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THE GERMAN
SHEPHERD SENTINEL JULY 2004 -
NEWSLETTER OF THE GSDC OF
GREATER RALEIGH Pat Embrey, Newsletter Editor1390 Sanders Road, Benson, NC 27504 PH: 919-934-6232, E-Mail: VonRillca@aol.com Website of the GSDC of GR: www.gsdcgrraleigh.org
TABLE OF CONTENTS1. Board Policy on Dogs at Club Sponsored Events 2. Meeting Information for the July meeting 3. Minutes from the June meeting 4. .Brag Box 5. Whelping Box 6. Pet Portraits 7. Leptospirosis 8. Alert! Garden Hazards 9. Healthy Pumpkin 10. Bleach to Control Flies 11. Teaching a Puppy or Dog to Show its teeth and allow brushing. 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. MEETING INFORMATION FOR THE JULY 2004 MEETING The July meeting will be held on the first Wednesday of the month on July 7, 2004 at 7:00 PM for socialization with the business meeting being held at 7:30 PM. As usual, our meeting will be at the Exchange Park on Spring Forest Road. Sarah Bridges will be furnishing the refreshments. Many thanks to Sarah. Remember to bring your dog and enjoy the opportunity for you and the dogs to mingle with other German Shepherd lovers. Our meeting will be to give us the opportunity to form new committees, programs, and ideas for a new website, and generally brainstorm the members for their thoughts on improving our club. I hope as many of our members and former guests will try and make this meeting. --Christopher Morley MINUTES FROM THE JUNE 2004 MEETING The GSDC of Greater Raleigh met on June 2, 2004 at the Exchange Club. Our program consisted of a tape showing some of the Select Dogs at the German Shepherd Dog Club of America National in the past 25 years. Refreshments were served by Jane Wall. The members voted on the judges for our 2005 Spring Shows. We will be having Randy Darnell from Virginia for our judge on Saturday, April 2, 2005 and Robert Funk from Ariizona for our show on Sunday. If any of our members question the cost of getting a judge from as far away as Arizona, I have already checked on the airfare costs, and they are cheaper than having one fly up from Florida. For our Obedience Trials, we have selected a husband and wife team, Jon and Carol Mett, from Savannah, GA. We will be having Specialty Obedience Trial on Saturday morning. We will also have our Specialty Trial on Sunday, which will include our Rally Classes. This will be the first year that Rally Obedience will be a regular class, so we will be taking on a challenging task. For further information call Jane Wall, as she will be our Obedience Chairman. We received an invitation from the Durham Kennel Club to attend their German Shepherd picnic. For further information call Marge White at 919-542-1718 by July 21. We had two guests attend our meeting this month. Cathy Heckman from Durham and Lisa Zeeveld from Fuquay Varina (also Lisa’s adorable baby girl whom all the dogs adored.) We are happy to welcome you to our meeting and sure hope we get to see you again. BRAG BOX Frank Sanders – CH Fran-San’s Ghostbuster, OFA, went Best of Breed and Group 3 at the Pinehust Kennel Club show this past month on one day, and I understand Best of Breed the following day as well. I heard, though haven’t heard directly from Bill that his lovely Tina was Winners Bitch both days. Nancy Vaupel ‘s dog Shadow (German Shepherd) participated in the Piedmont Border Collie Association 2-day “Spring Herding Tests and Trials and her Shadow won his Herding Test with a qualifying score. She is hoping to have more herding brags in the future for him. Edie Braginton has been entering her U-CDX Schulmeister’s Becca CDX, OA, OAJ in agility. She got her Open Standard title a few weeks ago and a 1st leg (with a 1st place!) in Excellent Jumpers Congratulations to all our members on their accomplishments on their great dogs. Also remember I need your wins emailed to me so I can get all the information correct. Word of mouth is okay, but I can’t guarantee the accuracy of the information. WHELPING BOX Jane Wall has seven puppies , a repeat of her Luther , that were born the last part of May And Deeda Duncan has 5 puppies from Ghostbuster and Weezey that were born the middle of May.
PET PORTRAITS The following information was sent to me from the internet. I cannot guarantee her talent, so you will have to look up her website yourself, however, if you have been looking for a dog artist here is one resource. “Hello! My name is Anita Meistrell Putman, and I am a local (South Carolina) artist who specializes in Pet Portraits. I have been creating Pet Portraits in pen and ink for more than ten years. I am a self-taught artist, and take pride in creating portraits rich in detail, capturing the expressions and characteristics unique to each pet. I would like to invite you and members of your organization to visit my website and see for yourselves the quality of my work. I feel that my prices are quite reasonable for the detail and the time I take to render each portrait. My URL is http://putmanart.homestead.com. Thank you for your time. I hope that you will love my artistic style, and enjoy your visit to my website. ALSO, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN OTHER ARTISTS, I HAVE THE NAMES AND WEBSITES FOR THEM. LEPTOSPIROSIS The following is a message I received from Lew Bunch (LEWIEB) last month. Please check with your veterinarian before following any medical information. Here is a Press Release I just received from Fort Dodge which announces the newest and most improved Lepto Vaccine. Please protect your animals against Lepto, it is a killer. Lew Fort Dodge Animal Health Announces Introduction of leptovaxTM 4 canine vaccine Duramune (Leptospira vaccines provide protection against the most prevalent Leptospira servovars affecting dogs today Fort Dodge Animal Health, a leader in the animal health care industry, announced today its introduction of LeptoVaxTM 4, the newest member of the Duramune (line of Leptospira vaccines. Providing a unique standard of protection against canine Leptospirosis, LeptoVax 4 includes the most relevant Leptospira serovars grippotyphosa, pomona, icterohaemorrhagiae and canicola. Leptospirosis is a potentially life-threatening disease, and is reported to be the number one infectious cause of acute renal failure in dogs. The primary reservoir for these newly recognized serovars are commonly encountered wildlife, such as raccoons, opossums, skunks and rodents. This means virtually all dogs are at risk of being exposed ñ whether they live in a rural environment or in a suburban neighborhood. The number of canine Leptospirosis cases has risen dramatically in recent years, with most cases caused by emerging serovars grippotyphosa and pomona, î says Mike LaRosh, DVM, Director of Companion Animal Professional Services for Fort Dodge Animal Health. LeptoVax 4 and other Duramune Leptospira vaccines are the only vaccines proven effective against the two emerging serovar threats, as well as the traditional serovars. Vaccines that only protect against the traditional serovars may not offer cross protection against the new emerging serovars ñ leaving dogs at risk for serious infection. î To minimize the safety concerns historically associated with the use of vaccines containing the entire Leptospira bacteria, Fort Dodge uses an innovative process to manufacture our Leptospira vaccines. This exclusive process, known as subunit technology, results in a product proven to be both safe and effective under field conditions. Subunit manufacturing technology, which is unique to the Fort Dodge Animal Health canine vaccines containing Leptospira servovars, involves separating the surface immunogens of Leptospira from extraneous intra-cellular debris, î says LaRosh. The final result of this process is a purified vaccine containing the majority of surface Leptospira immunogens necessary for protection. Other manufacturers of canine vaccines still rely on whole-cell products, which contain the entire Leptospira organism. This new stand-alone, four-serovar vaccine will be available for purchase to licensed practicing veterinarians in the second quarter of 2004. For veterinarians who prefer to offer Leptospirosis protection in combination with live virus vaccines, Fort Dodge continues to offer its Duramune line of combination vaccines. For more information about this or any other Fort Dodge vaccine, please contact Fort Dodge Professional Services at 1-800-533-8536. Contact: Kelly Goss Communications Manager Fort Dodge Animal Health 913-664-7276 Office 913-664-7291 Fax .ALERT! GARDEN HAZARDS Are there special doggie dangers lurking in your garden? This was sent to me from the Internet in June, but it still holds true.
We're already picking cherry tomatoes and green peppers here in Texas, and of course we've been pulling lettuce for almost two months now. And already, something is at both the lettuce and the peppers. Diane and I don't like to use a lot of chemicals on the vegetables, but sometimes it seems like there's no choice. In the morning after a good night's rain, part of the problem is painfully obvious... we have a regular slug-fest in the back yard. Both slugs and snails are about, and in true Texas tradition, they are big! Now there are two types of compounds commonly used here in the U.S. to attract and kill snails and slugs (molluscicides), one contains metaldehyde, and the other is based upon iron phosphate. Iron phosphate has been registered for use in the states since 1997, and is employed in "Sluggo", "Escar-Go", "Worry Free", and other similar products. These products are generally a pelleted bait, and are applied on the ground around the protected plants. Scientists do not completely understand why iron phosphate kills molluscs, but the EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs has stated that the chemical presents "no unreasonable adverse effects to human health", and that there is a lack of known toxicity towards non-target animals and insects. This is not the most reassuring verbiage, however iron phosphate is generally accepted as representing a low toxic risk to non-slug and non-snail creatures. Metaldehyde on the other hand, does present a danger to non-target animals. In fact, because of the potential short and long term effects on wildlife, the EPA has classified it as a Restricted Use Pesticide. This means that metaldehyde may be purchased and used only by certified applicators. There may be accute risk if you live near a commercial grower who applies metaldehyde to their crops. This includes a variety of vegetable and ornamental crops in both fields and greenhouses, fruit trees, small-fruit plants, avocado or citrus orchards, berry plants and banana plants. Use extreme caution if your dog has access to such areas. Metaldehyde is applied as granules, sprays, or dusts, and as such presents itself as a threat by inhalation, ingestion, or dermal absorption. The chemical is highly toxic if inhaled, and will cause severe irritation of the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat, sinuses and lungs. Ingested, it will cause irritation of the stomach and intestines, and can cause both liver and kidney damage. Encountered dermally, metaldehyde is capable of producing severe skin and eye irritation. Within 1-3 hours after exposure, symptoms of metaldehyde poisoning may be demonstrated. These symptoms may include severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, convulsions, and coma. Additional symptoms may include increased heart rate, panting, asthma attack, depression, drowsiness, inability to control the release of urine and feces, uncoordination, muscle tremors, sweating, excessive salivation, tearing, cyanosis, and stupor. In severe cases, death may occur as a result of lung or kidney failure. The LD50 (dose that is lethal for 50% of test animals) varies widely with breed, however it is as low as 1.6oz per pound of body weight. In the home garden, metaldehyde is still available, however in much lower concentrations than found on commercial crops. The chemical can be found in "Cory's Slug and Snail Death", "Deadline", "Slug-Tox" and other like products. (The typical concentrations in these over the counter pesticides are in the range of 2-4%.) As an example of the problem, snail baits represent the most common poisoning agent in dogs in the state of California. To be safe, use molluscides in baited traps or cups that do not offer access to your family pet. If you suspect that your dog has ingested a molluscide, immediate action is required. If one hour or less has passed, it is possible to induce vomiting and eliminate much of the poison. However, this should be followed with an activated charcoal slurry and a quick trip to a veterinarian hospital. If more than one hour has passed, it is likely the poisoning has progressed passed the point of advanced home-care, get your dog to a hospital immediately. It will be helpful if you have the presence of mind to bring along the pesticide container, this will greatly aid diagnosis and treatment. Other types of common garden pesticides may pose a risk to your dog as well. Check the labels of any pesticides you may use or have around the house for pyrethrin. This chemical is an extract of the daisies Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium and C. coccineum, and is a neuro-toxin especially effective on insects, and moderately toxic to dogs. The trade names to look for on the label include pyrethrin I and II, allethrin, resmethrin, and permethrin. Signs of ingestion include excessive salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, and hyperexcitability or depression. Other common neuro-toxins include the organophosphates, such as malathion, diazinon, and fenthion. Also, the carbamates, most commonly known as carbaryl and carbofuran. The signs of toxic exposure to these products may include apprehension, excessive salivation, uncontrolled urination or defecation, vomiting, diarrhea, and pinpoint pupils. If enough neurological toxin has been consumed, sudden death may be the only sign. Lately, the garden hazard which has had the greatest visibility is a mulch made from cocoa bean hulls. This type of mulch has become popular, and the manufacturers tout it is being useful for smothering weeds, loosening tight soil, and improving the moisture and organic content of light soils. One producer even claims it will provide your garden with a pleasant aroma (similar to the Ghirardelli factory). Unfortunately, cocoa bean hulls contain high levels of the methylxanthine, theobromine (the same substance that renders chocolate poisonous to your dog). In fact, the theobromine level in cocoa hulls is approximately 4 times higher than that of milk chocolate. It is estimated that a scant 2oz of mulch may cause vomiting and diarrhea in a 50 pound dog, and as little as 9-10oz may prove fatal. What about "organic" gardening then? We recently read a report of a family who spread steer manure (purchased from a large home improvement chain) as a fertilizer. Left unattended, and within one hour, they found their family pet staggering and drooling. The dog died within 8 hours. CAUTION: There is no warning label on such products that the ammonia nitrate content may pose a significant and potentially lethal hazard to your companion animals. Finally, one you may not think of... Gardens are usually moist, earthy places with healthy bug populations. They are therefore a virtual paradise for toads. Unfortunately, many species of toads are toxic to dogs, and your dog may be poisoned by oral exposure. All toads produce a dermal venom, but the toxicitiy to our canine friends varies greatly with individual species. Here in the U.S. the most important species of concern is the giant or marine toad (Bufo marinus). This species is fairly common in Hawaii, Florida, Texas, and other southern locales. Symptoms of toxicity may include shaking of the head, pawing at the mouth, retching and frothy salivation. This is a serious threat! Poisoning due to the Bufo toad can involve life-threatening cardiac and central nervous system involvement. Be cautious in combining gardens and pets. An unattended, bored dog will dig, chew and eat things not normally in their diet. Limit their exposure to the garden preferrably with a fence, and if you can't, don't leave your dog alone to romp through the tomatoes. Read the labels of all pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers carefully, and do not allow your dog in treated areas while still wet. Think ahead, and keep copies of hazardous product labels in your car. In an emergency they will be with you if there's a rush to the hospital. Know how to induce vomiting, and keep activated charcoal around the house for first aid. Finally, make sure there are phone numbers conveniently displayed for your vet, local hospital, and the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline. NATIONAL ANIMAL POISON CONTROL CENTER: 1-888-426-4435 ($45.00 PER INQUIRY) KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY’S COLLEGE OF VET MEDICINE, POISON CONTROL CENTER: 1-785-532-5679 (Not toll free, but Free Inquiry). ALSO REMEMBER WATCH OUT FOR GRAPES. THEY ARE A SERIOUS
MEDICAL HAZARD TO OUR DOGS, AND THE VINES IN THIS AREA ARE FULL OF
GRAPES BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD ADEQUATE RAIN.
HEALTHY!PUMPKIN Not just for Halloween anymore, pumpkin claims a variety of medicinal uses. Pumpkin is an annual with twining stems, yellow flowers, and (of course) large orange fruit. Although there's debate over the origin of pumpkin, it is generally thought to be native to North America and in fact, skins, seeds and stem pieces have been found in the ancient cliff dwellings of our great southwest. Here in the US, the most popular use for pumpkin is the annual carving of the Halloween Jack-O-Lantern. (Irish and Scottish immigrants to our country brought with them their legend of Stingy Jack, and most likely found the pumpkin to be a much better candidate for carving Jack's Lantern than the traditional turnip or large beet.) The second most popular use of pumpkin in the states is the Thanksgiving pie. No doubt a holdover from colonial times when the Native Americans taught the settlers of pumpkin's many culinary uses. It is believed that the first pumpkin pie was not a pie at all, but rather a baked pumpkin. The top of the pumpkin was cut off, and the seeds were scraped out. The shell was then filled with apples, honey, milk and spices and then returned to the hot ashes to cook. In almost every culture, and almost every corner of the globe, pumpkin has been used for it's health benefits and is revered by many (in China it is called the Emperor of the Garden). And that makes perfect sense, fresh or canned pumpkin is loaded with good stuff like Vitamin A and calcium. The table to the right is a comparison of the nutrient content of 1 cup each of mashed pumpkin, and mashed carrot. (Only the most significant differences are shown.) Nutrient Pumpkin Carrot Units
Calcium 64 57 mg Iron 3.41 1.46 mg Potassium 505 408 mg Sodium 12 96 mg Vitamin C 10.3 6.2 mg Beta Carotene 17003 12155 mcg Vitamin E 2.60 1.69 mg Vitamin K 39.2 22.3 mcg Tryptophan .032 .016 g Lysine .147 .057 g Methionine .029 .009 g Glutamic acid .495 .283 g
Carrots are renowned for their beta carotene, but pumpkin has almost 1 ½ times as much. In fact, pitted against pumpkin, carrot comes up lacking in almost every department. Looking over some other important vitamins, C, E and K, carrot has only about 60% of the amount found in pumpkin. More available energy, more protein, less ash, twice as much fiber, more calcium, more iron... the list goes on. Pumpkin's high Vitamin A content makes it potentially useful in bolstering the immune system and combatting immune system disorders. It can aid in providing for healthy membranes, and even the possible prevention of certain types of cancer.
The most common medicinal use of pumpkin pulp is not obvious from the nutrient content, that is in treating diarrhea. Pumpkin can be a safe and effective treatment, especially in dogs with sensitive stomachs. For small dogs, try 1-2 teaspoons of canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) twice a day. For large dogs increase the dosage to 1-2 tablespoons twice a day. Adding a little mashed banana to the pumpkin may prove useful in treating some cases. You will have to experiment a little to find out exactly how much works best for your dog. More good news for the digestive system, a decoction (boiled down concentrate) of the pulp has been used traditionally to relieve intestinal inflammation. Additionally, pumpkin has a high concentration of the amino acid glutamic acid, a compound known to accelerate the healing of gastric ulcers and other disorders of the gastro-intestinal lining. In Surinam's traditional medicine, a decoction of the leaves is also used to treat stomach inflammation. Remember eating pumpkin seeds as a snack? The seeds have been used world-wide in the prevention and treatment of intestinal parasites. Researchers have found an amino acid, curcurbitin in the seeds which they believe are responsible for the anthelmintic properties. Scientists believe that the curcurbitin paralyzes the parasites, causing them to release their hold on the intestinal wall, they can then be expelled normally. In China, the seeds have proven useful in treating acute schistosomiasis (a severe parasitic disease). In Russia they have been used in treating both tapeworm and roundworm infestations, and in Cuban villages, the seeds have been used to cure giardia. For medium sized dogs, a good starting point for the dosage is 2-3 ounces, given daily for three days. This is generally accepted as a safe and effective treatment, and there are no known side-effects. In addition to their anthelmintic properties, the seeds also provide benefits to the urinary system. Pumpkin contains high levels of the amino acid methionine which regulates the production of ammonia, hence reducing bladder irritations. In fact, a decoction of the seeds is tonic to the bladder, and has been used in folk medicine for generations to soothe bladder inflammations and nephritis. In Thailand this same decoction has been shown to reduce the production of stones. The exact compound responsible for this is not known, however research suggests that the seeds reduce the levels of urine components responsible for stone formation while increasing levels of compounds that inhibit stone formation. Finally, pumpkin has 1 ½ times the levels of the branched chain amino acids found in carrots (valine, isoleucine, and leucine). This group of aminos is responsible for helping the body counter the effects of stress, increasing available energy, and building muscle mass. The amino acid lysine is also present in high concentrations. This compound has been shown to promote the absorption of calcium, and the production of collagen (the essential component of cartilage and connective tissue). So, no matter how you carve it, pumpkin is a healthy addition to our companion dog's diet. If you're on the run and need the convenience of a treat, but still want the goodness of pumpkin, try our Pumpkin Peepers! Each bag contains the equivalent of ¼ cup (approx.) of mashed pumpkin!
TIP FOR PINECONES One
of the very best tools to pick up pinecones in the yard is the “Pooper Scooper”. I have one of the really large ones, and my
husband grabs it every time he goes to mow the yard, as it is such a good
product for this use, without having to bed over all the time. BLEACH TO CONTROL FLIES I may have printed
this last year, but in case I forgot to, thought this might come in handy
now. It has been found that regular bleach water will deter flies, etc. Mix 2 parts (No scented Clorox) bleach to 5 or 6 parts of water. Put it into plastic dish out of reach of the dogs. It really works, and keeps the flies and bees away from the doors and kennels. There is also another recipe to put a chlorine tablet ( from Pool Supply) into a one gallon bucket of water, but for me using the Clorox is easier. Just make sure the animals can’t get into either formula. I have found that the bleach needs to be replaced every couple of weeks. This also seems to repel mosquitos, but I can’t really guarantee that. I know that when I have the bleach water around the pens the mosquitos don’t seem to bother me quite as much.
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