Author: mom

Canine diversity project

Canine Diversity Project

“The Canine Diversity Project is an attempt to acquaint breeders of domesticated Canidae (dogs) with the dangers of inbreeding and the overuse of popular sires .Both lead to the indiscriminate loss of genetic diversity and increase the frequency of genetic problems in the population. These abuses have not been restricted to dogs, but have also occurred in horses, cattle and many other domestic animals, largely as a consequence of outdated beliefs dating back to the early days of genetics. Even their wild cousins have been the unfortunate victims of genetic malpractice by zoos. Fortunately, zoo biologists have recognized the dangers to these and many other species, and Species Survival Plans have been developed for many.
Though, as a species, Canis familiaris is not endangered, a number of breeds are in as much danger of extinction as some of their wild cousins ..If different varieties of wolves are worthy of preservation, are not the different breeds of domestic dogs equally worthy? Continue reading Canine diversity project

Genetic selection & police dog behavior

EFFECTS OF GENETIC SELECTION AND EXPERIENCE
ON POLICE DOG BEHAVIOR

by
Sandy Bryson

ABSTRACT
Police dog service requires canines that are balanced in social, play, search and aggression behavior as well as physically healthy. Selecting for one or a limited number of genetic traits, such as extraordinarily high energy and aggression, can result in behavior that is counterproductive to police work. In addition to genes, life experience and training determine adult dog behavior. Dogs with inadequate human socialization, fear reaction, or conflicted training may perform patterned behavior in a controlled environment yet react inappropriately or dangerously to the novelties of street work. Continue reading Genetic selection & police dog behavior

Achieving genetic health

Purebred Dog Breeds into the Twenty-First Century
— Achieving Genetic Health for Our Dogs.

What is a Canine Breed? By J. Jeffrey Bragg 1996, Free reproduction and distribution rights.

WHAT IS A BREED? To put the question more precisely, what are the necessary conditions that enable us to say with conviction, “this group of animals constitutes a distinct breed?”
In the cynological world, three separate approaches combine to constitute canine breeds. Dogs are distinguished first by ancestry, all of the individuals descending from a particular founder group (and only from that group) being designated as a breed. Next they are distinguished by purpose or utility, some breeds existing for the purpose of hunting particular kinds of game, others for the performance of particular tasks in co-operation with their human masters, while yet others owe their existence simply to humankind’s desire for animal companionship. Finally dogs are distinguished by typology, breed standards (whether written or unwritten) being used to describe and to recognise dogs of specific size, physical build, general appearance, shape of head, style of ears and tail, etc., which are said to be of the same breed owing to their similarity in the foregoing respects. Continue reading Achieving genetic health

Diet & learning

Diet, Exercise, Stimulating Environment Helps Old Dogs Learn
http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/jan2005/nia-18.htm
According to conventional wisdom, old dogs and new tricks aren’t a good match. But a new study of beagles finds that regular physical activity, mental stimulation, and a diet rich in antioxidants can help keep aging canine and perhaps human brains in tip-top shape. Continue reading Diet & learning

Raisin toxicity ; case study

Case History Article by Laurinda Morris, DVM

This week I had the first case in history of raisin toxicity ever seen at MedVet.

My patient was a 56 pound, 5 yr old male neutered lab mix who ate half a canister of raisins sometime between 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM on Tuesday. He started with vomiting, diarrhea and shaking about 1AM on Wednesday but the owner didn’t call my emergency service until 7AM. Continue reading Raisin toxicity ; case study

BARF diet

BARF Diet Mythology

Steven E. Crane

A very small segment of pet owners have accepted the opinions of a vocal fringe minority of individuals who are currently proponents of feeding raw foods. The diet is commonly called the BARF diet, (Bones And Raw Food). Individuals within this group often make unsubstantiated claims that sound plausible but are typically unsupported in fact. The barf diet is extolled based primarily upon several myths claimed to justify the feeding of this diet. Continue reading BARF diet