AAHA CREATES A GUILDELINE FOR IDENTIFYING PET's PAIN

It is often difficult for veterinarians and pet owners to detect subtle signs of pain in companion animals.  Recently a the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) developed a set of guildelines to aid veterinarians.  While these guidelines are primarily for vets, they are also useful to pet owners.  You can download a copy of the guidelines at by clicking HERE or by typing www.aahanet.org/PublicDocuments/PainManagementGuidelines.PDF.

Posted: 2/18/2008

RISKS LINKED TO EARLY NEUTERING

A recent University of Colorado study published in the December 2007 issue of the Journal of the AVMA, suggests that early neutering (i.e., before 6 months of age) may be a risk factor for developing excessive tibial plateau angle (TPA) in large-breed dogs with cranial cruciate ligament, a common cause of lameness.  The researchers looked at two groups of dogs: 58 dogs with excessive TPAs and 58 dogs with normal TPAs.  Those with excessive TPAs were 3 times as likely to have been neutered before 6 months and had onset of hind-leg lameness at an earlier age than the control group.

NOTE TO DOG OWNERS: Studies using these types of designs are suggestive and not definitive. Further investigation is warranted using other (stronger) research designs.)

Posted: 2/18/2008

BMD BREED MAGAZINE, THE ALPENHORN, PUBLISHES SPECIAL ISSUE ON ENABLING DISABLED BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOGS

The February Issue of The Alpenhorn has published a collection of informative and heart-warming articles on extending the useful life of disabled dogs.  Disabilities discussed include blindness, deafness, congenital/genetic defects, injury, degenerative myelopathy, Ischemic myelopathy and single-limb amputation in response to therapy for cancer(e.g., osteosaroma). 

In addition, the collection ended with a petition to allow capable disabled dogs to compete to earn AKC CD, RN, TD, TDX and VST titles, which they currently are banned from entering.  The petittion requests NO SPECIAL ACCOMMODATION -- disabled dogs earning these titles must performe the same tasks as non-disabled dogs.  If you are not a member of the BMDCA or do not get The Alpenhorn, you can still read the articles by clicking on ENABLING DISABLED BERNERES.

Posted: 2/18/2008