Kennel Club Health Survey Results!

The results of a recent health survery for the Welsh Terrier breed by The Kennel Club in the UK is now available.  I don't know how the UK Breed Clubs distributed the survey, when it was done, or how the questions were asked (yes, that is my background in Market Research of 17 years in banking coming out!!!  :-)  You see, I was a Vice President for a number of years for one of the largest banks in the world, in the Analytics and Market Research departments - so I know a bit about what I am talking about ;-)  So, while I know that there are factors that can play into numbers, even if you don't mean to do it (just in how you word the questions), all we have are the facts that are provided. 

With the 66 returned surveys in hand, it looks pretty good overall for the health of our breed!

Click here for the link with the results.

Remember - any dog, of any breed, can get any condition ... nothing is 100% in life when you are dealing with living things!

Parker's OFA HIP X-RAY came back great!

For those that know me, know that I like to keep up on the health of my dogs, dogs that I breed, and tests where applicable (or appropriate).  The hip score (by x-ray) for some breeds is one of the recommended tests by breed clubs.  It's not with our breed, and therefore most Welsh Terriers breeders don't do it.

I'm on the fence about this one.  Some long time breeders tell me it is not an issue, while others are adamant that it is (or was).  The issue comes up occasionally on pet focused email lists.  In the last 36 years, 101 Welsh Terriers that had hip x-rays submitted to OFFA - 6% were "excellent" and 18% were "dysplastic" (click here for the link).  This clearly isn't representative for the breed - but it does say that hip dysplaysia can be seen in the breed.

I've decided to take the approach to test dogs that are living with me, over 2 years of age (min for the test), active part of my breeding program, and time permits. (note, it is much more difficult to arrange to do this if they are at dog shows every other weekend with a handler).  Given that this is not mandated by my breed club, I won't try to get 100% coverage, and I won't require bitches that want to breed to my dogs do this.  But, for my own interest, I will now have this test done on my important dogs in my breeding program.

A couple of years ago, Haley (Parker and Athena's dam) was one of my first ones to be done.  Her hips came back as Good (apparently, Excellent, Good and Fair are all just fine!).  Today I received the results in the mail that her son, Parker, BISS/BIS Am/Can Ch Darwyn's Webslinger also has "Good" Hip Scores!  Parker, of course, is my boy that won Best of Breed at the Welsh Terrier Club of America National Specialty, on Montgomery day in 2009 - and went on to be the #8 overall Terrier in Canada last year!  This year he is just hanging out with us at home, watching over some of his beautiful offspring that he sired with Paisa - MBIS Am/Can Ch Sanherpinc Paisa, and enjoying the AWESOME success of his 1/2 brother Joe - BISS/MBIS GCh Am & Can Ch Darwyn's I'm Not Arguing That, in the Canadian show ring this year (and US last year!).

Given the importance of this test for some breeds, OFFA has a public record for dogs that have been tested.  Click here for the OFFA link to Parker's OFA results.

My vet has the nifty x-ray machine that provides a digital output -- here are Parker's beautiful hips! (click on it to see a larger view)  :-)

So ... do we all need to go out and x-ray our dogs?  Not necessarily, however, it is something that as a breed, we should keep our eye on and watch out that we aren't going downhill and bringing those dysplastic ones into our breeding programs -- clearly they are in the breed ... somewhere!

Vaccinations?

There is a lot of discussion about vaccinations.  Here at Darwyn Welsh Terriers, all of our puppies are vaccinated with the core vaccines at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age (including rabies at 16 weeks) and then one year after the 16 week vaccine the core vaccines (including rabies) are done again (boosted), along with another 'vet check'.  After that, boosters provided are based on the dog and the situation (some are every 3 years, when the rabies vaccination are needed).  That is what we do -- others need to work with their veterinarian to decide what is best for their loved pets.  But, I know there is a lot of discussion, controversy and mystery.
The following 4-part series (1 interview) is with a very well known, and well respected, expert in the area:
Dr. Robert Schultz
Click here for part 1
Click here for part 2
Click here for part 3
Click here for part 4 (specifically about rabies vaccines)

I hope you enjoy this informative interview, I know that I learned some very interesting facts!

I guess Rusty is still available...

Received a message that Rusty's owner was identified, but since he was a "stud dog", and now is he has been neutered, he isn't wanted anymore (realistically, I also place my retired dogs - I just don't have shelters place them for me).   So ... if anyone is interested, a 4 year old dog that has a grade 4 heart murmur that was a stud dog for a few years in a Victoria area breeder IS still available at that adoption centre (link below in the previous post).  While I don't approve of how he got there (obviously), a forever home really is what this boy needs - so if you have any interest, please check him out.
I would ALSO highly encourage anyone getting a Welsh Terrier from a breeder in the Victoria area to ask a few very specific questions about the health of the stud dog/brood bitches - particularly the heart (which is a hereditary issue).  You can either ask the breeder, or in some cases, some breeders (like myself) post these health test information publically on the OFFA website.
The Welsh Terrier (cardiac) test information link is here.
So ... for now, Rusty still needs a home, and I HIGHLY recommend that anyone getting a Welsh Terrier puppy from the Victoria BC area that they ask some specific health test questions...really, from any breeder, I guess.

Yippee! Becky's mammory lump is benign! Please check your older girls!

A few weeks ago, Becky's owner Kate found a small - pea sized - lump near one of her nipples.  Kate's vet informed her that girls that are spayed later in life are suspectible to this.  It turns out that with each heat cycle, the hormones can encourage things to develop.  I am writing this blog post today to encourage others to screen your older dogs, and just be aware of what is on their bodies (and you can do this with a daily dose of belly rubs!)  In the chance that a lump is not benign it is much better to find it earlier rather than later.  So, please check your girls - I am SURE that they will enjoy the process (I know that mine sure enjoy their belly rubs!).

The GREAT news for 11 year old Becky, is that the 2 lumps they discovered, after a biopsy was done, are benign!  Whew! 

Here are a couple of pictures taken of Becky recently - last month when we all met to go for a walk, and then just relaxing at home - not a care in the world! ... Click here if you want to see her in her younger days (PS. she still kayaks a number of times a week, but Kate tells me that they will hold off for the next couple of weeks, until the stiches heal!).  What a life, eh? :-)