Lumps, Bumps, Masses, Tumors and Cysts.

Lumps, bumps, masses, tumors and cysts. On an Irish Wolfhound, any one of these can spark alarm in most people's minds leading to the feared cancer diagnosis. Understandably, many companion owners are not well-versed as to how to appropriately respond and then deal with these issues. Frankly, depending on the location of the "mass," alarm bells may or may not be warranted. However, many Wolfhound owners overreact and fall in step, and I mean every step, of their Veterinarians counsel, some of which I would caution against as it is sometimes improper and overly aggressive.

Consider, for example, an incident involving one of my Wolfhounds many years ago where my yearling bitch developed a harmless Calcinosis Circumscripta on the outside of her hind foot very close to her outer toe. If you are unfamiliar with these, a Calcinosis Circumscripta is a ball of calcium deposit typically located in the bony area of the body often seen on rear feet and or joint hip areas and is frequent in certain giant breeds. Most all the time benign, they can also be found as small bumps under the tongue of which I have observed them in this area as well.

Having just made a momentous change for my hound's general surgical veterinarian care, I made an appointment to have it removed with my new veterinarian as the calcinosis was bleeding due to its proximity to the ground. Upon exam, this "new to us" veterinarian warned that to resect the mass may also require the removal of her outside digit! Suffice to say that this diagnosis was a practical example of an aggressive, disproportionate determination that consistently occurs today in the field of veterinary medicine. Most giant breed companion or pet owners who are without the support of a competent, breed authority such as myself, would be afraid to question their veterinarian's recommendations, and in this case, a severe and aggressive course of action. Frankly, I would hazard a guess that one or more veterinarians would have proceeded to remove both the mass and outside toe but, thankfully, I was involved in this case, and nothing of the kind took place.

I need to preface this conversation by introducing my several veterinarians and their roles in the care of our hounds. First up, I have an indispensable primary house-call veterinarian responsible for annual check-ups, vaccinations, prescriptions, emergency diagnosis visits, blood draws, and progesterone collections. Next, I have a separate general surgery practice responsible for spay surgery, Cesarean sections, basic digital radiographs, mass removal and biopsies plus any emergency surgery, night or day. Next up, I use a specialty practice made up of board certified veterinarians in nearly every field of practice. I utilize these specialists for heart monitoring, and complicated diagnoses via state of the art radiology equipment capable of accommodating large animals, such as horses, in addition to ultra modern M.R.I and ultrasound technology, and, if necessary, subsequent complex surgery.  

At the time of my discovery of the mass above, I had just switched to this new, general surgical practice after having discontinued my association with my former veterinarian of 20 years due to his standard of care being adversely affected following the sale of his practice to a large conglomerate. Our new general surgeon, though one hour's drive each way, was highly recommended by my longtime primary veterinarian who went even further by saying that our new general surgeon was one of the best soft tissue surgeons she had seen in a long time.

Now, that we are all on the same page; I will finish my story on the mass. My new general surgeon listened quietly to my diagnosis of the mass on my Wolfhound yearlings foot as I explained that I had seen many calcinoses several times before over my many years. I went further by describing the substance he would most likely find inside the golf ball-sized mass, similar to that of cottage cheese and that, in my opinion, there remained enough viable skin that could be pulled up and stitched together for proper healing. He accepted and trusted my judgment and proceeded to remove it agreeing under no circumstances to take-off her toe, and he found what I had described precisely. This, by the way, was the first time he had seen a Calcinosis Circumscripta and explains his immediate reaction that it was a tumor. He was very pleasantly surprised and his readiness to listen to me as a skilled and experienced breeder was a sign of an open-minded, progressive physician. Today, we have an excellent relationship, and I rely on his expertise frequently as he is an outstanding general soft tissue surgeon who does not have a God complex.

Over these years we have had many bodies of matter removed from our Wolfhounds. Many of these cysts would scare the pants off of average dog owners and not well-informed veterinarians. Take for example our female veteran Dallas who is prone to benign sebaceous cysts that get quite large and occur on her back and seat bones. Several were bigger than golf balls, yet, we did not remove them until she was scheduled for another surgery such as being spayed. The reason for our postponement was that first, I was reasonably confident that they were harmless and importantly, often you could do more harm overreacting than underreacting. I do not take lightly the process of anesthetizing a sighthound, especially an Irish Wolfhound and prefer to do it only if necessary. You can read my previous Dog Blog Musings post on several cases of dogs having undergone intolerable, agonizing deaths from incompetent intubation of the esophagus instead of the trachea.

We have another veteran bitch, Declan, who currently has a small nodule under her skin on her back adjacent to the spine. We are not concerned about this growth because this particular litter was predisposed for such benign nodules. Both her littermates, Dallas and Darley, both have had large cysts on their backs. Of the many we have had removed from our females, only one was ever infected as it was located on Dallas's seat bone, aka Ischial Tuberosity. The constant interaction with the ground created a secondary infection. However, none of the other cysts found on our Wolfhounds have ever been malignant nor infected.

To illustrate other but concerning tumors, we have had several small, mammary growths removed from our bitches. Regarding these, as soon as they were detected we aggressively responded by removing them. Due to their location in a highly glandular area, often these may experience aggressive growth patterns and can begin small like a pebble and then grow quickly. This rate of sizeable growth is often due to either aggressive mammary cancer or because of its glandular location releasing hormones into the bloodstream. In all cases, the bitches teat were removed as well. Biopsies are always in order for these tumors which takes approximately one week. Often the results are "mixed cells," described as benign mammary neoplasms recommending further observation for reoccurrence. However, there is always the possibility of malignant diagnoses which is hindered only by chemotherapy and or holistic treatments.

Of course, there are swelling and or tumors found on limbs, and these are NOT to be ignored either as they often may be a sign of osteosarcoma. Alternatively, another example might be a soft tissue mass that you may feel, for instance in the neck area of your hound, while massaging with your fingers. Though not just under the skin, these can be deep fatty tissue tumors otherwise called a lipoma -- a benign invasive tumor usually in around muscle or even lymph glands. Fatty tumors, these can be reviewed or diagnosed by a Board Certified Radiologist via ultrasound. Conversely, these could also be soft tissue sarcomas in which the specialist may be able to aspirate the mass drawing out a sample of its composition for pathology. Honestly, though, it has been my experience that aspirations are usually ineffectual since they have mixed laboratory determinations of uncertain origins and usually indicate an abundance of blood.

Nonetheless, in these circumstances, a board certified specialist should be consulted as to options if the diagnosis was a tumor and not a lipoma. This may include either dissecting the mass or leaving it undisturbed due to an awkward location that may require rib spreading and lengthy recovery times. See my health page and the story about our beautiful Dior who passed from thyroid carcinoma. In retrospect, I should not have opted for surgery, and I should have left the tumor alone allowing her to live with some quality of life for how many months she would have had. Instead, she underwent surgery at 7.5 years of age, and three masses were removed. However, in the process, there was slight damage to her trachea and esophagus cords as they had to be moved to the side for access to a large tumor. She lived only for two additional months before I humanely euthanized the valiant girl. It was deeply saddening to witness such a majestic Irish Wolfhound fight every day to overcome such dreadful pain yet still keep such tenderness and devotion in her eyes.  

Alternatively, it may also be that surgery is not an option for an older dog. I can vouch for this course of action on our veteran stud dog, Danny. Danny experienced an injury to his neck roughhousing with a littermate and compressed his 6th & 7th vertebrae. My Dog Blog Musings post and the subsequent updates found on this Blog explain what the specialist recommended to relieve Danny's pain. Alternatively, I opted for chiropractic care along with laser therapy and hydrotherapy instead of surgery which would have exacted an enormous toll on my eight-year-old wolfhound and approximately six months of recovery times. He is walking 14 miles per week and visits a certified chiropractor and a canine physical therapy specialist.

Lumps, bumps, masses, tumors, and cysts are frequent on most dogs but particularly Irish Wolfhounds. If you have questions or concerns about a lump, bump or mass then, by all means, have it examined by your veterinarian. The treatment for any of these will vary, but as I explained, in some cases with lumps or bumps, depending on their location, no action is needed.

Exercise for the Veteran Irish Wolfhound

It is necessary to keep in mind that exercise for our veteran hounds is vital. Notably, those hounds who have suffered an injury, such as our Danny, but also, those experiencing an overall loss of muscle mass with a weakening of the hindquarters that gradually worsens over time. In many cases, the latter is often diagnosed via digital radiographs or M.R.I. as spondylosis, aka arthritis of the spine, which can be minimized with drugs such as anti-inflammatories, such as steroids. However, the disease is not reversible. Also, I use systemic enzymes such as WobEnzyme that are beneficial for addressing inflammation. Even more, holistic supplements can be utilized such as Shark Cartilage or Green Lipped Mussels purchased at Wholistic Pet Organics which increases synovial fluid levels and hopefully rebuild cartilage and elasticity.

As far as exercise, I am not necessarily referring to free bounding and galloping in the fields. Although his form can be both liberating, toning, and otherwise healthy; it can be harmful because many older hounds will overdo it and can injure themselves or further aggravate a pre-existing injury. I recommend leashed exercise for older hounds who will benefit from this method of conditioning of reserved but nonstop action.

If a hound has not been exercised previously then one should begin slowly with daily 20-minute sessions in a regular beat -- as my canine physical rehabilitationist refers to it as a "don't stop and smell the flowers" pace. This type of exercise is a regular body conditioner that can strengthen muscling, for example, the gluteal muscles responsible for extending and abduction of the hip and limb. As the veteran sighthound gets accustomed to the daily walks over two weeks or so, you can build up their distance by 1/2 mile or 10-minute sessions in the proceeding weeks, gradually building up to 2 to 3 miles daily. You will see and feel a difference on the hound, and hopefully, this training, and possibly the use of an anti-inflammatory steroid such as Methylprednisone, along with laser therapy, and the natural supplements I discussed above, can prolong their lives with us.

Danny's Cervical Neck Recovery Update

For some people, these health updates are necessary as they may have a beloved companion who has also experienced cervical neck injuries and rather than considering the unthinkable because surgery was not an option, they have another alternative being a physical rehabilitation protocol.

If you recall, back in June, Danny suffered a compression of the 6th & 7th cervical vertebrae in his neck. Subsequently, the pain radiated not just into his forequarters causing lameness which is most likely permanent but also ataxia in his hindquarters. The latter ataxia is not benign and is the most concerning and pressing symptom. If the ataxia were left unheeded, he simply would have lost the use or locomotive faculties of his hindquarters.

Fortunately, my Board Certified Neurologist has an open mind, and because surgery was not an option, we immediately proceeded with Chiropractic care on Danny. Also, we utilized cold laser therapy and underwater treadmill exercise. You can review all of these therapies in my previous posts.

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Ballyhara Danny

Danny is still doing well. He completed six weeks of hydrotherapy accompanied by cold laser therapy and approximately 8 Chiropractic adjustments. This past Monday he had another readjustment since he had not had one in over three weeks and it was very much needed. However, because we are rigorously adhering to our exercise program, his ataxia has diminished somewhat and is now kept in check. At 8.5 years of age, Danny walks a minimum of 12 and up to 14 miles per week, and although the ataxia cannot be eradicated, we can keep Danny comfortable and happy. As a result of his exercise, his hindquarter muscles are in excellent condition which is crucial to his being able to lift himself up off the ground.

As a result of our physical rehabilitation, laser, hydro, and chiropractic experiences, I can confirm that these indeed are valid alternatives to costly M.R.I., and surgery for older dogs. Obviously, cases studies and results will vary but in the event that you may find yourself in a similar position one day; let it be known that there is another option rather than euthanasia for your wonderful friend. 

Danny receiving laser therapy

We just completed our fourth chiropractic session today and underwent his second theraputic laser.  

Danny and Dr. Baroody, DVM Chiropractor administering second laser session

Continuing Canine Chiropractic Update

Whew!!

Like I said it has been busy. Too busy for my tastes but sometimes life throws curveballs at us, so what are you going to do? Anyhow, more updates on Danny, the veteran eight-year-old wolfhound male who is recovering from an injury that compressed his 7th & 8th cervical vertebrae. He has had three chiropractic adjustments and manipulations and also at the last visit he also received therapeutic laser.

He seemed to appreciate the laser therapy as he relaxed the entire time. Next week he begins physical rehabilitation using an underwater treadmill to build back up his muscles in his hindquarters. Time will tell if these alternatives prove to be helpful. We remain concerned as he continues to lose weight, gradually. On the date of the injury, Danny weighed 187 pounds. The first week of chiropractic care he weighed 183 pounds. The second week Danny weighed 181 pounds. The third week he weighed 179 pounds. His appetite is excellent which means that he is losing muscle mass, the most concerning of all.

Canine Spinal Injury Update

In my earlier post from June 24, 2016, I described the injury my 8-year veteran male wolfhound sustained while roughhousing with his littermate. In my efforts to provide what may be valuable feedback on our experience, I will continue to update the therapy, instead of surgery, that our male, Danny, has and will be undertaking. 

He had his first chiropractic consultation and treatment last week. He is a patient at The North Country Veterinary Referral Center located in Glens Falls, New York. Some may ask what is certified veterinary chiropractic care? The chiropractor is certified with either the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) or the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association (IVCA). Both institutions are nearly interchangeable regarding their requirements for certification. More information about these programs is found on their appropriate links. It is important to find the services of a certified practitioner, and for giant breed owners, especially a doctor who works on horses. It goes without saying that doctor's who have worked with equines in chiropractic care state early in their diagnosis and examination of an Irish Wolfhound, "Well, it is like working on a horse." Those were the first words my veterinarian chiropractor stated as she pulled, massaged and worked my 183-pound male wolfhound, who by the way, has lost at least 5 pounds since his injury due to muscle loss. 

It is important to note that the geographical location in the mountain resort in which we live dictates the ease of which I can access Certified Chiropractic care for my wolfhound. The care is available but at some distance being nearly one hour and forty minutes each way, albeit closer though than my other Board Certified Specialists who are 2 hours distant. As such, I cannot commit to two weekly sessions per week but only one. Danny's first session involved a thorough gait analysis and treatment in which the chiropractor manipulated his cervical muscles which were inflamed and a lengthening process of his spinal column. Due to the ataxia (incoordination) in his hindquarters as a result of the injury, she strongly recommends hydrotherapy in the form of rehabilitation of the muscles on an underwater treadmill. This physical rehabilitation center is located at the same facility, and she suggests two sessions per week, however, one visit each week for 6-12 weeks could be beneficial. I have agreed to this arrangement and will combine both the chiropractic therapy session and the underwater treadmill rehab on the same day with back-to-back appointments. 

After Danny's first chiropractic session I noticed a moderate improvement in his forequarters and movement of his neck. His rear remains weak and uncoordinated but, we can hope that in time during his hydrotherapy, this too may improve. On a side note: he is not incontinent. Importantly, we have decided to try chiropractic care first along with the hydrotherapy before adding the methylprednisone (a potent anti-inflammatory steroid) protocol. Time will tell if this will work but for those who may find themselves in similar positions, my updates and reports should be beneficial.

Some may be wondering what the costs are related to these therapeutic treatments, apparently not inexpensive but at this point, a fraction of the costs associated with surgery and hospitalization. The chiropractic care for the initial appointment was $215 with subsequent weekly treatments at $115 each for a minimum of 4 weeks. The physical rehab package of 12 visits is $750.00. 

The next or second therapy appointment is in two days, so I will post an update then. 

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Ch. Ballyhara Danny, 3 years

Canine Spinal Column Injury

Wow, I have been terrifically busy lately, and frustratingly, I have had little to no time to post on this Blog. I have several interesting pieces I am working on and hopefully will be published soon, but there does not seem to be enough hours in the day. Of course, this is a familiar complaint, particularly with many "dog people" as we spend a great deal of our time caring for our animals. Naturally, something always goes wrong requiring unexpected medical care, more trips to the veterinarian, then the pharmacy, then staying close to home because of an injured or sick dog, and so on.

Take a recent example involving my Veteran male wolfhound of almost eight years of age who was apparently roughhousing with his sister and they must have collided with one another. Though I did not witness this particular event, many times I had seen their horseplaying and have had to step in quickly before someone got hurt. They frequently have done so without previous trauma but this time was different. To boot, one would naturally expect that the bitch would have sustained injuries, but mine is not your average wolfhound bloodlines. In my bloodlines, many of my bitches average 160 pounds and are built like linebackers. My males usually range 180-190lbs. This particular litter sister he was playing with is built like a tank, as solid as a log, and hitting her would be like running into a brick wall. Though my male weighs in at 183 pounds, he was the one who got hurt. Apparently, she did not feel a thing.

His symptoms began with a lameness in his left forequarters, and he was panting heavily. The pain was not specific to the foot, Radius, Humerus, Scapula or muscling and he would not lie down on his left side, crying out when he tried to do so. With a doctor present, we palpated but could not elicit pain from him though this is not unusual for an Irish Wolfhound. This breed is so damn stoic that they often are on their death bed before being symptomatic of a critical illness or injury. Although he was kept quiet, his lameness did not diminish but worsened along with his having measurable neurological weakness in his rear hindquarters. Digital radiographs were taken of his left forequarter vertical bones and joints looking for the dreaded "C" and, for good measure, his lungs and chest cavity as well. All appeared normal. I was suspicious that he had a disc injury and also, his panting was due to the extreme pain. We had to wait several days for an appointment with a Board Certified Neurologist, and we now have our answers.

First, let me back up here to make an important point. I like and have great admiration and respect for this Neurologist, who unarguably is an expert in his field. But, as I discussed with my husband, we are quite fortunate that I am not just a typical pet owner. Due to my having 32 years of experience in seeing just about everything in this breed, I have developed an innate diagnostic talent along with a finely tuned intuition. I am not gloating, but truly I have relied on this ability for years now and moreover, I am pragmatic. Here is how this skill has aided me in this particular situation.

After a detailed examination of my hound including a thoroughgoing outdoors gait analysis, the neurologist's first recommendation was to perform an M.R.I., which is a medical imaging that is superior for producing images of soft tissue injuries or tumors, nerves, and internal organs. This is today's "go to" diagnostic ideal, with starting costs of $2,500--$3,000 aside from the $200 office visit. This is just an initial expense. I thoughtfully listened to his opinions and considered his top three typical and possible causes for my wolfhound's disability and pain. These being soft tissue tumor, degenerative lumbosacral stenosis -- a disorder of the vertebrae in the lower back that causes compression of the nerve roots often found in large breeds, or, lastly, caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy. The latter is frequently seen in giant breeds and is known as "Wobblers Syndrome" but is seen mostly in younger animals less than two years of age.

Then, I initiated the "what if" treatments or solutions discussion to any MRI findings, of which there was just one, surgery. As a significant adjunct, one factor that would determine the length of recovery is the angle of the surgical entry to repair or remove the issue. For example, a Hemilaminectomy approach (from the left or right side); or a Dorsal approach (from the top); or a Ventral Slot (approaching the spinal cord through the bone from the bottom). Hospitalization times would depend on the surgical method, and are usually up to a week or slightly longer and then "at home" recovery of approximately 3-6 months. Such surgical procedures and stays at a 24/7 Specialty Hospital as this 37,000 square foot facility range from $6,000 to $8,000, without an MRI. Now, how does my valuable intuition and experience aid me in this situation? Well, many average pet owners with disposable income, especially in our giant breeds, would comply with a Specialist's urging and have the expensive but accurate and valuable diagnostic tool. Though I have spent countless tens of thousands of dollars on one or more hounds surgeries and specialty care, my sense was that this male got injured in boisterous, rough play. Roughness and rowdiness unlike what this doctor, or for that matter, most all other doctors have ever seen. Regardless if this boy is eight years old as most all our veterans are lively and uproarious, and this particular stallion hound is especially powerful.

You see, the most significant contrast in experience between Veterinarians and Specialists who see thousands of canine patients per year -- many of whom have diagnostics down to a science -- and me is that I live and have lived with a pack of Irish Wolfhounds for 32 years. It is amusing because, over these years, I have attempted to explain the breed as well as my Wolfhound's daily lifestyle, their habits, and personalities, play and exercise routines, and so on to new specialists. Yet, the new Doc's -- not my regular veterinarians -- don't seem to get it. When I narrate how these hounds roughhouse and describe the extent of their power, or when I discuss prey drive; there is often a blank or disbelieving look on their faces. This vacant look is similar to the expressions on that of non-dog persons and dog persons from other breeds faces as well, after I explain how traumatic an Irish Wolfhound fight can be. They just look at you as if you must be exaggerating. This Doctor did not disappoint.   

Having received all the information needed, I opened the discussion of compromise for proceeding conservatively. That is to say, no M.R.I., suggesting and requesting instead that we have digital radiographs of the hounds spine and cervical vertebrae to ascertain, if any, disk damage. Further, I inquired, and it was explained that, yes, we might be able to rule out a tumor which is often found in giant breeds spinal columns though we cannot have absolute certainty because radiographs can only depict a tumor that is typically 50% in size or larger. Most importantly, I pointed out that the hound was not a candidate for surgery due to his age, and consequently, the MRI would be unfulfilling. My Specialist softened and yielded to my logic and experience.

After having five digital radiographs of his spinal column and cervical vertebrae (neck) with a machine built for horses allowing for the dog to stand while being x-rayed, thankfully, no soft tissue tumor was detected. Instead, we saw the obvious issue. His cervical 6th and 7th vertebrae are compressed, bone on bone. Consequently, the pain and the injury has radiated down the spinal cord and has caused ataxia of his hindquarters (incoordination). My veteran hound is now being maintained on a painkiller, along with a brief steroid therapy that I dread. However, the steroid that I chose to administer -- yes, there are several to select from all with varying side effects -- Methylprednisone -- has somewhat fewer side effects but is expensive. We will begin chiropractic therapy on Monday and go from there with the goal to alleviate this poor gentleman's pain. We will have to see if this mediates or diminishes his obvious discomfort but at the very least, my practical and intuitive approach saved me an initial $3,000.

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Danny's sister, Ballyhara Dallas 8 years of age. "The tank" is what we fondly call her...

Update on Respiratory Virus

As I posted on April 18, after returning home from an indoor all-breed kennel club dog show (see Possible Respiratory Virus Warning post for more info) I can confirm that we, in fact, had picked up a respiratory virus, a.k.a. Kennel Cough. We have two hounds symptomatic with a cough and nasal discharge and one or more others who are coughing without fever. We are temping everyone diligently because the strain originating in Chicago was and is both stealthy and a killer. As reported by my veterinarian, many dogs in that region were behaving normally and were asymptomatic of a cough yet had fevers, and sadly, some died as it was too late.

My veterinarian and I are pursuing a proactive but cautious approach, using Cephalexin on hound(s) with nasal discharge and temping them several times daily. Though we may be conservative, we urge caution against complacency, especially if it is possible that this is the Chicago strain.

One hound was on Cephalexin for four days and did not respond favorably nor quickly enough to our satisfaction, though his temperature was slightly above normal. Therefore, we chose to switch his antibiotic. Due to his being a yearling, age 21 months, I am cautious about using an antibiotic drug that may cause problems during the developing stages of growth in a dog under 18 months of age, such as Baytril or Ciprofloxacin. Though many people assume that the growth plates are closed by the age of 21 months, I believe, in my considered opinion, he is not entirely grown. In my experience, he still has not fully developed and appears quite youthful. So, instead, we are using a combination antibiotic, Clavamox, to treat the bacterial infection, without the risk to further, if any, growth stages. We did so at a significantly greater expense as the drug had to be purchased at our local pharmacy. Though it can be purchased online at a reputable, veterinary pharmacy, such as Drs. Foster & Smith, we did not have time to have it shipped. Notably, this antibiotic drug has a relatively short shelf-life, so we do not keep it on hand. To treat this particular hound's cough we are using Tramadol with good results.

For a wolfhound without nasal discharge nor temperature, we are not treating with any drugs, but again, we monitor their temperatures closely. In general, we will use a cough suppressant, an excellent choice being Robitussin DM. However, the administration is not easy and must be done carefully, so the hound does not aspirate the syrup. Lastly, I administer a good quality Probiotic in pill form to any hound being treated with antibiotic and I also increase all the wolfhound's Vitamin C supplement to as much as 4000 mg per day, given throughout the day and with food. Any questions, just ask.

Toxins in Motel & Hotel Rooms

Recently, my husband and I attended an all-breed dog show and our ring time made it necessary for us to get a motel room the night before. Because we would not arrive until 11:00 PM and were checking out at around 6:30AM, I reserved a room at a budget hotel chain. It was only for 6 or 7 hours so why spend the extra money on a higher priced hotel room. It was here that I had growing concerns on an issue that I do not believe has even crossed people's minds: formaldehyde emissions from substandard flooring and furniture in budget motel accommodations.

This is a credible concern, especially for dog show exhibitors who frequently stay overnight in motels while traveling to distant dog shows. Although gasoline costs have lessened dramatically from several years back, many people try to save their hard-earned money and typically, the motel accommodation is the largest expense for dog show clusters or specialties. So, it is both sensible and natural that people choose a budget motel as inevitably, they spend most of the day at the dog show anyway and are only in their rooms in the evening. This budget motel we overnighted briefly in was fully booked with dog show exhibitors as is usually the case for many of the economical chains for weekend dog shows.

Everyone saves money, but, at what cost?

Here is the concern. Economical motel rooms commonly contain substandard quality furniture and on average, are usually smaller in size than mid-range hotels. Why does this matter? Formaldehyde emissions: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified formaldehyde as a known human carcinogen. Many budget motel rooms are small and due to the lack of square footage, they have less ventilation. These tight quarters, combined with the low-grade furniture made of composite wood products and laminated flooring may have higher emissions of this colorless, flammable gas. Breathing in the air that has off-gassed formaldehyde can have adverse health effects. Even more, formaldehyde can and will continue off-gassing, polluting the indoor air for great lengths of time, though for how long is hotly disputed between the experts. Some say years, some say indefinitely, some say shorter durations.

According to the EPA: Formaldehyde is found in resins used in the manufacture of composite wood products (i.e., hardwood plywood, particleboard, and medium-density fiberboard). It is found in building materials and insulation and products such as glues, permanent press fabrics, paints and coatings, lacquers and finishes, and paper products, to name a few. Keep in mind that much economical furniture is composite products with veneer or laminate, all held together with added formaldehyde based glues then pressed together. Most people watched or had heard about the 60 Minutes segment that investigated a national flooring company, Lumber Liquidators. The investigators found that Lumber Liquidators' Chinese-made laminate flooring contained amounts of toxic formaldehyde that did not meet health and safety standards, in accordance with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulation. Currently, this is the only regulation in the country that reduces public exposure to formaldehyde through the establishment of strict emission performance standards.

How does this affect us? Many dog shows are held throughout the colder seasons, and people turn on the heat in their hotel room. According to the EPA, the rate at which formaldehyde is released is accelerated by heat and may also depend somewhat on the humidity level. The EPA recommends that people use air conditioning to control or reduce humidity which can help reduce formaldehyde emissions. They also recommend increasing ventilation which can be impossible in many motel accommodations. However, even with the air conditioning unit running, especially in such a tight quarters, this only helps to reduce, not eliminate the off-gassing. As we sleep, we breathe in this colorless gas in very close proximity to and parallel with the bed frame furniture, sometimes just inches away. Notably, we are also elevated just a few feet off the laminated floor. Formaldehyde causes irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, and throat and can also cause symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and dizziness. Moreover, high levels of exposure may cause some types of cancers. 

Most likely many people are not aware of the exposures. It just dawned on me this past weekend. What to do about it? Well, there are no hotel industry guidelines that I can find on the subject, except for the American Hotel & Lodging Association's sustainable greening guidelines. But, we all know that green hotels are a significant minority and very hard to find. We may very well be stuck between a rock and a hard place. For those exhibitors who are frequent motel guests, if possible, staying in larger deluxe accommodations may be helpful. Also, using the air conditioner regardless of the season can decrease humidity in the room, although panting dogs will elevate this level back up again. I am not an environmental air quality expert but if you begin to experience symptoms of headaches, sinus and eye irritations you should alert hotel management and, if possible, be moved to another room. Keep in mind that even deluxe hotels may be newly furnished or had recently undergone renovations. If so, the room's renovations and furniture initially will contain higher emissions of formaldehyde via off-gassing, unless they were refurbished with organic wood furniture or carpeting, which is highly unlikely. Inquire when making reservations if a the motel or hotel has recently undergone restorations or improvements. You might base your decision then on the quality level of the hotel and the room size, such as a suite with greater square footage allowing for greater ventilation, or that has windows that can open.

Just know that the EPA currently has no national standards in place for formaldehyde in composite wood products. They are supposedly reviewing regulations. So, at present, there are no safeguards for your respiratory health while staying in any accommodations, unless of course, one resides in California.

The 6 Pillars of Choosing Commercial Pet Foods

Some of the most popular material on my Ballyhara Irish Wolfhounds website is the page Irish Wolfhound Diet & Nutrition, which, of course, is not just applicable for wolfhounds but any dog whatsoever. Since some of my Readers do feed dry dog food, I thought it may be helpful to share information from Dr. Jean Dodds Tumblr Blog on commercial pet food published last week "The Six Pillars of Choosing Commercial Dog Food"  with an excerpt from her post.

The Six Pillars of Choosing Pet Food

1. Ingredients
a. What are they?
b. Will your pet have a sensitivity reaction to any of them?

2. Sourcing
a. Where do the ingredients come from?
b. Are the grains, potatoes and vegetable ingredients GMO-free and organic
c. Are the proteins grass-fed or free-range?
d. Where do the added vitamins and minerals originate?

See my two articles “Food Sourcing: Six tips when choosing your pet’s diet” and “GMO Foods and Mycotoxins in Pet Foods” for more information.

3. Processing – Do you want kibble, raw or dehydrated?
See my article “The Six Processed Forms of Dog and Cat Food”.

4. Manufacturing
a. Has the manufacturer had any recent recalls?
b. What do you know about their facilities and food handling practices?
c. Is the food made in the company’s own plant or in a plant making products for many or several food companies?

See my article “A Hush-Hush Topic: Mislabeled, undeclared, unidentified, or missing ingredients from pet foods”.

5. Additives
a. Are the preservatives natural or synthetic (artificial)?
b. Does it contain artificial colors?

See my blog post “The Cat That Ate the Kibble”.

6. Balanced
a. Is the food balanced for your pet?
b. If not, will you need to supplement or worry about vitamin and mineral toxicity?

See my article “Vitamin and Minerals – Supplementation and Overdoing It”.

Moreover, I think those people who do feed commercial dog food can find additional practical advice in another of Dr. Dodds post's Food Sourcing: Six Tips When Choosing Your Pet’s Diet

Here is a another brief but important excerpt from Dr. Dodds post:

Six Quick Tips

• Made in the XXX…Made in a certain country does not mean the ingredients were sourced from the same country or even surrounding countries. Animal proteins are especially of concern. If a company cannot unequivocally tell you from where the meat is sourced, stay away. Make sure the farming practices from the source country have a good and reliable record. 

• US Labeling
  - Cage Free: The phrases “cage free” and “free range” do not pertain to what the animal was fed, but how humanely it was raised. While cage free is definitely an improvement over Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO), the term is not regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). So, you will have to have faith that the producers are ethical in their claims. 
  - Free Range: In order to obtain labels bearing the claim “free range,” producers must provide a brief description of the housing conditions with the label, when it is submitted to USDA’s Labeling Program and Delivery Division (LPDD) for approval. The written description of the housing conditions is reviewed to ensure there is continuous, free access to the out-of-doors for over 51% of the animals’ lives, i.e., through their normal growing cycle. 
  - Grass-Fed: To use this on a label, the USDA requires farmers to ensure their animals have access to the outdoors during the grass growing season, which could be only six months out of the year in some states. The diet should be derived solely from forage consisting of grass (annual and perennial), forbs (e.g., legumes, Brassica), or cereal grain crops in the vegetative (pre-grain) state. This is definitely preferred and we hope the USDA will make the guidelines more stringent. 

• Has this company had any recent food recalls? If so, what was the reason: ingredient sourcing or equipment? Has it been adequately addressed, as far as you can discern?

• Is the food declared to be free of wheat, corn and soy?

• Does the food contain rosemary or oregano (most pet foods do), which should not be fed if your dog is an epileptic.

• Remember that commercial dry foods can contain other ingredients than those declared on the label. So, if your dog appears not to tolerate the food you select, this could be one of the reasons.

I hope that this info helps even the most veteran breeder or dog enthusiasts in their efforts to supply the very best nutrition available for their dogs. 

A Holistic Approach to Anesthesia for Pets

Dr. Jean Dodds, DVM, new blog post, in case you have not read it, on a holistic approach to anesthesia for Pets by Shawn Messonnier, DVM, especially for teeth cleaning...

My friend and colleague, Dr. Shawn Messonnier, was very kind to pen this article on anesthesia for pets – particularly in regards to dental cleanings. Dr. Messonnier, a 1987 graduate of Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine, opened Paws & Claws Animal Hospital in Plano, Texas, in 1991. He has written several articles for many of the top pet publications in the nation. - Jean Dodds, DVM

Most pets have periodontal disease that must be addressed. This involves cleaning the teeth, and a proper dental cleaning must be done under sedation/anesthesia in order to thoroughly treat the periodontal pockets below the gum line that accompany dental disease.

A holistic approach to anesthesia is a safe alternative to traditional anesthetics. The holistic approach allows minimal amounts of sedation/anesthesia to be used, minimizing risk to the patient, even in older dogs and cats, and ensuring a quick and complete recovery. We typically do dental cleanings and tumor removals using this approach on small and medium-sized dogs and cats 15 years of age and older without any harm to the pet! For larger and giant sized breeds, the age to be cautious with anesthesia can be 10-12years.

At my clinic in Plano, Texas, we’ve had great success using this holistic anesthetic approach, so much so that we get patients from around the area (and even from out of state) in order to minimize the risk of sedation and anesthesia. By using this approach we’ve been able to help even high risk patients have necessary surgery for cleaning the teeth and removing tumors.

The approach involves a proper pre-sedation evaluation, and choosing the right anesthetic based upon this evaluation. Tiny doses of sedatives/anesthetics are used, just enough to allow the pet to lightly sleep while the teeth are properly and thoroughly cleaned. With this approach, the pet is barely asleep, minimizing the risks so often seen with more traditional anesthesia (depressed heart and lung function, lowered body temperature, etc.) Once the procedure is finished the pet can go home fully awake (without the hangover effect so commonly seen with traditional anesthesia) and acting totally normal.

There is no reason your pet, even an older pet, shouldn’t have proper medical care just because of a fear of anesthesia. Please look into a more gentle, safe, and natural approach to anesthesia and surgery and your pet will not only survive but even thrive and awake healthier!

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