Re: Discouraged with the breed
A fit well exercised dog will cope better with dysplasia than an unfit one. If you exercise your puppy you cannot create dysplasia ..you will only possibly bring to the surface an already underlying problem. But a fit well muscled puppy will be better off with or without dysplasia. Of course if the puppy is lame you need to rest him / her...but once the limping stops slowly build up some muscle tone again by walking. I have experienced on a number of occassions vets tell my puppy owners that their pups have dysplasia. When consulted I ask the owner to ensure xrays are sent to a specialist radiologist for a report ...99% of the time the specialist reports back that there is no problem. Of course no hips are perfect and if the vet is comparing BMD xrays with fox terrier xrays the BMD will always look worse. Shoulder OCD is very easily fixed with surgery ..its the best to have if you have to have any of it. As the shoulder is the first point of contact in any body slamming game or a clumsey pup running into something you can often have soft tissue or ligament damage which can take a while to heal. Although a puppy might have periods of lameness growing up, often problems right themselves after the growth phase is complete. In some cases I would not rush to have surgery performed...especially if the dog is not cronically lame. How many stairs are we talking about when lifting? I think a Bernese puppy can manage a few stairs ok ...the problem lies with a puppy deciding he/ she might just skip the last 6 and do a superman act off the verandah etc. These are just my opinions. All the best with your baby! Nicole Lennon Zanzebern Bernese Australia www.zanzebern.com
Is there a Berner Parade in Truckee, CA this July 4th?
Tail Wagging Designs by www.lodoosh.com Lori Oshiro - 415-265-2552 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi all... my hubby heard somewhere that there is to be a berner parade in Truckee California (in the Sierras) on this 4th of July, but we can't find any info on this.. Do any of you know about it? Thanks.. Lori and Don Oshiro, San Francisco, CA We own a very very sweet male berner Shadow that just turned 7 years old in mid-May.
Backing up in a cart-long pt 3
Christie, With me there's always another thought to come along. Another part of the setup of the cart to be considered is the length of the shafts and the relative position of the dog to the front of the cart. In most cases newbies end up having their dogs setting out on the farthest end of the shafts which turns your cart into a veritable eighteen wheeler.(means it makes it tougher for you to make tight turns.) At the other extreme, the dog is situated too close to the cart so that when moving forward the dog's heels (hocks) are clipping the single-tree. if thats the case, in moving backwards the dog may actually be hitting the single-tree or the front of the cart as he backs up thus causing his concern. All these things need to be considered. Just makes it a little tough to judge over the internet. Comfort is foremost in ones mind. Set the dog up so that he is sufficiently forwards enough to clear the single-tree and that's all. Of course sticking a bear in front of me would give me all the incentive I would need to move backwards! I know, I know, slowly, slowly, slowly. Jim LaFrom San Jose, Ca now get out there and work dem workn'dogs
stairs
I too was told not to let my puppy go up and down stairs. It never occurred to me to do otherwise and until he got too big to carry I struggled up several flights of stairs to get him to the park where all the doggies played. This park was in the middle of the River Seine and Id often struggle back up the stairs with a very wet and smelly puppy! At 5 months old he began limping. I was told to rest him and to stop all off leash play. Louis is now nearly 2 ½ years old and has limped very occasionally ever since. Hes limping now and because of Mary-Ann Bowmans recent post Ive perhaps just made a connection. Its been hot here lately and instead of the usual 4 walks a day, hes been having just the early morning one and the late evening one. Is it really the lack of exercise thats causing him to limp again? I feel such a fool not to have realized before now! Hes due to have x-rays on his shoulders and hips any day now so that we know what were up against and can begin managing any problems now. Right, off to 'experiment' on my poor ol' hot dog! If he's not limping in a few days I'll let you know . of course he might of collapsed from heat exhaustion in the meantime! (Just kidding)!!! Rhona and Louis In The Netherlands __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Calendar - Free online calendar with sync to Outlook(TM). http://calendar.yahoo.com
RE: PS: Neutersol - a question
Forwarded in plain text for Andrea: Hi Esther, I'm very curious why this product has NO published study on male kittens/cats. Also, I cannot find where FDA approved for neutersol's use on male cats/kittens. In shelters, cats are just as big an overpopulation problem as dogs, if not worse.So I'm very interested to learn why they chose dogs and omitted cats from both their study and from FDA's approval. I asked a Phd involved w/animal studies and he suggests that dogs are sometimes chosen because they will tolerate medications that cats will not. I have not thought much about the cat issue, but did think of a few things. I suspect that before the company did all the research and spent $$$ for the research and FDA process, they wanted to see if the concept would work on dogs and see if the shelters would embrace using the drug. I suspect that dogs initially were chosen because they can be much easier to handle for the people dealing with administering and following these dogs, dogs have larger testicles so easier to be able to feel for changes in the testicle and monitor for other reactions, semen collection was needed to verify sterility (never seen semen collected from a cat!), and I thought of another reason but now can't recall what it was. I did hear a vet lecturer at the vet conference this past January explain the cat/dog drug thing. Not only do cats metabolize a drug differently than dogs do, each cat metabolizes it differently from the next cat (I assume this means that most dogs metabolize the same drug the same way). This is one reason why it has been so very hard for drug companies to produce an effective pain reliever in cats. If the cats all metabolize it differently how can you figure out what dose would be effective and safe for what cat? Cheers, Andrea
Re: discouraged by breed post
Hope springs eternal but there are times when I wonder if this breed can be saved; everyday delayed is important time lost. There are radical approaches that could be taken such as adopting rules that would make those of the Leonberg club or the most strict European countries seem lenient. Or, when faced with health problems and a limited gene pool, the very most dedicated Chinook fanciers, with UKC cooperation, began a very careful program to breed their dogs with carefully selected dogs of other breeds until they reached the degree of excellence originally sought. But, I am told, the AKC would not allow this. Well, they have not been asked, first, and second, we must always put the dogs first and what best serves them. My Yoda lost a leg to synovial cell sarcoma and my Moses to bone cancer. Moses has been ill for two years, first with immune mediated polyarthritis and now with bone cancer, treated with huge success with amputation and chemotherapy. Medical costs for Moses for the last two years have now amounted to twenty four thousand dollars, that's right, twenty four thousand dollars. I have saved all the notes on treatment, receipts, etc. While I sit in clinic waiting rooms feeling new gray hairs sprouting and my heart slowly breaking, I wonder the number of other Berner owners who must be doing the same. I wonder why a breed is allowed to evolve in a direction that makes this degree of emotional trauma and expense necessary. Moses is a happy boy, VERY active but is the average Joe going to go the lengths that I have to ascertain such? Not a chance; the Bernese of the average Joe will be put down or shuffled off to become the responsibility of Rescue. My Jorda had hideous hips and lived to the age of thirteen years two weeks two days with no problems from such and even became a BMDCA ranked obedience dog in Novice and one of the first two dogs to earn the BMDCA Draft Dog title; she also did brace draft work with my other Berner, Daphane, before there were titles for such. I am told, when people become discouraged by Berner health, well, the short years of ecstacy with them make it all worthwhile. This statement makes my blood pressure rise because there is indication in it, in my opinion, that dogs are merely created to satisfy us and do not deserve health and longevity as their very birthrights. Lisa Allen _ Add photos to your messages with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail
Re: discouraged by breed post
On Thu, 12 Jun 2003 11:06:41 + Lisa D Allen [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: There are radical approaches that could be taken such as adopting rules that would make those of the Leonberg club or the most strict European countries seem lenient. I have to question the rules of the Leonberger club in light of the commercial breeders I've found on line breeding Leos and Berners...how do they fit into the scheme of things? Susan Ablon Gweebarra BMD Balch Springs, Tx http://www.pageweb.com/gwebara
Re: discouraged by breed post
Lisa, I just assisted a Leonberger owner in getting blood samples to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center for the study on malignant histiocytosis, four littermates had died of the disease. Hip and elbow problems? They have them. Dogs sold at auction? They have them. Strict does not solve the problems, all it does is to give the breeders that work outside of the rules an advantage in producing more puppies for sales to unwitting buyers. We are stuck with the AKC, and we need to find ways to use it to our advantage. People who are new to dogs thing that the AKC is a stamp of approval. So if we in the BMDCA were to ignore the AKC dictates, and started a very strict breeding program of our own, well, the puppy mills would have a field day. What we CAN do is to start helping to focus attention on the fact that no conscientious breeder would EVER register dogs with the newer registries like the API, or the other commercial dog registries. That doesn't do anything to address health issues, but it does help to distinguish dogs bred using the AKC registry versus those bred using the newer flavor-of-the-month registries for the commercial breeders. When it comes to health issues, a great many people are working extremely hard to try to help improve matters. They have been for decades, and change is going to come slowly. We have the Berner-Garde database - for those of you who are unfamiliar with it, see www.bernergarde.org If your dog isn't part of that database, get it entered! As for all the people who have dedicated time to that organization, THANK YOU! Barbara and Martin Packard, Dave and Margrit Kitchin, Lori Jodar, Roxanne Bortnick, Randy Karl, Jack Lytle, Ron Smith, Teresa Godfrey, Mary Maliarik, Mary Brown, Nancy Melone, Joye Neff, Nancy Stewart, the list goes on and on, I know I'll forget too many people. Is the database perfect? No! But it has been getting steadily better, and it's thanks to some incredibly hard working people. The BMDCA Health Committee, another group of hard workers. They review proposed study projects, they try to find good ways to share health information, they publicize health studies, a big thanks to all of those past and present: Kathy Berge, Kevin Curran, Ruth Reynolds, Lori Jodar, Karyn Beyers. Can they do more? Yes! But it takes time and dedication - and volunteers. The health studies that are ongoing. We've had the gene for von Willebrand's disease identified, I can't tell you how exciting that is! There is no need for any breeder to produce a puppy affected with von Willebrand's. Thanks for that success go to VetGen and all the people who submitted samples for their study. PRA may someday be in the same boat for Berners, thanks in no small part to Fran Krauss and Ellen Jacobs and everyone who has submitted information to the Baker Institute. Hip Dysplasia, under study at VetGen. Histiocytosis? Under study at Fred Hutchinson, and Dana-Farber. See www.bmdca.org under Health for a list of the current studies. The thanks for all of these are going to be to each person and each dog that submitted samples and information to the researchers to try to help benefit the future of the breed. It's taken us a century to get where we are in the breed. It's not going to be a simple matter to improve health and other issues in the breed. With the burgeoning popularity, things are bound to get worse before they get better. Will they get better? They will if I have any way I can help to improve matters. And a great many hard working people are doing all that they can too. I haven't even mentioned educatinal matters. If you don't think people are working hard on that front, then think again! Take a look at the breed advertisements in the July issue of Dog Fancy. I was thrilled to see the list of ads! Take a look at the people participating in the BMDCA Breed Steward program. They are going to be doing a lot of work with education! Look at everything the BMDCA Public Relations Committee is doing, Robin Hamme has a terrific group of people contributing substantial efforts on that front. BMDCA Education, Ruth Reynolds has been the chair of that effort for 13 years and has done an outstanding job in helping answer people who want information. Mary Shaver, Abby Patrizio, Linda Seavers, Dean Scott, the list just goes on and on! If you think the breed is in trouble, well, of course it is! It has been for sometime. But ask yourself what small part you can play in helping to make things better. The person you take the time to talk to when you're out walking your Berner. The submission to Berner-Garde or a health study. Assisting at an education or ways and means table at a regional show. Asking that lost looking person at a dog show if they need some help or information. There are so many ways to just dig in and help out! Pat Long ( Luther) Berner-L co-owner BMDCA Health Committee Member Berner-Garde Trustee Berner-Garde interim File
Re: discouraged by breed post
Hi Pat, Excellent post! Are we going to the vet more often nowadays? In our country we do, earlier (15- 25 years ago?) it was just to put the dogs down if they was very sick. If we go to the vet more often now a lot of new diseases are seen and discovered in the breed. Perhaps the illnesses had been discovered earlier if we had went to the clinics as frequent as we do today. There are also better educated veterinarians, thanks God! And about going for walks in town with your lovely Berner. I love to see all the love Vincent gives to all who just are looking at him. He gives their hearts a warm hug with his friendly look. Meaning Vincent gives a lot a better life just when he walks around in our world. Bernerhugs from Vincent and Margareta Sweden
Checks--thanks!
Thanks so much to everyone who replied! The consensus seems to be that the place for Berner checks is Kansas Bank Note Company. They have a standard Berner image, but will also put your own picture on checks for a one-time fee. The contact info is: Kansas Bank Note Co. Box 360 Fredonia, Kansas 66736 Phone 620 378-3026 To order online www.kbnc.com Martha Hoverson, Molly (would make a very pretty check) and Sam (too busy in the wading pool to care) [EMAIL PROTECTED] Portland, Maine _ Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail
Re: Discouraged with the breed
Tracy Lawrence [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Guess what hip hisplaysia in one hip and still no diagnosis for the limping in the front end Hi Tracy, I am really so sorry your pup seems to have joint problems so young; but I believe you do have cause for hope. She's awfully young to be diagnosed with HD. Her hips can and will change as she matures her shoulder problem maybe little more than a strain. Over the years, I've stopped wrapping my pups in cotton wool - I've found they're far more likely to hurt themselves on the one opportunity they find to run loose! I exercise them moderately, on lead, this way they build up muscle mass to help support those quick growing bones. They are then left to enjoy the garden and because they have been used to daily walks and supervised exercise, they don't go mad. Granted, they have their 'funny 5 minutes', and occasionally when rough housing with adult dogs, will fall over; they've even fallen through the ice into the pond! But... I don't think this has been in any way related to joint problems. My Newfy pup, now 18 months, was not confined or restrained in any way and from the start she played hard with Toby-newf (who, incidentally also has poor joints, despite research into his background). For the first couple of months, her lead exercise was just a half mile or so, and that was sufficient. But once she showed signs of wanting more, we obliged. Her joints are wonderful and she now races round the garden with Roxie, the pair of them pretending they're greyhounds I think! Tracy also wrote: Remind me again why we continue to prolong the existence of this breed when we are continually fighting Darwin's evolutionary principle survival of the fittest!! I can understand completely how despondent you must be feeling, especially since you are having a run of bad luck. I've been through exactly the same with my Bernese: Hannah - exceptionally poor temperament, skin problems, blind rage fits, fear aggression. Died from Anaphylactic shock after a bee sting at 18 months. (1987) Hannah Too: this time we researched and researched and still our pup was diagnosed with shoulder dysplasia at 7 months, and was euthanised at 3 after having uncontrollable pain from 'a tumour'. Post Mortem diagnosed Histio. (1991) (At this point, I had a phrase based on Oscar Wilde going through my head: To lose one dog (parent) may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness. ... ) Boots - a rescue. He was nearly 8 when the pain of spondylitis was too great to bear. (1996) Belle - a puppy farm brood bitch. Died on the operating table at 6 and a half. PM showed a microscopic apocrine gland cancer. (2000) Jaz - also a puppy farm brood bitch her full litter sister. Euthanised at 7. PM showed primary lung cancer. (2001) ANNIE - LIVED TILL SHE WAS ELEVEN AND A HALF (2002) She's the reason I have hope. And until Roxie, my 2 year old, I had never had a dog without joint problems, BUT all my dogs loved life and lived it to the full. I could never be without a Berner. After having them in my life for 17 years, I understand that although they come and go quicker than other breeds, we're working on it and seeing results. I know that each one has added to the knowledge base and that dogs I have in the future will benefit from that. There is a great deal of research being done on their behalf - recent advances in genetic science are astounding and are being used to further our understanding of 'The Bernese Problem'. Every time a Post Mortem is carried out and results are added to the research, we are one step nearer to eradicating the horrendous disease problems. We just can't give up now and stop helping our beloved breed overcome Darwin's theory, that's one of the reasons why we fight against puppy mills, BYB breeders auctions, to prevent dogs with bad genetic material being introduced back into the breed. I believe passionately that WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. That's why I shall never give up. Bernese have a hold on my heart that I'll never relinquish. They deserve to live pain free, long lives and if it takes human intervention to turn Darwin's theory around, then I shall do everything I can to help. Hug your pup hard and look optimistically to all the happy years you will spend together :-). Liz Bradbury in Scotland, with Roxie the bouncing Berner; Newfs Toby and Maggie; the 6 Feline Fiends. http://www.btinternet.com/~liz.Bradbury1
Re: discouraged by breed post
In a message dated 6/12/03 7:37:17 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: If you think the breed is in trouble, well, of course it is! It has been for sometime. But ask yourself what small part you can play in helping to make things better. The person you take the time to talk to when you're out walking your Berner. The submission to Berner-Garde or a health study. Assisting at an education or ways and means table at a regional show. Asking that lost looking person at a dog show if they need some help or information. There are so many ways to just dig in and help out! Pat is so right! This is certainly one situation where the adage 'if you aren't part of the solution, you're part of the problem' applies. If you love this breed, then you'll 'post' your dogs and use the findings to participate in the health studies, mentor a newbie or ensure they find a suitable mentor for their interests, contribute to the many, varied programs being conducted in the best interests of the BMD breed and community, befriend newcomers to your area or breed There are so many ways to help make things better. So many ways. Anyone who does none of these IMO has no legitimate claim to complain. Improvement cannot occur in a vacuum. Only entropy can All my hopes, Vicky and the Horde =P~ [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Discouraged with the breed/Puppies
I think moderation is the trick with puppies, and even adult dogs. While I do not think 8 week old puppies ought to walk three miles, the other extreme is letting them do nothing at all. How does anyone live with a puppy who does not exercise?! Stairs can be taught and managed so that small puppies do not leap halfway down, and walks can be appropriate for the age. I am interested in hearing from breeders who put such limitations (no stairs, no walks, etc) on their puppies -- why is this done??? I actually prefer off leash walks/exercise for puppies, and leash walks only for teaching leash manners with a younger puppy. I take my puppy to a fenced baseball diamond most every morning and let her run and play to her heart's content, usually with her older sister, Maize. She is 7.5 months now but I have been doing this since she was small. I have started taking her to an off leash dog park as well to assist with continued socialization. She also started tracking at 8 weeks and that was quite a bit of exercise as well. I have given up worrying about her jumping on/off the couch, chairs or coffee table -- I am just happy that she is no longer getting on the kitchen table! I cannot imagine this athletic, fearless and busy puppy not being allowed to move and exercise, and this is how I have been with all of my berners. Hip and elbow dysplasia are going to happen if you get the right (wrong!) combination of genes. Therefore, might as well let the puppy be a puppy and not treat her like a hot house flower. Again, moderation and common sense are important -- a puppy is still a baby. Also, regarding a front limp -- REST THE DOG. When no cause can be found you may will be dealing with a soft tissue injury that is not being allowed to heal. Rest means crate or small pen, leash walks only to potty and that is it for at least a week and better for two. Owners find this SO hard to do and so the injury never really heals -- it requires tough love :) Mary-Ann Bowman Utah Emma, CDX, DD, CGC, retired Abra, VCD1 (TD, CD, NA, NAJ), CDX, DD, OA, CGC Maize, VCD1 (TD, CD, NA, NAJ), OAJ, OA, DD, CGC Halo deVil, TD (seven months and nothing but trouble in spite of lots of exercise :)
Daisy's Tips: Daisy is 4 years old today!!
Hi L'ers, I would like to wish my Daisy and her littermates the happiest and healthiest of birthdays -- most especially to sweet Sierra who is now shining brightly at the Rainbow Bridge. We miss you so much! Daisy is my first Berner and the one who changed my life. She is my soul-mate, my super-duper cuddler, my mischievous, devious, crafty girl who is now the model of obedience. My slow-motion agility girl. As I have said many times before, she is the other half of my smile. Birthdays are times when I sit and remember all the special memories. One memory, however, stands out: the tomato fiasco. This was Daisy at the height of her devious powers: HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY DAISY!! Daisy's Tips: Charge of the Daisy Brigade - Thursday, September 28, 2000 1:42 PM Hi ho fellow puppies, Today I just could not leave the kitchen area. On the counter in a huge basket were hundreds of tomatoes, and they smelled wonderful! Humans, however, are strange because when my Mom entered the kitchen, her eyes filled up, and she started to gag. With hand over nose, she dashed to the basement. All manner of noises erupted: the slamming of cabinet doors, boxes falling over and a howl of pain. Mom reappeared lugging huge pots, boxes of jars and muttering something about my Dad and his ... um ... doggone ant piles of junk (my Dad is a packrat). She practically threw the supplies on the counter, slapped her hand to her nose, gagged in the most wretched manner, grabbed the basket of tomatoes and fled. That is, she tried to flee. The basket must have weighed far more than she realized. Another howl of pain. She dragged the basket outside, and, to my horror, locked me in the house and headed towards my fragrant Shangri-La: the compost pile! Once there, she sorted through the tomatoes, gagging, retching and growing more and more pale. By the time she returned to the kitchen with the basket of remaining tomatoes, she was on all fours, so to speak. Play time!! As she crawled in the direction of the bathroom, I play bowed and patted her head vigorously. She collapsed to the floor. Daisy, her voice reed thin. I'm dying. Go' way. Perhaps the time to can tomatoes is not when you have a stomach virus. The tomatoes and the fascinating aroma of those spoiling, however, were calling to my Mom, and she is nothing if not conscientious. She knows how special my Dad's garden is to him. Canning tomatoes, though, is a lot of work: skinning them, then quartering, seeding, simmering, sterilizing jars, lids. Mercy mutts! You humans really should develop a taste for the compost pile... much easier!! I stayed as close to my poor Mom as possible, trying to be a reassuring presence while catching any floor-born tomato bits. Be assured, tomatoes are deeelicious, and Mom was dropping lots of bits. Plus, since she kept leaving the kitchen to visit the bathroom, I had only to helpfully clear some of the debris from the counter into my carefully positioned mouth. Fellow puppies, do remember. Wipe down the front of the cabinets when you do this so that... DAISY!!! FF Mom was back. I dropped to a semi-down, my body coiled for any possibility. When all the tomatoes had been peeled, quartered and seeded, my Mom ran again to visit the bathroom. I rose slowly from the floor like a phoenix from the ashes. I loomed over the counter. There were three big stainless steel bowls of tomatoes. Three. Poised on my powerful hind legs, paws on the counter, I carefully compared the contents of each bowl. THE WINNER IS BOWL NUMBER TWOO. I tried to reach into the bowl but the sides were too high. I delicately nudged the bowl to the edge of the counter and watched avidly as it followed my drool to the floor. The bowl hit with a dull clunk as tomato quarters and juice spewed in all directions like liquid fireworks. Into the valley of death (my mouth) road the plump six hundred. Molars to the right of them. Molars to the left of them. Theirs not to reason why. Theirs but to be eaten and darn quickly! I could hear bagpipes in the distance (the bathroom), and knew my time was short. Heroically I jumped into the fray and attacked the red stew surging across the kitchen floor. Immediately I found myself hydroplaning the entire length of the kitchen. Ever clever, I simply opened my mouth and shoveled in as much as I could -- and it wasn't much. What a challenge! As I gleefully turned for my next run, I saw her. She stood pale and still at the entrance to the kitchen, her mouth working to emit some sort of sound. She looked like a guppy. I froze, tomato juice and fragments dripping from my muzzle, my legs, and, to be truthful, from my entire body. Juice and tomato bits coated the counter, the cabinets, the walls, not to mention the floor, and I had been caught deep in it. I will never forget the sound my Mom managed to produce -- rather like her bagpipes had sprung a leak. Before I could say tomah-to, I was dragged
mars coat king
i too have one, has anyone used it on their dog's back. woofit is blowing his coat and there is always more fur there than i can believe. i filled a mixing bowl with fur the other day. i am using a rake with teflon to get it out a rake type brush. should i try the coat king. he tends to be curly. thanks andrea
Re: mars coat king
i too have one, has anyone used it on their dog's back. woofit is blowing his coat and there is always more fur there than i can believe. i filled a mixing bowl with fur the other day. Andrea, What, pray tell, were you baking? G Janice Parky Halley and her brother whose name keeps changing
Re: Discouraged with the breed
Tracy Lawrence [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Guess what hip hisplaysia in one hip and still no diagnosis for the limping in the front end we x-rayed my first berner when he was 10 months old since he was limping on and off and would only pace for the show ring. My vet and a specialist we consulted both agreed that they would not say he had hip dysplasia but neither one would say he did NOT have hip dysplasia. Both recommended I wait until he was at least 2 years old and repeat. In the meantime, unless he showed increased limping, don't worry. They did discuss a potential TPO before he reached a certain age if we felt his hips were in need of that. I did not want surgery so I decided to take my chances. At age 2 I redid the x-rays and he received an OFA good. At the age of 11 years 4 months, he has slowed down a little but he is still sound and can move like the wind in a show ring. He can still jump on and off my bed, run up a flight of stairs, and jump in and out of the back of my Grand Cherokee. I have had him on Glyco-Flex since he was about 4 and started adding Ester-C this winter. My second berner received 3 different ratings from OFA on her hips and elbows - none of them passing but all of them different grades with a different diagnosis. I never did any surgery but kept her muscled and lean. She only started showing lameness around age 6 but even then, after warming up she had a flowing gait. She was also on Glyco-Flex and I kept her thin. Sadly she died of histio over the winter. Joints go through so much in that first year that unless it is SO obvious and the pup is showing pain and an altered gait, there is a chance all will mature better than expected. The front end could also be pano and something that will pass as the pup ages. Try Ester-C, a low protein, low fat food, and exercise. My mom's golden had such severe pano that she had to carry him for 8 months - he refused to walk. They feared dysplasia but on x-ray at 8 months, he had gorgeous joints - but the long bones were inflamed indicating pano. He finally grew out of it by 14 months and remains sound at almost 9 years. Good luck, Molly and the gang Charlottesville, VA
re: post about being discouraged with breed
We do not know if the AKC would accept radical, as most would see it, moves on the behalf of the Berner breed unless we ask them. I refer to the Chinook program and the Leonberg program. One of the reasons that I continue to mention them is because I hope that one day, one or more of the influential people in the breed will take a shine to such and be able to bring such proposals to fruitition in a manner which I cannot. I cannot, hard as I attempt to do so, understand how the creation of over 2000 AKC registered (and these are only those registered with the AKC) will improve the breed. Perhaps someone with knowledge I do not possess will make the effort to explain this. Before we are able to defeat cancer, should not Berner immune systems be made more fragile than fine china? We cannot walk (pups), vaccinate, or feed these dogs kibble; before I receive posts stating that such and such a person does all three of these things, know that I have heard these cannots stated enough by people with clout that I can post them without stretching the truth to the point of tearing. Of course, there are people working to turn things around and I hope I can do my share. I have become a breed steward and already helped someone to make a good decision, I write constantly to bring to the attention of newbies and others many important issues and I feel more than qualified to be bone cancer contact person for the BMDCA and have volunteered my services in this regard. Well, gotta go; Moses' massage therapist is due at the house any minute! Lisa Allen _ STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail
Clarification
I just re-read my post and when I wrote the creation of 2000 pups, I meant 2000 a year. Lisa Allen _ STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail
Re: Yuck
Darn. Fulton devoured a dead chipmunk while out walking with the kids. What now? Esta Dalsass NJ
Re: Yuck
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Cancer Studies
I'm a little confused (well, okay, I admit that's the way I spend most of my waking hours). I'd be more than willing to have my two participate in whatever studies can use them. But as they're both young (3 1/2 and 23 months), I was under the impression from earlier posts that they could not be part of any current study. Would someone please explain exactly what dogs these studies are looking for, i.e. ages, health history, etc? Thanks! Vicky Whitney in Bozeman, Montana _ MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus
Re: Discouraged with the breed/Puppies
I am interested in hearing from breeders who put such limitations (no stairs, no walks, etc) on their puppies -- why is this done??? Personally I encourage my owners to let their dogs be dogs - lifting in and out of vehicles only if they are tall and the pups are too small. My 14 week olds are too small to get in and out of the jeep alone but I have taught them to put up their front feet then boost their rears. When I had a sedan they could climb in the back without help. As for steps, let them do them but not play on them. Encourage a controlled pace and use a leash if necessary to keep them aware of where they put they feet but do not avoid steps as I think they build good muscles for the joints. Avoid slick stairs and slick floors, especially at a faster gait than a walk. Put down throw rugs if necessary to avoid excessive slipping. Keep nails trimmed so the pads make good contact. As for exercise, exercise is good but do not overdo it. Let the pup go at it own pace and as it matures and builds muscle and endurance, lengthen the walks and degree of difficulty - ie go from yards and flat areas to paths and forests with rocks and inclines. Start walks with a few houses and build up to a block. As the pup grows, lengthen the walks but do not jog, bike, or power walk with a dog before it is at least 18 months - 2 years. Also no organized jumping as I feel the impact on the growing joints can offer a potential injury (over logs, fences, etc). Then x-ray to determine if the dog is capable of such exercise. Also evaluate the level of endurance the dog is capable of at that age and the amount of muscle tone and growth maturity to see if such exercise should be gradual and at what level it can be increased. As for playing with other dogs, I let them. The pups can usually tell me if the dog is too rough or they will flatten on the ground to avoid being hurt. If I see this behavior repeated at frequent intervals in a short play session, I will separate the two dogs and wait for the puppy to be a little older and also work with the older dog to play more gently. Since being this relaxed, both dogs raised under this have clean hips and elbows. I am waiting to x-ray my 19 month old until she turns 2 but I see no reason she will not clear - at least no clinical reason. Her sister's x-rays look fantastic at 17 months and she is 10x more energetic than my girl. It's a full time job!! Molly and the gang Quellen Bernese
RE: Discouraged with the breed
Hi Tracey, I'm sorry your puppy has been diagnosed with hip dyplasia and that as a result of your personal experiences you have a dim view of the breed but the Berner does not deserve to be extinct, there are many strong healthy Berners living with a true zest for life that enriches their owner's lives. When researching you need to ask about family history, siblings of ancestors need to be considered. Whatever breed you decide to investigate if they have a list such as this ask questions about problems and seek out a mentor who can tell you about important dogs in the breed's history and which of those are noted for their excellence in passing on the traits you deem important. You need to see more than a three generation pedigree in order to see how closely related the more recent ones are and then ask as to whether this has been a positive thing or not. Outcrosses can be a stab in the dark but not all close breedings are necessarily a good thing either. Ask loads of questions and check back with others for accuracy. All the best with your puppy and your future choices, I hope your breeder(s) have been supportive to you. Rose T.
Cell Lymphoma of the Subcutaneous Tissue
After several conflicting lab reports (malignant histio, systemic histio, histiocytoma), Peter Moore of UC Davis found these results on a biopsy from a lump on Babe's back: The results indicate a high grade grade B cell lymphoma of the subcutaneous tissue. These are rare lesions and some spontaneously regress in the early stages. We don't know what will happen, but preseumably some lesions will progress if not treated. This is all I know right now. Has anyone had any experience with this? If so, I would be grateful for any information. Babe also has underlying systemic lupus, so this is pretty disheartening information although certainly better than MH. Right now she is doing pretty well - all the lumps have disappeared (or been removed). Valerie, Babe Emily
RE: Cancer Studies
i was confused as well. the confusion is that there are two different studies. this is what jill wrote back to me. Any willing Berner can be involved! If you send me your mailing address I will send you 2 kits with instructions how to take the cheek swabs from Woofit and Chi. You will also have a pre-addressed, pre-stamped envelope in which to return the kits. I will need both dogs pedigrees and AKC numbers as well. jill's e mail is: [EMAIL PROTECTED] andrea -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Vicky Whitney Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2003 11:28 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Cancer Studies I'm a little confused (well, okay, I admit that's the way I spend most of my waking hours). I'd be more than willing to have my two participate in whatever studies can use them. But as they're both young (3 1/2 and 23 months), I was under the impression from earlier posts that they could not be part of any current study. Would someone please explain exactly what dogs these studies are looking for, i.e. ages, health history, etc? Thanks! Vicky Whitney in Bozeman, Montana _ MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus
RE: Yuck
Hi Esta, What now?? Tapeworm medications:-) Rose T. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: June 12, 2003 11:05 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Yuck Darn. Fulton devoured a dead chipmunk while out walking with the kids. What now? Esta Dalsass NJ
Re: Cancer Studies
Vicky, Molly has already detailed who can help with the Fred Hutchinson study on histiocytosis, and to make life more complicated, we also have another study for histio that your two dogs CAN participate in. We are currently working on the www.bmdca.org website Health section, it is going to be a work in progress for a little while to come. But there is a Current Studies page there, and the information about the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute study will be updated with the following. I will be trying to keep the Current Studies page updated, so that you can review it to see what work is ongoing! Pat Long ( Luther) Berwyn PA - Systemic Histiocytosis Genes in BMDs: Dr. Barrett Rollins at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) is searching for genes involved in systemic histiocytosis, which is very similar to a human cancer called Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis. These cancers run in families in both dogs and people, so the likelihood that both dogs and humans share a similar gene predisposing to this cancer is very likely. Understanding the affected genes will likely lead to more effective diagnosis and treatment for both groups. Dr. Rollins and his associate, Dr. Jill Rudkowski, are looking for families of dogs (parents, and littermates) who are affected with either malignant or systemic histiocytosis, as well as families without the cancer. They want to encourage participation on a worldwide basis of all Berners and are pleased to send DNA kits outside the USA. DNA will be extracted from cells gathered from the dog. The cell collection is a simple and quick process. Using a special soft brush provided by the Dana-Farber/Harvard research team, you gently scrape the inside of the dog's cheek for about 30 seconds and send the sample back to them in the mail. While the return envelopes are pre-paid in the US, they do not have the capability to pre-pay the return envelopes for other countries as proper postage is difficult to obtain. However. the return package is very light weight and should not be very expensive to mail. If interested: 1. Please call or email Jill Rudkowski, MD, FRCP(c) at (617)632-4732; [EMAIL PROTECTED] for a free collection kit. 2. Follow enclosed instructions 3. Include a completed LCH Project BMD Owner Information Form 4. Enclose a copy of the dog's official pedigree with annotations about any other affected family members of which you have knowledge 5. Enclose a copy of the pathology report confirming the diagnosis (for affected dogs only) 6. Enclose the swabs (soft brushes described above) 7. Mail packet with forms and samples priority mail as instructed, to DFCI 8. Call or email DFCI to let them know the packet is on its way. If you need more information please email Mary Maliarik, ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) or Robin Hamme ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) who are helping with recruitment efforts Check any e-mail over the Web for free at MailBreeze (http://www.mailbreeze.com)
Re: Is there a Berner Parade in Truckee, CA this July 4th?
Hi Lori, go to www.sierrawest.org for more information about the Truckee 4th of July parade. It is well organized and even has a dress code for participants. Also check www.norcalbernese.org for info about the Novato, CA July 4th parade. It is open to Swiss breeds with a very casual atmosphere. They will be trying to beat the basset hound entry, the home town favorite. I think Half Moon Bay, CA had a Berner entry last year also? I can't remember the details. Mike and Terri Whalen Dixon, California and Reno Int, Am Ch Best Bet's Reno Gambler CGC TT and Cash, Ch Best Bet's Cash Advance Reno's little Brother
Re: Is there a Berner Parade in Truckee, CA this July 4th?
Hi Lori, I forgot to mention Swiss dog Day at Fort Mason June 29,2003. The have a small parade of breeds showing five Swiss breeds. Check out www.norcalbernese.org for more information. Mike and Terri Whalen and Reno Int, Am Ch Best Bet's Reno Gambler CGC TT and Cash, Ch Best Bet's Cash Advance CGC Reno's little Brother
Cancer and OTHER Studies
I changed the subject line to include *OTHER* studies, as well. What about any other studies that are not specifically for cancer, like tracing DNA? I think there have been references to several in the last couple of digests, and I'd like to help if my young, healthy (knock on wood) guys can be used. My heart weeps every time I read about the loss of a beloved Berner, and if we can help we'd love to. Vicky Whitney in Bozeman, Montana Hi Vicky, The study at Fred Hutchinson wants dogs over the age of 10 who have not been diagnosed with malignant histio to participate in the CONTROL group. Your two are too young for this category. As for affected, and I hope your never qualify for this group, they ask that if histio is expected at the time of death, that the blood be drawn prior to death, a necropsy will then provide a definite answer as to the cause of death and confirm if it is histio. Some have sent blood to Seattle at the time of death to have a different cause confirmed. Those dogs have been excluded from the study. But it is better to err on the side of collecting and sending than not to participate and learn the dog did die from histio. If histio can be confirmed prior to the dog's death, then draw the blood immediately and send it to the study along with the other information they request - pedigree and additional health information. This is usually in the form of a biopsy of the affected tissue - tumor, bone marrow, etc. As histio is such a fast killer, the time to make this decision is often limited. My girl was diagnosed on a Friday, we drew blood Monday not thinking she would make it through the night, and she passed to Rainbow Bridge Tuesday afternoon. Molly and the gang Missing Bianca - 4/29/95-1/14/03 - a victim of this horrible cancer _ MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus
Sunvisors for cars?
I am looking for a Berner sunvisor for my car. Anyone have one? Can you look on the tag for the manufacture and let me know? Do you remember where you bought it. Mike and Terri Whalen and Reno Int, Am Ch Best Bet's Reno Gambler CGC TT and Cash, Ch Best Bet's Cash Advance CGC Reno's little Brother
Re: Cancer and OTHER Studies
Vicky, In addition to the histiocytosis research at Fred Hutchinson and Dana Farber, there are a number of other studies that I can summarize here. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has been working for a number of years to map the canine genome, they have been working in concert with a number of other research facilities around the world. They had been collecting samples of unrelated dogs from as many different breeds as possible, I don't know if they still need samples from Berners or not. I suspect they have enough, but I'll have to check. Berner-Garde is sponsoring a study by Dr. George Padgett to determine if hemangiosarcoma has a hereditary basis in Bernese Mountain Dogs. I believe we will hear that it is. There is a study supported by the BMDCA on lymphoma and osteosarcoma. It's being done by Dr. Jaime Modiano in Denver, Colorado, at the AMC Cancer Research Center. VetGen has been working on hip dysplasia for a number of years, they are always interested in getting samples from dogs that are members of families with more than two affected Berners. Epilepsy is being studied at the U of Missouri-Columbia and the U of Minnesota. They are studying the genetic basis for epilepsy in all breeds, and they are also interested in samples. Dr. Paige Carmichael, DVM, at the University of Georgia School of Veterinary Medicine, is working on developing a carrier test for Hepatocerebellar Degeneration. Sandy Novocin is collecting information about symptoms that we see in Bernese that seem to suffer from something similar to Multiple Schlerosis in humans. She wants to provide information to a neurologist that is interested in learning more about this problem. These are just a very small group of all the studies that are being done, you can always take a look at www.bmdca.org under Health for contact information and details on how to participate. For information about what other studies are being done, take a look at http://www.akcchf.org/ under Research. It's a long list! And those are only the ones being sponsored by the Canine Health Foundation. I know I didn't answer your question quite the way you had hoped, but I did want to be thorough! Pat Long ( Luther) Berwyn PA Check any e-mail over the Web for free at MailBreeze (http://www.mailbreeze.com)
Car Sun Shields
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Following Up/Elbow Dysplasia
I'm wondering if anyone on the List can share their experience with managing a dysplastic dog who, in the original diagnosis, was not considered to be a candidate for surgery. Maddie started with a front end limp at 4 months. As x-rays were not revealing, we went to a specialist at 7 months who did a CT scan and diagnosed diffuse dysplastic changes in both elbows. As predicted, arthritic changes have set in and she is somewhat lame/stiff at just over one year old. We have been supplementing with glucosamine/chondroitin regularly, add an aspirin on particularly stiff/achy days, give her plenty of free-range exercise, etc., but I am beginning to wonder about what kind of orthopedic follow-up would be appropriate. I believe that the specialist's no surgery comment meant that, at the time, there were no fragments to be cleaned up...nothing fixable. But I wonder if this possibly changes over time, and if the elbows should be re-Xrayed at some point to see what's happening... I've read lots about elbow dysplasia, but wonder if people could share their responses to an early diagnosis of this problem. Did you do follow-up studies after the initial diagnosis...was surgery eventually indicated...how did you manage the dysplastic changes in such a young dog...etc. And, according to my regular vet, there are no surgeons in the New York/New Jersey metro. area who do arthroscopic elbow surgery. Does anyone know if this is accurate? Maybe Philadelphia? Thanks for any input! Anne with Maddie and Titan Cranford, NJ
Re: Yuck
On Thu, 12 Jun 2003 12:27:50 -0400 Rose Tierney [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Hi Esta, What now?? Tapeworm medications:-) Actually tapeworms are from fleas and fleas usually won't stay on a cold body. I've been told that the fur or feathers ingested along with fresh flesh are natures wormers..Does anyone know if this is true or not? Susan Ablon Gweebarra BMD Balch Springs, Tx http://www.pageweb.com/gwebara
Re: Discouraged with the Breed
Consequently, elbow problems and sometimes hip dysplasia can be environmentally caused through injury to these areas at an early age. Sorry -- can't just let this go -- we have newbies on our list all the time and they deserve the straight scoop. Too many are made to feel responsible when their dogs are dysplasic. From the OFA website: Hip Dysplasia is a terrible genetic disease... and Elbow dysplasia is a general term used to identify an inherited polygenic disease in the elbow of dogs. Hip and elbow dysplasia are genetic diseases. The OFA website also explains, There are multiple environmental factors such as caloric intake, level of exercise, and weather that can affect the severity of clinical signs and phenotypic expression (radiographic changes). So environmental things can make it worse or better, but do not cause hip and elbow dysplasia. Certainly hips, elbows and other body parts can be injured but hip and elbow dysplasia, according to the experts, is in the genes. Mary-Ann Bowman Utah
Re: Cancer and OTHER Studies
There is one school - somewhere in the east but I cannot remember the name, where they are mapping the canine genome. However they are using boxers. Evidently there is an even smaller gene pool in boxers than in BMDs and certain breeders have such records of their lines that they were able to contact 40 owners and achieve their study group in a matter of weeks. The variations in these lines is so small that they feel they can determine the genome much as it was done in humans. Once they are able to map it, then they should be able to transfer the information to other breeds. One thing I found interesting in visiting the lab in Seattle was that Heidi Parker told me that in several cases where dogs suffer from the same ailment as humans, diabetes for example, that when they have located the genetic marker on the human DNA, within months they are able to locate the genetic marker in the dogs. Usually it is in a position close to that on the human DNA. Therefore, by identifying markers in humans, it can be transferred to animals and vice versa. They are hoping to do this with various forms of cancer as well as other diseases. Molly et al Charlottesville, VA I changed the subject line to include *OTHER* studies, as well. What about any other studies that are not specifically for cancer, like tracing DNA?
Re: Daisy's Tips: Daisy is 4 years old today!!
Yutzi sends Daisy birthday greetings. He would like to give her a big wet kiss. sara steele Hi L'ers, I would like to wish my Daisy and her littermates the happiest and healthiest of birthdays -- most especially to sweet Sierra who is now shining brightly at the Rainbow Bridge. We miss you so much! Daisy is my first Berner and the one who changed my life. She is my soul-mate, my super-duper cuddler, my mischievous, devious, crafty girl who is now the model of obedience. My slow-motion agility girl. As I have said many times before, she is the other half of my smile. Birthdays are times when I sit and remember all the special memories. One memory, however, stands out: the tomato fiasco. This was Daisy at the height of her devious powers: HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY DAISY!! Daisy's Tips: Charge of the Daisy Brigade © - Thursday, September 28, 2000 1:42 PM Hi ho fellow puppies, Today I just could not leave the kitchen area. On the counter in a huge basket were hundreds of tomatoes, and they smelled wonderful! Humans, however, are strange because when my Mom entered the kitchen, her eyes filled up, and she started to gag. With hand over nose, she dashed to the basement. All manner of noises erupted: the slamming of cabinet doors, boxes falling over and a howl of pain. Mom reappeared lugging huge pots, boxes of jars and muttering something about my Dad and his ... um ... doggone ant piles of junk (my Dad is a packrat). She practically threw the supplies on the counter, slapped her hand to her nose, gagged in the most wretched manner, grabbed the basket of tomatoes and fled. That is, she tried to flee. The basket must have weighed far more than she realized. Another howl of pain. She dragged the basket outside, and, to my horror, locked me in the house and headed towards my fragrant Shangri-La: the compost pile! Once there, she sorted through the tomatoes, gagging, retching and growing more and more pale. By the time she returned to the kitchen with the basket of remaining tomatoes, she was on all fours, so to speak. Play time!! As she crawled in the direction of the bathroom, I play bowed and patted her head vigorously. She collapsed to the floor. Daisy, her voice reed thin. I'm dying. Go' way. Perhaps the time to can tomatoes is not when you have a stomach virus. The tomatoes and the fascinating aroma of those spoiling, however, were calling to my Mom, and she is nothing if not conscientious. She knows how special my Dad's garden is to him. Canning tomatoes, though, is a lot of work: skinning them, then quartering, seeding, simmering, sterilizing jars, lids. Mercy mutts! You humans really should develop a taste for the compost pile... much easier!! I stayed as close to my poor Mom as possible, trying to be a reassuring presence while catching any floor-born tomato bits. Be assured, tomatoes are deeelicious, and Mom was dropping lots of bits. Plus, since she kept leaving the kitchen to visit the bathroom, I had only to helpfully clear some of the debris from the counter into my carefully positioned mouth. Fellow puppies, do remember. Wipe down the front of the cabinets when you do this so that... DAISY!!! FF Mom was back. I dropped to a semi-down, my body coiled for any possibility. When all the tomatoes had been peeled, quartered and seeded, my Mom ran again to visit the bathroom. I rose slowly from the floor like a phoenix from the ashes. I loomed over the counter. There were three big stainless steel bowls of tomatoes. Three. Poised on my powerful hind legs, paws on the counter, I carefully compared the contents of each bowl. THE WINNER IS BOWL NUMBER TWOO. I tried to reach into the bowl but the sides were too high. I delicately nudged the bowl to the edge of the counter and watched avidly as it followed my drool to the floor. The bowl hit with a dull clunk as tomato quarters and juice spewed in all directions like liquid fireworks. Into the valley of death (my mouth) road the plump six hundred. Molars to the right of them. Molars to the left of them. Theirs not to reason why. Theirs but to be eaten and darn quickly! I could hear bagpipes in the distance (the bathroom), and knew my time was short. Heroically I jumped into the fray and attacked the red stew surging across the kitchen floor. Immediately I found myself hydroplaning the entire length of the kitchen. Ever clever, I simply opened my mouth and shoveled in as much as I could -- and it wasn't much. What a challenge! As I gleefully turned for my next run, I saw her. She stood pale and still at the entrance to the kitchen, her mouth working to emit some sort of sound. She looked like a guppy. I froze, tomato juice and fragments dripping from my muzzle, my legs, and, to be truthful, from my entire body. Juice and tomato bits coated the counter, the cabinets, the walls, not to mention the floor, and I had been caught deep in it. I will never forget the
RE: Genome Mapping
You can read a little about the efforts to map the canine genome here: http://www.animalbiotechnology.org/default.asp?news_id=577mode=showarti cle There are many other websites with information as well. It has been a coordinated effort by some researchers, a great deal of information has been shared between them - which I don't think is something that typically happens. And in May, the National Human Genome Research Institute (see http://www.genome.gov/11007358) announced that funds would be allocated for mapping the canine genome (the Boxer was chosen as the breed because it has the least amount of variation in its genome of any of 120 breeds studied), as well as for mapping the rhesus monkey, and the cattle genome. Molly, the project to sequence the genome of the Boxer will begin in June at the Whitehead/MIT Center for Genome Research in Cambridge, MA. Pat Long ( Luther) Berwyn PA
help with pooing in the house!
Hi everyone, Hoping you all can give me some advice here. We just moved in to a new house May 1st, and I know our move was pretty stressful on our 3yr old Bernerboy Edgar. We have an unfinished basement and set up part of it as the pets area while we are gone at work during the day and also at night. In our house Edgar was gated off at night and during the day in our lower level (of a split entry) as well. The first several weeks he had a few poo poo accidents down in the basement, I sort of chalked it up to stress from the move. But now he has done it twice already this week! One evening he did it while we were home. . . he knows he's not supposed to do that because he feels terrible when we come home and find it. He is not left alone any longer than he used to be, so wondering how we can cure this problem. Should I start crating him again? I hate to do that, but if it will get him to stop pooping I will. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated We're thinking about a 2nd dog, maybe later than sooner now with this new pooping thing, and we don't want him to teach a new pup/dog that it's ok to do that in the house. . . help! Thanks. Nikki
Early Spay and Neuter Experience
Well, I guess I have to add to this discussion. As many of you know I have done early spay and neuter on several of my Bernese litters, 15 litters to be exact with 61 early spay or neuters and 42 either intact or neutered later. I am currently writing a paper in regard to the differences and experience with these litters related to the early spay and neuter. I will have photos at one year on all litters and three years on most litters. They will all have been evaluated for hip and elbow dysplasia. I can tell you that I have worked with the veterinarian from GDC, Dr Paulos, and spoken many times with veterinarians from not only WSU (Washington State University - Dr Stanclist actually recommends and promotes early spay and neuter) but also Purdue, UC Davis, Ontario College of Vet Med, Veterinarian Highschool in Denmark and several practitioners in both US and Canada. The only reluctance I have found is whether the pups are able to survive surgery. Bernese puppies are usually 13-18 lbs by the time they are 7-8 weeks of age. I have had NO surgical or post surgical complications. As a matter of fact most of the puppies are so recovered by the time they return home that same day you could never tell. The only things I have seen in some puppies post surgically (only a few not many) girls tend to be a bit more sleepy and maybe a bit pukey but rarely and only for an hour or so...then right back at it. The boys can tend to be bothered by the suture material and turn to bite at the incision but only for a day and then they are fine. I have also had the surgeon change the suture material to a softer material and they don't even notice the incision (which in most cases is very small). So far I can't say that early spay and neuter has in any way affected the orthopedic results of my dogs. I have had the best litters orthropedically with early spay and neuter dogs. I have also had several intact dogs exhibit the exact same affects and growth patterns as their siblings that have been early spayed and neutered. So there is no way to conclude that early spay and neuter is better or worse for my dogs. I might conclude that my orthopedics are better but that may also be due to experience, better breeding practices and better dogs...They certainly don't look too different from each other...the boys do not develop as large of a penis as the intact animals. Have had some girls with leaking problems or UTI but have had intact siblings with the same problems. I can not recommend this procedure more...the benefits are so great that they far out way the few risks for me. PROS of Early Spay and Neuter Puppies are under for 5 minutes for boys and 10 at the most for girls with only isoflurane no injectables. They recover within 1-3 minutes and are able to take a high calorie paste on the roof of the mouth for quicker recovery and blood sugar. Suture site heals in a matter of 3-5 days. No recovery confinement. Usually no swelling or maybe a slight bit. The risk of losing a puppy to surgical complications is all mine as the breeder. No heart broken family. Risk is also low. Wards off several issues...have recovered retained testicles before further complications, no adverse testosterone issues associated with prostrate, no risk of testicular cancer, no dealing with heat cycles, no unwanted litters, reduced risk of mammary, no uterine cancer, etc... Cost less. Convenient to new owner. Shows a conscientious effort to controlling the breeding population of purebred dogs. Requires breeder to become very good at choosing the right puppy to keep for furthering their breeding program. CONS of Early Spay and Neuter You could loose a puppy in surgery. Unknown longevity effects at this time. Guess we all have our comfort levels of care. One precaution that I prefer to protect my dogs and breeding program with is early spay and neuter. Have been happy and relieve ever since making the first decision. For those interested in including their litters or puppies that have been early spayed and neuter and their siblings please contact me directly at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sincerely, Lisa Ebnet and the Furry Berner Crew in Ferndale, WA
Re: Car Sun Shields
In a message dated 03-06-12 14:17:17 EDT, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: few years ago a Berner club sold those sun visor things that were made of lightweight fabric that would kind of twist up into a small circle. The BMDCSEW had these for sale. I don't know that there are any more left as the club has tried to disperse all remaining inventory as they no longer plan to have a Ways and Means committee. You might try contacting Mary Alice Eschweiler who was the person I last remember as having any remaining club inventory, and find out if any are still available. Her email is: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Anne Copeland
Westchester NY Berner Walk Rescheduled
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Berner-L Digest problems
If you are having problems with the digest and it's coming with each email as a separate attachment, it may be that the setting needs to be switched from digest, to digest-nomime. You can try doing that yourself by going to www.berner.org and clicking on berner-l accounts, it's the old service center. If that doesn't work for you, just let me know and I'll be happy to help get you switched. And if you get a digest that just cuts off after a point because of someone's HTML email, just ask me to resend that digest and I'll be happy to send a plain text version of it to you! Pat Long ( Luther) Berwyn PA
Re: Yuck
Darn. Fulton devoured a dead chipmunk while out walking with the kids. What now? Feed Fulton a smaller dinner -- about 1 chipmunk smaller. --Tom Jaskiewicz From New Hampshire, where the bitches are ( Gita Kepler)strong, the dogs are good looking, and all [EMAIL PROTECTED]the puppies are above average.
Swiss Dog Day Afternoon - San Francisco Bay Area June 29 2003
The Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Northern California announces it's 6th Annual Swiss Dog Day Afternoon. This unique event brings together five of the native Swiss mountain breeds: the Berner Sennenhund, the Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund, the Appenzeller Sennenhund,the Entlebucher Sennenhund and the Sankt Bernardiner. The purpose of this gathering is to help strengthen the bond between our dogs and their Swiss heritage, and to promote the health and well being of each of the breeds. Sunday, June 29, 2003 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Upper Fort Mason Parade Grounds (Franklin St. x Bay St.) San Francisco, CA For the Dogs: Conformation and Obedience Matches, a Rally-O Course, AKC Canine Good Citizen Test, and our always popular Mountain Dog Olympics! Match Entry Fees are $8 Pre-Entry/$10 Day-of-Match. CGC Test Entry Fee is $10 Pre-Entry/$12 Day-of-Match. Day of Match entries accepted 8:00 - 10:00 a.m. For the People: Enjoy Draft Dog Demonstrations, a Swiss Breeds Showcase Parade, Swiss Music, a great Silent Auction, Handmade Crafts and Souvenirs, a Swiss-Style Barbecue, and loads of Canine Fun! Admission is free for all spectators, and your leashed dog can accompany you as well! You can learn more about the Swiss Breeds and their health concerns, and a Microchip I.D. Clinic will also be available. A portion of our proceeds will be donated to the Swiss Benevolent Society and the individual breed Rescue and/or Health funds. To obtain a Pre-Entry forms for the matches (pre-entries must be postmarked by June 21st), a schedule of events or driving directions, go to our web site at www.norcalbernese.org and click on the Swiss Day 2003 link. We hope to see you there!
RE: Westchester NY Berner Walk Rescheduled
Thank you for the info. sara Posted in plain text for Betsy: ***The Westchester NY Berner Walk has been rescheduled to Saturday 6/21 at 11am. *** Please join us in the beautiful Rockwood Hall Park section of the Rockefellar State Park Preserve for the first annual Westchester NY Berner Walk. Meet in the park entrance between 10-11am. Please note that park regulations require that all dogs be leashed. Please bring your own food and water because park has no facilities. Directions: Rockwood Hall Park: Off Route 9 or Rockwood Road exit off Route 117 West Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591 (914) 631-1470 Estate grounds of former Rockwood Hall, an extension of the Rockefeller State Park Preserve. Hiking, picnicking, views of the Hudson. For more information contact: Betsy Rich, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Can't wait to see you all!
RE: Cancer and OTHER Studies
I suggest if you own a berner and want to be part of this study that you request a kit NOW from either Pat Long or Heidi Parker. I have had the unfortunate occasion to have two dogs diagnosed and after several failed attempts to obtain the necessary kit and instructions the dog died before we could get what was necessary. The other part of it was that the family had gone through the decision to help and give what was necessary for the study but alas it was too late. That was over a month of trying! Pat finally came to the rescue and sent me three kits to have on hand. Now if the unfortunate occurs I can overnight the kit to the attending vet. So be prepared for the worst and have a kit available... Lisa Ebnet and the Furry Berner Crew in Ferndale, WA USA [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.bernese.com
RE: Westchester NY Berner Walk Rescheduled
Hi, Does anyone have any idea how long the walk will be, and over what kind of terrain. Would it be, for example, suitable in length and terrain, for a cart? sara steele
Re: stupid questions
But it IS there!!! #5! Joye Neff --On Thursday, June 05, 2003 4:36 PM -0400 Janice Parky [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:r You forgot my favorite one. 6. Yes, they shed. Berner fun FAQs 1. Purebred Bernese Mountain Dog 2. From Bern, not Burma 3. Girls, about 70-95; boys, 80-120 4. Not as much as you'd think 5. More than you'd ever imagine! The fun was in making up the matching questions!
SHOPPING AT THE 2003 SPECIALTY - Part 14
SHOPPING AT THE 2003 SPECIALTY June 12, 2003 - Part 14 I'm back from China!!We arrived back at home in Pittsburgh at 11 p.m. last night after a 29 hour travel marathon. My son and his wife's new daughter, Gracie (11 month old Chinese baby) was wonderful during the entire trip. She never once lost her cool and cried loudly!! The passengers around us were grateful, as were we. It was a spectacular adventure that I will never forget!! Now that I am back and have my first day's work 'under my belt' I can continue with the Shopping at the 2003 Specialty Reports!!! Thank you all for your patience.. * By Jove Eve Lapolla 5599 Olentangy River Road Columbus, OH 43235 Phone:(614) 451-0914 Toll Free:(800) 227-0914 code 16 Fax:(614) 451-0914 push *51 E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web Site: http://www.byjove.net By Jove has a lot of new items on the her web site, as well as all of the old favorites. Some of the new things include: a category called Kids Corner, which features items for children, such as mini tote purses ($7,) canvas purses (8.50,) denim aprons ($12,) terry cloth Berner, infant t-shirts, as well as t-shirts from 2-4 to 10-12 ($12,) string purses ($8,) set of stacked boxes ($18,) mini scrapbook ($5.50,) etc. Some items that have been added especially for the adults, are a very nice line of sterling silver and two tone jewelry featuring charms, pendants, bracelets and pins. (Check out the web site for prices.) Other new things are writing pens, memo boards, coaster sets, note cards by Cami Kriner, new tissue boxes, spice boxes, lovely prints, hand painted cowhide leather check book covers and wallets ($35,) door mats, ornaments, a new ball cap design, a new t-shirt design, luggage and crate tags and many other things. Eve now has a wallpaper border design with Berner puppies, new statues by Yvonne, cloth dinner and coctail napkins with either a Berner puppy or adult on them, some lovely new tiles by Dee Craig, as well as some of her really nice date books that come in lots of different designs. (Prices vary - so check out the web site.) Eve asks, Please, if you can think of anything that might look good with a Berner on it. let me know. Maybe I will have it and maybe I can get it. A lot of the things I have are original designs and I am always looking for new and different items. I bought the little canvas mini tote purses for my 3 little granddaughters (ages 4, 11 months and 5 days!!) I just love my new Berner wallet and the top of the doorframe Berner that I got at the Specialty, too. If you didn't get a chance to shop at the specialty, you can do the next best thing - visit Eve's web site - it is full of wonderful Berner items. Happy Shopping!!! Joye Neff and Nick (and Ben) Mt. Lebanon, Pittsburgh, PA
RE: Yuck
Yes, the hair from an animal does act as a natural wormer. While living in Alaska, I would get a road kill carcas of a moose. We would let the dogs eat the entire leg, hair, hoof and all. I know, it sounds gross. I think I would be concerned with why the chipmunk died, was it diseased? Tami Winner Merced, CA _ STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail
RE: Yuck
Hi Sue, I know the flea is the intermittant host for tapeworms, flea ridden chipmunks were the plague of my life when I had cats and no the consumption of fur didn't help control the tapeworm. The cats caught the fleas, obviously the kill was fresh and then passed them onto the dogs, dogs nibbled the itchy fleas ingested them and bingo tapeworm! Kitties have gone to heaven, fitted carpets were removed and Pergo put down and touch wood no more fleas and no more tape. Judy Kelly used to breed field trial beagles and they were wormed for tape regularly because of consuming the odd flea infested bunnie. When working the fields they'd eat whatever they found that was tasty even if a bit hung and yep they got tapeworm. I wouldn't rely on fur and feather with fresh or rotten flesh. Oh and by the by many birds have lice so that's another nice thing to have around! Now the crow !! Rose -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: June 12, 2003 3:03 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Yuck On Thu, 12 Jun 2003 12:27:50 -0400 Rose Tierney [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Hi Esta, What now?? Tapeworm medications:-) Actually tapeworms are from fleas and fleas usually won't stay on a cold body. I've been told that the fur or feathers ingested along with fresh flesh are natures wormers..Does anyone know if this is true or not? Susan Ablon Gweebarra BMD Balch Springs, Tx http://www.pageweb.com/gwebara
