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Health & Information
Pain in the neck! – By Marie Holt
Well I’m the first to admit that this hands on touchy feely stuff is a bit farfetched for me...........OK yes I agree that a hug or the touch of a hand makes you feel different at times emotionally and physically but I’m medically trained so the thought of somebody rubbing an area and all of a sudden you get a relief is surely all down to mind over matter isn’t it?
Well I now stand 100% corrected. After Moss my Weimaraner was given the Bowen Technique following her working test by a friend, she has been a different dog! So much so that I have just driven the 3 hour round trip to have her done again. We arrived and Jennifer felt her neck, and in fact all her muscles, and said that she wasn’t as knotted up as before but she was still tense and hot. She set to work, using gentle moves working over specific muscle groups and to be honest I thought you would have to push and press like you see them do with people, using elbows to break muscle tension, and walking over the dogs back to have any effect but no, none of that. She just uses a very gentle technique, which is specific to Bowen, getting the dog to look in different directions and works on different areas. She does it at the dogs pace and they are able to walk away if they want. Not Moss she just stood there and looked very put out when Jennifer stopped the manipulative therapy to give Moss’s brain time to catch up with what was happening. At one point I was holding Moss’s head and she relaxed so much I had her full weight resting in my hands. You could see the dog relax and by the end of the 60 minutes Moss was fighting to stay awake. It’s amazing to see the difference and have booked to go back in just over a week to have the second treatment. Moss slept all the way home, and was so relaxed I had to turn the Sat Nav up so I could hear it over the snoring.
The therapy that is used is on veterinary referral only but can be used on people and animals. It can be used for many different reasons including behaviour. I have copied the information for you to have a read and check out the websites if you think it may help you or somebody/animal you know. There are many people who do it all over the country but I have to say I would only go to Jennifer as she has worked wonders on Moss.
The Canine Bowen Technique
The Canine Bowen Technique is based on the principles of the Bowen Technique developed by Tom Bowen. Its adaption in the UK for use on dogs was started in 2001 by Bowen therapists Sally and Ron Askew, who integrated it into their own dog behavioural and rehabilitation work. In 2003 they founded the European Guild of Canine Bowen Therapists.
Typical areas that respond well to Canine Bowen include:
- Acute injury – sprains and strains
- Chronic conditions and degenerative disease – helping to improve the dog’s quality of life
- Rescue / re-homed dogs – relaxation of tension caused by earlier stress and trauma
- Pre and post – operative surgery – assisting recovery times
The Canine Bowen Technique is complementary to, and not a substitute for veterinary care, and is only available on veterinary referral.
The European Guild of Canine Bowen Therapists (EGCBT) was set up to train, promote, represent and regulate a network of properly skilled and experienced Canine Bowen Technique therapists who are able to work alongside other professionals in the canine world to help dogs - vets, trainers, behaviourists, rescue centres, hydro therapists, nutritionists.
The Bowen Technique is a gentle, non-invasive, light-touch, holistic modality that promotes healing, pain relief, and general body rebalancing. It aims to support and boost the natural healing capabilities of the body. It was brought to this country from Australia in 1993 as a complementary human therapy.
When used on dogs, Canine Bowen Technique is regarded as a manipulative therapy covered by the Veterinary Surgery (Exemptions) Order 1962 of the 1966 Veterinary Surgeons Act, allowing qualified practitioners to work on the animal on referral from the dog’s veterinarian.
Canine Bowen is a complementary therapy used in conjunction with, not as an alternative to, proper veterinary care. Owners should have their vet’s written approval prior to commencing a Bowen session. Under no circumstances do we prescribe or alter any medication or veterinary recommendations.
Therapy is never forced on the dogs and this is an important part of the Canine Bowen Technique.
For further research on the Canine Bowen Technique or Human Bowen, please look up the following websites: www.caninebowentechnique.com
www.thebowentechnique.com
The lungworm Angiostrongylus vasorum is a parasite that infects dogs.
The adult of this particular lungworm lives in the heart and major blood vessels supplying the lungs, where it can cause a host of problems. Left untreated, the infection can often be fatal.
The lungworm parasite is carried by slugs and snails. The problem arises when dogs purposefully or accidentally eat these common garden pests when rummaging through undergrowth, eating grass, drinking from puddles or outdoor water bowls, or pick them up from their toys.
There are two main problems caused by dogs becoming infected with lungworm:
· Infection with lungworm can cause serious health problems in dogs, and is often fatal if not diagnosed and treated.
· Dogs infected with lungworm spread the parasite into the environment, as the larvae of the parasite are expelled in the dog’s faeces. This increases the chances of other dogs becoming infected.
Dogs of all ages and breeds can become infected with lungworm. However, younger dogs seem to be more prone to picking up the parasite. Dogs known to eat slugs and snails should also be considered high risk.
Lungworm infections can result in a number of different signs which may easily be confused with other illnesses. If your dog is displaying any of the signs below, consult your veterinary surgeon immediately.
Breathing problems
· Coughing
· Tiring easily
Poor blood clotting
· Excessive bleeding from even minor wounds/cuts
· Nose bleeds
· Bleeding into the eye
· Anaemia (paleness around the eyes gums)
General sickness
· Weight loss
· Poor appetite
· Vomiting
· Diarrhoea
Changes in behaviour
· Depression
· Tiring easily
· Seizures (fits)
There are some dogs which don’t initially show outward signs of lungworm infection. Your veterinary surgeon can perform tests which may help detect if your dog is infected with the lungworm parasite, if you are concerned.
Prevention and Treatment
Thankfully, treatment of lungworm infection in dogs is widely available and easy to administer. Once diagnosed and treated, most dogs make a full recovery. The key to successful treatment is taking action early.
If you are concerned your dog has picked up, or is at risk from, picking up a lungworm infection, speak to your veterinary surgeon without delay.
Your vet can prescribe a specific spot-on solution to treat this parasite, which is applied to the back of the neck.
Applied monthly this product can also prevent the establishment of infection with Angiostrongylus vasorum. Speak to your veterinary surgeon for further advice.
European tick established in UK
By Victoria Gill
Science and nature reporter, BBC News
A species of blood-sucking tick native to continental Europe has become established in the UK, scientists say.
Researchers found five European meadow ticks in south-east England and west Wales during a search of the UK's dogs.
This involved 173 veterinary practices, which collectively checked more than 3,500 dogs and sent any ticks they found to a lab for identification.
The species is known to carry tick-borne infections that are not yet found in this country.
Faith Smith from the University of Bristol led the study, which was published in the journal Medical and Veterinary Entomology.
"We asked the vets to check dogs totally at random; to check any dog coming in for any reason," she told the BBC.
"That gave us a broad sample of dogs, and in many cases their owners weren't aware that they had picked up a tick."
As well as identifying the European meadow ticks (Dermacentor reticulatus), this search showed that almost 15% of dogs in the UK had ticks attached any one time during the summer.
Gundogs, terriers and pastoral breed groups were most susceptible to picking up ticks, which often wait in long grass for animals to brush past. Longer-haired dogs were also more susceptible.
Disease
The researchers think a changing climate and "increased global movement of people and companion animals" have assisted the spread of ticks.
"Studies have been done to show that the distribution of Ixodes ricinus (the sheep tick) has shifted northwards in continental Europe in the past few decades, and that the species has been found at higher altitudes," said Miss Smith.
"So it is possible that climate change will affect certain species of ticks."
There is concern that the European species could spread infections that do not currently occur in the UK, including tick-borne encephalitis.
"The longer the tick is on, the higher the chance of a tick-borne disease," said Miss Smith.
"Ticks don't actually start to transmit infections until 24-48 hours post attachment.
"So the sooner it is removed cleanly, the smaller the risk of getting a disease it might be carrying."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9432000/9432605.stm
Mystery Illness Being Investigated
The Animal Health Trust is continuing to investigate a mystery illness which has affected dogs walked at Clumber Park, Sherwood Forest, Thetford Forest & Sandringham Estate.
A seasonal canine illness fund has been set up by the charity towards the cost of the investigation.
For progress and updates on the investigation, or to make a donation towards the special fund, visit www.aht.org.uk
**Update October 2011**
New cases of Seasonal Canine Illness have been recorded in Norfolk, Nottinghamshire & Suffolk, visit the Animal Health Trust website above for further information
Information about the most common
Canine Infectious Diseases
Canine Parvovirus
· Canine parvovirus-1 has been known for many years and is associated with mild diarrhoea
· Canine parvovirus-2 is a relatively new disease (1978) and is thought to have mutilated from the feline strain
· It can survive in the environment for 1 year
· It is resistant to many disinfectants but can be destroyed by Hypochlorite and Formalin
· Dogs are infected by the ingestion of the virus following direct or indirect contact with infected faeces
· Incubation period is 3 – 5 days
· Can cause Myocarditis (uncommon) which is inflammation of the heart muscle
· Can cause Enteritis which is inflammation of the small intestines
ØDepression
ØAnorexia
ØVomiting
ØAbdominal pain
ØBloody and watery diarrhoea
ØDehydration
ØShock
ØDeath within 72 hours if left untreated
Canine Distemper (Hard pad)
· Has a high death rate depending on the immune system of the dog
· Seen in greater numbers in high density populations like cities, housing estates etc
· Common in dogs between 3 – 9 months old
· Virus unstable in the environment and is susceptible to disinfection, UV light, dry heat
· Dog can contract the virus by inhalation of the aerosol droplets between close contact from contagious dogs. Ingestion is not common
· Virus is shed from animal to animal by nose or eye discharges or in vomit, urine, faeces and saliva
· Incubation period is 7 – 21 days
· Can cause mild signs which are rarely diagnosed
Ø Depression
Ø Anorexia
Ø Slightly raised temperature
Ø Secondary bacterial infection
· Can cause acute signs which are more severe
Ø Depression
Ø Anorexia
Ø High temperature
Ø Discharges from nose and eyes
Ø Cough
Ø Vomiting
Ø Diarrhoea
Ø Dehydration
Ø Pneumonia
Ø Thickening and hardening of the skin (hyperkeratosis) especially on nose and pads
Ø Skin pustules (spots)
· Can cause nervous diseases
Ø 50% of cases develop nervous signs
Ø Can take weeks or even years to show nervous signs
Ø Commonest cause of fitting in dogs less than 6 months of age
Ø Recovery is unlikely and euthanasia is the only option
Canine infectious hepatitis
· Once called Rubarths disease
· High death rate in puppies (this rate decreases with age)
· Can survive of the host for up to 10 days
· Disease is susceptible to heat and most disinfection agents
· Two types of virus CAV-1 and CAV-2
· Spread by ingestion of the virus following direct or indirect contact
· Virus shed in urine, faeces, vomit and saliva
· Recovering animal can still spread the virus for up to 6 months in the urine
· Incubation period 5 – 9 days
· Pre-acute signs
Ø Sudden death in puppies
Ø Anorexia
Ø Depression
Ø Collapse
Ø Shock
Ø High temperature
Ø Diarrhoea
Ø Abdominal pain
Ø crying
· Acute signs
Ø Most common form
Ø Depression
Ø Anorexia
Ø Shock
Ø High temperature
Ø Jaundice
Ø Abdominal pain
Ø Diarrhoea
Ø Small bleeds seen under the skin (tiny red spots)
· Sub-acute signs
Ø Depression
Ø Anorexia
Ø Slightly raised temperature
· 20% of cases blue eye (oedema) will be seen
Canine Contagious Respiratory Disease
· Lots of different types of disease under this heading some include
· Canine Parainfluenza
· kennel cough (Bordetella bronchiseptica)
· Very common disease
· Low death rate
· Not exclusive to kennels or rescue centres
· Route of infection is by inhalation following direct or indirect contact with an infected animal via its aerosol droplets
· 5-7 day incubation period
· Clinical signs
Ø Most dogs remain bright and alert
Ø Dry harsh cough
Ø Retching
Ø Raised temperature
Ø Salivation
Ø Sneezing
Ø Nasal discharge
Most dogs recover within 3 – 7 days
Canine Leptospirosis
· Worldwide disease affecting many species
· Humans can contract this disease
· High death rate
· Sudden death within a few hours can occur
· Destroyed by disinfectants and UV light
· Can be spread by direct or indirect contact with infected urine or water contaminated by urine
· Penetrates the skin through mucous membranes or the gastrointestinal or respiratory tract, can enter through cuts and abrasions to the skin
· Incubation period is 5 – 7 days
· Pre-acute
Ø Sudden death in young puppies without any signs
· Acute
Ø Raised temperature
Ø Anorexia
Ø Depression
Ø Jaundice
Ø Drinking lots
Ø Abdominal pain
Ø Vomiting
Ø Diarrhoea
Ø Bleeding under the skin seen as small red spots
Ø Nose bleeds
Ø Dehydration
Ø Shock
Ø Collapse
Ø Death if untreated
· Sub-acute
Ø Rarely diagnosed due to vague signs
Ø Anorexia
Ø Lethargy
Ø High temperature
Lyme disease (borreliosis)
· Not common in the UK except in Cumbria and the New Forest
· Infected from deer ticks
· Humans can become infected too
· The tick bites a deer then falls off, it then bites either a human or dog and that animal becomes infected
· Tick can carry the disease for 2 – 3 years
· Incubation period is variable depending on the dog
· Many dogs show no clinical signs
· Some clinical signs which may be seen
Ø Rash around the tick bite
Ø High temperature
Ø Lethargy
Ø Anorexia
Ø Enlarged lymph nodes (glands)
Ø Polyarthritis
Ø Lameness
Ø Blood in urine
Vaccinations
It is recommended that dogs should be routinely vaccinated and boostered yearly to reduce the risk of the disease. Not all of the above are covered by vaccinations but other preventative methods should be considered for example flea, worm and tick remedies or not allowing your dog to swim in rat infested water. Consult your veterinary surgeon for more advice and treatment especially if your dog becomes unwell, early treatment and diagnosis reduces the death rate in infected animals.
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