Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy Bone Disease on Dogs

 Hypertrophic osteodystrophy or HOD is a condition that affects young large breed dogs. HOD is a bone disease that affects the rapid growing bones of giant dog and may occur between ages of 2 and 7 months. The breeds that are at high risk for HOD are Boxers, Chesapeake Shepherd Dog, Golden Retriever, Great Dane, Irish Setter, Labrador Retriever and Weimaraner, although there can be exceptions to this rule. Commonly, large male dog breeds are more affected than females. Inherited or genetic link seen to be affects in occurrence of this disease.

There is currently unknown or no agreement on the cause of Hypertrophic osteodystrophy. Possible causes maybe considered are; bacterial infections, canine distemper virus infection, vaccination with distemper virus or any other viral infections. Also Vitamin C deficiency is also speculated, hence the decreased uptake of Vitamin C and/or increased uptake of other vitamins and minerals other than vitamin C. The excessive calcium supplementation is also included as one possibility. There may be a link to recent vaccination with a modified live vaccine, but no specific vaccine has been implicated. on Weinmaraner dog breeds, it is recommended for them to receive killed virus vaccines instead of modified live or separate vaccines for canine distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus to prevent the possibility of vaccine-induced HOD.

The signs and symptoms of HOD strict in often to be mild to moderate painful swelling of the growth plates in the leg bones of dogs. It most commonly affects the ends of the radius, ulna (the long bones from the elbow to the wrist) and tibia (the long bone from the knee to the hock). Lameness may vary from mild to sever, reluctance to stand if multiple limbs are affected. Fever, anorexia, loss of appetite and depressions are noticed. Swelling and heat are commonly present over the affected bones. Some clinical signs also includes diarrhea, discharge from the eyes, tonsillitis, thickening of the foot pads, pneumonia, and abnormal development of the enamel of the teeth. Dogs suffering really proper petsafe and care.

X-ray signs of HOD are more clearly noticed. A line of lucency where the bone has been destroyed is usually found to be parallel to the growth plates of the affected bones. X-rays show a dark line at the metaphysis, which can progress to new bone growth on the outside of that area. This represents microfractures in the metaphysis and bone proliferation to bridge the defect in the periosteum. Some signs seen on microscope are also clear. The growth plate is normal, but blood vessels adjacent to the growth plate are frequently dilated. Bleeding in the bone adjacent to the growth plate and extensive death of the bone adjacent to the growth plate. Adjacent to the line of lucency is a zone of increased density of bone that corresponds to collapsed of layers of dead bone. The outer layer of the bone (periosteum) is thickened with new bone formation.

The treatment for HOD is generally supportive since this is a very painful condition and these disease is usually self-limiting which can last a few weeks. Treatment includes intravenous fluid therapy, anti-inflammatories and painkillers such as buffered aspirin or carprofen (Rimadyl) are given and needed enough rest on their comfortable pet beds. In addition, the animals are usually given a broad-spectrum antibiotic since bacterial infection is suspected. Since the dog might be too irritable and uncomfortable, strict rest on a comfortable warm bed is recommended. Feeding a nutritious, highly palatable food will help to encourage some dogs to eat. In severe cases steroids may need to be given to control the pain, but because of the possibility of this being a bacterial disease their use may be contraindicated due to their immunosuppressive qualities. Supplementation of Vitamin C is contraindicated due to an increase in calcium levels in the blood, possibly worsening the disease. Permanent skeletal deformity can occur, recurrence can be a problem until the dog reaches maturity and dogs usually do not die of the disease rather are euthanatized if recovery is poor or if clinical signs are severe.

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6 month old Weimaraner with skin problems?

I have a 6 month old Weimaraner. Recently, he has broke out in red bumps on his skin, his skin is flaky and dry, and he has had some hair loss, nothing too extreme, but it’s noticeable. I use a good dog shampoo on him and feed him a good dog food. I have heard they have very sensitive skin and are apt to have allergic reactions to almost anything, such as carpet cleaner, dog food with veggies in it, or a cleaner that is used to clean his pen, etc. He doesn’t act like anything bothers him and he doesn’t itch a lot. Can you tell me what may be wrong with him or what I would need to change??

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Does your Weimaraner have skin problems?

Our Weimaraner gets little bumps on his head in the summer and then when they go away, they leave little tiny bald spots. The spots also must itch because he rubs his head on the floor all the time. This year seems to be worse. Does anyone else have this problem, and is there a solution? Thanks!

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Your Weimaraner & Separation Anxiety

 Separation anxiety is one of the most common problems that Weimaraners seem to develop. It is an anxiety disorder, and is defined as a state of intense panic brought on by your Weimaraner’s isolation/separation from you.
 In other words: when you leave for work in the morning, your Weimaraner is plunged into a state of nervous anxiety which intensifies extremely quickly and often results in complaints, from neighbours, when you return.
Weimaraner’s are social animals – they need plenty of company and social interaction to keep them happy and content. No dog likes to be left alone for long stretches of time, but Weimaraner’s can react a lot worse than others.
It doesn’t just affect Weimaraners – some breeds are genetically predisposed towards anxiety and insecurity, which is something you should consider when deciding which breed you’d prefer (particularly if you’re going to be absent for long stretches of time). A few of these breeds include Springer Spaniels, German Shepherds, and Airedales.
A significant proportion of dogs from shelters develop separation anxiety. Most of these ’shelter dogs’ have undergone significant trauma in their lives – they’ve been abandoned by their previous owners – and thus they have little trust that their new-found owner (you) isn’t going to pull the same trick. A lot of Weimaraner owners can’t cope and end up taking theirs to a shelter. Now imagine a Weimaraner that’s also a Shelter Dog!
If you’re absent much more than you’re present in your Weimaraner’s life, separation anxiety is pretty much inevitable. Your Weimaraner needs your company, affection, and attention in order to be happy and content.
The symptoms of separation anxiety are pretty distinctive: your Weimaraner will usually learn to tell when you’re about to leave (she’ll hear keys jingling, will see you putting on your outdoor clothes, etc) and will become anxious. She may follow you from room to room, whining, trembling, and crying. Some Weimaraners even become aggressive, in an attempt to stop their owners from leaving.
When you’ve left, the anxious behavior will rapidly worsen and usually will peak within half an hour. She may bark incessantly, scratch and dig at windows and doors (an attempt to escape from confinement and reunite herself with you), chew inappropriate items, even urinate and defecate inside the house. In extreme cases, she might self-mutilate by licking or chewing her skin until it’s raw, or pulling out fur; or will engage in obsessive-compulsive behaviors, like spinning and tail-chasing.
Upon your return, she’ll be excessively excited, and will leap around you in a frenzy of delight for a protracted period of time (more than the 30 seconds to one minute of a happy, well-balanced dog.)
This extended greeting is a source of some misunderstanding: without realising that such a greeting actually signifies the presence of a psychological disorder, some owners actually encourage their Weimaraner to get more and more worked up upon their return (by fuelling the Weimaraner’s excitement, encouraging her to leap around, paying her protracted attention, and so on.)
If you’re behaving in this way with your Weimaraner, please stop. I know it’s tempting and very easy to do, and it seems harmless – after all, she’s so happy to see you, what harm can it do to return her attention and affection in equal measure? – but in actuality, you’re just validating her belief that your return is the high point of the day. She’ll extremely happy when you return – but, when it’s time for you to leave again, her now-exaggerated happiness at your presence is under threat, and she gets even more unhappy when you walk out that door.
Fortunately, there are things you can do to minimise your Weimaraner’s tendency towards anxiety. Here’s a short list of do’s and don’ts:

Do:
Exercise the heck out of her. Really wear her out: the longer you expect to be away, the more exercise she should get before you leave. For example, if you’re leaving for work in the morning, she’ll probably be by herself for at least four hours; and, if you’ve got a dog-walker to take her out mid-day instead of coming back yourself, she won’t see you – the person she really cares about – for at least nine hours. So she needs a good, vigorous walk (fifteen to twenty minutes is the absolute minimum here!) before you walk out that door. More is even better.

Distract her from her boredom, loneliness, and anxiety by giving her an attractive alternative to pining, pacing, and whining. All dogs love to chew – why not play on this predisposition? Get a couple of marrowbones from the butcher, bake them in the oven for 20 minutes (so they go nice and hard and crunchy – and so she can’t smear marrow all over your furniture), slice them up into chunks of a few inches long, and give her one about 15 minutes before you leave. It’ll keep her happy and occupied, and will act as a smokescreen for your departure.

When you leave, put the radio on to a soothing station: classical music is ideal, but any station featuring lots of talk shows is also ideal. Keep the volume quite low, and it’ll calm her down a bit and give her the feeling that she’s got company.

If at all possible, supply her with a view: if she can see the world going by, that’s the next best thing to being out and about in it.

Acclimatize her to your leaving. Taking things nice and slowly, practice getting ready to go: jingle your keys about, put on your coat, and open the door. Then – without leaving! – sit back down and don’t go anywhere. Do this until she’s not reacting any more. When there’s no reaction, give her a treat and lavish praise for being so brave. Next, practice actually walking out the door (and returning immediately), again doing this until there’s no reaction. Gradually work up – gradually being the operative word here! – until you’re able to leave the house with no signs of stress from her.

Do not:

Act overtly sympathetic when she’s crying. Although it sounds very cold-hearted, trying to soothe and comfort your Weimaraner by patting her and cooing over her is actually one of the worst things you can do: it’s essentially validating her concern. Make sure she can’t tell that you feel sorry for her: don’t ever say, “It’s OK, good girl” when she’s upset!

It’s a great learning tool for anyone who wants to learn how to deal constructively with their Weimaraner’s problem behaviors.

All of the common behavioral problems are dealt with in detail, and there’s a great section on obedience commands and tricks . I simply wouldn’t have survived 5 years, with my own Weimaraner, without this information!

Technorati Tags: Anxiety, Separation, weimaraner

My Weimaraner puppies have a rash/zit on their belly and behind their neck. What could it be caused by?

They are both 5 months old and they eat Purina Dog Chow Puppies

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Coat Variations In The Weimaraner

When most people picture a Weimaraner, they picture a large, regal-looking dog with a short, gray coat. This gray is often a muted brown, giving the dog’s color an overall sepia tone, like an old photograph. However, there is another coat color for Weimaraners. This color is also gray, but is richer, darker, and has beautiful undertones of blue. Whereas the standard Weimaraner’s gray coat color is derivative of a brown coat, the Blue Weimaraner’s coat color is a muted black with no brown hues. Blue Weimaraners range from a slate gray to a dark gunmetal color. These dogs are quite beautiful, though somewhat rare.

Many Weimaraner clubs accept this gorgeous coat variation without hesitation. Unfortunately, most large canine registries refuse to recognize the Blue Weimaraner and see its coat color, however attractive, as a flaw. Until the 1970s, this was not always the case. In ‘72, the American Kennel Club altered its regulations for the breed to ban Blue Weimaraners from competing in the ring, however, the American Kennel Club will allow registration of a Blue Weimaraner under certain circumstances. For instance, if both the dog’s sire and dam are AKC registered, he or she can be registered with the AKC as well. The thing is, registration with the AKC doesn’t imply full acceptance. Blue Weimaraners are only allowed to compete in non-breed specific competitions, such as agility trials, obedience trials, and other various competitions that are based on performance instead of appearance.

It is assumed that the Blue Weimaraner is an intentional variation of the genetic breed, as this darker coat coloration has only appeared very, very rarely when not specifically bred for. In fact, there are only two documented cases of Blue Weimaraners being born to a gray sire and gray dam in the twentieth century, the first of which was in Austria in the latter half of the ’40s. A man called Captain Holt was traveling through Germany and was entranced by this different-colored dog. He purchased his new Weimaraner, imported him to the United States, and used him to sire many generations of beautiful Blue Weimaraners. This single dog is considered the primary reason for the expansion of the Weimaraner’s blue coat variation in the United States. Many of the dogs sired by Captain Holt’s Blue Weimaraner were champions of their breed.

Originally, when Captain Holt discovered the Blue Weimaraner, it was assumed that the blue coat gene was recessive. In previous years, studies of the genetics and breeding patterns of the Weimaraner have proved just the opposite. The genes that dictate coat color of a dog are called “alleles”. The Weimaraner breed posses only two of these: blue and gray. Not all blue alleles are passed down from sire or dam to puppy, so it is possible that Weimaraners of blue parents can be born gray. However, if the puppy does inherit the blue allele, its coat color will most definitely be blue.

The Blue Weimaraner is a beautiful and impressive variation of the standard Weimaraner. Many Blue Weimaraner enthusiasts consider it very unfortunate and short-sighted that this fascinating coloration is not recognized by the American Kennel Club and other large dog registries. Fans and breeders of the Blue Weimaraner are fighting to not only ensure the health and longevity of the breed, but to have the AKC recognize the Blue Weimaraner as a valid breed in competition.

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Dog allergic to pet food and cats

Dog allergic to pet food and cats
A Lanarkshire pet owner is hoping a new diet and special antibiotics will help with his dog’s unlikely allergies.

Read more on BBC News

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Weimaraners as Pets

If you are searching for a dog whom will be a true companion by your side at all times, look no further than the Weimaraner. This breed of dog thrives on being a member in a family, and is extremely loyal and loving.

The exact origin of the Weimaraner is not known, but dogs very similar have roots as far back as the 1200s. It is believed to have been a cross between Continental pointing breeds and a Mastiff. The breed as it is known today was developed in the 1800s by Grand Duke Karl August of Weimar. The breed named after the hometown of the Duke, is an all around pointing and hunting dog. Germany was very possessive of their prized hunting dog, and it was not until the middle of the 20th century before any were brought into the United States.

The Weimaraner was originally bred for hunting and tracking big game, though in time they were also used for small game or upland birds. The pointing of the Weimaraner has been described as slow, but what they lack in speed they make up for in thoroughness. The breed also has been used as guard dogs, rescue dogs, and service animals for the disabled.

You would be hard pressed to find a finer athletic looking dog breed as the Weimaraner. They are moderately large with males being 24 – 27 inches tall and 55 – 70 pounds. While females area 22 – 25 inches tall and 50 – 65 pounds. The head is long with amber or gray eyes and moderately long ears. Some feel the Weimaraner has a very regal appearance!

The coat of this breed is very short and smooth, though there is also a less common long haired breed. The coat coloring is gray to silver gray which has gotten the dog the nickname “silver ghost” or “gray ghost”. This coat is very low maintenance on this breed so this goes over well with owners who are not into constantly combing their dogs.

The Weimaraner is extremely loving and loyal to a fault! The breed is highly prone to separation anxiety and must be handled carefully to avoid the destructive behavior that results from this. The breed is also very intelligent and easily trainable which is good since if left untrained they tend to have several negative characteristics. The Weimaraner does well in a family as long as the children are not too small. Since they are so full of energy they could easily hurt a small child without meaning to.

It is essential a Weimaraner is exercised daily for a fairly long duration of time. As this breed has tons of energy and amazing stamina very long walks or jogs are the best way to ensure they get enough exercise. It is very important to ensure your Weimaraner is well trained or on a leash at all times as the breed has a very high instinctive prey drive. The dog will not hesitate to charge large of small animals if not kept under control.

The Weimaraner is very prone to several health issues such as gastric torsion, hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and more. Ensure you buy your dog from a breeder who refuses to breed with animals who display signs of carrying any of these disorders. This will help breed out these detrimental health problems.

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New Puppy psa

Mikey DeWeim and his friends have some things they’d like you to think about before you adopt that new puppy. This information could save your pet’s life.

Duration : 0:4:31

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Client Information Sheets 1

Mikey DeWeim and his canine companions have some very important messages for you. Warning! This information could save your pet’s life.

Duration : 0:2:51

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Technorati Tags: advocate, basset, boston, canine, cis, dogs, health, hound, lab, labrador, pets, psa, retriever, terrier, vaccine, weimaraner