The Value of PennHIP

PennHIP stands for University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program. In 1983, a vet orthopedic surgeon & bioengineer began to research & develop a new scientific method for the early diagnosis of Canine Hip Displaysia (CHD). This resulted in a diagnostic method capable of estimating CHD in dogs as young as 4 months. (ESTIMATING, not diagnosing)
Clinically, hip displaysia manifests itself in a couple ways. One is a severe form that typically afflicts younger dogs & is usually characterized by obvious pain & lameness. The other is the chronic form with more gradual onset of visible signs such as mild, intermittent pain, stiffness & restricted range of motion in the hips as the dog ages. Many times this chronic form can be asymptomatic.
My husband and I are not breeders. We do not breed our dogs. We do, however, PennHIP our dogs. In 10 years of owning multiple Leos, it’s helped us for lots of different reasons. The ability to have an early indicator of possible problems later is very important to us and in our experience valuable to the quality of life of the dog. PennHIP scientifically evaluates a dog’s susceptibility to develop hip displaysia. Note that I said SUSCEPTIBILITY, not that it diagnoses it.
PennHIP involves special positioning of the dog so the dog’s “passive hip laxity” can be accurately measured. The passive hip laxity refers to the degree of looseness of the hip ball in the hip socket when the dogs’ muscles are completely relaxed. Research’s shown the degree of this laxity is an important factor in determining susceptibilty to develop degenerative joint disease (DJD) later in life. DJD evidence on x-rays is the universally accepted confirmation of hip dysplasia.
This passive hip laxity is objectively measured and quantified and called the Distraction Index (DI). It’s a unitless number between 0-1. A smaller DI means less laxity (tighter hips) and less susceptibilty for degenerative joint disease. A DI of .50 is interpreted to mean the femoral head is 50% displaced from the acetabulum (the ball is displaced from the socket). DI has been shown to correlate strongly with the probability of developing hip DJD.
They further apply the DI to the distribution of a certain breed. Meaning the individual dog is compared only to other dogs of the same breed. This then gives a profile of how the individual dog fits with the whole breed and allows breeders to better chose for improving the breed’s hips over a shorter time.
To us, as non-breeders, we care mostly about the DI (althouth adding to the database to help breeders improve breeds is also important).
Our German Shepherd, Mara, was PennHIPPED at 6 months. There’s an increasing risk of developing DJD as the Distraction Index increases. Low risk is close to .30 and high is close to .70. Her left DI was .61, her right was .57. We did a prelim OFA on her at a year. That report showed slight subluxation (dislocation) and unilateral pathology of her left hip. Her evaluation was called Borderline, which was in line with the PennHIP, only with PennHIP we found out much earlier and were able to change activities and start supplements.
Mara was going to be one of my demo dogs for my training business. She was going to be doing lots of Frisbee and jumping, etc. We changed her activities so we’re working on freestyle (canine dancing). Freestyle doesn’t require jumping. She loves dock diving (landing in water is fine, landing on land not so much). She’s showing off some her skill on this blog’s masthead photo. Swimming is excellent non-weight bearing exercise. We joke she’s our speed skater because we keep her thigh muscles built up. We had Tringa PennHIPped when she was spayed. We had some idea things weren’t great with her hips, but that’s hard to tell for sure on growing puppies, especially giant breed puppies.
Here is a photo of her x-rays. This is the VD view, the view typically taken for OFA ratings. PennHIP uses this VD view to look for pathology and deformities.

Tringa's VD hip rad

Next PennHIP requires a distracted view. The dog is positioned in a special way to apply some distraction to see how much laxity it present. We weren’t overly surprised by her x-rays other than the degree of laxity. Some laxity is good. Some is expected. I like some laxity. Laxity in young pups prevents injuries. But at what point does laxity cross the line into luxation (dislocation)?

Tringa's distraction x-ray

We had to wait for the results to come back, but we knew it wasn’t going to be good. To my untrained eye, it certainly looked like at least 50% displacement from the socket.
After about 10 days, the numbers came back. And they weren’t good.
Her Distraction Index numbers are: Right = 0.82 Left = 0.85 The median Distraction Index for Leonbergers is 0.47
There’s no radiographic evidence of degenerative joint disease at this point, but the risk of developing it is high when the Distraction Index is .70 or above.
Currently, there are 202 Leonbergers in the database. She ranked in the lower end of the 10th percentile. Doing the math, that means out of the 202 Leonbergers only about 10 have more laxity (looser hips) than she does. Or looking at it the other way, roughly 190 have tighter hips.
What’s this all mean for us and Tringa’s future? She’s already on supplements to help maintain and improve joint health. Her exercise and training have been changed and physical therapy disguised as fun swimming has begun.
Hopefully, with careful management and early awareness, we’ll be able to keep her symptom free and comfortable for many years to come.

Check out my Slide Show!

Behind Door Number One…

…Is the beginning of an awesome relationship.
For a trainer, one of the most rewarding things is getting to see the *light go on*; the instant when the dog understands and acknowledges “Hey, I get this”.
Another rewarding moment, sometimes even more so, is when the owner gets it. When we can reach the owner, we have common ground on which to reach the dog.
Last night in my basic obedience (leash and collar) class, we had each of these moments. When I got the owner to understand and do the task correctly, the face on the dog changed as she understood, too.
The door opened and now there are great things ahead for this dog-owner team!

First Aid

 

According to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), 1 out of 4 more pets could be saved if just one pet first aid technique was applied prior to getting veterinary assistance.

Will your pet be the one?

Knowing the skills and techniques of pet first aid can mean the difference between life and death for you pet.

Despite a raging snow storm, eight people gave up their Saturday to spend it learning pet first aid and care at the Canine Coach Training Center. They learned how to restrain an ill or injursed pet, CPR & Rescue Breathing, Heat & Cold Injuries, Bleeding Injuries, Bandaging and MUCH, MUCH MORE!!!

 

Woud you know what to do?

 

 

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Crossing Paths

On March 26^th, 2008, I had an experience that will mark my heart forever.

It was during a training session. We were taking a break. The dog lied down while we were talking about what we had just gone over. She stretched her legs out behind her. The owners commented she liked to do that when she was very tired. I started explaining how using brain power can be as tiring as doing something physical, when I noticed a small puddle of urine.

I immediately got down on the floor with the dog. She was blue and not breathing.  I pulled out her tongue and adjusted her head for a clear airway. She started to breathe again and we rushed to the vet. She didn’t make it. The necropsy revealed a tumor in her heart that ruptured bleeding so much blood into her pericardium her heart couldn’t beat any more.  She would’ve turned nine the following week.

It was one of those sudden things shocking everyone involved. Something no one could see coming.  The tumor could’ve ruptured while the dog slept or jumped off the couch or barked at the mailman or chased a squirrel.

Why while she was lying peaceful on the floor of my training center?

I got a very touching letter from her owner about a week after the incident. She thought our paths had crossed that day so they wouldn’t have to go through losing their dog alone.

It was their first ever dog and therefore their first ever loss.  

I’ve worked in animal health care for almost 30 years. I’ve experienced lots of losses, my own and through others.

I’m also a Pet Tech Pet First Aid Instructor. I knew what to do to get her to the vet so the family could feel like everything possible was done to save their precious friend.

As I look back over that day’s events, I think she’s right.

Dogs and Wildlife

Spring is just around the corner here. In some parts of the country, flowers are already blooming. Wildlife babies will be born very soon.
I’ve just finally caught up with some of my Northwoods Wildlife Center (NWC) paperwork responsibilities.
In 1997, the American Bird Conservancy launched the Keep Cats Indoors! Campaign in an effort to reduce songbird predation by domestic cats. At NWC, our cat attack admissions were 4.41% in 1998. In 2007, that number was just 1.42%.
Patients admitted due to dog attacks were much greater, ranging from a high in 2001 of 10.92% to a low of 3.37% in 1998.
Last year’s dog attacks amounted to 5.07%! Only 60% of those were returned to the wild.
Some of the wildlife species being attacked by dogs are cottontail rabbits, white-tailed deer fawns, snowshoe hares, squirrels, birds and more.
These are only the patients someone actually brings into NWC. Many others don’t make it.
Many people don’t realize even if their dog doesn’t actually catch a wild animal, it can do harm. Just seriously chasing a squirrel can cause her to abort her litter. White-tailed deer physically shut down after even short bouts of extreme stress like being chased by a dog. Yes, they die from stress!
Our personal pack respects wildlife. We don’t allow them to chase squirrels or deer or rabbits or grasshoppers even. We’ve directed their prey drive into acceptable forms (dock diving, fetch, etc).
We’re rewarded with a yard wildlife feels safe visiting. The dogs routinely go out for last call (off-lead) with deer standing in the yard.

IACP CDT

Huh? What is all this alphabet soup?

International Association of Canine Professionals Certified Dog Trainer

Why is the title Certified Dog Trainer important?

Did you know currently anyone wanting to call themselves a dog trainer can do so? Someone who may have had some success training their own family pet decides it’s fun and will start charging the neighbors to train their dogs. That’s all well and good IF the person really is able to read a dog correctly and communicate to the owners.

One of the reasons I became a dog trainer was because another person in the area started calling themselves a dog trainer. Some of my grooming clients started questioning me about some of the advice they’d gotten from this person. This person had trained their own dogs, gone to a few seminars and viola…a dog trainer was born. After handling thousands of dogs in almost 25 years of grooming and working in a vet clinic, I didn’t just hang out a shingle and call myself a dog trainer. I went to school.

I hold certifications from a couple different dog training schools. Probably more important to me, though, is my Certified Dog Trainer certificate from IACP - my IACP CDT designation.

What do the initials IACP CDT mean?

The CDT exam is intended to test an applicant’s basic level of skills to provide the general public with a standard of expectation for what constitutes a “basic level” of expertise. The passing of the CDT exam also provides recognition and approval from peer professionals within an internationally established organization. The CDT is a RESULTS based certification with the trainer being held to the code of ethics of the IACP. It’s important to a person hiring a dog trainer to know the trainer is being held to a high standard and has proven their ability to train you and your dog. The initials IACP CDT mean your trainer has done this.

 

I’m working on my advanced certification already!

When to Start

People ask me daily when they should start training the puppy they just got. IMMEDIATELY!

Puppies are little sponges soaking up information 24/7 whether or not you’re not actively training.  Why not make some of the things they are soaking up things you WANT them to soak up?

Reward behavior they offer naturally. When they’re tired and start to sit, say “sit, good dog”.  Or you can easily lure a pup into a sit with a food treat, also. If you catch your pup running to you, say “come”.

Mind you, this does not mean your dog knows what the commands SIT or COME mean at this point. Doing these things is laying a foundation for the upcoming weeks. All good relationships start with a good foundation.

Start building a good foundation from the day your pup comes home and your relationship will grow into something amazing!

Welcome Tringa!

Welcome Tringa

On 1/2/08, we added another Leonberger puppy to our pack. That brings our personal pack back up to 5. Still smaller than the 7 we had for years, but enough the house doesn’t feel so empty.

Tringa was born 11/6/07. She’s a fun little pup-if you can call 22.8 pounds at 9 weeks little.

One fun fact is her left eye is slightly lighter in color than her right eye. It has been since we got her 10 days ago. This condition is called heterochromasia. Most vets see this with one brown eye and one blue eye. Tringa’s left eye is actually green with her right eye brown. She’s still so young we’re not sure if that will change or not. Right now it certainly adds to her personality!

The name Tringa comes from the genus of several shorebirds. It fits her as she flits here and there much like a sandpiper dancing in & out of the waves.

We hope to be including her in posts for many years to come.

 

Welcome Ledum

Welcome Ledum! We have added another rescue to our pack. Ledum. He originally came from a puppymill. His skeletal structure is terrible, but his temperament is great. He’s tall, somewhere between 16 & 20 months, quite the goofy puppy. He will become one of my demo dogs as Ky ages with some arthritis. It makes it hard for him to do some of the things he loves to do.

Ledum will learn.

I’m not sure he’ll fit in a kayak, though! He’s a tall, big boy with growing left to do!!