is a lot of weight on those elbows.

                                  Hip dysplasia Video

         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTwi8TRs6z8

                                       Heart disease

Heart disease is becoming more of a health issue with the breed ,especially Dilated Cardiomyopathy ,Pulmonary Stenosis, ASA and Mitral Dysplasia, so again always a good idea to health check any potential breeding dogs on a cardiograph as a stethoscope is not thorough enough .....this is a very heartbreaking and financially draining disease to have to deal with and sometimes can go undiagnosed until the dog dies suddenly.

                                       Hypothyroidism

The thyroid gland has a number of functions in the body , but is most well known for regulating the metabolism . If you have a dog that has trouble gaining weight ,is obese and suffer from Skin and hair conditions a quick blood test can check out the various levels of thyroid hormones including T 3 and T 4. Most dogs once diagnosed respond really well to treatment.

                                          Skin conditions

Demodectic mange is the most common skin condition in the breed and can be easy treated if got onto when the signs first appear , hair loss, skin irritation , crustiness ,scabbiness and possible itching....skin infections from scratching can become another issue is left can become life threatening . Ivormec is usually the choice of treatment under vet supervision only ,advantage multi can be used as a preventative treatment but is not a remedy for the condition.

The latest treatment being used is the Bravecto tablet but we do urge you to do your research before opting to use this drug.

Boosting your dogs immune system by way of natural supplements is also necessary as it is generally caused by a lowered immune system.

                                                Allergies

This breed can suffer from allergies so they are best fed a well balanced raw diet or a grain free dry food.

                                             Panosteitis

\Also known as wandering lameness or pano , it is most commonly seen between the age of 5 – 12 mths and is the result of excessive bone production on the long bones.....growing pains i guess you could say. Diet is thought to be a contributing factor in pano as a puppy diet contains a high protein levels it also increases growth rate and can increase the chance of pano so it can sometimes be a good idea to pup your pup if they suffer pano on an adult diet earlier . Pano is usually outgrown by the age of 18 mths old.

                                           Eye problems

Entropian ( rolling inward ) eyelids and Ectropian ( drooping or rolling outward) eyelids are the most common eye problems . Ectropian ,unless very pronounced, does not generally lead to severe disease of the eye itself ,however a drooping eyelid can catch dust and debris which will cause irritation and possible eye infections .Entropion on the other hand frequently causes ocular pain and corneal disease. If the eyelid is rolled inward sufficiently so that the hairs of the eyelid rub on the eye, much damage may be done. Dogs with entropion usually squint and have watery eyes. If the entropion is not corrected and the rubbing continues, ulcers often develop on the cornea and the cornea becomes pigmented. Vision may be lost. Dogs that have had entropion correction surgery cannot be shown. 

                                       Epilepsy & Seizures

A seizure is a convulsion caused by abnormal bursts of electrical activity in the brain. They may last from seconds to minutes.  Some characteristics of seizures will include jerking of the limbs, anxiety, salivation, vocalizing, and loss of bodily functions (urination/defecation).   Epilepsy can be caused by metabolic disorders, infectious diseases, brain injury, toxins, or brain tumors.  A genetic seizure condition can occur in dogs called idiopathic (of unknown cause) or inherited epilepsy.  Since a dog with idiopathic epilepsy shows no recognizable abnormalities, it is assumed to be an inherited condition in most breeds and demonstrated to be heritable in some breeds.  Treatment of seizures is usually two-fold which includes treatment of the underlying problem (infection, tumor, injury) and reducing or eliminating the seizure episodes with anticonvulsant medication. 

We highly recommend doing health checks on any breedin stock you may be going to use ,together we should be trying to help eliminate some of the health issues that our breeds have ...if people just keep breeding without health testing the health issues will only get worse and never better .....and it will greatly increase your chances of ending up with a very sick dog or appearing in court.

    THOSE ARE SOME CONDITIONS IN BRIEF PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR FULL                              ARTICLES FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION

                              by Dudley E. Johnson, M.V.Sc.

                Professor of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania

Torsion of the stomach in the dog is characterized by life-endangering distension of the stomach with gas; the stomach is usually found to be severely dilated and congested, and often to have rotated about an axis in the plane of the esophagus.

There are many unknown features of this disease. Even the correct mane for the disease is not known. It is commonly called torsion of the stomach; however, many veterinarians, including the author, believe the primary condition is not torsion, but distension or dilation of the stomach with gas. This distension may or may not be followed by torsion or twisting of the stomach.

Incidence

Torsion of the stomach is seen most commonly in large breeds including that are Large breed deep chested breeds including the Great Dane and Bloodhound, as well as some of the intermediate size breeds. Most people agree it is a serious problem in the first-two named breeds. There does not appear to be any association with the sex or the age of the animal. It has been reported in young adults as well as fully mature dogs. There is no doubt it can occur suddenly after eating in a previously healthy dog.

The Cause of Torsion of the Stomach

A commonly expressed explanation is that the disease is purely a mechanical twist of the stomach. The stomach, containing some comparatively heavy food material, is pictured as swinging in a pendulum-like fashion. Then, as a result of a sudden jump from a high bench or from rolling or playing, the pendulum is swung completely around the point of fixation of the stomach, the point where the esophagus passes through the diaphragm, giving rise to a twist. This occludes both the entrance to and the exit from the stomach so that gas, which is produced in the stomach, cannot escape, giving rise to the distension. As stated previously, there is considerable doubt concerning the validity of this explanation.

In criticism of this mechanical theory, several objections can be raised. In many cases, there is no evidence that a sudden or vigorous movement of the dog after feeding has occurred. In addition, the contents of the stomach are not such that would facilitate a pendulum-like movement. In the normal, tightly packed, abdominal cavity of the dog, the tonicity of the abdominal muscles, the shortness of the gut, and the normal absence of much gas or fluid, tend to preclude the free mobility visualized for the stomach.

In addition, it has been shown experimentally if the stomach of the dog is distended with air by means of a stomach tube, the stomach eventually twists in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, depending on the position of the spleen at the onset of distension. If the previous theory is correct, there must be some factor which causes the initial distension of the stomach. This factor is not known, but it is probably due to a condition which causes atony or paralysis of the wall of the stomach associated with a large meal and then gas production. Much of the gas found in the stomach could be caused by swallowing air.

The Development of the Disease in the Dog

According to the theory that distension is the primary condition, following distension with gas, the stomach rotates in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. The dog is usually severely ill, and can die within one or two hours. The stomach is severely distended, the wall of the stomach is congested, and may even be deprived of blood. The spleen is also twisted and enlarged.

A second situation can occur which is not so serious, but is still a good idea to get the dog checked, the condition is more chronic, and may last several days. Some dogs eventually become severely distended, and may die.

What Causes the Death of the Dog?

This condition in the dog has a sudden onset, usually within one to two hours of eating a large meal. The dog is first breathless and, if examined closely, the abdomen is excessively large.

The dog will stand, lie still, or move only with caution. He will generally pass feces and gas so that eventually the entire gut with the exception of the stomach has been emptied. There are often attempts at vomiting although these attempts are rarely successful. In a period varying from one-half to three hours, the stomach becomes grossly distended, and there is severe dyspnea, or difficulty in breathing. The dog may live up to 36 hours but many will die within one to two hours.

There are several explanations for the rapid onset of severe signs and rapid death. It has long been suggested one of the important aspects is the stomach pressing forward on the diaphragm thus compressing the lungs so that the animal has difficulty in breathing. There is experimental and clinical evidence, however, that the rapid development of severe signs can be better explained by the pressure of the enlarged stomach on the vena cava, the large vein which carries blood to the heart from the abdomen and hind legs. As a result of this pressure, there is an inadequate amount of blood returning to the heart, which cannot function effectively as a pump, and therefore, the blood pressure of the animal falls. This produces shock and rapid death. Other factors contribute to a lessor degree to the development of the clinical signs. There is a loss of fluids and electrolytes from the body into the distended gut, and there probably is some pressure by the distended stomach on the lungs, interfering with their function.

It can be seen from this discussion of the cause of death in torsion of the stomach, that the first priority in the treatment of torsion of the stomach must be relief of the distension.

Management of the Dog with Torsion of the Stomach

This is one of the true emergencies in veterinary medicine, and treatment must be instituted immediately if the animal is to survive. If the dog cannot be treated immediately by a veterinarian, the owner may be forced to render first aid to his dog. This is difficult, and there is no uniformly successful method to relieve the distension. In some dogs, a stomach tube can be passed. This can be done by the owner. Unfortunately, it is not possible to do this in dogs with major torsion of the stomach since the entrance into the stomach is obstructed by the twist in the esophagus. Some owners puncture the stomach with a large-bore needle so that the gas will escape. It is probably best to do this on theright side of the dog over the point of greatest distension. Again, unfortunately, this is not always successful. The needle can become obstructed by stomach contents, and there maybe a leakage of fluids and gas into the abdominal cavity with risk of peritonitis. If the animal is severely affected, the owner may have no choice but to attempt one of these methods to relieve the distension. The dog should be treated by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Unfortunately, there has been insufficient experimental work done by veterinarians on the treatment of torsion of the stomach, and opinions vary on the correct form of therapy.

Many veterinarians advise immediate anesthesia and surgery to relieve the distension and the twist of the stomach. If large volumes of fluids and electrolytes are given by intravenous injection before and during the operation, reasonably good results can be expected.

More satisfactory results have been obtained by a method in which the distension is relieved by a simple surgical procedure. This is later followed by correction of the torsion when the dog is no longer in shock and better able to withstand anesthesia and surgery. This is the method recommended by this author. A small opening is made into the stomach using a local anesthesia. The wall of the stomach is sutured to the skin so that leakage into the abdominal cavity with subsequent peritonitis cannot occur. Fluid and electrolytes are given by intravenous injection; surgery is performed later to close the hole in the stomach and reposition the stomach, if necessary. Strict control of food and water intake for many days after surgery is needed to avoid a recurrence of the condition.

Prevention

The treatment of torsion of the stomach is unsatisfactory for two reasons. First, the condition develops so quickly that the animal can die in such a short time that many dogs die before treatment can be instituted. Second, it is not possible to save all animals with any of the presently accepted forms of treatment. Using the method in which the distension is relieved and the torsion corrected at a later date, it is expected that 75 to 80 % of dogs should survive. Some dogs are so close to death before treatment that they cannot be saved, and in others, the stomach wall is severely injured by lack of blood supply so that recovery cannot occur.

Therefore, we should direct our attention to prevention of this condition. Unfortunately, there are not generally accepted methods for prevention, and much investigative work is needed.

In some large populations of dogs, such as those in the armed forces, a high incidence of torsion of the stomach has been seen with certain feeding regimens. In many cases, the condition disappears when these dogs are given food ad lib., that is, the dogs have access to a large amount of food so that the dog may eat a small amount of food on many occasions during the day. Obviously, with this management system, the dog has no incentive to eat one large meal at any given time and he does not eat hurriedly.

The most common advice given to owners of large breed dogs is based on experiences such as the one described previously. If there is a high risk, it is best to avoid one large meal per day. The dog should be fed at least twice daily; he should be discouraged from eating rapidly, and he should not be allowed to play actively before and after feeding. The dog should have access to water continuously so there is less chance he will drink a large amount immediately after eating.

It seems there is a high risk of torsion of the stomach if the animal is given one feeding a day, the dog is allowed to drink and to indulge in vigorous exercise after eating. All these factors should be avoided.

Certain drugs that alter the mobility of the gastrointestinal tract have been advocated to prevent gastric torsion. There is no experimental or clinical evidence that any of the presently available drugs is useful. An operation known as pyloroplasty has been advocated by some to increase the size of the exit opening in the stomach. Again, there are no reports in the scientific literature that this procedure should be used.

Raising the fed bowl can slow down fast eaters , as well as a object in the bowl so they have to eat slower, dry food has also been said to contribute to Bloat as it can be difficult for some owners that forget the food swells once wet so will be much more . Breaking meals into two a day is recommended and Mylanta will give you a larger window to get your dog to the vet should you suspect Bloat. Mylanta IS IN NO WAY a cure for Bloat  your dog will still need medical treatment.***

                              By Robin M Smith , DVM

My bitch has dark brown spots on her flanks, what is it? My dog hardly eats anything and she or he is still overweight, why? My bitch does not seem to have normal cycles and I can't get her bred, why? My bitch was bred and confirmed pregnant by ultrasound but on her recheck at 30 days, the ultrasound showed evidence of resorption, why?

Many of you have had these same questions and are looking for answers. I believe there can be a multitude of causes for these problems and by all means your veterinarian is the first one for you to ask about your concerns. One of the causes for all of the above problems can be abnormal thyroid function. While I will talk about the thyroid and the diagnosis of thyroid problems and the treatment, I again prevail to you to seek your veterinarian's advise before doing anything. Sometimes, even if what I talk about is to you what you think is the exact think happening to your dog, you could create more of a problem by not getting it accurately diagnosed.

Hypothyroidism is a syndrome characterized by deficient thyroid hormone secretion that can readily be treated with synthetic thyroxine (T4). Once the diagnosis is established, virtually all clinical signs and related disturbances can be completely reversed by T4 replacement therapy. In a small percentage of cases (5%), however, reduced thyroid function occurs as a result of a more serious condition and recognition of the cause is at least as important as documentation of deficient thyroid hormone secretion.

Hyperthyroidism is rare in the dog and will not be considered here.

Hypothyroidism in most dogs result from progressive loss of functional; thyroid tissue due to a primary problem with the gland. In the dog, there are two distinct mechanisms of thyroid destruction: lymphocytic thyroiditis, which is probably an autoimmune disease, and idiopathic (meaning "unknown") atrophy, in which the thyroid gland is replaced by fat and connective tissue. There are other less common causes which will not be discussed here, since the above accounts for about 95% of the cases.

Although not proven, genetic factors may play a role in the origin of hypothyroidism. In a major study in 15 U.S. and Canadian veterinary teaching hospitals, the mastiff was not among any of the dogs tested. In this test, strong evidence for genetic transmission of thyroid pathology in dogs was found in data from selected groups of laboratory Beagles, in which that cause was lymphocytic thyroiditis. These dogs showed a higher frequency of autoantibodies (antibodies produced against oneself) to some thyroid molecules. Therefore, although good data conclusively demonstrating breed predisposition to primary cause, idiopathic atrophy, has not been linked to being heritable, it is hard to suggest sterilizing a dog unless the thyroid is biopsied and the diagnosis of lymphocytic thyroiditis is obtained. Also, the onset of canine hypothyroidism usually occurs later in life, after producing many puppies. With the advent of new diagnostic techniques, like the testing for autoantibodies, we may be bale to determine without surgical intervention, whether or not one is dealing with lymphocytic thyroiditis or idiopathic atrophy. I will deal more with the diagnostic in a later paragraph.

The clinical signs of hypothyroidism can be subtle to being very overt. Signs include mental dullness (your dog may not be as dumb as you think), exercise intolerance, lethargy, poor hair coats, hair coat color change, hair not regrowing when shaved (especially noticed after a surgery), infertility, irregular estrous cycles, resorption of fetuses after bred, neurological problems, bradycardia (slow heart rate), and cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats). Not all of these symptoms will be seen, but whenever a breeder has a problem with reproduction, the thyroid should be examined.

Thyroid function and reproductive function have many interaction, any of which are not fully understood. In dogs, it has been shown that thyroxine (t4) is significantly higher during pregnancy that in any other reproductive rate. We usually think of the females when we speak of reproductive problems, but males are affected also. Affected dogs have decreases testicular size and lower fertility than nonaffected dogs. Poor semen quality has also been reported. Infertility, prolonged anestrus, short estrus, and poor libido are reportedly associated with hypothyroidism in bitches. An increased occurrence of abortion, stillbirth, resorption and mummified fetuses have been reported also. But, it has also been found that reproductive dysfunction is NOT always found in hypothyroid bitches. In human women, hypothyroidism has been shown to cause irregular cycles, including ovulation failure or cessation of cycles. When conception did occur, spontaneous abortion, low birth weight, and fetal death were common. It has been shown that pregnant women with clinical signs of impending spontaneous abortion who later did abort had lower T4 and T3 levels.

Where does all this leave us? Now that we know the thyroid can cause a lot of problems, what do you need to do? My recommendation, as a mastiff breeder whom is a veterinarian, is to have your dogs thyroid tested. The best place to send the thyroid tests at this time is Michigan State University. The reason I recommend testing all your dogs is that we do not have enough information on mastiffs on what is normal or abnormal. I have encountered bitches that have undergone resorption of fetuses, or low fertility tests. I have also had dogs with the typical dark skin patches on the flanks have normal thyroid function tests. In all these dogs, I have explored as many possibilities as I could to find other causes and have found none. After supplementing these dogs with thyroxine, the symptoms disappear and the bitches get bred and maintain their pregnancies. I am not saying we should just arbitrarily put dogs on replacement therapy, but I am saying we need to look at what is "NORMAL" for the mastiff breed. I believe if a particular breed or line of breed has demonstrable signs of thyroid abnormalities, and all other causes have been eliminated, that maybe we need to look at an alteration of "normal range" for thyroid function tests in that breed.

This is not the place to go into the physiological aspects of thyroid function. But I will say that there are more thyroid function tests than just the "T4" that many people test for. The actual thyroid hormone that is active in the body is T3. There is also reverse T3, free T4, bound T4, free T3 and bound T3, and circulating antibodies that can be measures and can help in diagnosing the problem. Michigan State tests all of these and give a good overall view of what is happening. A very important test, the antibodies produced, is important to know since these are often generated in association with lymphocytic thyroiditis, which we spoke of as possibly being hereditary. There is ongoing work to identify other important molecules, as TSH which once identified will lead to a new generation of thyroid diagnostic tests.

When diagnostic tests do not provide a cleat diagnosis, thyroid replacement therapy has been suggested as a valid diagnostic step in an animal suspected to be hypothyroid. Again, every attempt should be made to rule out nonthyroidal illnesses using history, physical examination, routine laboratory, and other appropriate testing before doing this. Your veterinarian is the best judge for this trial.

I believe that we have a lot to learn about the mastiff and the thyroid problems encountered in the breed. I am trying to collect information on as many mastiffs as I can and their thyroid profiles. Again, one must know what the :normal" is before we can diagnose the abnormal. I would appreciate your input and any thyroid test information that you have on your dogs as I am trying to put together information. The more I have, the more valid the information and the more we can all learn from it. If anyone has any questions regarding thyroid problems or would like more information, please feel free to contact me. Again, I am learning also and some of you have had much more experience with the breed and their particular problems.

Demodectic mange (Demodex canis), also called Red Mange is a type of skin disease caused by mites, more particularly the demodex canis mites. Veterinarians say that this disease is most common in puppies aged 3 to 9 months old.  

Puppies that have acquired the disease may even spontaneously recover from it as they mature and their immune systems get stronger. Then again, the transition from a small puppy to an adult dog may bring about a demodectic mange attack in some breeds of dogs.

                                     ENTROPION

Entropion which is a rolling-in of the eyelid. This causes the hair on the surface of the eyelid to rub on the eyeball, which is both painful and often causes corneal ulcers or erosions. The corneal damage can also result in corneal scarring, which can interfere with vision. Usually the dog will squint and tear excessively. However, many flat-faced dogs with medial entropion (involving the inside corner of the eyes) show no obvious signs of discomfort.

Entropion is treated by surgical correction ("blepharoplasty"), which is essentially plastic surgery. Excessive folds and sections of facial skin are removed, and the eyelids tightened. It is uncommon for entropion to recur after surgery unless the entropion is quite involved, particularly in the Shar Pei breed. Very young puppies with entropion will often have "lid tacking" performed (rather than plastic surgery), in which temporary lid sutures are placed to roll out the lids. Often, these puppies do not require permanent plastic surgery once they have matured and "grown into" their facial skin. Permanent plastic surgery is usually not performed in puppies less than 5 or 6 months of age, giving the dog some time to develop its mature head conformation.

Dogs with inherited entropion should not be bred, as they can pass the trait on to their offspring. The Canine Eye Registration Foundation (see CERF information) publishes a list of breed-specific breeding recommendations for purebred dogs with entropion.

If you suspect that entropion is present in your pet, please consult with your family veterinarian. Your doctor may elect to have your pet referred to a veterinary ophthalmologist for further evaluation and possible surgical treatment.

                                              ECTROPION  

Eyelids of dogs can grow abnormal hairs. These hairs grow from the oil glands (Meibomian glands) of the lids and are called distichia if the hair protrudes from the oil gland opening onto the edge of the eyelid. Distichia are often irritating, especially if the hairs are long and stiff. Ectopic cilia are also hairs growing from oil glands on the eyelid, but the hair protrudes from the inner surface of the eyelid and is very painful, often causing corneal ulcers.

Dogs with distichiasis may or may not show signs of discomfort, ranging from slight intermittent squinting and/or rubbing of the eyes, to severe squinting and discomfort. Dogs with ectopic cilia are always uncomfortable. Most dogs with ectopic cilia are young adult dogs or older puppies. Many  breeds have problems with distichia. Both conditions are treated surgically under general anesthesia, with a procedure called cryoepilation. With this procedure, the abnormal hair follicles are frozen using a liquid nitrogen probe, and the hairs then removed.

After surgery, the eyelids are swollen for 4-5 days, and the eyelid margins will depigment and turn pink. Usually, the lid margins will repigment within 4 months. It is important to understand that new abnormal hairs can grow from new sites after surgery, but this is uncommon in dogs older than 3 years old.With cryoepilation, 85-90% of the treated hair follicles will not regrow. Repeat surgical treatment is rarely required, unless the animal is a puppy.

                    The Three Faces of Elbow Dysplasia

Elbow dysplasia is a general term used to identify an inherited polygenic disease in the elbow of dogs. Three specific etiologies make up this disease and they can occur independently or in conjunction with one another. These etiologies include:

1. Pathology involving the medial coronoid of the ulna (FCP)
   
   
2. Osteochondritis of the medial humeral condyle in the elbow joint (OCD)
   
   
3. Ununited anconeal process (UAP)

Studies have shown the inherited polygenic traits causing these etiologies are independent of one another. Clinical signs involve lameness which may remain subtle for long periods of time. No one can predict at what age lameness will occur in a dog due to a large number of genetic and environmental factors such as degree of severity of changes, rate of weight gain, amount of exercise, etc. Subtle changes in gait may be characterized by excessive inward deviation of the paw which raises the outside of the paw so that it receives less weight and distributes more mechanical weight on the outside (lateral) aspect of the elbow joint away from the lesions located on the inside of the joint. Range of motion in the elbow is also decreased.

Lymphoma is one of the most common cancers seen in dogs. Althought here are breeds that appear to be at increased risk for this disease, lymphoma can affect any dog of any breed at any age. It accounts for 10-20% of all cancers in dogs.

Lymphoma (lymphosarcoma or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) is a malignant cancer that involves the lymphoid system. In a healthy dog, the lymphoid system is an important part of the body's immune system defense against infectious agents such as viruses and bacteria. Lymphoid tissue normally is found in many different parts of the body including lymph nodes, liver, spleen, gastrointestinal tract and skin. Lymphosarcoma is classified according to the location in the body in which the cancer begins.

These include:

• Multicentric form occurs in the lymph nodes.
  
• Gastrointestinal form occurs in the stomach, intestines, liver and lymph nodes        in the abdomen.
  
• Mediastinal form occurs in the mediastinum, in front of the heart in an organ        called the thymus.  Hence this form of lymphosarcoma sometimes is called            thymic lymphoma.
  
• Cutaneous form occurs in the skin.
  
• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia occurs when the disease starts in the bone             marrow.
  
• Miscellaneous forms of lymphosarcoma are less common and include those         that begin in the nervous system, nasal cavity or kidneys.
  
• 
  

Causes

Most of the time, lymphoma in dogs appears as “swollen glands” (lymph nodes) that can be seen or felt under the neck, in front of the shoulders, or behind the knee. Occasionally, lymphoma can affect lymph nodes that are not visible or palpable from outside the body, such as those inside the chest or in the abdomen. Other symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, lethargy, difficulty breathing and increased thirst or urinations. Cutaneous lymphosarcoma can cause redness or flakiness of the skin, ulceration (especially near the lips and on the footpads), itchiness or lumps in the skin. Clinical signs will vary depending on the stage of the disease, volume of tumor and anatomic location of the lymphoma.

Diagnosis

A thorough physical examination of the dog is an important part of the diagnostic work-up as it will dictate which further tests will be required. The work up should always include a complete blood count (CBC), platelet count, biochemical profile, urinalysis and fine needle aspirate or excisional or surgical biopsy of the lymph node. These tests help confirm the diagnosis and determine if the dog is hypercalcemic and/or has normal neutrophil and platelet counts, and assess kidney function so that chemotherapy can safely be administered. Lymphoma can also be diagnosed with x-rays and ultrasound The exact tests
performed will depend on the location of the tumor.

Once a diagnosis of lymphoma has been established, it is necessary that the cancer be staged. Staging is the process by which the veterinarian determines to what extent the lymphoma has spread throughout the animal's body. The degree of spread affects the manner in which a dog is treated.

Stage Definition
Stage I Involvement of a solitary lymph node or lymphoid tissue in a single organ (i.e. nasal cavity)
Stage II Several lymph nodes in the same general area involved
Stage III All peripheral lymph nodes involved
Stage IV Involvement of liver and/or spleen, and/or anterior mediastinum in the chest involved
Stage V Involvement of bone marrow (some classifications consider cutaneous involvement in this stage)

Substage a without systemic signs of disease (patient generally has no symptoms) 

Substage b with systemic signs of disease (patient does not feel well)

Treatment

 Chemotherapy treatment is considered the gold standard for this aggressive form of cancer and usually consists of a combination of oral and injectable drugs given on a frequent basis. The exact treatment protocol will vary depending on the veterinarian and financial resources of the dog's family. There are several different chemotherapy protocols from which to choose. They usually contain from 3-5 different chemotherapy drugs, each of which works on the cancer cells in a different way. If some of the cancer cells are resistant to one drug, hopefully they will be sensitive to another drug.

The Wisconsin Lymphoma Protocol is a short, but intense chemotherapy regimen currently popular with oncologists as the primary canine lymphoma treatment. This protocol involves weekly chemotherapy for the first 9 weeks and then every 2 weeks until week 25. This chemotherapy protocol uses vincristine, doxorubicin (adriamycin), cyclophosphamide (cytoxan), and 1-asparagnase by IV, along with prednisone and/or cyclophosphamide orally. With the use of the 25 week University of Wisconsin-Madison protocol, average first remission lasts 10-14 months, with 20% 2 year survival.

Doxorubicin alone : The patient is treated with a total of 5 treatments of doxorubicin at 3-week intervals. The average survival time with this approach is 10-11 months.

COP: This protocol involves a combination of cyclophosphamide in tablet form, vincristine and prednisone. 4 weekly intravenous injections of vincristine are given, followed by injections at 3-week intervals to complete 6 months of treatment. 

Cyclophosphamide is given over 4 days every 3 weeks (4 days on; 17 days off). Prednisone is given daily for 6 months. The average survival time with this protocol is reported as 8-10 months.

Prednisone alone : This medication is a steroid and can be given in pill form daily at home. The average survival time for patients with lymphoma treated with prednisone only is 60 days.

Prognosis

Some owners choose not to treat dogs that develop lymphoma. The life expectancy of these untreated dogs averages 4 to 6 weeks. Oral prednisone therapy may reduce the swellings and discomfort, but probably will not appreciably extend their life span. It must also be noted that oral prednisone treatment prior to chemotherapy is not recommended and may actually reduce the effectiveness of the chemotherapy.

In dogs that do undergo one of the recommended chemotherapy protocols, life expectancy can be extended. Most dogs with lymphoma develop medium to high-grade lymphoma that is very responsive to chemotherapy. Greater than 75% of dogs with lymphoma are expected to achieve a complete remission with chemotherapy. The duration of the first remission is variable, depending on the chemotherapy protocol used, with median remission times varying from 6 months to 11 months. The second remission is more difficult to achieve, with approximately 40% of dogs with lymphoma achieving complete remission with a second course of chemotherapy. Less than 20% of dogs with lymphoma will achieve a third complete remission. Approximately 40-45% of dogs with lymphoma live one year with treatment. Less than 20% of dogs with lymphoma live 2 years with treatment. Eventually, the cancer will infiltrate an organ to such an extent that organ fails (often this is the bone marrow or the liver). The patient loses his/her appetite, vomits or gets diarrhea, weakens and dies. At some point the tumor becomes resistant to therapy and no further remissions can be obtained.

However, if a dog tolerates chemotherapy (fortunately most dogs do) their quality of life can be quite good during the treatment period. Treatment for lymphoma in the dog is considered one of the more successful cancer treatments and can often be performed by a local veterinarian without the need to travel long distances to veterinary schools or specialty clinics. It helps to remember that one year can equate to almost 10% of a dog's expected life span, therefore, the increased life expectancy with lymphoma treatment is often well worth it.

Thanks to caninecancer.com for this information  

                                        August 28th ,  2009

Since 2 years, a new disease entity is increasingly recognized in the Dogue de Bordeaux in Europe. Affected dogs present with chronic renal failure before they are 2 years-old. Urinary protein loss and modified kidney structure on ultrasound are other characteristics of this newly recognized entity in the Dogue de Bordeaux breed called juvenile hereditary glomerulonephropathy. At least 30 cases have been diagnosed or strongly suspected in Belgium, France and Italy during the last 2 years. All affected dogs were genetically related. Most frequently reported clinical signs are polyuria-polydipsia, excessive thinness, chronic gastrointestinal signs (inappetence, vomiting, diarrhea) and seizures.

Several studies on this condition have been conducted during the last few months. Histopathological studies have all been made at the University of Utrecht. These studies have revealed similar lesions in all affected dogs but the degree of severity of the lesions varied with the severity of clinical signs and renal failure. Well-described canine juvenile nephropathies have been excluded such as renal dysplasia, hereditary nephritis (found in the English Cocker Spaniel among other breeds) or glomerulonephritis (inflammatory disease caused by immune dysregulation). However, as histopathological examination has been only made in advanced cases, primary lesions (found in the early course of the disease) have not yet been identified.

Genotyping studies have confirmed that this disease is hereditary. Simple modes of inheritance have been excluded and it seems that the disease is transmitted with a complex mode of inheritance (possibility of implication of multiple genes). This implies that DNA from more affected and related unaffected dogs is needed in order to better define the mode of inheritance of juvenile hereditary glomerulonephropathy in the Dogue de Bordeaux and the potential mutation(s) at the origin of the disease.

Any help that you could provide us with is of the upmost importance. We ask any breeder or owner of Dogue de Bordeaux dogs potentially concerned by this disease to contact us either directly or via the breed clubs in order to report the clinical signs and pedigree data but also to provide us with some blood for DNA studies. We hope t o improve the diagnosis and treatment of this affection to help your dogs to live longer and in a better condition when affected with this disease. We also aim to make genetic tests available in order to eradicate this disease from the Dogue de Bordeaux breed.



Dr Rachel LAVOUE,
DMV, Résidente ECVIM-CA
Département des sciences cliniques des animaux de compagnie
Université de Liège, Belgique

Prof. Dominique PEETERS,