Increasing evidence suggests Chronic Hepatitis (CH), a progressive inflammatory disease of the liver, is over-represented in the Standard Poodle population. The presumptive prevalence suggests a genetic component to disease susceptibility. The description below is based on informal clinical experience over many years diagnosing and treating affected dogs. More systematic and comprehensive studies are needed to improve our understanding of the causes of the disease, mode of transmission, and most efficacious therapeutic regimens.
There are two stages of CH. The first occurs in young dogs (3-5 yrs), and is marked by sub-clinical signs of elevated liver enzymes (e.g., ALT , AST, ALP and GGT). A liver biopsy in Stage 1 CH can also reveal early histological signs inflammation and possible necrosis of hepatic (liver) tissue, which will likely progress with time. Stage 2 CH begins with clinical presentation, often at 5-10 yrs of age. The clinical signs can be variable: lethargy, decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss or increased water intake and urination can be indicators of affected status. As the disease advances, later-stage symptoms can include jaundice (i.e., yellow color of the skin and membranes), abdominal distension from fluid accumulation, and hepatic encephalopathy (i.e., brain dysfunction due to the accumulation of liver toxins). A definitive diagnosis of CH requires a liver biopsy.
Because the cause of CH in Standard Poodles is unknown, there is no standardized therapy available, only supportive/ameliorative care. This typically involves medications to reduce inflammation and scarring (e.g., corticosteroids), liver support therapy (e.g., anti-oxidants), and dietary recommendations to ameliorate both abdominal fluid accumulation and hepatic encephalopathy. Understanding the causal underpinnings of CH in Standard Poodles will suggest treatments that hold the most promise for curing or reversing the disease state.
Genetics provides an unbiased means of understanding the molecular and biochemical basis of disease. The genetics/ genomics approach holds particular promise for understanding complex disease, where multiple factors contribute to age of onset, disease severity, and pharmacological response. We are endeavoring to collect genetic material from Standard Poodles with definitive diagnoses of CH in support of a genome-wide hunt for heritable risk factors. The ultimate goal is a DNA test that will identify affected dogs at-risk for CH. This information can be used by breeders to reduce the incidence in their bloodlines. The test will also have profound near-term benefits at-risk dogs can be monitored more closely (e.g., by diagnostic liver enzyme assays), enabling early therapeutic intervention when Stage 1 CH is detected.
The Judges Education Program supported by PCA is an ongoing and evolving effort to which PCA members have committed much time and effort, in past and present. The recent seminar presented as part of the AKC Toy Institute in Houston Texas was well received by participants. This education is crucial to foster an in-depth understanding of our breed and to energize and inform future judges. Much of the credit for this successful presentation goes to my partners in crime: Lisa Wolfe who “tweaked” the PowerPoint (supplied by Gina Wieser) and developed video materials, Leslie Newing and other photographers who graciously supplied images, and Gina who organized the effort and co-presented with me. A special thank you must go to Betty Brown for providing the dogs used in the hands-on portion of the program. Poodles, unlike many breeds must be prepared as if they were going to be shown for prospective judges to gain real world assessment experience. The work involved for individuals providing this experience should be applauded.
Due to the popularity of agility and other performance sports, and the attention of the public on responsible dog ownership, many poodle breeders have increased their interest in selling their puppies to performance homes. Breeders are realizing that performance events are a great place to showcase their dogs’ temperament, soundness, and beauty. In addition, dogs that go to performance homes get more than the average amount of attention, exercise, and care, and have a special bond with their owners. Those who are interested in selling to these homes need to know what performance people are looking for as regards care of the litter and the individual Poodle puppies while they are still with the breeder. Doing a few “extra” things can help insure that each Poodle puppy gets the best start to maximize his performance potential. Following are some of the special things that I do to give the Poodle puppies the kind of start in life that dog trainers are usually looking for.
It is generally Poodle thought that puppies are not able to learn much of anything before 3 weeks, but I handle them anyway during this time (who can resist?). When they get about 5 weeks old, until they leave with their new owners, I try to get as many people as I can to handle and play with the puppies. If possible, get men, women, and children to sit on the floor with the litter and hold them, talk to them, and play with them. I also have a variety of toys for the Poodle puppies to investigate and play with.
When the Poodle puppies start crawling out of the whelping box to eliminate at about 3 weeks of age, I put whatever surface I want the Poodle to eliminate on right where they crawl out of the whelping box onto it. The surface can be a litter box with dog litter in it, a pee pad, shavings, or newspaper. Whatever they “go” on as very young puppies is imprinted in their little brains, and they will seek out this surface later in an x-pen, or even when, as old Poodles, it becomes necessary to provide them with frequent-relief stations in the home. So it is important to introduce during this first “imprinting” time whatever surfaces you want the puppy to be comfortable eliminating on. When the puppies are walking well, I start waking them up from their naps and taking them outside in the grass to eliminate several times a day. Waking them from their nap assures that they will go when their feet hit the ground outside, and help to develop a life-long habit of “git-r-dun” without delay when taken outside.
An accompanying command such as “Go potty” becomes imprinted on that little sponge of a brain. I’ll never forget one Poodle puppy that I bought which had never eliminated on anything except newspapers in the breeder’s garage. I spent hours and hours and hours standing outside with the dog trying to get her to “perform.” It would not have been so bad if she had not arrived in December. People who show in performance rarely carry x-pens with them to shows. Their Poodles need to be able to go on leash quickly when taken outside. While there is no penalty if a conformation Poodle relieves himself in the ring, it is a disqualification in most performance venues. When it happens to performance exhibitors, they can ALWAY S be heard complaining, “I just took her outside and she wouldn’t go!”
By 5 weeks, the Poodle puppies are usually eating well, and by 6 weeks, I usually wean them. I leave the puppies together with each other after weaning until they are 7 weeks old. Studies have shown that 7 weeks is the ideal time to separate the puppies from each other (and from their dam) in order to maximize human bonding and decision-making skills. Up to the separation, I have been using half of a plastic crate for a whelping box, with a folded-up towel for bedding. At 7 weeks of age, when I separate the puppies from each other, each puppy gets a small x-pen in a different room of the house. In the x-pens are half of a Poodle puppy-size plastic crate with a towel for bedding, a piddle pad or litter box, and food and water. It is extremely noisy for a couple of days, but I would rather get the puppies through the separation anxiety before they go to their new homes, rather than have the puppies facing their first separation AND adapting to a new home all at once. I teach the puppies to stay quietly by themselves before they leave my house. After a few days with half a crate for a bed in each x-pen, I place the top half of the crate onto the bottom without the door, so now each puppy has a small crate in his x-pen. The Poodle puppies readily go into the crates to rest. Presto! The pups are crate-trained.
If left together after 7 weeks of age, all but the most dominant puppy gradually lose their ability to make decisions and solve problems. They bond to their littermates instead of to a person, form a pack, and become followers. On the other hand, when the puppies look at their owner as their pack leader instead of another dog, it adds immeasurably to their confidence. When these Poodles, which have been separated from littermates at 7 weeks, go out to train or into the ring at a show, they feel secure because they are with their packleader. During the time from 6 to 8 weeks, I take each Poodle puppy out and teach them to walk on a leash, and to come when called. Both can be accomplished quickly at this age with treats. I play with them with toys so that they have a start towards tugging and retrieving. I also spend a little time stacking them on a table, and free-stacking, and continue with as cont.
I put them on as many different surfaces as are available. I also get a friend to help temperament-test the litter. When one has raised a litter and worked with each puppy, temperament testing usually turns up few surprises, but sometimes I notice something about a Poodle puppy that will be important with respect to selection of his new owner. Poodle Puppies’ personalities change a lot in a short time. The one that is a spook at 5 weeks may be the most outgoing one at 8 weeks. So I try not to make my decisions too early. I want to match each puppy as closely as possible with the preferences of the buyer.
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