Study of the Norwich Larynx

Many of us are very concerned about the number of Norwich Terriers with abnormalities involving the upper airway. Although only a portion of Norwich Terriers have clinical signs of noisy breathing, many show signs of difficulty breathing or reduced stamina during activities such as agility, and a study in Switzerland showed that the vast majority of Norwich tested by upper airway scoping were affected to some extent. A variety of changes were seen including everted laryngeal saccules, elongated soft palates and other alterations to airway structure and integrity. Read more »

Corpulent Canines?

Our dogs depend on us to put food in their bowls. And, more often than not, we are putting in too much! I have assessed the weight on hundreds of dogs of a variety of breeds over the past year at seminars all over the country and a conservative estimate is that about 50% of the dogs that I see are overweight; approximately 25% are actually obese. These are not couch potato dogs. These are dogs whose owners expect them to jump in obedience, to run over rough ground in retrieving tests, and to perform in agility. And we are seeing the sad results: ruptured anterior cruciate ligaments (often both legs), severe degenerative arthritis in dogs in their prime, degenerative disk disease, and many more conditions that are caused by, or exacerbated by, excess weight. Read more »

Early Spay-Neuter Considerations for the Canine Athlete

One Veterinarian’s Opinion

Those of us with responsibility for the health of canine athletes need to continually read and evaluate new scientific studies to ensure that we are taking the most appropriate care of our performance dogs. This article provides evidence through a number of recent studies to suggest that veterinarians and owners working with canine athletes should revisit the standard protocol in which all dogs that are not intended for breeding are spayed and neutered at or before 6 months of age. Read more »