See
below for a collection of useful links......
ANAESTHETIC & YOUR BELGIAN SHEPHERD - EMERGENCY, FIRST AID,
POISONING, BEREAVEMENT - INFORMATIVE. EDUCATIONAL, MEDICAL &
VETERINARY SITES - HIPS, ELBOWS & OTHER JOINT RELATED SITES -
EYES & EARS - SEIZURES & EPILEPSY - NATURAL DIET, HERBAL
REMEDIES, HOLISTIC, FLOWER ESSENCE
Breed
Predisposition to Disease and Congenital Conditions: Some of the
conditions known to occur in the Belgian Shepherd; are Epilepsy,
Hip Dysplasia (HD), Elbow OCD, Eyes - Cataracts & PRA (Progressive
Retinal Atrophy), Neoplasia, Vitiligo, Gastric carcinoma, *
Anaesthesia Sensitivity.
Hip Dysplasia (HD) - Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD)
is the most common, heritable orthopaedic problem seen in dogs.
It affects virtually all breeds of dogs but is especially
problematic in large and giant breeds. Clinically, the disease
manifests itself in one of two ways:
In
Australia, Hip scores and Elbow scores are usually obtained after
a dog is 12 months of age, the dog is x.rayed by a vet and the x.rays
are then scored by the AVA or your vet if they are qualified. The
x.ray is a once off procedure and requires the dog to be fully
anaesthetised when being x.rayed. For more info on how Hips are
scored and a comparrison chart of scores in different countries
please visit OFA Hip Grade
PennHIP - A New Scientific Method for Early Screening of Canine
Hip Dysplasia - dogs can be scored earlier than 12 months. More
info can be found on PennHIP on our vet's website here Monash Vet
Eyes - Eye testing certificates are valid for 12
months, eye problems known in Belgians are often late onset
issues that can occur from 2 to 4 years. Eye testing can be done
as early as 7.8 weeks of age, it is recommended that breeding
stock be eye tested yearly. A specialist ophthalmic vet does the
eye testing, which involves putting drops into the dog's eyes to
dilate the pupils, in order for the vet to perform a visual check
deep into the eye. A Final Eye Certificate may be given to dogs
over 8 years old, problems that occur after this age are
considered to be normal old age issues and not hereditary
conditions.
PPM's are not considered a health issue/problem within the breed,
for further info on PPM's or other eye conditions please refer to
www.eyevet.org
Epilepsy - Epilepsy simply refers to repeated seizures.
Seizures may occur as a one time event in an animal from a
variety of causes, but only if the seizures repeat again and
again over a period of time do we call it epilepsy. Whilst we can
X-ray Hips and test eyes, unfortunately there is not yet a test
available for epilepsy. In the BSD (Belgian Shepherd Dog) it
appears to be an inherited disease, although the mode of
inheritance is not well understood and so far difficult to
eliminate by selective breeding, as often it may not appear until
the dog is 5 years of age and at this age many dogs have already
been bred from. There is currently an epilepsy study being
conducted in the USA, using DNA from samples sent in from
breeders around the world, with the hope that a suitable
screening program can be developed for the future. See
Idiopathic Epilepsy in the
Belgian Tervueren (and other varieties)
As with humans, in many instances, depending on frequency and
severity of the seizures, the condition can be largely controlled
by careful management and medication.
Note: It can be difficult to determine whether a dog is having
seizures due to epilepsy, thyroid problems, an accident, or even
a reaction to vaccines or poisons etc. If a dog, of any breed,
starts to suffer from 'fits' a vet should be consulted.
Understanding Your Pet's Epilepsy - by Dennis O'Brien, DVM, PhD,
Diplomate, ACVIM, Specialty of Neurology, University of Missouri,
College of Veterinary Medicine.
"Epilepsy simply refers to repeated seizures. Seizures may
occur as a one time event in an animal from a variety of causes,
but only if the seizures repeat again and again over a period of
time do we call it epilepsy. Seizures are a sign of brain disease
the same way a cough is a sign of lung disease. Saying an animal
has epilepsy is like saying it has a chronic cough; it is a sign
of a problem which isn't going away. Anything which damages the
brain in the right area can cause epilepsy. If we can identify
the cause of the seizures, say a brain tumor or a stroke, then we
say the pet has symptomatic (or secondary) epilepsy. That is, the
seizures are a symptom of a disease process we've been able to
identify. If we've looked and can't find the cause, then we call
it idiopathic (or primary) epilepsy. The term idiopathic
simply means that we don't know the cause. It may be that the
cause has escaped our attention; for example, a stroke that is
too small to detect with routine brain scans or damage that
occurred during whelping.
Many of the
idiopathic epileptics have inherited epilepsy: epilepsy caused by
a mutation in a specific gene which they inherited from their
parents. Dogs with idiopathic epilepsy frequently begin seizing
at between one and three years of age, and certain breeds are
predisposed to develop epilepsy. A few breeds have proven
hereditary epilepsy, while in most it is just a strong suspicion.
One of the goals of the Canine Epilepsy Project is to identify
genes responsible for epilepsy in dogs. This will allow us to
positively diagnose the hereditary form and take steps to
decrease the incidence of epilepsy in dogs."
For the rest of this article and more info please refer to www.canine-epilepsy.net
* Anaesthesia Sensitivity - Although not a
disease, something that must also be considered in this breed is
that many Belgians have been found to be highly sensitive to
anaesthesia. Owners and vets should be aware that Belgians have
died under anaesthesia and that careful monitoring during and in
the immediate recovery period after general anaesthesia is
important. It is recommended that Vets follow the same
anaesthesia protocol as for sighthound breeds. Information on Belgians and
Anesthetic
A MUST READ
Resourses:
http://www.canine-epilepsy.net/basics/basics_index.html
http://www.abtc.org//health_ed/seizintro.htm
Http://www.eyevet.org
http://www.monashvet.com.au/
http://www.offa.org/hipgrade.html
A collection of useful links can be found on our health page here
http://lumineux.darkpaws.com/Links2.htm
| SEIZURES, EPILEPSY |
| Understanding Your Pet's Epilepsy - *** Highly recommended! |
| Epilepsy [HomeVet© Natural Pet Care] |
| Canine Epilepsy and diseases that cause seizures in dogs |
| Clinical and Genetic Advances - Canine Epilepsy by George J Brewer MD |
| Canine Epilepsy Network |
| Canine Epilepsy Resource Centre |
| Facial Mal Seizures
in Dogs |
| Canine Epilepsy |
| Epilepsy Study |
| Canine Epilepsy FAQ from the Internet FAQ Archives |
| Seizure Disorders - The Pet Health Library |
| Table of Contents - Canine Epilepsy Guardian Angels If your dog should have a seizure, please make sure your veterinarian draws blood for a "thyroid test" |
| OFA Genetic Databases - Thyroid Database |
| Canine Aitoimmune Thyroid Disease -
by W Jean Dodds DVM
|
| What's The Big Deal About the Little Thyroid |
| Behavioral changes associated with thyroid dysfunction in dogs |
| Hypothyroidism F.A.Q. |
| INFORMATIVE. EDUCATIONAL, MEDICAL & VETERINARY SITES |
| On-line Medical Dictionary - Medical terms and their meanings. |
| The Pet Health Library |
| Monash Vet Clinic - Aust - Our trusted & fantastic vets - Mark, Ray and the gang. |
| OFA Genetic Databases - Cardiac |
| Australian Veterinary Association |
| Animal Friends On-Line - Links to Dog Sites - Health Related |
| OFA Genetic Databases - Thyroid Database |
| Addisondogs - Addisons disease in dogs SYMPTOMS - Vomiting, Diarrhea, Lethargy, Depression, Lack of appetite, Tremors or shaking Muscle weakness, Pain in hind quarters |
| Leptospirosis is a worldwide (includes Australia) problem "causing fever, anemia, septicemia, kidney and liver infections, abortion and stillbirths - the dog may die from acute septicemia, anemia, kidney failure...." |
| OFA Genetic Databases - DNA |
| Informational Articles from Golden Retrievers in Cyberspace - This site has some fantastic articles and links, eg - Artificial Respiration, Choking, First Aid Kit, Noise Phobias - Fear of Thunder or Loud Noises, Orthopaedic Problems - Elbow Dysplasia - Hip Dysplasia - Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) - Panosteitis ("Growing Pains," "Wandering Lameness") - PennHIP Questions & Answers, Flea Allergy Dermatitis, Skin and Allergy Problems in Dogs * * * Highly recommended! |
| Harmony Animal Hospital Laugh, learn, share and explore the world of all kinds of pets Not just for dogs but for all pets - the dog section includes many interesting articles eg. Does Your Dog Suffer from Separation Anxiety? |
| Harmony Animal Hospital Pet Care Library - Dogs |
| Pet Education.com Many articles on the following - Feeding & Nutrition - Preventive Health Care - Grooming & Sanitation - Supplies - Diseases & Conditions - Bacterial, Viral & Fungal Diseases - Bones, Joints, Muscles & Nerves - Digestive System, Liver & Pancreas - Ear, Skin & Allergies - Endocrine (Hormonal) Conditions - Eyes - Heart & Lung Conditions - Immune, Lymphatic & Blood Conditions - Parasitic Diseases - Reproduction & Fetal Development - Teeth, Mouth & Throat - Urinary System Diseases - This site is well worth the visit! |
| Dog Owner's Guide - Very informative and educational, with lots of informative articles including Bloat, Thyroid etc...* * * Highly recommended! |
| Australian Canine Current Events - Home Page - * * * This site has some fantastic links, including - Health & Nutrition etc |
| A Guide to Hereditary and Congenital Diseases in Dogs, Published by The Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights |
| Dog Owner's Guide: Autoimmune diseases |
| Canine Inherited Disorders Database |
| Animal Health: Adequan® Canine Home Page - Arthritis (degenerative joint disease) in dogs - six common joint conditions. This site describes the benefits that can be had by using 'Glucosamine' for arthritic dogs, which I use myself for my Hip Dysplastic girl. |
| All Creatures - DOGS - Diseases in Dogs |
| Aussie Vet - Online Vet - Vetafarm Australia |
| Dr Dog |
| Siriusdog - * * * Covers just about everything you'd want to know about anything doggy. |
| Merck Veterinary Manual Comprehensive electronic reference for animal care information NEW 18th April 2004 |
| EMERGENCY, FIRST AID, POISONING, BEREAVEMENT |
| Emergency dog links - Dog Emergencies, First Aid and CPR, Poisoning, Bereavement...... |
| What to Put In Your Canine FIRST AID KIT |
| The Bloat Book - Emergency procedures - Bloat is life threatening |
| ASPCA/NAPCC (National Animal Poison Control Centre) Information Page |
| Informational Articles from Return to Golden Retrievers in Cyberspace - This site has some fantastic articles and links, eg - Artificial Respiration, Choking, First Aid Kit, Noise Phobias - Fear of Thunder or Loud Noises. *** Highly recommended! |
| HIPS, ELBOWS & OTHER JOINT RELATED SITES |
| Australian Veterinary Association |
| Canine Hip and Elbow Dysplasia Resources - includes links to HD comparison charts (schemes in different countries) |
| OFA Search Online |
| OFA Genetic Databases - Hip Grades and different countries comparison chart |
| PennHIP Program- The University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement |
| OFA Hip Info |
| PennHIP is a new system for the early detection of Hip Dysplasia. - Dr Ray Ferguson - from Monash Veterinary Clinic (our vet) s one of several Australian veterinarians trained and registered to carry out PennHIP radiographs. |
| Canine GENETICS Resource, Dog Genetics - Hip Dysplasia Articles |
| OFA Genetic Databases - Elbow Dysplasia |
| OFA Genetic Databases - Patellar Luxation |
| Informational Articles from Golden Retrievers in Cyberspace - This site has some fantastic articles and links, eg - Orthopaedic - Elbow Dysplasia - Hip Dysplasia - Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) - Panosteitis ("Growing Pains," "Wandering Lameness") - PennHIP Questions & Answers. * * * Highly recommended! |
| What you still don't know about the "A" Stamp can hurt you - (FCI comparison chart - revised Sept 2000) |
| Animal Arthritis FAQ |
| OFA - PenHip Update - Looking at OFA and PennHIP in 2003 and 2004 by Fred Lanting |
| Hip Dysplasia |
| Online Vets |
| Panosteitis This is a fairly common condition of long bones in the large breeds of young dogs - Causes Lameness |
EYES & EARS |
| Canine Eye Registration Foundation - USA |
| Animal Eye Care - our Eye Testing Clinic in Victoria, Australia |
| Eyevet Consulting Services - The Veterinary Ophthalmology Information Centre |
| Through the Eyes of Your Canine - How dogs see, can my Blind dog lead a normal life? |
| Owners of Blind Dogs Site - Providing love support and information for all blind and visually impaired dogs. |
| Star Cataract - (Posterior, Polar Subcapsular) Cataracts |
| Lists some Inherited Cataracts in Dogs- CERF - USA |
| Deafness in Dogs & Cats |
| Deaf Dog Education Action Fund |
| THE BLUE POWER EAR TREATMENT |
| AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE, NEUROLOGIC DISEASE, SKIN PROBLEMS, CANCER |
| Degenerative Myelopathy - Dr. Scanlan |
| Degenerative Myelopathy - Support group, includes comprehensive info on DM |
| Degenerative Myelopathy German Shepherd Dogs - R.M. Clemmons, DVM, PhD |
| Animal Cancer FAQ |
| Truth In Advertising: Breeder Self-Regulation New 1st May 2005 |