THE GERMAN SHEPHERD SENTINEL
July 2005 - NEWSLETTER OF THE
GSDC OF GREATER RALEIGH
I. 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. July Meeting Information
3. June Minutes
4. GSDCA Board O Gram
5. Responsible Dog Ownership
6. Hip Dysplasia; Is Your Dog At Risk?
7. A Summer Reading List for the German Shepherd Owner
8. Dignity……..A Brief Story About a Rescued German Shepherd
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.
JULY MEETING INFORMATION
The next meeting of the GSDC of Greater Raleigh will be held on Wednesday, July 6th at the Exchange Park. All German Shepherds are welcome to attend, along with their owners of course. The program will consist of a presentation by Margot Bennett a volunteer with the Guiding Eyes for the Blind of North Carolina, will speak to the club about their Puppy Raising Program. Currently Margot is fostering and training a lab named Rocky for the Guiding Eyes puppy raising program. JANE WALL WILL BE FURNISHING REFRESHMENTS this month.
JUNE 2005 MINUTES
Program: Consisted of a lecture and demonstration by Sue King who is a certified animal massage therapist. Sue discussed the benefits of massage for our canine companions; as well as, provided a demonstration using Angel (Bill Phieffer’s female puppy). Being true to her name, Angel proved to be an excellent candidate for the massage demo. Thanks to Bill and Angel for participating in the demonstration portion of the program. Jane Wall won the drawing for a certificate for a free half hour canine massage.
Treasurer’s Report: Sara reported on the number of checks and the amounts that were written on behalf of the GSDC of Greater Raleigh the past month. Sara indicated that we still have not received a bill from Bob Peters for his services in relation to the 2005 club dog show.
Business Meeting: The first reading of three applications for new memberships took place; Mohammad Ahmed, Pete Lunding, and Gunvor Lunding.
Bill Phieffer reported on the status of the 2006 GSDC of Greater Raleigh dog show. All paperwork has been submitted to the AKC. We as a club should not do any more preliminary work until approval from AKC is received. Fred Barrett is scheduled to judge on Friday evening and Dick Jones will judge on Saturday evening. Our shows will not start until the ‘best of show’ for each day is completed.
Bill Phieffer discussed legislation that is in process and been passed in other states regarding the definition of ownership as it relates to our dogs. In some states, an owner can no longer have their animal euthanized unless given permission by a committee. There is also legislation in the works regarding mandatory spay and neuter of all pets. It is important as club members for us to be aware of bills in legislation that pertain to these issues. More information will be available on the parent club website by mid-June.
National club new, also relayed by Bill Phieffer, regarding whether our club is going to want to reserve a table at the Saturday evening dinner that takes place November 4, 2005. The National German Shepherd show takes place in Concord, NC this year. Dinner is $37.50 per person. No decision was made at the meeting. The National German Shepherd herding trials and competition take place in Durham, NC and Fran Hoffman will be the judge.
New business consisted of the club making a decision that this years Christmas dinner will take place at Golden Corral and Sara Bridges will make the reservations. In addition, it was noted that the German Shepherd national’s takes place the same week as the November club meeting. It was not determined whether to cancel that meeting entirely or reschedule for another Wednesday that month. Mary Bjelica will contact the Millbrook Exchange to see if the room is available on an alternate Wednesday.
Board O Gram
April 2005 Board Meeting
Written by Dr. Tom T. Mesdag
Edited and approved by Ginny Altman
Highlights of the April Board Meeting
The 2nd regular meeting of the GSDCA board of directors was held on April 22, 23, and 24, 2005 in Ogden Utah at the Comfort Suites. It was preceded by a Friday night work session with the Temperament Committee Chair, Bob Penny and the German Shepherd Dog Review Editor, Gail Sprock.
President’s report:
The GSDCA Board of Directors thought that the 2004 bylaws amendment had been adopted when in fact it really had not passed. The bylaws amendment that was announced as having been adopted at the National did not have 2/3 of the votes in favor; therefore, it did not pass. The information from Honest Ballot is sealed and the seal is not broken until just before the results are read at the meeting or at the victory dinner. The calculation was done by Honest Ballot. Throughout the document Honest Ballot provided an asterisk* next to all of the prevailing names in addition to numbers and, in the case of the bylaws, it provided an asterisk* adjacent to the “For” leading us to believe that the bylaws amendment had passed. We do not know if the GSDCA provided Honest Ballot with a copy of our bylaws so that they would know to calculate the prevailing side by a 2/3 vote. This will certainly be done in the future. Fortunately, other than the regret and embarrassment of the error, we have not caused harm to any person by not recognizing this error sooner. When it was brought to my attention that there was an error, I did the calculations on the votes cast. It would require 851 votes “for” on part 1 and 838 votes “for” on part 2. Only the votes cast for each section are counted in the calculation for that section. So it did not miss by much in part 2 and by some 110 votes in part 1. This is included in the President’s report so that it can be reflected in the minutes of the April meeting and the Review.
The German Shepherd Dog Review is the winner of the single breed Club Magazine as was announced February 13, 2005 at the Dog Writers Dinner held in conjunction with Westminster. Other winners were Fern and Charlie Quirmbach, Judith Ecklund, and Lorraine Brewer for their article Sled Dog Racing with GSDs printed in the German Shepherd Dog Review and Sue Jeffries for her article TDX GSD Finds Lost Australian Shepherd also printed in the Review. It is noteworthy that our AKC Delegate, Dr. Carmen Battaglia was recognized by the Dog Writers Association for his article in the Canine Chronicle.
Ken Downing announced that for 2004 the GSDCA, Inc. earned $21,710.10 from our participation in the Purina Parent Club Partnership Program. $10,855.05 was given to the AKC Canine Health Foundation for use in our donor advised fund. The remaining $10,855.05 goes to the GSDCA, Inc. for our club’s use in education.
During the year the GSDCA, Inc. had 2612 Pro Club Members declared for the Purina Club Partnership Program. There were 983 Pro Club Members that redeemed weight circles from January through December of 2004. Ken pointed out how much more the GSDCA, Inc. could have earned for the GSDCA, Inc. and the Canine Health Foundation for the important work that’s being done, had all 2612 members sent in weight circles. All members are asked to make every effort to participate in this very important program and Please send in those Weight Circles.
Treasurer’s Report
1) The GSDCA Financials for 2004, along with comparative financial data for 2003 will be available on the GSDCA web site. They will be in the members only secured area. After viewing the data, should you have any questions, please call Bill Pfeiffer – Treasurer, GSDCA at treasurer@gsdca.org or call 919-781-4955.
2) If you have a problem accessing the members only portion of the GSDCA web site please notify Bill Pfeiffer via the above access means.
3) The GSDCA.org web site had over one and one half million page hits in a single month during the 1st quarter 2005. This should be an excellent vehicle for advertising your quality show, performance and companion puppies to the general public. Remember that the AKC web site hot links German Shepherd Dog inquiries to gsdca.org.
4) You can reach and email the entire GSDCA Board with one click using board@gsdca.org
5) Keep your membership information current (address, email and telephone) by sending updates to membership@gsdca.org.
Committee Reports:
National Specialty: The advance Brochure will be in the mail on or prior to the last week in May. National reservations, committee chairs, trophy donation and advertising information, hotels and transportation will be included. Nanci has a new and better negotiated price for rooms at the Wingate Inn Speedway Exit 49 and The Hampton Inn & Suites Speedway exit 49. The Advance Brochure does have the OLD price.WINGATE booking code is GSDC $85 standard $95 suite Hampton $89 standard $110 king whirlpool.
Please support your National Show by advertising in the catalog (Patty Szymczak Pagairs@aol.com), purchasing VERY reasonably priced reserved seats ($35 and $45), attending the Gold Page luncheon on Saturday $60 for 2) and donating trophies (Jan Coleman Rocknolgsd@aol.com). There is room for 26 vendors in heavy traffic areas this year. Contact Dania Karloff (dkarloff@aol.com) to reserve a Space. Plan to Attend Membership Welcome Night at the Hampton Inn Speedway at Exit 49 from 6-8 pm on Monday, October 31. It Is Halloween!!! Plan to Have Fun!! There Will Be Prizes for the Best Costume. Plan your vacation now! National show dates are October 28 - November 5. Herding is October 28 - 30. Tracking is the 30th. Futurity/Maturity November 1, Conformation November 2 - 5.
Judges nominated for 2006
Conformation
Jack Newton
Marion Lawrence
Joe LaRosa
Dick Jones
Jamie Walker
Helen Franklin
Herding
Ellen Adomelis
Joe Kapelos
Peggy Richter
Roy Sage
Obedience and Rally
Victoria Brown
Harlowe Jahelka
Stephan Picciuola
Pat Scully
No Agility judges were nominated. Petitions nominating candidates should be submitted in accordance with the procedures outlined in the Method for Election of Judges signed by 50 people and submitted to the Corresponding Secretary. Contact Sharon Allbright or Nanci Nellis for forms.
Herding report: 2005 Herding Trails – Durham, NC. The AKC applications for the 2005 GSDCA Herding Trials have been filed with AKC and we should have approval soon. The dates are October 28, 29, and 30, 2005. (Fri., Sat., and Sun) Our Trial Secretary is Linda Copestick, e-mail address: lcopes@bellsouth.net. We are offering three days of Trials with all breeds accepted, all three Courses (A, B and C), Tests, and the Ranch Course each day. C Course must have a minimum of 4 entries in order for us to logistically afford the expensive set up required and the 20 or more sheep for each run. German Shepherd Dog entries will be given priority. Premium lists should be available in late August. It must be emphasized that Glenn Haven Farm in Durham is a one and one half hour drive from Concord; however, it is an exceptional site, and a Herding Instinct Day could be a relaxing, pre-fun day for owner and dog. For further information, contact Dorothy Linn at 650-591-3401 or linnloch@comcast.net.
Obedience Report:
Help!!! Wanted – The GSDCA is looking for a volunteer to take on the position of compiling the obedience statistics for publishing in the Performance issue of the Review. We would like to thank Skeeter Benton for doing this job for the last three years. If you are interested in taking this position, please contact Lori Nickeson 541-382-7752 – debruts@aol.com.
Show sites: National Sites - Deb Hokkanen announced that there will be 3 sites for consideration and vote by the Board of Directors in July 2005. The rotation of the National is preferred by members as reported in the survey. The 2007 National is to be in the Western sector of the United States. Under consideration are Linn County Fairgrounds/ Albany, Oregon (site of 2004 National), Golden Spike/Ogden, Utah (Board site visit in April 2005) and Budweiser Event Center/Colorado (Board site visit July 2005).
Future National sites as selected by the Board:
2005 - Cabarrus County, Concord, NC
2006 - National Equestrian Center, Lake St. Louis, MO
2007 - To be determined in July 2005
2008 - Ford Park, Beaumont, Texas
2009 – EAST (to be determined)
Please direct all new site suggestions and questions to Deb Hokkanen @ 508-852-4473, Fax – 508-852-1067.
Review Editor – On Friday evening Gail presented an extensive and informative Review report to the Board. She also wanted to inform the membership via the Board O Gram: "As you all are aware your Review has been off schedule for several months. I am working to get us back on the schedule we should be on, but it won't happen overnight. Each month will show improvement though. When we get caught up, I will stay caught up.”
The Board approved the exploration of the Review developing an online presence. Gail will create a live trial site to demo for the first time at the 2005 National.
Futurities – 2007
NE - GSDC of Southern New Hampshire, Sunday, June 17, 2007
MA - GSDC of North VA, Monday, May 28, 2007
NW - GSDC of Washington State, Friday, May 11, 2007
*SE - GSDC of Louisiana, Saturday, April 7, 2007
*GL - GSDC of Central Indiana, Friday, April 6, 2007
*MW - GSDC of the Quad Cities, Saturday, May 5, 2007
***SW - GSDC of Beaumont, Friday, May 4, 2007
***SP - San Bernardino/Riverside GSDC, Friday, June 8, 2007
***MP - Diablo Valley GSDC, Friday, June 29, 2007
* - Tentative dates
*** - Tentative approval pending the region increases its number of litter nominations to the required number of 35.
Awards: Blanche Beisswenger Memorial Hero Dog Awards: Reminder that June 1, 2005 is the deadline for nominations to be the hands of chairman, Helen Miller Fisher.
Education report: Lana is preparing the Illustrated Standard for the GSDCA website and for members to view.
GSDCA Membership Chair Report – Dania Karloff recognized the support and guidance that she receives from Gail Hardcastle, Database Chair.
Dania’s reports these items of importance:
*We are actively contacting members who have not renewed their membership this year - it is our ultimate goal to increase the GSDCA membership retention rate.
*An update to the membership handbook/roster will be released late this summer.
*As in Ginny’s report, the proposed changes to the Bylaws presented last year did not receive the required two-thirds votes. Gail and I will work with the By-laws committee to ensure that any future proposed changes address the needs of the Membership Committee.
If you wish for additional information, please don't hesitate to call (757-482-3966) or e-mail (Dkarloff@aol.com).
Red Book Report: Only 50 copies of the 2003 Red Book remain. If you don't have yours, you better get one before the 2003 edition joins the 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 as SOLD OUT!
Watch the Review and your email for advance purchase information for the 2004 Red Book. You will be able to pick up your copy at the National or, for a few dollars more, have a copy mailed to your house as soon as they arrive from the printer.
We have a new Red Book Chair! She is Liz Leschhorn from California. Her email is LeaLynn@aol.com.
Some trivia food for thought: there were over 2000 Specialty (conformation) shows in 2004. The GSDCA National ranked #51 with 244 entries (in 2003, we were #45 with 270 entries). The top 25 Specialty shows by entry ranged from the #1 American Spaniel Club with 740 entries to #25 Irish Wolfhound Club of America with 322 entries. Interestingly, there were 4 non-national club specialties in the top 25.
Regional Clubs: Congratulations to the newest GSDCA Regional Clubs, the GSDC of North Georgia and the Mississippi Coast GSDC. We welcome your membership. The current total of Regional Clubs is now 105.
GSDCA Regional Club Challenge Program for 2005 to be from August 1, 2004 through July 31, 2005. Deadline for all clubs to submit their forms and supporting documentation for points earned will be August 31, 2005. Send hard-copy information only (Data will not be accepted via email) to: Kelly Knight, 2071 Midlothian Road, Roseville, MN 55113. Phone: 651-633-3652 (Just in case). NEW EMAIL ADDRESS: Hadderway@comcast.net (For questions only)
New Additions to the Regional Club Challenge Guidelines and Forms are available on www.gsdca.org, click on Regional Club Button from the Home Page. New for 2005, points will be awarded for Rally Titles, Therapy Dog Work, Winning a Best In Show and for competing in the GSDCA Newsletter Contest. If you want a hard copy of the Guidelines and Forms mailed to you contact Lew Bunch at 816-941-8725 or email: Lewieb@aol.com.
Temperament: Bob Penny was present at the Board meeting to address the Board on the “in-ring temperament evaluation”. Increasing the number of Senior Evaluators was also addressed.
Selects: No resolution was reached on the Select issue brought forward from the April meeting. There was constructive discussion. New ideas were considered that would continue to permit the judge wide latitude in recognizing worthy animals while preserving the original intent of "Select". The Policy and Procedures manual, in part, describes the intent of the award Select as an animal being of the "same high standard of type, temperament, gait and overall quality of the BOB and BOS". The motion as brought forward from the April meeting no longer reflected the discussion and a replacement motion was brought forth which reads:
That the GSDCA award of Select be up to 10 percent of the Best of Breed entered and awarded irrespective of sex and because, in the opinion of the judge, the animal is of equal quality to the BOB and BOS. Additionally, the "Award of Merit" can be awarded in each sex by the judge for those animals who, in the opinion of the judge, are of meritorious quality.
The Board will discuss this replacement motion in depth at the July meeting in Colorado.
Parent Club Office - Bronze Medallion Awards
Attention Regional Clubs - If your club plans to award bronze medallions for Best of Breed or High Combined winners at your next specialty show, please be advised that the following procedure must be followed per AKC Rules for Dog Shows, Ch. 6, Section 2A:
(1) In the awards section, your premium list must specifically state that a bronze medallion provided by the German Shepherd Dog Club of America will be offered for Best of Breed and/or High Combined, OR
(2) Your premium list may state that this is a "summary premium list" and that a full list of awards is available from the show secretary. In this case, your show secretary must maintain a complete list of these awards to be provided upon request. The same list should then be duplicated in your show catalogue.
Medallions may be obtained by sending:
(1) a copy of your premium list with the bronze medallion award highlighted, OR
(2) a copy of your premium list with the "summary premium list" section highlighted plus a copy of your complete list of awards.
Send all requests to Parent Club Office, PO Box 1656, Allen, TX 75013. Further questions may be addressed to Linda Newman at parentcluboffice@comcast.net or telephone 972-436-6767.
The GSDCA Nominating Committee met by conference call on May 23rd and the following candidates were nominated by the committee to the slate for the 2005 election.
President - Evan Ginsburg
Vice-President - Jerry Guzman
Recording Secretary – Margery Golant
Board of Directors
Leon Breault
Kathy Casteel
Wayne Davis
Nancy Harper
Paul Root
Rita Sandell
Tish Walker
Additional nominations may be made in accordance to Article V Section 4 Part (b) of the bylaws which can be found in your membership handbook.
The July Board meeting will be in Ft. Collins, Colorado on July 30-31, 2005, preceded by a site visit on Friday.
Ginny Altman
No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversations as a
dog does. Christopher Morley
AKC Responsible Dog Ownership
Dear Event Secretary:
The AKC Communications Department is pleased to be celebrating the third annual "AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day" (AKC RDO Day) this September 17, 2005. We invite and encourage all dog clubs and pet-related organizations to take part by holding a community event that publicly promotes responsible dog ownership anytime during the month of September. As the corresponding secretary for an AKC affiliated club, we hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to garner public attention and utilize AKC resources for the betterment of your club and community.
All clubs and organizations wishing to hold an AKC RDO Day event are asked to fill out the online response form by August 1, 2005. Those who confirm the details of their event with us by that date will receive a resource-filled packet- including posters, brochures, sample press releases and many more materials that will assist you in putting together a top-notch event. We plan to distribute 500 packets on a first-come, first-serve basis. We will only ship packets and list events on our web site to those clubs with event details finalized - including date, time, location and planned activities - by the August 1 deadline. Starting July 1, as we have done each year, we will create a central page on our website where the public can search for events by state, to find AKC RDO Day events in their area.
Some suggestions of activities to commemorate AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day include:
*ID clinic (offer microchipping, etc)
*Rescue information booth
*Health clinic/health screen testing/First Aid for dogs
*Meet the breeds/Find the right dog for you
*Obedience/Agility/Rally/Performance demonstrations
*Therapy/SAR Dog or Police K9 Unit demonstrations
*"AKC Safety Around Dogs" for kids presentations (in-school or for children's groups)
*A kids contest with awards for best drawings, photos or essays about dogs
*Seek sponsorships or donated items from local businesses to be raffled or for contest prizes
*Raise money to donate/dedicate needed items to local dog park/runs (pooper scoopers, bulletin boards, water fountains, etc.)
*Fundraising events for AKC Canine Health Foundation
*AKC Canine Good Citizen test (requires additional kit purchase)
*Write a letter to the editor of your local newspapers
*Obtain a proclamation from your Governor, Mayor etc.
(find links to more info at http://www.akc.org/clubs/rdod/index.cfm)
The AKC will be hosting our own events in New York City on Saturday, September 17 and Raleigh, NC on Saturday, September 10, 2005. These flagship events will highlight the AKC programs and services that support responsible dog ownership and publicize to news media and the dog loving community that events are being held across the country.
Last year, more than 400 clubs and organizations hosted events reaching millions of dog lovers and potential pet owners through extensive media coverage. We hope that you will join us by taking part in this year's AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day. Your participation will help ensure the program's success, which will hopefully continue to gain momentum each year, benefiting dogs and dog owners everywhere!
To indicate your interest in holding an event, please visit the AKC RDO Day web pages at: http://www.akc.org/clubs/rdod/add_events/account.cfm
Regards,
AKC Communications
212-696-8343
Dysplasia (HD, or canine hip dysplasia
– http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/caninemedinfo.html#chd
An excellent source of information on hip dysplasia is:
Hip Dysplasia
A Guide for Dog Breeders and Owners
2nd Edition 1989
By E.A. Corley and G.G. Keller
A single copy is available for a donation and multiple copies are $3.00 each at Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, Inc, 2300 Nifong Blvd, Columbia, MO 65201, 573-442-0418. It is informative, and highly recommended.Another good source of information on Hip Dysplasia may be found in the chapter "Hip Dysplasia" in Genetics of the Dog by Malcolm B. Willis (Howell Book House). Information from this chapter is also presented below.
Hip dysplasia ("bad development") appears in people and many species of animals. In some breeds of dogs, it is the most common cause of osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease. Because both humans and dogs get hip dysplasia, dogs made a good subject to use in research. Most of these techniques below are also used on humans.
Research on hip dysplasia suggests that CHD is a more complex disease than was first thought. There are no simple answers or solutions to the problem. The complexity of CHD results in research findings that appear to be contradictory. However, many aspects of the disease have been repeatedly and independently documented and are generally accepted by the scientific community. Three important ones are:
- Canine hip dysplasia is caused by the presence of many genes (polygenic). While no environmental cause has been found, many environmental factors contribute to its expression in a particular dog (phenotype).
- The only current means for reducing the occurrence of CHD is by selectively breeding for normal hips.
- Radiography is the accepted means for evaluating the hip status.
Regardless of what the initiating factor or factors may be, abnormal looseness of the hip joint after 2 weeks of age seems to be the event most commonly reported to result in hip dysplasia. However, there are exceptions to this, and dogs with tight hips have developed hip dysplasia.
The early changes are not easily detected. Severe cases may be diagnosed as early as 7 weeks of age; others may not show up in radiographs until over 2 years of age. This is why OFA only certifies dogs over two years of age.
Most inherited traits in animals are polygenic. These traits do not follow patterns based on dominant/recessive pairs because polygenic traits are affected by many genes. Only some puppies will have the same combination of genes for a trait as the parents. Some will have a more desirable combination while others will have a less desirable pattern. As the number of involved genes increase, the possible outcomes also increase. In addition, remember that it is also possible for different genes to have a different level of influence on the trait, complicating the outcomes considerably. Predictions of a specific outcome from a particular mating involving polygenic traits is currently impossible.
In Corley and Keller's opinion, a dog with excellent hips but with more than 25% of its brothers and sisters affected with hip dysplasia is a poorer breeding prospect than a dog with fair hips and less than 25% of its brothers and sisters exhibiting dysplasia.
Clinical symptoms
(from Corley & Keller)"...[T]he signs [of hip dysplasia] vary from decreased exercise tolerance to severe crippling. They include: a reluctance or inability to go up or down stairs, difficulty in rising from a sitting or prone position, bunny-hopping gait when running, stiffness early in the morning that improves as the dog warms up, change in disposition due to pain, lameness after exercise, wobbly gait, a clicking sound when walking, and many others. Many dogs will shift their center of gravity forward in an effort to relieve weight and pressure on the hips. These dogs generally present a front end that appears well-developed relative to the rear end.
"In dysplastic dogs, the hip joint is a weakened structure that is more subject to being injured by normal activity such as jumping off a couch, or rough housing with a playmate. Frequently, this results in an acute lameness that in the mind of the owner was caused by the injury, whereas the underlying dysplasia actually made the joint more susceptible to injury. Obviously, the normal hip can be injured, but the radiographic examination can usually distinguish between a hip problem due to dysplasia and one due to other causes.
"CHD can not be diagnosed by observing how the dog moves, acts, lies down, etc. The clinical signs may be caused by other problems; therefore, a complete orthopedic and radiographic examination is required before arriving at the conclusion that the signs are caused by CHD."
Environmental factors such as type of food and exercise in puppyhood have been shown to affect the displayed symptoms within the same litter. However, subsequent generations from both groups showed the same rates of dysplasia meaning that while the phenotype may be affected, the genotype is what determines whether a dog has the potential for being affected with HD.
In general, low protien diets and low activity levels through puppyhood reduced the symptoms of HD markedly. However, the degree of diet reduction and no activity may or may not be practical for the average dog-owner to attempt.
It's best to keep your puppy from any kind of jumping for the first year or so in life. It's also best to keep from sustained exercise until at least a year old. Sustained exercise includes: jogging with owner, pulling weights, mushing, running with owner on bike, etc. Even for dogs not at risk from HD, it's wise not to exercise too strongly too early as such exercise may interfere with proper growth of joints, leading to similar problems such as arthritis on the joint or OCD.
Any diagnosis of Hip Dysplasia must be made via expert radiographic diagnosis. This involves taking xrays of the joint and typically sending the film to organizations that will evaluate, register, and certify the dog. Veterinarians will often "diagnose" the film themselves but if the question is critical its best to have them properly evaluated (unless, of course, your vet is experienced with radiographic evaluation -- not all are).
You cannot, repeat, cannot make a reliable diagnosis of Hip Dysplasia on the basis of external symptoms such as lameness or gait.
OFA
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals is the most well known registry in the United States. It grades all joints, most commonly hips, as severe, moderate, fair, good, and excellent. It will certify all passing grades given to dogs over 2 years of age. Contact: 573-442-0418.
PennHIP
PennHIP is a new evaluation technique that flexes the limbs differently to produce the xray pictures. There are only a handful of vets around the country that have been certified to take xrays using the PennHip method.
Genetic Disease Control, UC Davis
There is a program here for radiographic evaluation of dogs. Wind Morgan is the most well known of these programs, offered to Labrador Retrievers. There are similar programs for Rottweilers and a few other breeds. Wind Morgan will certify at one year of age or older and requires xrays of hips, elbows, and hocks. They will hold clinics around the country to help hold costs down.
Genetic Disease Control is a larger effort to collect data on all kinds of genetic diseases, of which Hip Dysplasia is only one. They have registries and information on a wide array of diseases. All their registries are open, in an effort to make more information available to breeders in making informed choices about their breeding stock. For more information, write to GDC
PO Box 222
Davis, CA 95617
916-756-6773Outside the United States
Each country typically has its own hip evaluation program. These are not consistent from country to country and may differ with the evaluations give by the above US organizations. In Australia, dogs are evaluated by the Australian Veterinary Association that has an Australian wide scoring scheme with averages for each breed.
Life for dogs with Hip Dysplasia
First of all, be sure that your dog has been accurately diagnosed with HD. Many vets do not have the expertise in reading the x-rays, so you need to be sure that an experienced radiologist reads them. If you're not familiar with the competencies of the vets in your area, your best bet is to have the x-rays sent in to OFA for evaluation. You CANNOT definitively diagnose HD on the basis of external appearance or palpitation of the joint or anything like that. Many things can cause limping, some of which are correctible, so it pays to be certain you have the correct diagnosis.
Diagnosis of Hip Dysplasia is not an automatic death sentence for your dog! Because it is a polygenetic trait, the variability of expression is actually quite wide. Some dogs may experience little or no discomfort and you may never know they have HD unless you test for it. Other dogs may experience more pain, but it may be easily controlled with proper exercise and judicious use of aspirin under the direction of a vet. Only a small percentage of cases are so crippled by HD that they must be put down.
You should immediately neuter any dog that has HD. The only known means of eliminating this disease lie in well-managed breeding programs, so do your part by eliminating the possibility of your dog contributing to the overall problem.
Discuss with your vet appropriate strategies for dealing with HD. In most cases, the general advice is to keep the dog from doing any kind of jumping or causing other sudden stress to the joints. However, as solid muscle buildup around the joint helps to ease the pressure on the joint, regular exercise is generally recommended, with swimming topping the list as gaining the most benefit with the least stress to the joints.
In many cases, simple restriction of exercise and perhaps aspirin as directed by the vet is all that the dog needs to remain comfortable. However, there are several options for the more severely affected dogs:
Non-traditional treatments (not validated by controlled trials):
- acupuncture
- chiropractic
- vitamin therapy (generally Vitamins C & E & selenium)
- superoxide dismutase
Medical therapy (aimed at reducing pain/inflammation from arthritic changes):
- aspirin
- bute
- adequan therapy
"Adequan is a polysulfated glycosaminoglycan which is used primarily for treatment of degenerative joint disease in horses. In fact, it is not actually approved in the U.S. for dogs. However, I have seen remarkable results in many of my older patients with chronic DJD. In theory, it stimulates increased production of joint fluid and the joint moves more freely and with less pain. It does not always work, but when it does, it is usually dramatic." -Ralph M. Askren, DVM
- Gycoflex, Cosequin (a synthetic glycosaminoglycans supplement) glucosamin -- similar effects to Adequan
- Rimadyl -- a new non-steriod anti-inflammatory drug, can help considerably in some cases without the typical side effects of traditional steroidal drugs.
- EtoGesic is approved for osteoarthritis (1998) in dogs. It is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and appears to avoid the liver problems sometimes associated with Rimadyl.
Surgical intervention
- Triple Pelvic Osteotomy (TPO)
TPO is a surgical procedure to rotate the acetabular portion of the pelvis so that there is increased coverage of the femoral head. Increasing coverage promotes improved articulation and, in the ideal situation, joint degeneration is halted. However, if degeneration is already present within the hip, cartilage breakdown is likely to continue, even with improved articulation. This is why checking your dog at 6-8 months regardless of symptoms is often recommended. The best candidate for TPO is a young dog (6-8 mths) with moderate laxity that has no damage to the dorsal acetabular rim or early evidence of degeneration of radiographs. Currently, the cost of Triple Pelvic Osteotomy, including examination, radiographs and hospitalization, is approximately $1,200.
- Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO)
Sometimes the head of the femur can be simply removed and the muscles around the site compensate for the missing joints The dog is pain free afterwards and learns to walk again, but running and jumping are not done normally again. Most commonly, smaller dogs are the best candidates for this surgery. Obese or very large dogs will still experience some pain, as the muscles cannot totally compensate.
- Uncemented hip prosthesis (subcategory of hip replacement surgery)
Dr. David J. DeYoung of NCSU, professor of orthopedic surgery in the College of Veterinary Medicine, helped develop the prosthesis based on a human version that is held in place without cement. The prosthesis features a beaded surface into which bone and fibrous tissue can grow and secure the components. More than 100 of the new prostheses have been implanted in dogs over a five-year period without loosening or infection, two of the main concerns with cemented total hip replacements
- BOP shelf arthroplasty
This is a relatively experimental method, whose effectiveness is debated. Polymer "lattices" are implanted in the affected joint. The premise is that new bone will gro owver the lattice, correcting the degeneration and/or deformation of the joint. than it is experimental)
- Total Hip Replacement (THR)
This traditional surgery involves replacing the femoral head or ball portion of the joing with a metal prosthesis. The acetabulum is replaced with a polyethylene socket. The procedure thus removes the source of pain and inflammation as the bone is no longer in contact with the degenerated joint.
- When the dog's pain cannot be controlled nor alleviated
Euthanasia
There is no known method of preventing hip dysplasia except for a thoughtful and carefully executed breeding program with regular radiographic analysis of all stock before breeding. It is possible to reduce symptoms entirely to the point where the dog will radiograph much less severely.
A SUMMER READING LIST FOR THE GERMAN SHEPHERD OWNER – http://www.workingdogs.com/index.php
- THE ILLUSTRATED STANDARD OF THE GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG
Artist/Illustrator/Author Linda Shaw has provided us with this comprehensive article on the structure of the German Shepherd Dog. It is one of the most detailed articles we have added to the WorkingDogs library.- Ulf Kintzel's excellent article on breeding for the "Golden Middle" with Herding Dogs. Very informative with good explanations why particular traits are desired.
Herding Dogs And The Golden Middle- German Shepherd dog breeder Janice L. Bartmess reviews the history of DDR (East German) lines before the fall of the Berlin Wall, noting the effectiveness of the Sektion Dienst und Gebrauchhundewesen, the old SDG registry. and the economic and political pressures that generated the divergence of the characteristic DDR lines from the remainder of the GSD genetic pool in Europe; and how that contributed to the importance of these bloodlines for the viability of the breed today.
- Working Dogs Book Store has just stocked the newest in the "German Shepherd Dog the German Way" video series, Handling: II. This beautifully produced 60-minute video features advanced training, conditioning, and handling of the German Shepherd Dog.
- The Total German Shepherd Dog list community has compiled an excellent online brochure to help you make an informed decision when purchasing a German Shepherd Dog or puppy. The German Shepherd Dog Shopper's Guide is the educational resource for anyone considering a new dog or puppy.
- Jean Mueller addresses some of the effects of over-angulation on overall balance and structure of the American German Shepherd Dog. Comparisons of today's American GSD with the original breed standard, and with German representatives of that standard, illustrate her thoughts on the Balance in the German Shepherd Show Dog.
- The USA Breed Survey Books are published each year and are a valuable addition to every German Shepherd Dog breeder committed to selecting the optimal breeding partner for their bitch or dog. Learn about what to expect at a Breed Survey and how the koerbuch details the survey results.
- German Translations of many words commonly found in German pedigrees, kör reports, and other documentation about German breeds is offered by Teri Rosgaard's East German Shepherd Dog web site.
- Results for the national conformation show in Germany for the German Shepherd Dog are published on the SV web site.
- Teri Rosgaard's East German Shepherd Dog web site details the numerical ratings and their values of the Wertmessziffer system used in the former East Germany (DDR) to rate Schutzhund and working dogs. Many longtime breeders bemoan the loss of this effective and efficient method for evaluating and understanding the conformation and temperament of the working German Shepherd dog.
- SV Conformation Judge Fred Lanting translates the BREED VALUE (ZUCHTWERT) PROCEDURE FOR HIP DYSPLASIA as published in the July 1998 SV HD News. This translation provides a helpful review of the Zuchtwert program and explains the procedures required of SV-certified hip dysplasia radiologists and veterinarians in Germany.
- Fred Lanting evokes Kipling-esque prose in his parable about the evolution of the German Shepherd Dog in America, a humorous tale intertwining fanciful whimsy with some realities of the fancy.
- A Princess in Manhattan. Successful rescues are a relief to accomplish and a joy to read about. GSD Rescue volunteer Anka Andrews shares the details of the recent rescue of Hattie.
- German Shepherd Rescue Success! - German Shepherd Rescue of New England contributes adoption success stories.
- German Shepherd breeder Dori Painter helps the first-time puppy buyer INTERPRET THE ADS and knowledgeably read between the lines to find the right breeder and a quality puppy.
- British breed geneticist Malcolm B. Willis is author of several breed and genetics classics, including The German Shepherd Dog: A Genetic History and Genetics of the Dog. In his article, So You Want to Buy a German Shepherd Dog?, Dr. Willis provides indispensable advice to the potential GSD puppy buyer. Drawing on his own kennel policies and procedures in England, he details the fundamental obligations that should be expected of responsible breeders anywhere.
- GSD enthusiast Dori Painter shares the important things you should know and evaluate when selecting a puppy in her FAQs About Selecting a Working Puppy.
DIGNITY…A BRIEF STORY ABOUT A RESCUED GERMAN SHEPHERD
The following story is from Ann, a woman in Indiana who is involved in animal rescue that was sent to Mary Bjelica via e-mail:
Today I pulled a GSD from a kill shelter on his last day (-- as a forever home). I pulled him at 5pm, he had until 6pm. I feel humbled by this German Shepherd (as yet unnamed). He's an oldie -- he was listed at 5 years but I think he's more like 8 or 9, and have done all along. Anyway, he's a beautiful beast -- 80 lbs out of the shelter, tall, paws like a bear. He hasn't been looked after and his coat is matted to the skin, and I doubt he's ever been washed. He has terrible diarrhea, the dirtiest ears, and small lesions on his eyes that are caused by injury such as chemical splatter burns, or foreign objects contacting the eye.
He had a little diarrhea in the vet's office and started trying to lick it off the floor, then got scared when we stopped him, and panicked momentarily until I gently led him outside. It's not fixation as he only did it when he soiled indoors. I guess he has learned over the years that consuming your own waste is preferable to whatever punishment comes from leaving it. In the truck on the way home he had an accident in the back -- I was on the interstate and couldn't immediately stop. I watched him in the rear view mirror; as he pinned himself against the side of the truck and tried his best to not get in it I spoke to him softly, telling him it was ok because he wasn't well. But he wouldn't look at me -- he hadn't since we left the shelter. It was as though I was invisible to him.
We stopped at a CVS and I ran in and got baby wipes, liquid hand sani, two beach towels, and Gatorade. I opened up the back, gave him some Gatorade/water, let him out, and we went for a walk on the grass. On our return I had him stay while I cleared out the dirty towels and replaced them with new, clean towels. He jumped back in and I gently wiped his feet clean with the baby wipes while singing to him to calm his nerves. When I was done I scratched him on the head, and as I did he leaned down to my free hand and gently licked it a few times, then raised his head to look right in my eyes. For the rest of the ride home he sat peacefully and watched the landscape pass by, but I monitored him still in the mirror, and found he spent a good part of the time just looking at me. Our greatest possession, man or beast, is our dignity, and when you restore that dignity to one who has lost it, you give the greatest of gifts. Today I was allowed to give that gift, and I'm humbled by the experience.
AGAIN, MANY THANKS TO MARY BJELICA ON ASSISTING ME WITH THE SENTINEL WHILE MY WRIST CONTINUES TO HEAL.
HOPE TO SEE ALL OF YOU, WITH THE DOGS AT THE MEETING ON WEDNESDAY.
PAT
