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ACD Health 

Worming Feeding
Hip Dysplasia Deafness
Heartworm Flea/Tick Control
PRA Test Results










Results of Health Testing
for Blustarmax Australian Cattle Dogs
Dogs Name
 Sex   
PRA       Results      
BAER (Hearing)    Result
Hip/Elbow
Scores
 Dentition
Current Stock         





STUD DOGS     











BITCHES             





Star
 Female 
B (carrier)      
Normal
 H 2/4 E 0/0
 Full
Tess
 Female
 TBA A or B
 Normal
 TBA
 Full






Upcoming Stars                  

                       
                             
                          



















Exports




Jazz
 Female
 PRA B
 Normal
 TBA
Jeddah
 Female
 PRA A
 Unknown

Sheila (dec)
 Female
 Unknown
 Unknown

Boots
 Male
 PRA A
Normal
 H 4/4 E 0/0
Sydney
 Female
 PRA B
 Normal
 TBA
Indigo
 		Male
 PRA A
 Normal
 TBA
Zeus
 Male
 PRA B
 Normal
 TBA

WHY SHOULD I WORM MY PET?

    We recommend that all dogs and cats are wormed regularly to help maintain good health.  There are several gastrointestinal worms that may affect your pet, some of them may also pose a risk to humans, especially children.  Worming is easy, effective and relatively inexpensive.

Worming Regime:    Puppies and kittens should be wormed more frequently than adults as they are at a higher risk of infection.  Worm at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 weeks then monthly till 6 months old  (our vet also recommended 10 wks as well). All pets over the age of six months should be wormed four times a year (every three months).

Which product?    

We recommend the use of Drontal worming products.  These are currently the most effective wormers available.  In tablet form for dogs and cats or as a liquid for puppies, Drontal is administered in an easy single dose and kills all of the common worms quickly and safely. it can be administered with or without food and usually causes no ill effects.


THE WORMS AND THEIR RISKS -

Hookworm/Whipworm:   
Puppies and kittens are at particular risk from these worms and are usually infected by the mother.  Hookworm larvae can live in the environment for long periods of time and may infect older animals by penetrating the skin.  Humans may also be affected in this way, causing dermatitis.  In animals the worms attach to the intestinal wall and may cause severe anemia due to blood loss.  Bloody diarrhea is a typical sign and affected animals can die suddenly.

Roundworms:        
These worms resemble long strands of spaghetti and are often vomited up.  They cause a pot-bellied appearance and loss of condition.  The dog species of this worm (Toxocara Canis) is a risk to humans and has been known to cause blindness, particularly in young children.  Regular worming and good hygiene can help prevent problems occurring.

Tapeworm:   
There are two main types of tapeworm.  One type is passed to dogs and cats when they eat infected raw meat.  The other is linked to the flea and all pets with a flea burden should also be wormed.  Tapeworms in large numbers may cause severe, weight loss and generalised poor condition.  The rarer of the, two species (Hydatids) has been found in humans, although eating undercooked meat is likely to be the source of infection rather than from pets.

Please note that most products used to treat pets for gastrointestinal worms
do not prevent heartworm.
Source :-January 2003 Queensland Dogworld (pg 14)

WHY SHOULD I HEARTWORM MY DOG?

    We recommend that all dogs and cats are protected from heartworm disease. Heartworm is a parasite that is transmitted by mosquitoes and is a constant problem in Queensland.  It is potentially fatal and can be difficult to treat.  The infection rate is high in unprotected dogs, Cats are at less risk ever, in cats the disease is untreatable and indicted cats may die suddenly without showing any symptoms.

    Puppies and kittens should start heartworm prevention by the age of 12 weeks. We start all our pups at eight weeks. Adults who have not previously been protected should be tested to make sure they are not already infected with heartworm before prevention is started.  Prevention should be continued throughout your pet's life. Heartworm protection, whichever method you choose, should be provided all year round.  Many owners make the mistake of thinking it is a seasonal problem and only treat their pets in the summer.  The result is that many of these pets become infected with heartworm.

There are many different prevention options available.
Vets are usually happy to discuss your options with you.

Yearly injection: Undoubtedly the most convenient method of prevention, A single injection provides a whole year's protection from heartworm.  Currently, this is only available for dogs. it can be given to all breeds once they are over six months of age.  The injection is cost-effective and can be given at the same time as the annual vaccination.

Top Spot: Available as Advantage Duo (for dogs) or Revolution (for cats & dogs).  These are applied to the back of the pets neck, once a month, and have the added benefit of combining heartworm prevention with flea control.  They are particularly useful for pets who will not take tablets.  Year round application is essential to maintain protection.

Chews /Tablets: Heartguard Plus is a meaty chew with a taste loved by most dogs and cats.  For owners who prefer to dose their pets or animals who won’t eat the chews, Interceptor tablets are an alternative.  We use PRO HEART for all our dogs and this is what your pup has been started on. Each of these products is given monthly.  We recommend that they are administered on the first of the month as this is easy to remember, however PRO HEART provides stickers for your calendar to assist with this.

    Daily tablets are available, although they are not as effective as the other preparations. Even one missed dose means that your pet is not protected.  If your pet vomits or spits out a tablet, heartworm infection is a risk.  If daily tablets are used we recommend regular testing by your vet to ensure infected pets are identified early.
Source :- January 2003 Queensland Dogworld (pg l6)


Hip Dysplasia in Australian Cattle Dogs

 
What is Hip Dysplasia?

Hip dysplasia appears in many breeds and the Australian Cattle Dog is NOT exempt.  Although the incidence of Hip Dysplasia is not as extreme as other breeds it can occur.  In an unaffected dog, there is a good fit between ball and socket in the joint.  However, if the ligaments fail to hold the ball in the socket the result is a loose, unstable joint. This laxity causes excessive wear on cartilage in the joint, resulting in arthritis after a period of time.


How do I know if my puppy has Hip Dysplasia?

Clinical signs can vary in both the severity and the age of onset.  Signs of CHD (Canine hip Dysplasia) may be a decreased exercise tolerance to severe crippling where the dog will not move for fear of pain.  However a reliable diagnosis of Hip Dysplasia cannot be based on external symptoms of lameness. Symptoms may be seen in dogs with normal hips and affected dogs may display no symptoms at all.  Any diagnosis must be made via radiographic diagnosis (X-rays).

How do ACD's develop Hip Dysplasia?

Hip Dysplasia is an inherited canine disease which means it is gene related.  Being hereditary, parents with poor hips will tend to produce puppies with poor hips so breeders need to be addressing this in their breeding programs.  The present research says that environmental factors such as, high caloric intake during rapid growth phase may exacerbate change in dysplasic hips but will not create hip dysplasia.  However, CHD can occur in dogs whose parents are rated with good hips.  This is why new research is proving puppy management (raising, feeding, exercise etc.) is just as important if not more important than testing stock for Hip Dysplasia.

Can I test my dog for Hip dysplasia?

If your dog becomes lame or you are considering breeding your dog/bitch, contact your vet who will organise for X-rays to be taken.  This involves putting the dog under anesthetic, taking X-rays of the joints and sending the film to organisations that will evaluate, register and certify the dog.  The hips are analysed and graded accordingly.

What if my dog has Hip Dysplasia?

In all but the extreme cases, Hip Dysplasia may be managed in dogs.  In the early stages the animal may only require rest and pain relief medication.  In worse there are various surgical techniques including hip replacements which can be considered as options, however they are particularly expensive, In the most severe cases, it is often more humane to have the dog put to sleep rather than subjecting it to a decreased quality of life, not to mention the cost to your pockets.  Your vet will discuss with you the alternative open to you and your pet if CHD is diagnosed.

What are breeders doing to prevent Hip Dysplasia in ACD's?

Breeders should be getting breeding stock X-rayed, registered and certified before breeding from them, However it can be an expensive exercise and many breeders do not test for Hip Dysplasia.  When stock are scored, breeders should replace dogs/bitches with poorer scores with dogs/bitches with better scores to improve their lines.  The breed average is around 10-12 (as of 2002) which not bad considering where some other breeds stand.  Any dog/bitch which shows sign of dysplasia should not be bred from to reduce the chances of dysplasic puppies.  Vets and the organisations involve with hip grading and certification suggest that hips/elbow x-rays are not submitted for final evaluation (in terms of breeding purposed) until the animal is 2 years of age and is fully matured.

Our Aim :- We like to have all our breeding dogs scored prior to using them at stud to ensure we are minimising the risk to our buyers. We also encourage those people who purchase with the mind of breeding down the track to have their dogs done too.

Where can I find out more information?

The WORLD WIDE WEB (Internet) can provide you with much more detailed information if you wish to research this topic further. 

KEYWORDS:- hip dysplasia, canine inherited diseases

 Note :- As stated before Breeders should also be taking time and effort in raising their pups correctly, good evolutionary correct diet, exercise accordingly, and take care providing  sound surfaces for them to learn to walk on.  This knowledge should be passed onto the people who purchase the dogs so they understand the benefits of raising the pup right.  Dr Ian Billinghurst has three wonderful books out which outline some controversial but logical ideas for Puppy Management in these respects.
Deafness in Australian Cattle Dogs

Through extensive research it has been established that deafness does not develop in dogs until the first few weeks, with normal development occurring until that point.  The ear canal does not open until puppies are around 14 days old and deafness doesn't occur until around week three or four.


 How do I know if my puppy is deaf?

While still with the lifter, deaf puppies can take cues off litter mates therefore it is not uncommon for deafness to go unnoticed, Deaf puppies in some breeds (deaf in both ears) will often display more aggression in play because they cannot hear the cries of pain from their play mates.  After puppies are weaned completely deaf puppies will not wake for feeding unless physically shaken.  If completely deaf the puppy will not react to your presence if asleep, while one who is deaf in one ear may have the same problem if he is sleeping with the "good" ear to the ground.

 How do ACD's develop deafness?

ACD's suffer from Inherited Congenital Sensorineural Deafness, which is usually, but not always associated with the genes responsible for the white in the dogs coat.  The Dalmatian (which carries this gene) is reported to have been influential in the development of this breed and they are one of the breeds with the highest incidence of deafness, resultantly ACD's can suffer from this problem.  The exact mode of inheritance is unknown to date.

 Can I test my dog for deafness?

In dogs there are three main levels of hearing - Bilateral hearing (hearing in both ears) Unilateral hearing (hearing in one ear) totally deaf dogs have no hearing at all -Bilateral Deafness.  The common test used to establish auditory function is know as a BAER test Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response.  In this test a computer based system detects electrical activity in the cochlea and auditory pathways in the brain in much the same way that an antenna detects TV signals.

 What if my dog is Unilaterally or Bilaterally Deaf?

Unilateral hearing in dogs present less of a challenge than totally deaf dogs.  Some people believe that deaf dogs must be put to sleep as their quality of life is greatly diminished, however there is proof that deaf dogs can function in the real world with help and care and live a full life, Needless to say a deaf dog takes a great deal of patience and love to train and five with and even then the owner could never fully trust the animal in certain situations, You must be fully prepared if you embark on this journey as not all dogs adjust and the difficult decision may be just around the comer.  Your vet can provide you with further advice if deafness is a problem.

 What are breeders doing to prevent Congenital Deafness in ACD'S?

Breeders who test their stock for deafness and will not use a totally deaf dog, while there is little evidence to discourage breeding from Unilaterally hearing ones.  It is generally accepted that to reduce the prevalence of deafness in ACD'S, breeders should be breeding full hearing to full hearing.  Many breeders will also test not only their breeding stock but also the progency of matings - is to determine the soundness of the chosen mating and future direction taken.

 Our Aim :- All our puppies are hearing tested before going to their new homes so owners know in advance the status of hearing in their pup. Our breeding stock is also tested. Brisbane is the only place in Queensland that hearing can be tested so many breeders are penalised here by distance.

HOWEVER - CLEAR TESTING OF THE SIRE AND DAM DOES NOT GUARANTEE THE PUPPIES WILL ALSO HAVE FULL HEARING AS THE EXACT MODE OF INHERITANCE IS NOT KNOWN. This is why our pups are also tested prior to leaving home.


 Where can I find out more information?

The WORLD WIDE WEB (Internet) can provide you with much more detailed information if you wish to research this topic further. 

KEYWORDS:- deafness in dogs, canine deafness, canine genetic diseases

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

What is PRA?

Progressive Retinal Atrophy is a degenerative disease in which the retina (in the back of the eye) gradually deteriorates, eventually resulting in blindness.  It is often referred to as "night blindness" and is a hereditary condition which a number of breeds suffer from including the Australian Cattle Dog.  The age of onset complicates things further for breeders, most developing symptoms between the ages of four and eight years of age.

 How do I know if my dog has PRA?

Unless your dog is DNA tested, most people cannot tell if their dog carries the genes for PRA until the symptoms appear which is often later in life. Initially the nervous elements of the retina slowly shrink (progressive atrophy) and the dog suffers impaired vision.  In an effort to correct this the pupils of the eye dilate making the dog look like it is staring.  At dawn, dusk and at night the dog cannot avoid objects and will ran into things while during the day they appear to see relatively well.  This progresses to the point where the dog goes completely blind.

 How do ACD's get PRA?

PRA is a hereditary condition which means it is passed down from the parents.  In all breeds studied to date PRA is recessively inherited.  This means if one parent is carrying the genes some of the pups will be affected and will at some time show symptoms, some will carry the gene yet be unaffected and others will be clear for life.

Are there ways to test if my  dog carries the gene for PRA?

At present there are two methods of detecting PRA, firstly you can have your dogs eyes ANNUALLY checked by a qualified veterinary opthamologist.  This is relatively inexpensive however, the only opthamologist available are in the South East of Queensland (Brisbane area) or you can wait for the Mobile Unit to travel your way, usually twice a year around February and August, This method does not test for genes but looks for signs of change in your pets eyes.  Annual checks are required as one year the eyes will be fine and the next may show signs of deterioration.

 Secondly you can have your dog DNA tested which is quite costly initially but you know immediately with 99% accuracy if your dog is Affected, a Carrier (but not affected) or will be Clear of PRA for life.  This is done through Genetic Technologies in Victoria.

 What can I do if my dog is affected by PRA?

Unfortunately if your dog is affected by PRA, there is no treatment which can slow, stop or reverse the condition and your beloved pet gradually becomes blind.  You can assist your pet for a while by limiting the number of items in the yard which the must navigate around.  Your vet will be able to give you advice on making life easier for you and your pet if they are a PRA sufferer.

 What are breeders doing to eliminate this condition in the Australian Cattle Dog?

Responsible breeders will be aware of the condition and many are testing their breeding stock to minimise the chance of it occurring in their puppies.  If dogs are DNA tested, Affected dogs (PRA C) need to be used carefully for breeding to Clear (PRA A) dogs only, Carriers should should also only be used with dogs that are Clear.  The more breeders who breed only with clear stock will ultimately decrease the prevalence of the disorder. However we need to proceed with caution and remember that breed type is of great importance as well as breeding PRA unaffected puppies - an A/A mating is useless if the puppies don't resemble cattle dogs!

 Our Aim :- We have all our breeding dogs DNA PRA tested and puppy buyers are also extended the opportunity to have their puppies tested at a reduced cost.


 Where can I find out more Information?

The WORLD WIDE WEB (Internet) can provide you with much more detailed information if you wish to research this topic further. 

KEYWORDS :- eye disease, PRA, progressive retinal atrophy, canine generic diseases

Copyright Blustarmax Australian Cattle Dog Kennels
Updated 6/4/08