Medical

FLEA & TICK PREVENTION- Isoxazoline- pesticide chemical compounds used in flea & tick preventatives. It works by disputing the nervous system, paralyzing and killing. These compounds can have serious side effects and have an FDA warning associated with them. Seizures are the most common side effect. Once seizures begin, medication must be used to try to prevent them, however, these medications rarely work because the dog has been given this pesticide poison every month for years. The average age of seizures begins at 3-4 years of age. **These compounds are usually incorporated into monthly heartworm prevention chews**.

While veterinarians will make false claims that these side effects only happen in dogs with a history of seizures, this is a blatant lie, and one used to protect manufacturers of these nasty products, as well as the vets themselves.

All dogs carry a gene called the MDR1 gene- Multi Drug Resistance- these genes are responsible for blocking medications before they can reach the brain- where they cause neurological damage. Vets should be doing a DNA test to check for this mutation. The reality is that even if a dog is clear of this mutation, seizures are still possible, as this pesticide, given month after month for years can damage the dogs DNA, making the dog susceptible to seizures, and in most cases, death.

Vets will never admit that the seizures may have been caused by something they told you to give your dog, and did not do a DNA test to ensure the dog is even clear of the MDR1 mutation. This is a HUGE problem and liability on the vet’s part. If this was a medication for humans, you can bet there would be many attorneys filing class action lawsuits against vets and the manufacturers of these products.

ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS- Cedar wood oil based products are safe and effective at killing ticks. Fleas, mosquitos. I use a product by Wondercide and it can be found on Amazon. They offer a spray that is used on the dogs coat as well as a collar. Effective and safe for dogs and people.

** All of our breeding dogs are DNA tested for the MDR1 gene and are clear**

HEARTWORM PREVENTION

Heartworm prevention does exactly what the name implies. It prevents dogs from contracting heartworm through an infected mosquito.

HEARTOWRM CYCLE

The bite- An infected mosquito bites your dog and transmits microscopic immature heartworm larvae into the bite wound.

Migration- Over the next 6 months, these larvae migrate through the dogs tissues, eventually entering the bloodstream and traveling to the blood vessels in the lungs and heart.

Maturation- The larvae grow into adult heartworms, which can reach 12 inches in length.

Reproduction- Once mature, the adult worms mate and release baby worms into the dogs’ bloodstream. If another mosquito bites the infected dog, it ingests these baby worms, continuing the cycle.

MEDICATION

Ivermectin, Pyrantel, Milbemycin, Praziquantil are effective at not only killing heartworm larvae, but other worm species larvae, as well. These monthly chews are EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to give your dog year round, as there are dozens of worm species that can affect dogs.

TRUSTED MEDICATIONS

Heartguard plus- Ivermectin and Pyrantel

Interceptor Plus- Milbemycin and Praziquantel

** It should be noted that neither of these contain izoxazoline pesticides- used to treat flea and tick. Use isoxazolines-flea and tick prevention- with extreme caution!**

COMMON WORM SPECIES

Roundworm

Hookworm

Whipworm

Tapeworm

Heartworm

**Flukes- Only in certain geographical areas.**

VACCINATIONS

**There has been much new information on which vaccines are needed and how often.**

PRIMARY DOG VACCINATIONS

DHPP- A core 5 in 1 combination that protects against four highly contagious and potentially fatal viral diseases. Distemper, Hepatitis (adenovirus) Parinfluenza, Parvovirus.

HOW OFTEN- Puppies require DHPP 3 times, usually between 8- 16 weeks of age. A year after the last puppy vaccine, the dog will require another DHPP. DHPP is then needed every 3 years after.

BORDETELLA-Bordetella protects against Bordetella bronchiseptica, a highly contagious bacterium that is the primary cause of kennel cough ( infectious tracheobronchitis). It significantly reduces coughing, prevents the illness from progressing to severe complicatinslike pneumonia, and shortens the recovery period.

HOW OFTEN- Puppies will require Bordetella 2 times as puppies, usually between 8-16 weeks of age. A year after the last puppy vaccine dogs will require it every 6-12 months depending on the environment- higher risk every 6 months. i.e. dogs in kennels, frequently visit dog parks, doggy daycare, training clases.

LEPTOSPIROSIS- Leptospirosis protects against a dangerous bacterial disease transmitted by wildlife urine. It thrives in soil and standing water and can cause severe liver or kidney failure. The disease is zoonotic, meaning it can spread from infected dogs to humans.

HOW OFTEN- Puppies will require Leptospirosis 2 times as puppies, usually between 10-18 weeks of age. Annual boosters are required after one year passes since the last puppy vaccine.

RABIES- The rabies vaccine stimulates the dogs’ immune system to produce antibodies that fight off the rabies virus. Because rabies is 100% fatal and transmissible to humans, this core vaccination acts as a critical, legally mandated shield against an incurable disease.

HOW OFTEN- Puppies usually receive a rabies vaccine at 16 weeks. The first booster is done one year after that and is good for 3 years.

** The one year and three year rabies vaccine are biologically identical. The only difference being the label and how long it is legally recognized for by your state or local municipality. Both 1 and 3 year deliver the exact amount of active disease agent to trigger immunity.

TITER TESTS- A titer test is a blood test that measures the level of antibodies a dog has against specific viral diseases. It determines if your pet is still immune, helping you avoid unnecessary booster vaccinations.

Titer testing is highly effective and safe, helping you make informed decisions about your dog’s health.

** No state or municipality routinely accepts a rabies titer in lieu of required rabies vaccinations. By law, you must follow local rabies vaccination mandates.**

SPAY & NEUTERING

Studies have come out in the past decade or so that have proven that premature spay/neutering can have detrimental effects on dogs. Hip dysplasia, cancers, bone disease, ACL tears weight gain, muscle loss are just some of the things that can affect a dog prematurely spayed/neutered. Premature means under the age of 2.

WHAT DOES SPAY/NEUTERING DO?

Spay/neutering removes needed hormones- specifically testosterone in male dogs and estrogen and progesterone in female dogs. These hormones are essential for proper bone development, muscle, tendon, ligament development, brain development and are vital for the overall proper development of a dog. Dogs go through puberty until roughly 18 months of age. Their growth plates fully close by 18/24 months of age. While the majority of a dogs skeletal growth is done by roughly one year of age, the small amount of growth that occurs between ages one and two is critical for proper and full development of the animal. While bones may only develop millimeters more during that time, this could be the difference between a dog having hip dysplasia or not, as well as weaker tendons, ligaments, muscles, and weaker bones. It has also been proven that dogs that are prematurely spayed or neutered may develop longer, more brittle bones, and the growth plates actually stay open longer, causing this. The reason the growth plates stay open longer is due to a lack of hormone, which the bones are waiting for.  Some studies will suggest that smaller breed dogs mature sooner, and can therefore be spayed/neutered at a younger age. This simply is not true. The Orthopedic Foundation of Animal- which has been around since the 1960’s, does orthopedic testing on animals. In dogs specifically- the hips, elbows, patella’s. They will not look at a dog’s x rays until 2 years of age, rightfully claiming that a dog’s bone structure is not fully developed until the age of 2. This 2 year standard applies to dogs of any size.

CANCER RISK IN UNSPAYED/NEUTERED DOGS

The average age in testicular types of cancer in male dogs is 10 years of age. The average age of cancer in unsprayed male dogs is about 7.5. Dogs that are never neutered have a 16/27% chance of developing testicular cancer.

While vets that are money hungry will make false claims about a dog developing cancer if waiting to neuter at the age of 2, the actual risk is almost 0%.

CRYPTORCHIDISM

Cryptorchidism occurs when one or both testicles do not descend into the scrotum. The testicles remain in the abdomen or groin area.

Testicles that do not descend are still producing testosterone and helping the dog develop properly.

Increased cancer risk. Claims that the dog has 13 times more chance of developing cancer are based on 13 times that of a dog under the age of 2 developing cancer- which is close to 0%. 13 times 0%.

If a dog with an undescended testicle is never neutered the average age of cancer is about 6/7, far beyond neutering at the age of two, when the dog is fully grown and developed.

SUMMARY- A male dog needs both testicles until the age of 2 for complete and proper development.

FEMALE SPAYING

Spaying female dogs is a bit more tricky than neutering males. Females will go through their first heat cycle at about 1 year of age- give or take a couple months, and go through additional heat cycles roughly every six months. Just as in human women, estrogen and progesterone are responsible for female types of cancers.

Each additional heat cycle in female dogs slightly increase the dog’s chances of developing mammary tumors- or breast tumors, of which 50% are claimed to be malignant. Spaying a female dog stops production of both estrogen and progesterone. The average age of mammary tumors in unsprayed females is 10.

Claims are made that if you spay a female dog before the age of 1 you eliminate the possibility of mammary tumors down the road. While this may be true, the fact is that all you are doing is robbing Peter to pay Paul. You now open up Pandora’s box to a host of other issues. Hip dysplasia, bone disease, other cancers, premature weight gain, underdeveloped muscles, tendons, ligaments, among other things.

Claims are also made that if you wait until 2 to spay- the risk of the dog developing mammary tumors down the road are the same as never spaying. I’m not sure who did these studies, but spaying at a young age most likely has no adverse effect down the road. You are still spaying the dog at a very young age and have eliminated both estrogen and progesterone production, while letting the dog develop properly.

** My personal recommendation is to spay after the second heat cycle- roughly 18 months of age. A happy medium that allows for proper development while removing hormones at a very young age**