Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Genetic Diversity Test available for Havanese through UCDavis

While we do not have any official statistics on health problems in the Havanese, there is a great deal of autoimmune reactions and diseases.  This is most likely because of the small number of dogs used to rebuild the Havanese after it was decimated during the Cuban revolution.  However, world-wide we do have a great deal of diversity and so it is possible to bring genetic health, diversity, back to  the Havanese.

This is an example of how the program can be used even if a breeder has no understanding of genetic principals:

http://www.sonrisashavanese.ca/diversity.html

To read more about the program and what has been discovered about the Havanese gene pool go here:

https://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/dog/GeneticDiversityInHavanese.php


Monday, July 25, 2016

More information about autoimmune disesase.


Autoimmune disease is probably the top Havanese health issue.  Some of it is most likely due to over vaccination when you consider that a Havanese and a Great Dane get the same amount of vaccine even as puppies.


http://drjeandoddspethealthresource.tumblr.com/post/147904378056/immune-disorders-vaccines#.V5ZUQ7grK71

Thyroid problems in dogs

This is pretty good information about thyroid problems and thyroid is an under-tested problem in Havanese.

http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/myths-about-thyroid-disorders-vaccines-in-pets/

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Happy Birthday from two of Mojo's friends


The dog on the right is Sonrisas Winning Oscar and the one on the left is Leo (sorry, don't know his registered name).  Leo and Oscar belong to long time friends Jean Brown and Roger and Judy Slauson.

Monday, July 18, 2016

Happy 16th Birthday to Mojo!!


As a follow-up to Jean Dodds vaccination recommendations:

Since I do not take my dogs into heavily wooded areas, they are in our backyard or in open agility fields this is the protocol I follow.

1. I now give only distemper and parvo to puppies and the same at one year of age.

2.  I do not treat for fleas except when travelling.   I have not seen a flea on my dogs since we left Toronto over 15 years ago where we lived in a sandy area.

3. I do not use tick meds since they take 48 hours to kill the ticks.  The damage is done by then.  Removing them is the only viable option.

4.  I test regularly for heartworm, but I do not give heartworm medications even when we are in Florida.  It takes at least a week (research says ten days, but I am being conservative) of temperatures over 70 degrees for a larvae to mature in a mosquito.  Rarely do we have that many hot nights. Once the temperature drops below 70 degrees the larvae dies.



Dr. Jean Dodds - vaccine protocol

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 be interpreted to mean that other protocols recommended by a veterinarian would be less satisfactory. It’s a matter of professional judgment and choice.

9 - 10 weeks of age

Distemper + Parvovirus, MLV
e.g. Merck Nobivac (Intervet Progard) Puppy DPV

14 – 15 weeks of ageDistemper + Parvovirus, MLV

18 weeks of ageParvovirus only, MLV
Note: New research states that last puppy parvovirus vaccine should be at 18 weeks old.

20 weeks or older, if allowable by lawRabies – give 3-4 weeks apart from other vaccines

1 year oldDistemper + Parvovirus, MLV
This is an optional booster or titer. If the client intends not to booster after this optional booster or intends to retest titers in another three years, this optional booster at puberty is wise.

1 year oldRabies – give 3-4 weeks apart from other vaccines

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. Visit The Rabies Challenge Fund for more information.
W. Jean Dodds, DVM
Hemopet / NutriScan
11561 Salinaz Avenue
Garden Grove, CA 92843