There are several opportunities to serve your club at this time. The nominating committee is currently seeking those of you who would like to serve on the 2021 board. Serving on the board is an important way to participate and contribute to the club. There are 2 other important needs for participation.....we need a Program Chair and a Sunshine Committee Chair. Please give serious consideration to all of these opportunities to participate.

No Board Meeting in February

The regular Meeting (zoom) will be Wednesday, Feb 10 at 7:30 pm. Send agenda items to Linda prior to the meeting.

Our next Specialty shows will be held at the same location on August 28 and 29, 2021 in conjunction with the Cherokee Rose cluster shows at the Atlanta Expo Center South.

Our judges will be Cesar Cortes (Londoncor UK) and Marilyn Mayfield (Mayfield US).

Our Sweeps judge for Puppy and Veterans will be Pat Mixon (Tudorose US).

Marilyn Mayfield will also be judging Junior Showmanship and Beginner Puppy competition on Sunday.

Make plans to join us in August 2021!

Our host hotel will once again be the Drury Inn and the booking line for special rates can be found on our website: www.ckcscatlanta.org.

On Saturday evening the club will have a social at the host hotel with beverages, roast pork & beef, buns, ice, plates, utensils, etc. We ask members to bring a side to share! Come and just relax after the show and enjoy a bite to eat and socialize with friends we have not seen in a long time due to the pandemic. Be sure to bring your mask!

In lieu of a ringside silent auction, which would not be feasible with COVID 19 guidelines, we will have a Chinese auction where tickets may be purchased to place in bags next to 6 to 7 prewrapped baskets. We will draw the winning tickets on Saturday after the Specialty. Thank you to the following members for committing to put together and donate the following baskets:

Almeara Cavaliers – White wine basket

Dr. Barbara Magera – Red wine basket

Monticello Cavaliers – A “Fried Green Tomatoes” themed basket

Mark Fitchpatrick – Homemade Dessert basket

Finnickyskye Cavaliers – Beer and “man snacks” basket

Brookhaven Cavaliers – TBA

Susan Kent – Apple House basket

Also, Hannah Dingman has donated a handmade spaniel water bowl and matching food bowl set.

If you would like to donate a basket – please let Linda Whitmire know

We also need help during the Specialty! Help will be needed selling raffle tickets, selling catalogs, keeping watch over the basket table, and helping at the Saturday evening social with set up and clean up!

EAR INFECTIONS

Ear infections (also called otitis externa) are one of the most common health issues in dogs today. And they’re one of the most frustrating to deal with because they tend to come back, again and again.

This may have a lot to do with how they’re treated … antibiotics can help, but they set your dog up for short term success only. In the long run, they’ll just cause more imbalance that will cause more ear infections in the future. So let’s look at how to get to the bottom of those dirty ears … and 5 natural remedies for dog ear infections.

What Do Dog Ear Infections Look Like?

The symptoms are pretty obvious and may start with your dog shaking or tilting his head. If you look inside the ear, you might see:

• A brown or reddish discharge
• Odor in the ear (it often smells sweet)
• Redness
• Swelling
• Crusts or scabs on the inside of the ear

And you might see your dog:

• Rubbing his ear on your furniture
• Scratching around his ear
• Shaking or tilting his head

If your dog has unusual eye movements, is walking in circles or having trouble with his balance, it might be time to have him checked by the vet for a deeper infection. But most infections are in the outer ear only and can be treated at home.

The Causes Of Dog Ear Infections

There are several causes of ear infections including:

• Bacteria
• Yeast
• Allergies
• Hormone imbalances

You might have heard that ear infections can be caused by long, floppy ears, swimming, moisture, dirt or hair in the ear canal. But there are many dogs with floppy ears that swim every day that don’t get ear infections – it might increase the risk, but ear infections are rarely just ear infections … they’re often a sign of a much deeper problem.

Bacterial Infections

Bacteria is the most common cause of ear infections. Your dog has friendly or beneficial bacteria in his ears that keep pathogenic or harmful bacteria in check … but this delicate balance can sometimes be upset. When this happens, your dog is at risk because:

Bacteria from contaminated pond water can enter his ear and start to colonize because there aren’t enough beneficial bacteria to crowd them out and compete for nutrients.

Bacteria that normally reside in your dog’s ear such as Staphylococcus can overgrow if the dog has a stressed immune system. This is definitely a consideration if the infections are recurring.

Dog Yeast Or Fungal Infections

Fungi are also normal inhabitants in your dog’s ear. They live together in harmony with bacteria in little colonies called the microbiome. Like bacteria, yeast can grow out of control if your dog’s immune system is functioning well or if he has leaky gut.

More often than not, ear infections are the result of an immune dysfunction, such as allergies, hormone imbalances or hypothyroidism. One infection isn’t a cause for concern. Just use the natural remedies below to clean it and restore the balance in the microbiome. But if your dog suffers from repeated ear infections, you need to focus on his immune health or the infections will come back. Let’s look at the natural solutions for rebalancing the ear, then we’ll talk about how you can deal with repeated infections.

Top 5 Natural Remedies For Dog Ear Infections

These are 5 natural remedies, all tried and tested! The ingredients are inexpensive and easy to get … and best of all, they work!

Apple Cider Vinegar

The acetic acid in vinegar can help remove dirt and debris from ears. But more importantly, it can kill both yeast and bacteria. But if your dog has red, sore ears, don’t use vinegar … it will be very painful for him. Use one of the other remedies instead.

Take your apple cider vinegar and put it in a glass with equal parts distilled water. You can either put it in a syringe (you can pick one up at your local pharmacy) and squirt a little in your dog’s ear, or you can soak a cotton ball in the vinegar/water solution and gently clean your dog’s ear flap with the cotton ball.

Note: Never use Q-tips in your dog’s ears! They can push dirt and bacteria further down into the ear or they can even rupture the eardrum.

Mullein

Mullein is a plant that has antibacterial properties and it works great for bacterial ear infections. It might seem daunting to buy your own herbs and make your own recipes, but it’s quite easy. You can order good quality dried mullein at your local health store.

Here’s an easy to make recipe from veterinary herbalist, Dr Randy Kidd:

1. Pack mullein leaves and/or flowers in a glass jar and cover with olive oil. For increased antibiotic effectiveness, you can add a clove or two of antibacterial garlic (freshly chopped) per pint of oil.
2. Let the mixture sit for two to three weeks.
3. Strain and apply several drops of the warmed oil into the ear canal with a dropper or soak it on a cotton ball and apply to your dog’s ear.
4. 
   

Oregano Oil

Oil of oregano is another effective natural antibiotic. It should never be used undiluted on your dog or it will cause irritation! Here’s one recipe from veterinary homeopath, Dr Michael Dym:

Add one drop or oregano oil to ½ oz of pure aloe vera juice (you can get both at your health food store). Drop a small amount of the mixture into your dog’s ear or soak it in a cotton ball and swab the ear flap with it.

Calendula

Calendula has amazing healing abilities and it’s one of the best herbs for treating local skin and external ear problems. It can be used either internally or externally, and it’s a potent antifungal herb and it also offers pain relief.

Like mullein, you can buy an already made infused oil. But here’s a recipe you can try at home:

1. Pack calendula flowers in a glass jar and cover with olive oil. Add a clove or two of freshly chopped garlic.
2. Make sure the leaves are fully covered with the oil and let the mixture sit for three to four days.
3. Strain and apply several drops of the warmed oil into the ear canal with a dropper or soak it on a cotton ball and apply to your dog’s ear.

Keep for up to 6 months. You can also buy a ready-made infusion.

(Calendula is great for helping with ear infections, wounds, immune support and more.)

Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil is both antibacterial and anti fungal. And a study in “Dermatitis” in 2008 proved it to be an effective anti fungal.

Here’s an easy recipe using coconut oil:

1. Place 2 tablespoons coconut oil in a saucepan on low heat with two fresh garlic cloves for extra antibacterial power.
2. Simmer until the oil is liquid then let it cool slightly (you don’t want the oil to be too warm for your dog’s ears).
3. Use a dropper and place two to three drops in the affected ear. You can also dip a cotton ball in the mixture and use it to clean your dog’s ear.

You’ll want to apply any of these solutions to your dog’s ear two to three times a day, for 5 to 7 days. Once the infection is gone, you can keep some on hand and give the ears a cleaning once a week to help prevent future infections. But if your dog repeatedly gets ear infections, you’ll want to move on to the last step …

Chronic Dog Ear Infections

If your dog repeatedly suffers from ear infections, this is probably an immune system issue.

The first problem you’ll want to rule out is leaky gut. Most dogs have some form of leaky gut and this can cause bacteria to grow out of control and it can cause allergy-like symptoms in the body like yeast. Here are the major causes of leaky gut and allergy symptoms like ear infections:

1. Poor Diet

Specifically highly processed, grain-based foods containing wheat, rice, spelt, and soy, food additives and preservatives; the lectin found in unsprouted grains; sugar, genetically modified foods (GMOs), and pasteurized dairy products.

2. Drugs And Other Toxins

This includes the unnecessary use of steroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), deworming drugs, flea and tick treatments (many contain pesticides), and antibiotics (leading to an imbalance of healthy gut bacteria, also known as dysbiosis).

3. Over-vaccination

Vaccination wreaks havoc on the immune system and can cause a number of autoimmune diseases like allergies.

Chronic stress or boredom can also influence gut health. Stress negatively affects the immune and digestive systems.

If your dog suffers from chronic ear infections, it’s time to improve his diet. Of course, switching to a raw diet will solve the issue of too much carbohydrate in the diet and will help heal the leaky gut.

Avoid drugs and chemicals whenever possible, including vaccines. The skin is the largest organ in the body, and ear infections are often a sign that something isn’t right in the body. Treating ear infections with antibiotics and steroids will only worsen the bacterial imbalance and the problem might move from the ears to the gut … creating immune dysfunction.

So the next time your dog has an ear infection, try these herbal solutions and put an end to the unhealthy cycle of drugs and suppression. Natural treatments are always best and they will never harm your dog’s immune system.

Sharon and Jim Utych brag.....

GCHS CH Brookhaven The Dream Lives On (Edgar) was awarded the 2nd Award of Excellence under judge Doug Johnson at the AKC National held in Orlando Florida on Saturday December 12, 2020.

GCH CH Legendcrest Finnickyskye Dream Catcher was awarded BOBOH at the Mid Florida Cavalier specialty held in Orlando on Friday, December 11, 2020. Catcher was also the Number 3 owner handled cavalier in the 2020 AKC NOHS Series.

The newsletter is only as good as the information shared with the editor. Please be generous with the sharing of your brags and any additional information you would like to see in the newsletter. That information can be sent to me at Fitchpatrick@Earthlink.net.