The Cavalier Chronicle
August 2016
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
It is hard to believe that summer is almost over. It won’t be long and these hot days with all the humidity and heat will be filled with nice crisp fall air. I have to say Spring and Fall are my favorite seasons, lots of dog shows and nice weather for the dogs to run outside.
Our October show will be here before you know it – if anyone has anything for the live or silent auction please email me at playerscav@aol.com. Items can be mailed to Paula Ayers, 3051 Little River Rd, Madison, GA 30650.
Even though it is cooling off please remember to be very careful with your dogs and not leave your dogs in a car. Even though it seems to be cooler it can become very hot in a car in minutes.
Mark is doing a great job with the newsletter. We have some exciting articles that he plans to share over the next few months. If anyone has anything they would like to share please email it to Mark at fitchpatrick@earthlink.net.
I hope everyone plans to attend our meetings, specialties, and special events! We need the help from all of our membership at the meetings and at our shows.
Stay safe and stay cool.
Paula Ayers
EDITOR'S MESSAGE
ALL HALLOWS SPECIALTY SHOW
ALL HALLOWS SPECIALTY TROPHY SPONSORSHIPS
Auction Items Needed for the All Hallows Specialty - Do you have an item that you would like to donate to either our All Hallows ringside silent auction or live auction? We are looking for donations! If you have a cavalier related item that you could donate or an item that you feel would be a great silent or live auction item, please contact Paula Ayers at: playerscav@aol.com We currently have a great Betty Turner trinket box, a framed cavalier print and a Wally Bed product lined up for our live auction. Please consider making a donation to the auction!
Exhibitor Bags Items Needed for the All Hallows Specialty - We will be providing exhibitor bags to every exhibitor at our upcoming All Hallows Specialty. The Utych’s have donated very cute vinyl Halloween themed “trick or treat” bags along with a beverage coozie and a dog toy. We are soliciting items or funds to purchase items for our bags. If you can donate 50 of the same items, please contact Sharon Utych at utych@earthlink.net . We are looking specifically for the following, however anything you can donate will be appreciated: Bottle of water, Crackers or snack – like peanut butter crackers, chips, popcorn, etc , Candy Bar, Dog treats or related item for the cavalier, Pens, pencils, note pad, Tissue packs
SAVE THE DATE
Holiday Luncheon & Member Recognition Awards
Sun, Dec 18 @ 1:00 PM
Home of Bart & Linda Whitmire, 2784 Bonds Lake Road NW 30012, Conyers, GA
Join us for our annual holiday luncheon. We will also have our annual White Cavalier gift exchange (voluntary participation).
Bring a wrapped unmarked gift of $25 value to participate.
Buffet style meal - club is providing the meat. Bring a side, appetizer or dessert to share
We will also present our annual Member of the Year award along with recognizing our 5, 10 and 20 year members.
Our All Hallows BACK 2 BACK Specialty Shows will be held on Friday, October 28!
One Day! TWO Specialty Shows!! Puppy Sweepstakes! Veteran Sweepstakes!
Indoors, climate controlled facility at Jim R. Miller Park, Marietta GA
In conjunction with the Kennesaw KC All Hallows Weekend All Breed Shows!
A chance for FOUR majors!
All the details are on our website!
SPECIALTY SHOW JUDGING
NATURAL REMEDIES
Dogs with normal ears that appear healthy and clean are proof that the ear environment is well maintained and under control by bacteria. However, if for some reason or another, the dog's system is disrupted, bacteria may no longer be able to protect the ears from invaders, therefore, yeast may take over the battle and begin to proliferate. This is when trouble begins.
But what is really yeast? What causes the yeast to proliferate in the first place? Why is bacteria no longer able to keep yeast under control?
WHAT IS YEAST?
Yeasts are single cell forms of fungi that resemble spores. They are naturally found on skin and in ears in small amounts.
CAUSES OF DOG EAR YEAST INFECTION;
1 - Antibiotics
One of the most common causes of yeast infections is a prescription for antibiotics. Antibiotics are well known to kill both good and bad bacteria in the gut, and this is why yogurt is often prescribed. However, antibiotics can also kill the good bacteria in the eas as well.
2 - Weakened immune system
Dogs that are stressed or weakened because of fighting against a disease, are more likely to develop yeast infections in their ears. A good way to prevent these annoying infections is therefore to ensure your dog is fed premium dog food, gets sufficient exercise, and lives stress free.
3 - Weakened ear environment
If your dog's ears are already bothering the dog because of allergies, the constant scratching and the higher production of oils, may open the way to yeast growth. So a dog may have ear problems such as a bacterial infection and an ear yeast infection on top of that because the skin in the ears has become vulnerable.
4 - Ideal environment
Yeast thrives in humid, dark and warm areas, therefore, your dog's ears make yeast a perfect place to live and settle causing those annoying ear yeast infections in dogs. This is mostly seen in floppy ear dogs and because of their conformation it is easy for the yeast to settle in and thrive. Dogs with erect ears therefore, may be less likely to get ear yeast problems because their ears are naturally more likely to be exposed to light and air.
DOG EAR YEAST INFECTION SYMPTOMS
A dog affected by a yeast infection in its ears is very likely prone to be quite miserable. Symptoms of ear yeast infection in dogs may be as follows:
Head Shaking
Pawing at Ears
Ear Scratching
Rubbing Ears
Swollen Ears with Ear Discharge
Foul Smell
DIAGNOSIS
Ideally, the dog should have a veterinarian check the ears so to exclude other ear problems. If he ears have a black coffee ground discharge there may be actually ear mites, which require a totally different treatment than yeast.
The best way to diagnose an ear yeast infection is by having the vet collect a sample and view it under the microscope. In some cases, a culture and sensitivity test is recommended.
NATURAL HOME REMEDIES
1 - Before using any home remedies the ear canal needs to the cleaned well. Medications or home remedies may not work in a dirty ear because they are unable to treat the surface of the skin directly.
2 - One of the best home remedies for yeast infection in the ears is white vinegar. White vinegar is able to return the ear's PH back to an acidic state that makes the ear inhospitable for the yeast. The vinegar should never be used in its pure form, rather it must be diluted. A 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water may be mixed well and poured into a spray bottle.
3 - After the ears are clean, the solution should be sprayed in the ears and dried out with a cotton ball twice a day. The ears should improve within 48 hours.
4 - Over the counter ear solution Zymox is an effective product that relieves bacterial and yeast ear infections without side effects. There are many success stories on this product. If this treatment does not work the dog may need stronger prescription ear drops from the veterinarian.
SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS
Floppy ear dogs should never be left with their ears wet. If you are planning to bathe a floppy ear dog follow what groomers do: put cotton balls inside the ears to prevent them from getting wet.
*Disclaimer: All remedies suggested are not to be used as a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If you pet is sick refer to your veterinarian for a hands on examination.
DOCTOR JUDY MORGAN
Chemicals Kill
by Judy Morgan | Jul 18, 2016 | Blog
I personally do not use any flea and tick prevention chemicals on my pets. I think there are enough toxins in this world that contribute to chronic disease in our pets, without intentionally adding to the problem. After reading about some of these chemicals, you may decide to avoid them, as well. For natural alternatives for flea and tick prevention, read here.
While controlled studies on the new class of chemical oral insecticides being prescribed for flea and tick infestation in dogs have shown an “acceptable” level of side effects, the actual number of anecdotal reports of adverse reactions and death have been staggering. Facebook pages like “Does Bravecto Kill Dogs?”, “Is Bravecto Safe?”, “Bravecto Side Effects Reported”, “BRAVECTO ZKUŠENOSTI”, ” IST BRAVECTO SICHER”, “IS BRAVECTO VEILIG”, and “Does Nexgard Kill Dogs?” bring attention to the number of animals that have had suspected reactions to the drugs. As of February 2016, there were over 5,000 reports of possible adverse reactions to Bravecto and over 2,000 Nexgard reports. I’m sure the numbers have grown since then. The drug manufacturers have made threatening overtones regarding the negative press on social media regarding their products, so any suspected side effects or reactions must be stated as just that – suspect. By making blanket statements like “This drug killed my dog”, the manufacturers have every right to be concerned and we can’t blame them for trying to stop slander without proof. I do urge anyone who uses ANY chemical on their pet to report ANY suspect reactions. The drug manufacturers do provide a list of possible side effects which include:
Toxic Symptoms, Side Effects, Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) caused by Fluralaner (Bravecto)
The most frequent ADRs to be expected are:
Vomiting (~7%), Decreased appetite (~6.7%), Diarrhea (~5%), Lethargy (~5.5%), Excessive thirst (polydipsia) (~2%), Excessive gas in stomach or intestine (flatulence) (~1%)
One adult treated dog suffered a seizure during the course of the study (46 days after the second treatment). Abnormal salivation was observed on 17 occasions: in six treated dogs (11 occasions) after dosing and four control dogs (6 occasions). The following abnormalities were noted in 7 pups from 2 of the 10 dams in only the treated group during gross necropsy examination: limb deformity (4 pups), enlarged heart (2 pups), enlarged spleen (3 pups), and cleft palate (2 pups).
Toxic Symptoms, Side Effects, Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) caused by Afoxolaner (Nexgard)
Vomiting (~4%), Dry skin (~3%), Diarrhea (~3%), Lethargy (~1.7%), Eating disorders (anorexia) (~1.2%)
Toxic Symptoms, Side Effects, Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) caused by Sarolaner
Vomiting (~5.5%), Diarrhea (~1.2%), Lethargy (~1.2%), Inappetence (~1.8%)
From the product insert:
Possible adverse reactions can include abnormal neurologic signs such as tremors, decreased conscious proprioception, ataxia, decreased or absent menace, seizures.
This particular mention on the insert is really alarming and makes me wonder if this could be happening in some of the cases of reported deaths:
“In a separate exploratory pharmacokinetic study, one female dog dosed at 12 mg/kg (3X the maximum recommended dose) exhibited lethargy, anorexia, and multiple neurological signs including ataxia, tremors, disorientation, hypersalivation, diminished proprioception, and absent menace, approximately 2 days after a third monthly dose. The dog was not treated, and was ultimately euthanized. The first two doses resulted in plasma concentrations that were consistent with those of the other dogs in the treatment group. Starting at 7 hours after the third dose, there was a rapid 2.5 fold increase in plasma concentrations within 41 hours, resulting in a Cmax more than 7-fold higher than the mean Cmax at the maximum recommended use dose. No cause for the sudden increase in sarolaner plasma concentrations was identified.”
I would recommend that anyone who suspects their pet has reacted to one of these medications should contact their veterinarian, report the suspected problem to the drug manufacturer, report the suspected problem to the FDA, and ask the treating veterinarian to draw a blood sample that can be tested for drug concentration in the blood. If we had more data, we might have more answers!
Antidote and Treatment of Intoxication:
There is no antidote for isoxazoline derivative (these three drugs) poisoning.
Treatment consists in preventing further exposure together with supportive and symptomatic measures.
These drugs orally administered to dogs are rapidly absorbed into blood. Bioavailability was higher when drug was administered with food.
Excretion occurs mainly in the form of unchanged parent molecule, primarily in the feces.
Environmental Toxicity:
Little to nothing has been published yet regarding the environmental toxicity of these drugs.
Based on their mode of action it must be assumed that they are highly toxic to both aquatic and terrestrial arthropods (insects, ticks, spiders, crustaceans, etc.).
Due to their recent introduction there is very little knowledge on tolerance in different dog breeds or in young, old or otherwise weak animals.
Detailed information on the toxicity and the fate of the drugs in the dog’s body (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) and in the environment is extremely scarce.
My personal reaction: avoid these drugs and other chemicals for my pets.
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
Homemade Dog Biscuits Ingredients
Makes about 5 dozen
1 cup all-purpose flour *
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup brewer's yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil
1/2 cup low-sodium canned chicken stock, plus more for brushing
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, wheat germ, yeast, and salt; set aside
2. Place oil in a large bowl. Add stock and flour mixture in three alternating batches, beginning and ending with stock. Mix well.
3. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to about 3/8-inch thick. Shape biscuits using a dog-bone-shaped cookie cutter or by cutting around a store-bought dog bone with a butter knife.(Make biscuits that are appropriate for your dog's size.)
4. If desired, you can spell out your dog's name or a holiday message in the dough with a toothpick (wet the toothpick first so it won't stick).
5. Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough.
6. Bake biscuits 10 minutes. Brush with stock; rotate baking sheets, and bake 10 minutes more. Turn off oven, leaving door closed. Let dog biscuits stand in oven to dry completely, about 1 1/2 hours. Wrap as a gift, or store in an airtight container at room temperature.
* if you have a dog that is susceptible to seizures use gluten-free flour; wheat can cause seizures
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TODAY'S INSPIRATION
DO YOU HAVE A NEW CHAMPION OR NEW TITLE HOLDER?
DON'T YOU LOVE PHOTOBOMBS?
Please share your photos for the next newsletter
MEETING REMINDERS
For those members who are on the Breeder Referral list, be sure to remember the attendance requirement. There are still 7 club functions between now and the end of the year.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
BRAGS
CH Monticello Tribute to Sir Lancelot (aka Lance) finished his AKC Championship July 3rd at the Tidewater Kennel Club of Va under Judge Evalyn Gregory. Lance is owned by Alice Alford and her granddaughter Ashley Powell. Lance’s father is CH Monticello Regal Anticipation, (aka Reggie) who was heart clear at 11 and his Grandfather was CH Monticello Sir Lancelot who lived to be 16.
GCH Brookhaven Here Comes Hogan - Gained his Grand Championship and
CH Brookhaven Sexy Sadie - Gained her Championship
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
NEED SOME SUNSHINE?
THE CAVALIER CRONICLE
Mark Fitchpatrick, editor