Owning a so called ‘designer dog’ has become a new craze in the last year or so. ‘Designer dogs’ are in fact just a selectively bred cross-breed which you pay a lot of money to buy! I suppose that eventually they may become recognised breeds in their own rights. Why are these ‘designer dogs’ sought after and why have they come into existence in the first place?

Dogs have been selectively bred for hundreds of years to develop traits that were useful for hunting, herding or guarding. Now the emphasis is perhaps more on the look of the dog and increasingly the dog’s temperament and suitability as a companion. Originally people purposefully crossed pure-bred dogs in order to achieve a specific purpose, for example the ‘Labradoodle’ (Labrador cross poodle) was first bred as an attempt to develop guide dogs for visually impaired people with allergies. Unfortunately because these dogs are sought after and can be sold for considerable amounts of money, they have sometimes been bred by unscrupulous breeders. Also, because genetic inheritance is not straight forward it is difficult to predict if these ‘designer dog’ pups will actually have the desired traits.

Celebrities buying these ‘designer dogs’ have fuelled the craze. Jennifer Aniston has a ‘Labradoodle’. Jake Gyllenhaal and Uma Thurman have both been photographed walking their ‘puggles’, a cute cross between a pug and a beagle. Then there’s Jessica Simpson’s dainty ‘maltipoo’, a cross between a Maltese terrier and a toy poodle which is also sometimes called a ‘moodle’. This lack of consistency in names for ‘designer dogs,’ can cause confusion! I think the names of these cross breeds are part of the attraction because they sound so cute and fun!

The UK Kennel Club doesn’t recognise these cross-breeds but in America there is the American Canine Hybrid Club which does.

On a serious note, at a time when rescue centres across the UK are seeing increases in the number of abandoned animals, I think that if you want a cross bred dog you will find a perfectly adorable one in a rescue centre that is delighted to find a happy home. Why spend large amounts of money buying a cross-bred dog labelled as a ‘designer dog’? To be frank, one can easily find pure-bred dogs in rescue centres too.

It is my opinion that while the rescue centres are overflowing with abandoned animals, anyone able to provide the necessary commitment of caring for a dog, should definitely look at a rescue dog first.

Remember, dogs are a life-long commitment, not just a fancy accessory to have like a designer handbag as Paris Hilton and some other celebrities would have us believe! They certainly shouldn’t be carried around all day in handbags!’

Enjoy your lovely pooch, ‘designer’ or not!

Copyright ©Shanson Ltd 2008

This is an excerpt from my ebook ‘Puppy Power- everything you need to know BEFORE you buy a puppy’ concerning the docking of dogs’ tails-
Docking involves removing the whole or part of a puppy’s tail when it is only 3-5 days old without the use of anaesthetic. Contrary to popular opinion, a puppy CAN feel pain at this age and will generally react with whimpering, squealing, wriggling the tail stump or whole body and sometimes urination.

You may wonder why such a practice would ever be condoned and the answer is that historically it was performed as a ‘prophylactic measure’ – to prevent the risk of the dog injuring its tail during future work. In more recent times it has become merely the fashion for certain breeds, such as the Rottweiler.

In England and Wales there is now a complete ban on the docking of dogs’ tails with the only exception being for a few particular types of working dog which require specific certification, or for certain medical treatment.

In Scotland there is a complete ban on tail docking and it is not allowed for any reason whatsoever.

In Northern Ireland docking can still be performed on puppies but for truly prophylactic reasons only, and not merely on request or just because a dog is of a particular breed or type.

In those parts of the UK where tail docking is still legal under certain circumstances, it is ONLY a qualified veterinary surgeon that may perform the procedure: the challenge, however, is often finding one who is willing to, since over 90% of vets strongly object to the practice.

Any animal naturally born with a tail relies on it for a number of things, including:

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In my opinion there is no justifiable reason for performing tail docking as a prophylactic measure since the dog experiences evident disadvantages and no genuine benefit. I am especially saddened when I see dogs which have been docked for purely fashionable reasons. I think dogs are most beautiful and magnificent with their tails, as nature intended them and would encourage anyone considering this practice (within the legal framework) to please, think again.

Despite the legislation in place, I am still seeing puppies at work that are docked, often without the owner even realising. If YOU want to buy a puppy with a full length tail, please make it your business to ask questions about your future puppy and make sure he or she is NOT docked before you buy. You have the power to make sure that puppies keep their tails as nature intended!

copyright Shanson Ltd 2008

Breast cancer is a common problem in women as we are all aware.

It was devastating for her fans when Kylie Minogue was diagnosed a few years ago. At least she has made a full recovery.

I understand the prevalence of breast cancer in women depends on genetics and also menstrual cycle history. The literature implies that starting menstruation at a young age, entering menopause later and not having children, or having them late in life, will significantly increase the risk of developing breast cancer. So basically, risk relates to having more menstrual cycles and undergoing all the changes in hormones, notably oestrogen, which accompanies a menstrual cycle. Also, I believe that breast feeding is associated with hormones that protect the breast tissue from developing cancer.

If we all had five or more children, like the ‘good old days’, then we’d have much fewer menstrual cycles! Personally I’m getting too old to have five children!

Not being a doctor, I’m sure that I’ve oversimplified things. Being a vet, I can however tell you about breast cancer in pets with authority!

DOGS

Breast cancer is common in older bitches that haven’t been spayed affecting ~25%- about three times more common than in women. In dogs, mammary tumors are the second most common tumour (after skin tumours) over all and the most common tumour in bitches. In my experience it is most common in bitches that haven’t been spayed and haven’t been used for breeding. I suppose the causes are similar to women who haven’t had children.

In bitches between 20-50% of breast cancers are malignant (aggressive and life-threatening) and may spread into lymph nodes and eventually the lungs. Just as you check your own breasts for changes, it is important to check the breast tissue of your pet bitch too. Remember that in bitches, the breast tissue extends all the way from the armpit region down towards the hind legs. If you feel any nodules developing at all, please take her to the vet for an examination.

Radical removal of large amounts of breast tissue and spaying is the only form of treatment available. Even after surgery the outlook can be poor for aggressive tumours.

Because breast cancers depend on oestrogen, having your pet bitch spayed (surgically removing her ovaries and uterus) is really important as a preventative measure. There is no benefit physically or mentally for your bitch to have a litter. It is proven that neutering before the first ‘heat’ reduces the risk of breast cancer development to zero. Spaying before the second ‘heat’ reduces the risk to 8%. Spaying after the third ‘heat’ doesn’t affect the risk of developing breast cancer.

That is why current veterinary advice is to spay bitches at 5-6 months old. Prevention is always better than cure.

CATS

Mammary tumors are the third most common cancer in cats. Predominantly in female cats, I have however seen one male cat with breast cancer. Unfortunately in cats, 80-90% of breast cancers are malignant. Spaying at 6months significantly reduces the risk. As most pet cats are thankfully spayed, I haven’t seen many breast cancers in this species.

RATS

Many people now keep rats as pets and they are delightful. I had two whilst at university. As female rats are very rarely spayed they are at risk of developing breast cancer. In fact it is probably the most common reason they come to the vets. Fortunately in this species the tumours are usually benign and easily cured with surgery.

GUINEA-PIGS

Interestingly, in this species breast cancers actually occur in both males and females equally. Only 30% are malignant but radical surgery is needed to prevent recurrence.

Breast cancers also occur in mice, hamsters and gerbils but are rare in rabbits and ferrets.

Staying focused on remaining healthy, it is still important to regularly check your own breasts for any changes and remember to check your pets too!

If you have any questions about mammary cancer in pets please email me at askmichelle@veterinaryblonde.com.

‘compassion for animals, passion for nature’

Copyright © Shanson Ltd 2008