Category Archives: research

How Chinese medicine may help dogs with cancer

Posted on September 15, 2012 | 2 comments

Research from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine has been published which shows promise in treating dogs with a specific type of cancer.

Hemangiosarcoma is a type of cancer that can occur in any dog, but German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers seem to be the most prone to developing it. The cancer is an aggressive and malignant tumor of blood vessel cells. The most common area it affects is the spleen but can appear in the skin, other soft tissues and the liver. This is a type of cancer that is metastatic and it will frequently spread to other parts of the body.

In the study, 15 dogs were divided into three groups of 5 and given a different dose of a product called I’m-Yunity, which contains polysaccharopeptide or PSP. PSP is derived from Yunzhi mushrooms and appears to have an immune-boosting effect – it’s been used in traditional Chinese medicine for more than 2,000 years.

The findings?

‘We were shocked,’ says Professor Dorothy Cimino-Brown. ‘Prior to this, the longest reported median survival time of dogs with hemangiosarcoma of the spleen that underwent no further treatment was 86 days. We had dogs that lived beyond a year with nothing other than this mushroom as treatment.’

The treatment may offer a way for owners to extend the life of their pet and there were no adverse effects reported.

The researchers plan to study the effect of the compound further, using groups of candidates that are given a placebo, others which undergo chemotherapy, and other groups given the mushroom-based treatment.

Source: University of Pennsylvania media statement

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Posted in dog care, research

Tagged cancer, Chinese medicine, german shepherd, Golden Retriever, hemangioscarcoma, I'm-Yunity, mushroom, pennsylvania school of veterinary medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Yunzhi

How dogs are helping the northern spotted owl

Posted on August 27, 2012 | Leave a comment

Researchers at the University of Washington Center for Conservation Biology have found a novel use for dogs – detection of northern spotted owl pellets. Owl pellets are regurgitated by the owls and contain fur, bones and other materials that the owl does not digest.

The traditional method of locating the owls was to undertake vocalization surveys that simulated the sounds of the northern spotted owl so that ‘real’ owls would respond. But, as this owl has come under threat by another owl – the barred owl – researchers felt that the owls were not vocalizing out of concern that they would be found. Barred owls are known to kill northern spotted owls.

Max, an Australian Cattle Dog, pauses after locating a northern spotted owl roosting in a tree in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Copyright Jennifer Hartman, University of Washington

Enter the detection dogs. They find owl pellets at the base of trees where the owls are roosting. By mapping these finds, the researchers can understand the habitats where each type of owl is thriving.

By using the dogs for detection, there was a 30% improvement in detection probability.

The information about barred and northern spotted owl populations will help forest managers who are making changes to protect the northern spotted owl.

Source: University of Washington press release

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Tagged barred owls, Center for Conservation Biology, detection, dogs, northern spotted owls, spotted owls, University of Washington

Tail chasing – an obsessive compulsive disorder?

Posted on August 24, 2012 | 2 comments

The genetics research group at the University of Helsinki has published its findings into a study of tail chasing in dogs. The study involved 400 dogs and questionnaires to the owners about their dog’s behaviour. Samples of each dog’s blood were also taken.

The questionnaires covered behaviours, aspects of the dog’s puppyhood and daily routines. Owners were also asked to evaluate their dog’s personality.

Compulsive tail chasing can occur in any dog but is common in breeds such as the Bull Terrier and German Shepherd. These breeds were included in the research, as were the Miniature Bull Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

The study aimed to describe the characteristics of tail chasing in dogs and to ascertain the environmental risk factors for the disorder. The researchers also wanted to know if a previously identified gene that has been associated with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) had a role to play.

What they found

The OCD gene that had been linked to other compulsive disorders in dogs was not associated with the tail chasing disorder
Dogs responded with less tail chasing when fed supplements of vitamins and minerals, although the researchers feel that more study is warranted to prove this link
Early separation from their mothers and/or poor care from their mother also predisposed dogs to compulsive tail chasing

Dogs may be a good model for studying OCD in humans because they are physiologically similar and share our environment. Consequently, this research has wider implications.

The research paper is available in the 27 July 2012 edition of PloS ONE

Source: University of Helsinki press release

Kathleen Crisley, Fear-Free certified professional and specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand

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Posted in dog breeds, research

Tagged bull terrier, german shepherd, Miniature Bull Terrier, obsessive compulsive disorder, OCD, PLoS ONE, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, tail chasing, University of Helsinki

Dogs respond to new skin allergy treatment

Posted on July 27, 2012 | Leave a comment

Dogs that would try to run the other way from allergy injections are finding a new oral drop to be much more palatable. In fact, some dogs think they are a treat!

On 25th July, at the World Congress of Veterinary Dermatology in Vancouver, British Columbia, Dr Douglas DeBoer of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine presented his work which shows that placing allergy drops under a dog’s tongue can be as effective as allergy injections.

Dr DeBoer treated 217 dogs for skin allergies in his study using the drops. Approximately 60 percent of the dogs improved significantly. The drops require administering under the tongue twice each day.

In contrast, allergy shots are injected approximately every 14 days. The cost of the treatments are comparable.

Dogs can sometimes suffer a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction to allergy shots. Even those dogs treated in the study that had previously had such a dangerous reaction did not have it when using the drops. “Drops appear to be safer than shots in this respect,” said Dr DeBoer.

Atopic dermatitis (an itchy skin inflammation) is an allergic reaction from house dust, pollen, and mold. Injections aim to introduce a small amount of the allergens to trigger an immune response. The drops work on a different mechanism involved in the allergy. Dogs that had failed to respond to allergy injections did respond to the drops.

Best of all, the drops have a sweet taste which attracted the dogs. Some dogs came running when they heard the bottle of drops opened…

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Posted in dog care, Dogs, research

Tagged allergen, allergy drops, allergy injections, atopic dermatitis, Douglas DeBoer, immune response, itchy skin, itchy skin inflammation, Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin

Dog hair blankets in Native America?

Posted on July 9, 2012 | Leave a comment

Mass spectrometry has been used to resolve a debate about the fibres used to weave Native American blankets.

The blankets have been known as ‘dog hair’ blankets because oral histories passed down by descendents of the Salish weavers, who were indigenous to the Pacific coast of North America, told of the blankets being woven from the hair of dogs who were specially bred for their fur.

Researchers at the University of York‘s Departments of Biology, Archaeology and Chemistry analysed the protein composition of 25 textile samples from 11 different locations. These textiles were housed in famous collections like the Smithsonian Institution and some came from the expeditions of Lewis and Clark (1803-1806) and Wilkes (1838-1842).

The researchers didn’t find any garments that were made of purely dog hair.

There was evidence of dog hair in a robe of fur and six textile samples, primarily in a blend with goat hair. The researchers concluded that the dog fur was used to supplement goat hair as a bulking material.

They have published their findings in the journal Antiquity.

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Tagged antiquity, blankets, dog hair, indigenous, Lewis and Clark, Native America, research, Smithsonian Institution, University of York

Dog intelligence

Posted on July 4, 2012 | Leave a comment

Most dog owners have an opinion about their dog’s intelligence. I regularly hear comments like, “He’s so smart, he’s ahead of the rest of his obedience class” or “He’s not very bright, but we love him.”

When I was working on my management qualification years ago, we were told to go home and ask our partner/flatmate about how they solved problems. Ebony, my Labrador flatmate at the time, came up with these tips, which I thought were very intelligent:

Remember that chasing your tail does not get you anywhere. It also makes you dizzy and less able to focus on the task at hand.
Eat regularly and often. Problem solving is hard work and requires energy.
Don’t underestimate the value of a nap. A problem looks different after you’ve had a good sleep.
If you stare at a problem long enough, it might move on its own.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Try looking cute.
If looking cute doesn’t work, try whining.
If whining fails, loud retching noises are guaranteed to get the attention of those around you.
Some problems soften over time. Burying them in the garden hastens this process.
Some problems require more immediate attention. An immediate problem, if left unattended, is likely to result in a much more smelly mess to be cleaned up later.

There are many published works on the subject of dog intelligence. Over the years, I’ve read countless research studies into this subject. There are many institutions involved in the research. All projects have the goal of understanding how dogs think.

Professor Stanley Coren of the University of British Columbia has authored several books about dog intelligence. He states that dogs have the intellectual capacity of a two-year old and can understand more than 150 words.[1]

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology have studied the ability of dogs to interpret human gestures. When researchers hid food beneath one container in a group and pointed to the ‘right’ container, dogs consistently picked up on those cues better than even chimpanzees (a species widely studied because of the evolutionary link between apes and humans).

Earlier this year, a research team at the University of Otago reported on their study that showed that dogs could readily distinguish happy human sounds from sad or angry ones, suggesting an ability to understand human emotions.

Even the dog toy market has recognised that dogs need mental stimulation. The Nina Ottosson range, for example, offers a range of skill level toys designed to make your dog think about how to reveal their food reward.

Daisy demonstrates her intelligence with a Nina Ottosson toy

Despite all of this evidence, including videos of my Daisy using her interactive toys, many of the non-dog people in my life remain unconvinced about the intelligence of dogs. I believe that persistence will pay off. Over time we will see more and more research about the intellectual capacity of our dogs. The non-believers will become believers.

[1] Science Daily, 10 August 2009

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Posted in Dogs, research

Tagged dogs, evolution, human gestures, intelligence, IQ, labrador, Max Planck, max planck institute for evolutionary anthropology, Nina Ottosson, science, Stanley Coren, toys, University of Otago

Of dogs, house dust and asthma…

Posted on June 27, 2012 | 1 comment

This is a tale of how owning a dog can help protect your child from asthma. Strange, but true.

Researcher Dr Kei Fujimura used mice to test the impact of house dust from homes where a dog lived and from those that didn’t. She found (and her study was presented at a recent meeting of the American Society for Microbiology) that the dust from households with dogs seemed to have a beneficial effect.

Mice who were fed dust from these households developed an immune response to RSV(respiratory syncytial virus). Infants who contract this virus have a marked increase in their risk of developing asthma. RSV affects 90% of children worldwide. That makes this study significant.

Dr Fujimura says these results support the hypothesis that exposure to animals in early childhood stimulates the immune system to resist the development of asthma and other allergies.

Another reason to introduce your children to the wonders of dog ownership at an early age!

Source: Discovery News

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Tagged American Society for Microbiology, asthma in children, dog ownership, dogs, Kei Fujimara, protection, research

The importance of pain management

Posted on June 14, 2012 | 1 comment

Whenever I take on a new client, I use a health questionnaire that covers current conditions as well as the dog’s health history. One of the issues I address is any recent changes to the dog’s behaviour or living conditions.

What I am trying to ascertain is if a dog is in pain or having adjustment difficulties. There is a clear link between pain and aggression and this has been supported in a recent study by researchers at the Autonomous University of Barcelona in Spain.

In the Spanish study, which has been published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 12 dogs that were brought in by their owners for ‘aggression problems’ were studied. All were found to have pain-induced aggression with eight diagnosed as having hip dysplasia.

The breeds in the study were: a Giant Schnauzer, Irish Setter, Pit Bull, Dalmatian, two German shepherds, Neapolitan Mastiff, Shih-tzu, Bobtail, Catalan Sheepdog, Chow Chow and Doberman.

The researchers concluded “if the pet is handled when in pain, it will quickly act aggressively to avoid more discomfort without the owner being able to prevent it.”

So, when a dog is behaving differently or is “out-of-sorts”, a visit to the vet is recommended. Behaviour changes can be the first indicator that something is wrong and your vet can help to run appropriate tests to see if there is an underlying health problem.

Dogs have a way of not telling us they are in pain until a problem is more pronounced because their natural instinct is to protect themselves by not exhibiting any noticeable vulnerabilities. Therapies such as massage and low level laser (which I employ in my canine rehabilitation practice) are useful in helping to manage pain through appropriate stimulation of acupressure points and managing muscle, tendon and ligament condition. I’m also a strong supporter of acupuncture and refer clients to a local vet who is trained in veterinary acupuncture.

These complementary therapies can be employed alongside traditional pain medications such as NSAIDs to support your dog’s quality of life. When pain is managed, quality of life improves for everyone in the household.

Source: Plataforma SINC. “If your dog is aggressive, maybe it is in pain.” ScienceDaily, 13 Jun. 2012. Web. 15 Jun. 2012.

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Tagged acupressure, aggression, Autonomous University of Spain, behavior, behaviour, Bobtail, Catalan Sheepdog, Chow Chow, Dalmatian, Doberman, dog massage, dogs, german shepherd, Giant Schnauzer, health history, hip dyplasia, Journal of Veterinary Behavior, ligament, low level laser, massage, mastiff, muscle, NSAIDs, pain, Pit Bull, research, tendon, therapies, veterinary acupuncture

Dog dreaming

Posted on June 6, 2012 | 2 comments

We’ve all seen our dogs deeply asleep, with paws and legs twitching. There have even been times when my dog puts her head up while sleeping and howls like a wolf. (She usually wakes herself up, too).

Do our dogs dream?

All evidence points to an answer of ‘yes’.

Researchers know, for example, that the EEGs (electroencephalograms) of sleeping dogs show brain wave activity similar to humans during sleep. There is a period of sleep known as REM sleep (REM means rapid eye movement) when breathing becomes irregular and the eyes twitch. Sound familiar?

When humans have been wakened during REM sleep, they report that they have been dreaming and so there is no reason to think that our dogs aren’t dreaming.

Matthew Wilson, Associate Professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology says that animals have complex dreams and are able to retain and recall long sequences of events while they are asleep.

His work involved rats and monitoring their brain wave activity when they were asleep and awake. He also tracked the effect of sleep on learning of repetitive tasks.

Professor Wilson has said of his work “dreams are the ultimate off-line experience. This work demonstrates that animals are capable of re-evaluating their experiences when they are not in the midst of them.”

By the way, dogs, cats and rabbits are crepuscular which means that they naturally tend to be more active at dawn and at dusk. Humans are diurnal which means they are most active during the day (which explains why night shifts are so hard on people). Dogs seem to adjust their own sleep habits to match those of their owners.

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Tagged animals, brain wave activity, brain waves, cognition, crepuscular, diurnal, dogs, dreaming, EEG, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Matthew Wilson, MIT, rapid eye movement, rats, REM

Caring for Nunavik’s sled dogs

Posted on June 3, 2012 | Leave a comment

Andréanne Cléroux, a veterinary student at the University of Montreal International Veterinary Group, is conducting a project to design and deliver a first aid guide for dogs in northern Quebec.

A family with their dog in Nunavik. (Credit: Sylvie Ricard)

“The problem relates mainly to animal health care, immunization, and dog population control,” Cléroux explains. “We wanted to create a guide that would provide basic tools for pet owners so they can provide care to their animal while waiting to contact the remote veterinary consultation service to get advice from a veterinarian at the CHUV (University of Montreal Veterinary Hospital).”

Cléroux spent time developing the guide before travelling to northern Quebec to work on the draft with residents. One of the challenges has been to develop a product that was good for those unfamiliar with dog care and still make it useful to mushers, who tend to know more about their dogs.

Cléroux has also created a first aid kit that includes all the necessary material to provide the care described in the manual and delivered it to several villages, with a goal to make it more widely available to all 14 communities in Nunavik.

Source: University of Montreal press release