As we approach the Dog Days of Summer, remember to be judicious about training your bird dogs during the intense heat of the day. Exercise and muscular activity can rapidly drive our bird dog’s body temperature to a life threatening level. Heat stroke can develop and lead to the death of your athletic partner. 

What is heat stroke? Heat stroke is a form of hyperthermia (extremely elevated body temp) that occurs when a dog’s heat-dissipating mechanisms of their body cannot accommodate extreme temperatures. The mechanisms to dissipate heat include panting and sweating; heat is removed from the body by the evaporation of sweat and dilation of blood vessels. Dogs do not sweat the way horses or people do, so they rely mainly on panting and dilation of the peripheral blood vessels to remove excess heat. Body temperatures in the dog that exceed 106° F without evidence of an infection suggest hyperthermia (a normal dog temperature can vary from 100 to 102.6° F, and a fever is when their temperature is greater than 103° F). The critical temperature for our bird dogs when they are hyperthermic is 109° F—as this is the temperature that is associated with heat stroke and organ failure!

When a dog reaches the 109° F core body temperature, thermal cellular damage begins. Excessive heat causes cellular death leading to multiple organ (liver, brain, kidney, gastrointestinal, muscles) failure and ultimately death may result.

Signs to look for while in the field include excessive panting, high rectal body temperature, excessive salivation, brick-red gums, higher than normal heart rates (it’s a good idea to know what your bird dog’s normal body temp and heart rate is), difficulty breathing, bloody diarrhea or bloody vomit, dizziness, disorientation, muscle tremors or weakness, changes in behavior—just to list a few.

Factors that can influence the severity of heat stroke include age, obesity, long hair coat, poor acclimation, poor conditioning, underlying heart or lung disease, dehydration, and most importantly, a previous history of heat stroke or other heat-related disease such as heat exhaustion. Dogs that have had a previous heat-related injury are much more prone to having a second episode because their heat regulatory center in the brain is most likely already damaged.

What can you do to immediately begin treatment in the field while on your way to the nearest hospital? Spray your dog with water or immerse their entire body prior to traveling to the nearest hospital. Use a cooling fan if at all possible or place them in a well ventilated area to aid in evaporation. You can soak the dog’s feet and groin/armpit area with rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol to aid in convection or removal of heat. Monitor the dog’s temperature constantly; once they return to 103° F, stop all cooling procedures because they can become hypothermic very suddenly. DO NOT use ice on the dogs because it causes the blood vessels to constrict which will impede heat removal. Be very careful in giving them both food and water once they are in heat stroke as it may cause severe gastrointestinal distress. Move your dog promptly to the nearest hospital for further treatments—which may include IV fluids and other emergency protocols deemed necessary by your veterinarian. Blood work can assist your veterinarian in assessing the degree of organ distress or damage such as the liver, kidneys, and pancreas. 

Some things that I do with my own dogs are to condition them early in the morning when the sun is not directly over head. I offer them cool water before and after exercise. I work them in an area with lots of available ground water for dunking and drinking. Make sure you force regular breaks or periods of rest on your dogs! Make them rest and rehydrate them often! When you are finished training, place your bird dogs in an air conditioned car with you. Finally, condition, condition, and condition them! Heat stroke is a condition that can be avoided by using an ounce of prevention! 

What it is:  Canine Influenza Virus (CIV) is a very contagious virus in the Influenza A family that is closely related to the Equine Influenza A strain. It has been proposed that the equine virus adapted or evolved and emerged as a new canine-specific variety. The H and N nomenclature is important because these are the glycoproteins in the outer layer of the virus that the host (dog, human, horse, etc) cells produce antibodies against (natural infection with the virus &/or response to vaccinations).

     The very first reported or recognized outbreak with the canine version of the H3N8 virus was in January 2004 in racing greyhounds from a Florida racetrack. Subsequently, the virus has been confirmed and documented in 30 states. CIV is very prevalent in the states of Florida, Colorado, New York and Pennsylvania.

Transmission: CIV is extremely contagious from dog to dog and can be transmitted through aerosolized secretions from the dog’s respiratory tract, contaminated objects (i.e. food and water bowls, tack and kennel surfaces, etc), and from our own hands and clothing. The CIV has been shown to be able to infect dogs from contaminated surfaces and human clothing for up to 24 hours. CIV is extremely contagious to dogs because it is a new emerging virus and there is very little natural immunity in our (naive) canine population from vaccinations or natural infections.

     The incubation period is between 2 and 5 days from the time the dog is exposed to the CIV before they begin showing any clinical signs of influenza. It is very important to understand that dogs are the most contagious to other dogs during this incubation period before they’re even displaying any outward signs of disease. Infected dogs can shed or spread the virus for 7 to 10 days from the onset of clinical signs.
     Because our canine population is naïve to CIV, virtually all dogs exposed to the virus will become infected; however, only about 80% will develop clinical signs. This means that roughly 20% will become infected and not display any outward evidence that they have CIV. Clinical signs include productive coughing, high fevers of 104 to 106 degrees F (normal dog temp. is 101 to 102.8 F), severe green nasal discharge, and clinical signs of pneumonia. The cough in some dogs is very similar to kennel cough caused by the bacterial infection from Bordetella bronchiseptica, but the cough tends to persist for 10 to 21 days even when the dog is being treated with antibiotics. It’s very important to note here that CIV is highly contagious but has a very low mortality rate 1 to 5% (and it appears to this author that mortality is over represented in racing greyhounds).

Diagnosis: CIV is most reliably diagnosed today by detecting antibodies to the H3N8 glycoproteins. These can be detected in an infected dog’s blood as early as 7 days after the onset of clinical signs. Veterinarians typically look at blood samples for antibodies at the onset of clinical disease and a second sample a few weeks later to watch for a rise in the antibody titer to the CIV virus. A single sample only confirms exposure to the virus or vaccination for that virus. Serological testing is currently being performed at Cornell University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Nasal or pharyngeal swabs and tissues samples can also be submitted to labs to aid in the diagnosis by PCR (detects viral RNA) testing and viral culture, which is less effective than the antibody serology.

Treatment: Is limited to supportive care as with most viral infections. Supportive care includes good nutrition, good housing conditions, antibiotics to prevent secondary bacterial infections, and maintaining good hydration (possibly via IV fluids). 

Prevention: In kennels, boarding facilities and shelters the virus is easily killed with the commonly used disinfectants such as bleach and benzalkonium chloride solutions. Good hygienic protocols should be established by thoroughly cleaning all surfaces, bowls, and cages between usages. Remember that the virus can remain viable for 24 hours on clothing and surfaces. Wash hands, change your clothing, and disinfect all surfaces if there is any chance you have come in contact with an infected dog. Isolate sick or exposed dogs from others for a minimum of 14 days.

Vaccination: In May of 2009, the USDA approved a conditional license to Intervet/Schering Plough Animal Health Corporation for their H3N8 Canine Influenza Vaccine. The vaccine contains inactivated wholes portions of CIV subtype H3N8. The Canine Influenza Vaccine is consider a “life style” vaccine and is not recommended for every dog. Many states do not include it as one of their “Core” recommended vaccinations. The vaccine is intended as an aid in the control of the disease associated with CIV infections. Like many vaccinations, it may not prevent the CIV infection altogether but may significantly reduce the clinic signs of the disease, reduce shedding of the virus, and decrease the duration of the disease. Researchers also found that the incidence and severity of the lung disease was significantly reduced when dogs were vaccinated.
    Dogs can be vaccinated (subcutaneously) as early as 6 weeks of age and need a booster in 2 to 4 weeks after the initial vaccine and then can be given annually as determined by you and your veterinarian. Due to the conditional licensing status with the USDA, the manufacturer of the H3N8 Influenza vaccine must continue to submit data obtained to support the products performance, safety, and efficacy.
     We, as sporting dog owners, should always consult with our veterinarian to see if any vaccination is appropriate for our bird dog’s lifestyle. It’s very important to understand a few things about vaccines. First of all, there is no guarantee that being vaccinated with any vaccine will insure immunity towards that disease…H3N8 included. Furthermore, vaccinations for our bird dogs do not have to be FDA approved but rather USDA approved which does not have the stringent rules (FDA’s) applied to getting them to the pet industry. Manufacturers have to demonstrate that the vaccine they are marketing must be first and foremost safe for the animal and secondly they have to provide some evidence that the vaccine is effective towards that disease.

A brisk northwesterly wind swept across the yucca and cholla-choked plains of Southeastern Colorado as my hunting partner’s cherished pointer searched for aromatic affirmation that there were birds in the neighboring environs. The pointer gracefully hurdled and bounded over the greasewood and sand-sage common in Colorado scaled quail country in search of any evidence of birds. Suddenly, a jackrabbit shot up and loped across the plains sending the pointer on a dead run after the impish creature. Frantically, my friend cussed and bawled for his pointer to “Whoa Dimmitt Whoa!” Shamefully, the pointer broke chase and returned to us 3-legged lame on the right pelvic limb.

The above paragraph is a very common scenario of how athletic dogs rupture or damage their cranial cruciate ligament (This is a common injury in people and is referred to as a torn or ruptured ACL). ACL rupture is a relatively common injury in athletic dogs and is the most common cause of degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis in the stifle (knee joint). The role or function of the cranial cruciate ligament in the stifle joint is to limit internal rotation and forward or cranial displacement of the tibia in relationship to the lower femur bone. The ligament also plays a role in preventing the stifle from hyperextension during strenuous exercise.   

Injury to the ACL occurs when excessive internal rotation and hyperextension are added to forces greater than the ligament’s inherent strength, ultimately leading to damage of the fibers of the ligament. Diagnosis of the injury is made based on history of the injury, clinical signs associated with the dog, and radiographs of the stifle joint. 

Most dogs with an ACL strain or tear will be non-weight bearing for the first couple of weeks due to the amount of swelling and intense pain associated with the injury. The most common clinical sign veterinarians look for is the failure of the dog to sit normally. They fail the sit test when they swing the affected leg away from the body as the patient tries to move into the sit position. Radiographs of the stifle are also an effective tool to aid in the diagnosis because they help highlight the swelling in the joint that is commonly associated with a strain or tear of the ACL. Finally, palpation of the joint for pain and swelling and a forward motion of the femur relative to the tibia or Drawer’s Motion can aid in the proper non-invasive diagnosis of an ACL rupture. Partial or incomplete ruptures can be diagnosed by arthroscopic examination of the joint prior to surgical repair on dogs where ACL damage is strongly suspected.

There are numerous other environmental and genetic factors that can lead to damage of the ACL in dogs that generally do not apply to our well-conditioned and athletic bird dogs, so I will not address them in much detail.  These conditions can include such things as inadequate conditioning, obesity, hypothyroidism, and poor conformation, luxating or slipping kneecaps and chronic inflammation or arthritis in the stifle joint.

Once your dog has been properly diagnosed with pathology of the ACL, treatment options should be considered and initiated to get your bird dog back to top hunting performance. The goal of treatment should be to return your bird dog to the level of performance it was at prior to injury. The sooner surgical repair and stabilization are initiated, the better the outcome that can be expected. If left untreated, the unstable joint leads to damage of the articular cartilage and eventually osteoarthritis that can be performance limiting or stopping.

The two most common surgical techniques offered for ACL repair are Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) and the new Tightrope CCL Technique. I will briefly describe both procedures in the following paragraphs.

The tibial plateau (the top of the tibia which is the bottom bone beneath the femur—both bones articulate to form the stifle joint) of the canine stifle is sloped and when the ACL is torn the femur slides down the tibia.  Some people have used the analogy of a car on a hillside tied to a rope. When the rope breaks, the car starts to roll down hill. However, when the car is placed on a level surface, it stays in the same spot and does not need to be tied in place. This is the simplified concept of the TPLO surgery.

Rupture of the ACL, and the sloping of the canine tibial plateau create what is termed as tibial thrust along with the forces exerted by the muscles of the calf and quadriceps. This tibial thrust creates excessive wear and tear on the joint causing damage to the cartilage and swelling which ultimately causes severe pain. A TPLO essentially levels the playing field and eliminates the tibial thrust, thus creating a dynamically stable and pain free gait.

TPLO surgery involves arthroscopic examination of the stifle joint to clean up the damaged ends of the ligament and to inspect the medial and lateral meniscus to see if they were damaged as well. Then the tibial plateau of the tibia is cut and the plateau is rotated to level the slope to about 2 to 14 degrees. The tibia is then secured back into place with a surgical plate and multiple screws.

The healing process after TPLO surgery requires 8 to 12 weeks of serious commitment. In my experience, patients are usually touching their toes on the ground a few days post-op. Patients need to be confined to leash walking and cage rest for a minimum of 8 weeks. Follow-up radiographs are recommended at 6 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks to insure that the bone is healing properly without any complication of infection or broken hardware. At 8 weeks, patients are allowed to go on longer leash walks and after about 4 months post-op, most exercise restrictions have been lifted. Patients can usually be hunting or performing by 6 months post-op.

With TPLO surgery, it is estimated that 90% of the patients will return to the level of performance they were pre-injury while about 10% develop osteoarthritis that may limit or even stop their athletic ability. Many surgeons recommend that the patient be radiographed annually to determine the amount of degeneration in the joint. All bird dogs that have suffered an ACL injury that required surgery should be on glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate, omega-3 Fatty Acids (fish oils), niacinamide or Vitamin B-6, and joint supportive diets (Please see other Strideaway articles on Canine Osteoarthritis).

Radiograph showing severe swelling or joint effusion due to rupture of the ACL.

Radiograph of the same dog after TPLO surgery.  Note the cut in the tibial plateau and the plate/screws.

Dr. James Cook, a veterinarian from the University of Missouri, recently developed the Tightrope CCL Technique to address some of the shortcomings of other ACL repair techniques including the aforementioned TPLO surgery. Dr. Cook fashioned this technique on a procedure used in humans with ankle surgery because human ankle injuries are very similar to canine ACL disease. The Tightrope  (TR) procedure was developed to stabilize the stifle without the invasive process of cutting the tibial plateau as takes place with the TPLO surgery.

The TR technique also includes arthroscopic visualization of the structures within the stifle to remove the damaged ligament and inspect the medial and lateral meniscus. Then small tunneling holes are drilled through the femur and tibia bones so that the TR (which is made of Kevlar) can be passed through and anchored to stabilize the stifle joint.

Tightrope Procedure/Technique showing anchor points (drawing courtesy of James L. Cook, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVS, Director, Comparative Orthopaedic Laboratory, University of Missouri)

Opening of the stifle joint to clean out the torn ligament and remove the damaged medial meniscus prior to Tightrope Procedure.

Drilled holes in the tibia and femur for the Tightrope to be placed.

Tightrope being placed.

There is still a required 10 to 12 week recovery period to insure that there is adequate healing time with this surgical procedure. One of the most common complications that I have heard from surgeons in the Denver area is infection associated with the Tightrope. TR surgical technique appears to have similar return to function rates as the TPLO surgery.

ACL damage is by far the most common orthopedic disease that we see as veterinarians. Dogs that rupture one ligament are very likely to rupture the other at some point in time. On a positive note, I see it more commonly with obese patients and that rarely includes our hunting and field trialing dogs. Traumatic rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament accounts for only about 20% of all the ACL disease in the canine population. Having a basic knowledge of what occurs with ACL disease will help us as bird dog owners to get our 3-legged lame partners to the veterinarian sooner to aid in a healthier recovery. One final note, it’s never a bad idea to get more than one opinion before you commit to any surgical procedure for your hunting partner.

Shawn will be happy to answer questions. We will be adding a logo link to his site shortly. You can find Shawn at Bird Dog Doc’s Chronicles

Orthopedic Considerations

A study by Salmeri et al in 1991 found that bitches spayed at 7 weeks grew significantly taller than those spayed at 7 months, who were taller than those not spayed (or presumably spayed after the growth plates had closed). A study of 1444 Golden Retrievers performed in 1998 and 1999 also found bitches and dogs spayed and neutered at less than a year of age were significantly taller than those spayed or neutered at more than a year of age. The sex hormones, by communicating with a number of other growth-related hormones, promote the closure of the growth plates at puberty, so the bones of dogs or bitches neutered or spayed before puberty continue to grow. Dogs that have been spayed or neutered well before puberty can frequently be identified by their longer limbs, lighter bone structure, narrow chests and narrow skulls. This abnormal growth frequently results in significant alterations in body proportions and particularly the lengths (and therefore weights) of certain bones relative to others. For example, if the femur has achieved its genetically determined normal length at 8 months when a dog gets spayed or neutered, but the tibia, which normally stops growing at 12 to 14 months of age continues to grow, then an abnormal angle may develop at the stifle. In addition, with the extra growth, the lower leg below the stifle likely becomes heavier (because it is longer), and may cause increased stresses on the cranial cruciate ligament. In addition, sex hormones are critical for achieving peak bone density. These structural and physiological alterations may be the reason why at least one recent study showed that spayed and neutered dogs had a higher incidence of CCL rupture.

For the complete article, please visit Canine Sports Productions: http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html

Dr. Zink is the author of Peak Performance: Coaching the Canine Athlete

Since I was comparatively young, I have been fascinated by the feet of dogs, especially the pads, of course since the evening my Uncle Roy and Uncle Pat surprised me with the information that dogs “sweat” through their pads.

“Not like horses and cows and most mammals like people”, Pat said, “a dog cools himself only by his lips, tongue, mouth...and his pads...”

All through my hunting days, and in watching thousands of dogs in many thousands of hours in all weather conditions and on every footing imaginable, this nagged at my mind.

Over the years, I began to believe that the reason some trainer-handlers won more consistently was impacted by the way the dogs’ feet were cared for.

With so many dog foods, supplements and energy products on the market, there is a lot of confusion from dog owners about what foods and products they should be using in their hunting dogs. The scenario is further confused when you throw into the equation the fact that we do so many different activities with our dogs: the dog chasing western prairie birds will have different needs than a dog hunting timber mallards down south, the grouse dog of the northeast or the pheasant hunting dogs of the Midwest. The truth of the matter is that there isn’t one formula that works for all dogs. Instead it is important to be able to understand your dog’s needs, what is available for your dog and how the products may work in your situation.

For the purpose of discussing sporting dogs, there are three major categories of nutrition to evaluate: overall nutrition or the food you feed every day, in-the-field supplements and replenishment products. Each category needs to be examined individually and in the context of what you will be asking from your dog.

By far and away the most important category is the overall nutrition you give your dog every day. If you are feeding a low-quality food, the other two categories are not going to matter at all. Pet foods are a source of great confusion for veterinarians, people in the industry, and especially pet owners. Too often we fall victim to slick marketing techniques or strict labeling regulations. Many times two products will have similar ingredient labels, while the products in the bag couldn’t be further apart on the quality spectrum. Unfortunately you can’t just look at the bag and make this distinction. You will need to understand ingredients and the companies behind them when deciding what food to feed your hunting partner.

My very best quail dog suddenly became labored in her breathing not long after the close of a great upland bird season. After examining her and osculating her chest, I had determined that the appropriate course of action was to get a chest radiograph (x-ray) and a diagnostic lab work up. The radiograph demonstrated a classic pattern within the lung tissue of an infiltrative type disease such as cancer or mycotic (fungal which includes Blastomycosis, Histoplasmosis, and Coccidioidomycosis) disease. I had hunted her in the Southwestern desert on quail and was concerned about Valley Fever which is a fungal disease known as Coccidioidomycosis. Serological blood tests for all the mycotic diseases were negative.  She ended up having an incurable type of cancer of the endothelium of the blood vessels called Hemangiosarcoma. Jibber’s clinical signs and chest radiographs were very similar to those of a bird dog with Blastomycosis.

Blastomycosis is a systemic fungal (mycotic) infection caused by a soil borne organism called Blastomyces dermatitidis. The small mold (fungal) spores are inhaled from moist soil, and enter into the dog’s respiratory tract and drift their way to the terminal airways in the lungs. Once these spores reach body temperature in the host (dog, cat, human), they transform into a yeast which is the active or infectious form of the organism. When the organism has successfully converted into the yeast form within the lungs it causes a pyogranulomatous pneumonia. The yeast can then circulate via the blood stream throughout the body.

When six-time Champion Hard Driving Bev started missing birds, professional trainer Joe McCarl attributed the changes to an aging dog starting to loose her senses. “She became really unsure around birds,” McCarl recalled. “This was a dog that always just stuck her birds and now she either wasn’t finding birds or was really unsure of where they were when on point.” While McCarl wasn’t going to turn back the hands of time it was possible that Bev’s scenting loss was related to a very treatable condition…advanced dental disease.

Dog owners and handlers are a superstitious lot, and for all of the technology and advanced knowledge of canine health and behavior that we have been given over the years, a reliance on old wives tales and a mentality of “that’s how we’ve always done it” still exists.   For years trialers thought removing the tonsils on their favorite field trial dog would help increase scenting ability and performance in the field. When this procedure was looked at to determine how it worked, researchers discovered that at the time of the tonsillectomy most veterinarians were also cleaning the teeth. It was this teeth cleaning that was actually causing the increase in scenting ability not the removal of the tonsils. Yet even with the research out there to show dental care can impact scenting, many dog owners are reluctant to spend the money to have their dog’s teeth cleaned.

For a better understanding of how dental disease can impact scenting ability, it is important to take a look at canine anatomy and how closely associated the teeth and sinuses are in relation to each other. The following picture shows a side profile of a setter with important structures drawn on the photo. To qualify the drawing: I am neither an artist nor an anatomist, so bear with me. In the accompanying picture, I’ve outlined in white where this setter’s teeth and roots lie and in yellow where the sinus cavities are. For point of reference, the red line represents the gum line, and the blue area is the vomeronasal organ. It is easy to see that inflammation and infection of the teeth and surrounding tissues directly impacts the sinuses, the respiratory tissue and the scenting ability. With very severe dental disease, tracts can develop, forming an opening between the mouth and sinuses. Those foul-smelling, atrocious teeth are not just causing problems at the gum line–often the issues extend much deeper.

The tri-colored setter is poised at the breakaway of the first brace of Grand National Grouse Championship. The frosty morning foretells weather conditions perfect for the hour-long stake and the excitement is electrifying! With muscles taut, she awaits that first moment of freedom. Six months ago she was diagnosed at her veterinarian’s office with osteoarthritis affecting multiple joints, but over time, through proper conditioning and medical management, it is possible for her to give a strong ground performance and be pain free!

As was mentioned in Part 1 of Osteoarthritis in the Sporting Dog, osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive, wear-and-tear joint disease that involves the synovial (freely movable) joints within the canine body. Progressive implies that over time the condition is going to become worse with use and it can become more painful, leading to a decrease in the dog’s performance. There are management as well as medical treatments that can slow down the progression of the disease, and make our bird dogs more comfortable.

The lean white and lemon pointer soared across the Canadian prairie searching for that mesmerizing fragrance of chicken. Her gait was elegance-in-motion as she rolled across the wheat stubble with her massive muscles quivering and bulging…the shadows lengthening across the cold prairie and orange hues slowly fading to grays across the September horizon. As she rounds the corner on the last quarter section, I notice a very subtle change in her gait… “Danged burrs” was my very first thought! Or, is it possible that my 3 ½ year old, well conditioned, raw-boned, bird dog is developing osteoarthritis?

How is it possible that my pointer bitch is developing osteoarthritis at such a young age? Excellent question! Recent accounts in the literature suggest that approximately twenty percent of all dogs over the age of one already have some minor degeneration of their joints. Twenty percent of all dogs over the age of one…this makes osteoarthritis a significant sporting dog disorder. Having said that, what is canine osteoarthritis? Having a general knowledge of canine joint anatomy and the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis can be a benefit in the prevention and treatment of the disease in our canine partners.