Your dog's health is your responsibility. Genetics aside, the first step toward good health is good nutrition. Feed your dog a quality food. Make sure the ingredients listed are what you would want to eat. Learn how to read the labels, and do not be fooled by advertising or cute pictures on the bag. Generally speaking, the price of the food is a good indicator of the quality. This does not mean that your dog needs to eat the most expensive food on the market. Be sensible when making your choices, and try to find a good food with top quality ingredients. When feeding a higher end food, you will feed a smaller amount, and have less yard pick-up to do. The cost difference between a cheap food and a mid range food is minimal in the long run, but the expense associated with a cheap food will be measured in later years, through veterinary costs.
Pay attention to your dog's coat. If the coat seems to be dry and brittle, the food you are feeding may not be appropriate. A healthy dog will have a shiny, healthy looking coat. A dog which is fed a good quality food will usually live a longer, healthier life.
One of the most serious health concerns in dogs is obesity. Do not overfeed your dog ! In point of fact, our health guarantee becomes null and void if the dog is allowed to become obese. Food is no substitute for either your companionship or for exercise. Ideal weight dogs will show a narrowing at the "waist", and will have ribs which can be felt through the skin and muscle layers, but which are not prominent. The vertebrae of the spine should be easy to feel, but the spinal bones should not jut out and be prominent. The belly should be taut and firm, even in older animals.
Pay attention to your dog's teeth - check the back molars and the canines for signs of tartar and plaque build up. Severe plaque and tartar can lead to gum disease (Gingivitis) which in turn can lead to infection. Gum infections can affect organ function, and advanced Gingivitis can result in liver and kidney problems. If you cannot find the time to brush your dog's teeth daily, consider using a product such as LEBA III to help reduce plaque and tartar. This product is expensive, but easy to use, and can save you costly veterinary bills for dentistries and treatment of problems resulting from gum disease.
To Vaccinate or Not?
There has been much controversy in recent years with regard to vaccination protocol. There is one school of thought which attributes health issues, especially autoimmune problems, to over-vaccination of our animals. The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) makes recommendations from time to time, but each individual veterinarian establishes his own protocol.
Years ago, when vaccines were developed to protect against distemper, parvovirus and the like it was thought that “more is better”. Since then we have learned that over-vaccination can have serious deleterious effects on a dog. New vaccine protocols have become standard with many veterinarians, following the research of Dr. Jean Dodds (NY). More information about vaccine recommendations is located below. This is verified as Dr. Jean Dodds' Vaccination Protocol:
CANINE VACCINATION PROTOCOL – 2009
MINIMAL VACCINE USE
W. Jean Dodds, DVM
HEMOPET
938 Stanford Street
Santa Monica, CA 90403
310-828-4804
Fax: 310/ 453-5240 ** Please Note -- NEW FAX # for Home Office **
e-mail: hemopet@hotmail.com
Note: The following vaccine protocol is offered for those dogs where minimal vaccinations are advisable or desirable. The schedule is one I recommend and should not interpreted to mean that other protocols recommended by a veterinarian would be less satisfactory. It's a matter of professional judgment and choice.
Age of Pups Vaccine Type
9 - 10 weeks Distemper + Parvovirus, MLV (e.g. Intervet Progard Puppy DPV)
14 weeks Same as above
16 -18 weeks Same as above (optional)
20 weeks or older Rabies
1 year Distemper + Parvovirus, MLV
1 year Rabies, killed 3-year product (give 3-4 weeks apart from distemper/parvovirus booster)
Perform vaccine antibody titers for distemper and parvovirus every three years thereafter, or more often, if desired. Vaccinate for rabies virus according to the law, except where circumstances indicate that a written waiver needs to be obtained from the primary care veterinarian. In that case, a rabies antibody titer can also be performed to accompany the waiver request. See www rabieschallengefund.org
GALL BLADDER DISEASE
The presence of hereditary gall bladder disease in Shelties is now determinable through DNA testing, thanks to Dr. Katrina Mealey’s research staff at Washington State University. Unless caught relatively early, gall bladder disease can be fatal. Signs of illness (the onset of which can be very sudden) are lethargy, vomiting, diarrhoea, refusal of food and abdominal tenderness. If the gall bladder perforates (ruptures) the chances of survival are slim. Our Champion Skyehaven Shepherd Moon (Enya) suffered a perforated gall bladder in 2008, and miraculously survived surgery and made a full recovery. Many dogs are less fortunate. Surgical intervention by a Board Certified Surgeon is an immediate requirement.
Information regarding DNA testing for the gene for gall bladder disease is available on the ASSA website:
http://www.assa.org/health.html#gallbladder
Sheltie Eye Anomaly
Unlike most hereditary diseases, SEA can be determined through a simple eye exam by an accredited Canine Ophthalmologist. Eye clinics are held in our area quarterly, and all our potential breeding stock is assessed for eye anomalies. More information about eye diseases can be found at
Bladder Cancer
The incidence of bladder cancer in Shelties is not high, but is significant enough to have warranted a research project funded in part by ASSA. At this time researchers are racing against time to find the DNA marker for bladder cancer, and are asking for blood samples from Shelties which have been diagnosed with the disease. More information is available on the ASSA website: