THE GERMAN SHEPHERD SENTINEL
NOVEMBER 2006 Newsletter
of the
GSDC OF GREATER RALEIGH
Pat Embrey, Newsletter Editor
1390 Sanders Road, Benson, NC 27504
PH: 919-934-6232, E-Mail: VonRillca@aol.com
Website: www.gsdcofgrraleigh.org
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Board Policy on Dogs at Club Sponsored Events
2. November Meeting Information
3. October Minutes
4. Brag Box
5. Congratulations to hard Working Members
6. Dog Saliva Scare
7. Flea Killer
8. Deodorizing Pens
9. Grooming Tips
10. Mushroom Poisoning
BOARD POLICY ON DOGS AT CLUB SPONSORED EVENTS
The GSDC of Greater Raleigh welcomes your German Shepherd at our events, including meetings. However, the following rules must be followed:
1. Anyone with an aggressive dog (one that growls, snaps, or is in any way aggressive towards other dogs or people) must be muzzled.
2. Dogs will be free of loose hair and external parasites (fleas or ticks). Please brush your dog prior to bringing it to the meeting as we must clean up the room after we are finished.
3. For the safety of all members, guests and their dogs, it is strongly recommended that all dogs be kept up to date on their vaccinations. ALL dogs that are old enough, MUST have a current rabies shot.
NOVEMBER MEETING INFORMATION
The next meeting of the GSDC of Greater Raleigh will be held on the 1st Wednesday of the month at the Exchange Park on Spring Forest Road. The meeting starts at 7:00 PM for socialization. We are not having a speaker this month, will mainly have discussions, and a bit of the information about our National Specialty Show, which just finished in St Louis, MO.
Meeting Minutes
October 4, 2006
Program: Nutro Products representatives Ken Bush and Bill Rah gave a presentation on the history of dog food from the first dog “cake” made from buffalo meat in the 1860’s to the incredible variety and choices available on the market today. This is Nutro’s 80th birthday and they have been involved in the evolution of dog food as it progressed from primarily a canned food up until World War II. At that time 90% of the dog food sold was in cans, but a metal shortage during the war forced innovation in the market and by 1946 85% of the dog food sold was dry. Nutro is an all natural food available primarily at pet stores and offers a huge variety of products from treats to dry to canned food and with formulations from puppy to senior dog.
Meeting: No meeting was held but Bill Pfeiffer gave us an update on the club’s Specialty Show for March 2007. We now have approval from the Raleigh and Durham Kennel Clubs. The show will include only conformation, no obedience. Royal Canaan will again sponsor our show. We are asking for an exception to the 50 dog limit and requesting a limit of 65 dogs including specials from the AKC. Also the Nationals will be held in Columbus, OH in 2009.
BRAG BOX
Libby Cameron went to Germany recently and purchased a Yasko son, V rated ( at the seiger show), SchH3, KKLI, a normal hips... his name is Felix vom Haus am lerchenweg.. has a great pedigree he is going to be her house dog and something to take with her to work..
CONGRATULATIONS TO A HARD WORKING MEMBER
I don’t know how many of the members are aware of the hard work that Bill Pfeiffer puts in for the Parent Club, (GSDCA). Besides being the Treasurer for the Parent Club, he is also the Webmaster for the GSDCA website, and at our past National, he entered all the winners, absentees, etc. onto the Catalog for the National, which means he was tied down to the computer for the whole show. I was unable to attend this show, but he has been doing the same thing for the Parent Club for several years,.
DOG SALIVA SCARE
Following is a letter that came from one of the German Shepherd lists I am a member of and the lady that wrote the letter, gave me permission to post it to our list.
Hi Everyone,
I wanted to share a scare we had yesterday to help you all keep on your
toes......
My hubby (Jim Hall) was playing w/ a puppy over the weekend and like so
often happens his thumb was nicked by a tooth. We've all been nicked, had
'over eager' baiters, etc. It's just part of dog life.
Yesterday he was mentioning on his way to work that his hand was aching a
bit and he felt like he was getting a cold. We just figured he had a cold
starting and he just hurt his hand at some point.
Well, from that point to the time he got to work, his thumb had swollen and
became very red and he could hardly move his thumb.
He had an appt. w/ Boeing medical on an elbow injury and happened to ask the
nurse 'say, what do you thing about my thumb? Do I need to do something
with it?' To which the nurse said 'YES, BUT NOT HERE, YOU NEED TO GO TO THE
HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW!'. Jim asked if he could just wait until the morning and
she said 'NO RIGHT NOW!'.
At that point he called me, I ran up to Everett to get him and we drove straight to the emergency room. When I picked him up I panicked a bit when I saw a red line in his vein from his hand all the way up his arm and into his armpit getting close to his heart.
The nurse at the hospital immediately gave him intraveneous antibiotics, ran blood tests, etc. His blood had already been infected and he was running a temp of 102.
He is alright and they sent us home last night but what a tremendous scare. His fever broke during the night but if the vein doesn't clear in about 12 hours we will have to go back to the emergency room.
This has happened before as we have a friend whose wife became seriously, seriously ill from the same thing.
The nurse said even if he had washed the teeny tiny little scratch right after it happened, it wouldn't have made a difference. Once the 'bad bacteria from doggy saliva' lands in your blood system in just the right place to infect you, washing wouldn't do anything.
It was a very freaky, fluke thing that happened but we wanted to let you know so you don't ignore the symptoms. Jim works swings so we don't see each other in the evenings. If he waited and I hadn't seen what was going on, it could have, maybe, been a very different message I would be writing you. This traveled at almost the speed of light and infected his blood. From the morning when he just felt like a cold to 4:00 in the afternoon with a red streak almost going to his heart and infected blood.
If you have a dog cut and feel like a cold at the same time a day or two after the cut, don't blow it off and do put the two together. It could save your life.
I can't imagine my life without him.
EdieHallmark German Shepherds.
http:/www.gsdhallmark.homestead.com
DEODORIZING PENS, GRASS, ETC
Sweet PDZ , dog door flaps, and other mundane things Sweet PDZ, for all those that asked privately is a product that is put on horse stall boards to adsorb moisture and odors. It looks like white sand (sort of) and very inexpensive the last time I bought some. You can get it at any feed store. Does it work on gravel? I don't know. it. Dirt, wood, DG, yep. I have used it on dirt pens, concrete, etc, and it is GREAT. There are different things they say you can use, but I know the Sweet PDZ is safe, good abd super cheap. You might have to call around to find it. Southern States used to carry it, but since most of those stores have gone out of business, check with some of the other farm supply businesses
GROOMING TIPS
Following are grooming tips from some of the top breeders in the United States, .here also for your use are the tips I compiled some months ago
Behavior
Socialize, socialize, socialize! Get your dogs out of the kennel and take them with you wherever you go, whether itbs to the kids softball game, the dry cleaners, or Jack In The Box. As a side note, Ive found that several of the fast food drive through restaurants in this area give dog cookies when theres a dog in the car!
Care for the Coat
A healthy coat comes from the inside out. As Sharlonna told me the first time I met her when I asked her what made the dogs coat so shiny, Its not what you put on your dog, itbs what you put in them!b A nutritious diet (whatever is the best for your dogs - God knows none of us can agree on the best diet!! :>) ) is the most important factor (other than genetics) to determine a healthy coat. Having said that, the following products/tips were given:
Bathing: The dog should always be bathed immediately prior to a show and blown dry. It not only makes the dog look its best, but helps get their attitude up.
Start grooming on the judges side. In case you get tired, the first side will look the best.
Regular brushing is a must.
Stuff thats sprayed on the dog: most people are just spraying water for last minute touch-ups. Dogs have bad hair days just like we do! In that case, hair spray, conditioners, or straighteners come in handy.
Take 1 tablespoon of people hair conditioner and dilute it in a spray bottle with warm water. Spray all over the dog, comb through, towel dry, then blow dry the dog.
Blow drying tips: Blow against the lay of the hair all over except the back, neck and croup, which should lie flat. Get a dematter made by Cherry Brook - the white one with curved teeth. Helps to smooth wavy hair. Brush away from the dog in the croup area. Also can use a Greyhound comb to combat matting.
This isn”t exactly about coats - but - use Vitamin E cream on the nose and foot pads after bathing to erase dry skin and give a nice, dark look. Another thing thats not about coats Advantage continues to work even if you bathe the dog, just be sure to wait a few days before bathing.
Invest in your own grooming kit: a powerful dryer, extension cord, a garden sprayer (like for insecticides) full of water (in case there’s not water for bathing at the show site), Shine, brushes, rakes, combs, extra
collars and leashes, face cloth, towels, fixative (for cow-licks), Cindra Reconstructor, mousse, hair spray, first aid kit, sun screen, Immodium, pain killers for the handlers (non prescription, of course), Tums for the
Butterflies in your stomach, and if you’re really lucky, your own generator!
Sharon of Coda German Shepherds also gets an award because she mentioned the special bottles in the cooler that she brings for after the show!
Look for the best looking dogs, watch the groomers technique and ask questions.
Recommended products: Bio-Vite shampoo by Crown Royal for body and shine, Crown Royal Bodifier diluted 1:5 (put on after drying and then dry again), a teaspoon of corn oil daily in their food, liver 3 times weekly, Inflight, Nupro, #1 All Systems Care products, Nova Pearls Moisturizing Shampoo by Tomlyn, Hoka Mix or Peak Performance oral supplements, and Cindra reconstructor. JB Wholesale was recommended as a good source of information
with knowledgeable show breeder employees who know what they’re talking about!
Ears
Clean regularly (weekly) and last cleaning should not be done on the day of the show. Reason? The dog may go into the ring shaking its head trying to get the last of the gook out! Don’t use straight rubbing alcohol as it may be too drying to the skin. Most people fill the ear canal with the cleaning solution, swish it around and let the dog shake its head to get rid of the excess solution. Follow that by wiping the ear out with a cotton ball. Repeat until the cotton ball comes out clean. Side note: As a pharmacist, I advise patients to warm the solution before putting it into the ear. Test the temperature by placing the bottle against the back of your wrist (just like a baby bottle). Cold solutions in the ear are painful!! Never use Q-Tips! One slip can puncture the ear drum. Actually John DeHope pointed out that this isn’t quite true because the dogs ear canal isn’t straight, like a humans ear, but rather sort of buJb shaped so you shouldn’t even be near the ear drum. We bow to John, because he does know everything!! But be careful with Q-tips just the same!
Suggestions for cleaning solutions: Betadine/vinegar/alcohol (equal parts I imagine, the author didn’t elaborate), half and half vinegar and rubbing alcohol, Novasan Otic.
Nails
Trimming prior to a show is a must! Its best to do the last trimming a couple of days prior to a show rather than immediately before the show. The reason for this is in case the blood vessel in the nail is cut, these few
days will allow the nail to heal and the dog wont be limping in the ring.
Trim the nails regularly. Regularly varies from dog to dog but usually once every week or two, weekly if grinding, every 2 weeks if clipping. When the nails click on the kitchen floor, is a good indication that you may have waited too long! Regular trimming helps keep the feet tight and prevent splaying
(straightening out of the toes).
After trimming with clippers (or instead of clippers) use a Dremmel or grinder to smooth the edges. If you use a grinder, put a drop of oil on the nail afterwards to get rid of the dusty look and prevent splitting.
Cookies after trimming and snuggles during trimming make it a little easier.
Teeth
Brush their teeth with a doggy tooth paste.
Taxi Groom solution made by Cherry Brook came highly recommended!
Dentatreat by Wysong powder sprinkled on their food helps cut down tartar build-up, and abrades existing tartar.
Conditioning
NOTE: YOU SHOULD NOT ROAD WORK PUPPIES BEFORE ONE YEAR OF AGE
The purpose of conditioning is to increase endurance and increase muscle tone. A dog in good condition will have firm muscle tone without softness, rolling or spinginess.
Most responders roadwork their dogs on a bike. Length varies; start slowly, usually about 1/2 mile, gradually increasing up to 2-3 miles as the dog tolerates. Duration varied depending on the dogs speed, usually 10-20 minutes. Frequency varied from daily to 2 or 3 times per week. Go at the speed required to keep the dog gaiting. Stop when the dog appears tired or their tongue starts hanging out of their mouths!
Talk to the dogs during this one-on-one time them telling them how wonderful they are!
ALWAYS wait a couple of hours after exercising the dog to feed them or at least crate them for 30 minutes before feeding.
Road work in the morning or evening when its cool, you can also hose them off to cool them down when you get home.
If swimming the dog, the duration is the same as road working the dog. Following swimming, if done in a pool, be sure to rinse all the chlorine out of the coat. Chlorine left to dry in the coat can cause hair breakage.
Keep the dog on a leash while in the pool as you walk along the perimeter of the deck. If you are in the pool with the dog, wearing a wetsuit protects you from getting scratched accidentally and keeps you warm!
When swimming the dog in bright sunlight, put a doggy baseball cap on them to protect their eyes.
One responder felt swimming may build too much muscle in the front and restrict front reach, but felt it was very good for weak pasterns.
If youre very talented you can road work the dogs from a vehicle. Go 5-7 miles/hour for no more than 2 miles.
Stop road working on the Thursday prior to any show.
Training
Start by teaching the dog to stand , then stack, followed by Stay.
Gradually increasing the duration of the stay. Eventually teach them turn for the out and back.
Get the dog to a handling class, if available.
Smart dogs get bored quickly, vary the routine and don’t overtrain.
Why are dogs at the specialties thinner than those at all breeds?
The specialty dog is most likely in better condition. They have to be because for the most part the specialty rings are much bigger than the all breed rings......Lets take them around one more time.....! Usually you
want to see or feel the last rib. Another thought was that all breed judges prefer plush coats and pretty,
standing dogs. Specialty judges focus on movement.
My dog behaves badly when he s taken away from me. What can I do to change that?
Linda Bankhead gets the gold star for the first place response: Mine does too. That is how you know they love you. I would never change that!
MUSHROOM POISONING
Since the recent weather has been rather warm and damp, I have noticed mushrooms growing in my yard, and felt the following article could be helpful to anyone with dogs in their yard. Pat
One of the people on another list I'm on just lost one of her wonderful show prospect puppies...and no one seems to know why. Now she thinks she knows...Here is some information we can all use...
Peggy M
"Most importantly what I am about to say, you all need to listen CAREFULLY, because this could easily happen to you....
I had been in the yard on Wed, like I have been since last Saturday since Kryket passed checking it for some answers. I was looking for anything. Anything that could explain her sudden passing, I was also out there watching the other dogs as well. I had them all in a huge ex pen, but River and Chloe were protesting by holding "it" until they about burst or waited until they got inside and showed me what they thought about having to go in a "pen". Well I was letting out a few at a time, following their every move and picking up poopies when all of a sudden the light shines on something that I had been looking for, for weeks...
MUSHROOMS! I know from living at my other house, I have to watch for these but had not seen them yet here. The funny thing is that these are growing under the grass,. I only saw this mushroom because of the way the light hit it, I put the dogs in the house, and went back to investigate. These mushrooms are very dark brown and blend in, and hide in the grass well. I had to get down on my knees and started parting my only inch high grass to see if there was more, and sure enough there was. I called the vet told him about it, and he proceeded to tell me that poisonous mushrooms will only grow on decaying matter and that most
likely what I had found was harmless...I told him, I don't think so, not when they are growing on my septic field.. he said "oh S**T, bring them in for me to look at".
It turns out from what I had harvested for him( I picked a whole bunch because I noticed different kinds when parting the grass) were THREE different kinds of POISONOUS mushrooms!!!!!!!!!!! One variety of them being the most deadly and all the symptoms listed were what Kryket had displayed, she was only missing 2 symptoms, and looking at them, I am glad she just died instead of going through more pain.
Vet and I are pretty sure that unless something else comes back from the lab work, that this is what happened to my poor baby girl.
NOW THIS IS WHERE YOU HAVE TO REALLY LISTEN....
Watch your yard.. poisonous mushrooms will grow where ever there is decaying matter.. septic fields, grass clippings, manure piles, compost piles, dead wood, unpicked up poopies, or even where old poopies were.
I am sure I am missing a few places, but you get the idea. Remember not all mushrooms look the same but they all can be poisonous in these areas.
SECOND... There is NO toxic screen for mushrooms, meaning you won't know if your dog has been poisoned by a mushroom before or AFTER death...unless you FIND them in your yard.
THIRD... there is only a 50/50 chance of your dog living through a mushroom poisoning even if you do find out quickly that's what it is. There is NO CURE! The only thing your vet can do is keep your dog warm, and give plenty of IV fluids to rehydrate them. IF you think your dog has been poisoned by a mushroom get them to the vet ASAP!!!!
FOURTH.. there is no easy way to rid your yard of these nasty things. You can put down a spray to help break down the fecal matter that you can't see. You can try round up on them, you can keep digging them
up-getting every bit of it up, or you can do what we are going to do...the yard these guys were in is my main yard, dog yard is still under construction, but we are now putting down AGLyme. AGLyme is a product that is much safer on the feet than normal rock. It is graduals and it will keep any vegetation from growing in the yard. It is safe for trees but will keep out everything else. After this we are taking NO chances.
AND MOST IMPORTANT....
The Smaller the poisonous mushrooms are the more DEADLY they are!!!!!! Meaning a tiny mushroom sprout could kill a 90 pound dog, faster than a larger mushroom.... so you have to get down on your knees and really look for them!!! Remember mushrooms sprout up rapidly this time of year.
SIGNS TO WATCH FOR WHEN DEALING WITH MUSHROOM POISIONING....
Vomiting - Can almost smell like a dog that has Parvo.. most that have been around this smell will know what I am talking about.. it's HORRID!
Diarrhea- can also have a BAD smell, VERY dark stool, or can be a gray stool, or mucus, or tainted with little or a lot of blood.
Lethargy
Gassy
Licking at beds, walls, floors, self obsessive licking
Bloat, or intestines flipping
Distended stomach
Hypothermia- could be just chilled - Kryket had a temp of 100.5, Chloe
had a temp of 100.6 and it can keep dropping
Coma
Seizures, Convulsions
Death.... body temp will drop down to 0 in seconds and body will
immediately go unusually stiff.
This is no joke, folks, this is scary... We now realize that Chloe had a touch of the poisoning as well. She just ate a less poisonous mushroom or a older one. Thank god she was ok, because had she eaten one like Kryket did, she wouldn't be here today. So please everyone check your yards and watch your kids. I hope this helps at least save one kiddo out there.
We now have the kids in a ex-penned area.. I have 4 x-pens combined until the other dog yard is complete. No one leaves my sight, and my husband now has a work load a mile long... I don't want to EVER go
through this again. I just wish we knew before hand that this is what it was... we looked for those stupid things when she first got sick, but we just found them too late. I honestly don't think she would have made it
anyway.. there are very few who survive that one species of mushroom. I will have to look up the name again on the one kind that we are pretty sure did it, but it's dark, has a rounded cap, and it likes to hide that's for sure. Please check your yards!
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