Thursday 23 February 2012

Winnie's visit to the Cardiologist

Recently the subject of Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) has been a topic of coversation in the GWP community following a number of cases of confirmed and suspected DCM involving a small number of GWPs. The GWP Club recommends that anyone planning a litter or planning to use their dog at stud test for this condition using the Echo-Doppler technique. Whilst the test is not definitive it can give an early indication of abnormality. Today we took Winnie along to Sarah Smith who is a panel cardiologist based in Derbyshire. Winnie was such a good girl and slept on the table through most of the proceedure - I think the highligh of the visit for her was the treats that Sarah gave to her at the end. Sarah said that everything looked perfect and she was happy to give Winnie a clean bill of health. Obviously we are delighted that Winnie has tested clear of the condition, we would have been devastated at the thought of her suffering from this condition and if we have a litter from Winnie we want to make every effort to ensure that her puppies are fit and healthy and of sound temperament. The results that Sarah has recorded today will be sent along with a copy of her pedigree to Joanna Dukes McEwan BVMS, MVM, PhD, DVC, Dip.ECVIM-CA(Cardiology), MRCVS of the University of Liverpool Small Animal Hospital who is a leading authority on DCM and has kindly offered to undertake studies into this condition and how it is currently affecting our breed.

Saturday 18 February 2012

The Cost Of Raw Feeding

Okay, I am being boring now (no change there then) but have you worked out what it costs you to feed your dog per week? I did a quick sum tonight... My dogs are fed a raw diet and they are fed twice a day and Ollie and Flash are fed three times a day. They get a breakfast of raw meaty bones (predominantly chicken carcasses and occasionally breast of lamb or pork shoulder ribs or pigs tails or rabbit) and supper is mince - beef, tripe, lamb - with added offal twice a week (heart, liver, kidney, lungs), eggs twice a week, sardines twice a week and veggie/fruit slop at least twice a week. It costs me roughly £6 per week to feed my dogs this diet ... and of course a little effort since it doesn't just fall out of the bag :-))

Thursday 16 February 2012

Training with Nigel Dear

We are very fortunate that Nigel Dear of Llanforda Gundogs (www.llanfordahpr.co.uk) lives a short journey from us. We have trained with Nigel in the past and very much like his gentle but disciplined approach to training. Since Flash is now six months of age, we feel that Gary and Flash would now benefit from some structured one-to-one training with Nigel and as such, we have booked their first lesson together the aim being that Gary and Flash may appear at some working tests this summer and Gary can then begin working Flash on the shoot next season.

Sunday 12 February 2012

Nearly six months old

Well I don't know where the last six months have gone, since it seems like only yesterday that we were preparing for the arrival of our Tilly/Bruno babies and now here we are and the litter are nearly six months old. I took this picture of Flash this evening after a stint on the grooming table.

Thursday 9 February 2012

Dr Jean Dodds

Today my friend and I have booked two places to attend a talk to be given by Dr Jean Dodds DMV. Dr Dodds is an internationally renowned expert in clinical pathology, haematology, endocrinology, immunology and nutrition and is a leading expert in the testing and diagnosis of thyroid problems. She has also been a strong campaigner to change the vaccination protocol in the US and had been instrumental in achieving changes in revaccination schedules. The day consists of talks on Thyroid Disease, Vaccine Issues and Nutrition... all of these topics are right up my street and I can't wait to attend. In my humble opinion thyroid issues are far more prevelant in dogs in the UK than people realise resulting in a plethora of health and behavioural problems and often go undiagnosed since the tests many of our vets perform are simply not thorough enough. Dr Dodds is speaking at two different venues on two dates, details of which can be obtained by contacting the following - Al Matherne - al@care-uk.com for the talk on Saturday 9th June in Manchester or Christine Stansfield - c_stansfield@btinternet.com for the talk on Sunday 10th June at Roade Village Hall, Northamptonshire.