Vol 7 No. 3 / Fall 2001 Autumn Issue The Executivewheatenguy.tripod.com/Tpw/fall2001.pdfArthritis is...

Vol 7 No. 3 / Fall 2001

The ExecutivePresident

Margaret Stewardson83 Newton Crescent

Regina, SK S4S 2V9(306) 586-1057

Email: [email protected]

Vice-PresidentBarb Osborne

3036 Albert StreetRegina, SK S4X 3N7

(306) 584-7673Email:

[email protected]

Secretary/TreasurerSue Luchuck

4020 Elphinstone StreetRegina, SK S4S 3K9

(306) 545-6463Email:

[email protected]

National DirectorMike Dumelie

3036 Albert StreetRegina, SK S4X 3N7

(306) 584-7673Email:

[email protected]

Editor/PublisherCarolyn and Alan Fox74 Cooper Crescent

Regina, SK S4R 4J7(306) 543-7004

Email:[email protected]@sk.sympatico.ca

InsideArthritis - Health Concern ....................................................... Page 2Grooming A Wheaten ................................................................ Page 6Proposed Grooming Seminar ..................................................... Page 8St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program .............................. Page 9An “Athlete’s” Story ................................................................. 0Recipes For Dog Treats ............................................................. Page 11Scenes From Our Wheaten Walk ............................................... Page 14

Autumn Issue

The Prairie Wheaten

The Prairie Wheaten Fall 2001

Arthritis is a pain in the joints. Inthis common disease joint cartilagedeteriorates. Surfaces that are supposedto be smooth and glide easily over oneanother become rough. Lubricationin the joint also decreases makingmovement difficult and painful.Although it does not lead to death,arthritis can be one of the mostincapacitating diseases found in man orbeast.

A trip to the vet is advised before anytreatment. It is possible that a dog’sstiffness or lameness could be caused bya something other than arthritis. Acomplete physical exam, the animal’shistory, X-rays, blood and laboratorytests will help with the diagnosis.Arthritis comes in various forms.Diagnosis must be accurate as variousjoint diseases call for different treatmentprotocols.

Signs Of Arthritis:• stiffness• unwillingness to lie down or get up• difficulty climbing stairs or getting

into a vehicle• changes in appetite or behavior• aggressiveness or snappiness• reluctance to go for long walks• limping• restlessness when standing still• swelling• pain on movement• “ratcheting” sound in joints• range of movement restricted• licking or biting at the area that

is painful• not wanting to be touched• chilly and intolerant of cold• intolerant of heat

Causes of Lameness That Could BeMistaken For Arthritis:

• too long or ingrown nails• matted hair between the pads• a pulled or infected nail• a sprain or strain• pulled muscle• a spasmed back• a wound• tumours

Types Of ArthritisDegenerative Joint Disease (Osteoarthritis): results from thedestruction of cartilage that protects thebones of the joint. Destruction could bethe result of normal stress on abnormaljoints. An example is of this is hipdysplasia which is a malformation of thehip socket. This is not a major problemin Wheatens because reputable breedershave their dog’s hips X rayed at two yearsof age. The X rays are submitted to TheOrthopedic Foundation for Animals inColumbia, MO. where an OFA certificateis issued grading the health of the hips.An online database containing the hipstatus of individual dogs is available toassist the breeder and veterinarian inreducing the frequency of hip dysplasiaby making informed choices in theirbreeding program.

Destruction of cartilage could also be theresult of abnormal stress on healthyjoints. Abnormal stress could be causedby injuries from a fall or accident, overlystrenuous exercise, or constant jumpingover obstacles. Degenerative arthritismay appear after years of abnormalstress. Cartilage has no nerves so thedamage can progress with no signs ofpain until the joint is already severelydamaged.

One in five dogs is diagnosed withOsteoarthritis. There are probably morebut in many cases the slowing down and

stiffness is simply attributed to old age.The longer a dog has lived, the more wearand tear its joints will have had. Theheavier a dog is the more stress on thejoints. Because genetics can be a factor,chances of developing arthritis increaseif the parents had it. Nutritional deficienciesat any stage of life can also lead to thepoor development and/or maintenance ofjoints.

Inflammatory Joint Disease: can becaused by underlying immune-mediateddiseases or by infection. This type ofarthritis usually affects many joints andcan be accompanied by fever, anorexiaand an over-all stiffness. Immune-mediated arthritis is caused by aweakness in the immune system and canbe hereditary. Infectious joint disease canbe caused by bacteria, by tick-bornediseases and by fungal infection.

Ways To Help Your Arthritic Dog:• first and foremost provide a

premium diet free of allchemicals and preservatives

• control your dog’s weight• give a reasonable amount of

controlled exercise• provide warmth and good

sleeping areas free of drafts• a firm orthopedic foam pet bed*

reduces pressure on joints• heated orthopedic pet beds are

also available• a soothing massage can relieve

stiffness• elevated feeders* make eating

and drinking more comfortable• ramps help pets get down stairs

or into a vehicle easier• get early diagnosis and recom-

mended therapy from your vet

*available at some local pet stores orfrom Pet Supply House catalogue.

ArthritisHealth Concern by Carolyn Fox and Roz Bacon

Phone 1-800-268-3716 or onlineshopping at www.petsupplyhouse.com

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It is managed. Pain relief is the majorgoal. Always seek your vet’s advicebefore administering any medication orsupplement to your dog. Watch for sideeffects in all treatments. Keep in mindthat if your dog is not helped by onetreatment, it may be helped by another.

Buffered Aspirin: A buffered aspirinformulated specifically for dogs mayprovide anti-inflammatory and painrelief, but as with all aspirin productsthere is a risk of intestinal upset orgastric ulceration. Giving aspirin withfood could reduce the possibilities of sideeffects.

NEVER use Acetaminophen(Tylenol) for the relief of pain inyour dog. It is not an anti-inflam-matory and can have toxic effectson a dog’s liver. Ibuprofen (Advil)can cause serious effects in dogs aswell - there is no safe dosage.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin: Thesetwo supplements have been widely usedto treat both animals and humans forosteoarthritis. They are “nutraceuticals”,not pain killers. They work to healdamage that has been done. Glucosamineand chondroitin are normal substancesfound in the bodies of living animals.Glucosamine provides the buildingblocks to synthesize new cartilage.Chondroitin blocks destructive enzymesthat break down cartilage in the joint.Because these are naturally occurringsupplements they are safe and show fewside effects. It takes at least six weeksfor the damaged cartilage to beginhealing and most animals need to bemaintained on these products the rest oftheir lives.

The best results come from productsformulated specifically for dogs. Someproduct names are: ArthriSoothe,Winston’s Joint Formula, Drs. Foster andSmith’s Joint Care, Glyco-Flex and

Arthritis TherapiesIn most cases arthritis cannot be cured.

Cosequin. Each of these supplements hasa different formula and may containvitamins, manganese, sharks cartilage,yucca or boswellia as well asglucosamine and chondroitin. Some petfood companies are producing arthritisformulated diets and dog biscuitscontaining glucosamine and chondroitin.Before purchasing, read the label carefullyto make sure the other ingredients arehealthy.

Although the benefits of glucosamine andchondroitin have been known for manyyears we might wonder why they havenot been promoted by more vets ordoctors. The main reason is that theseproducts cannot be patented so offerlittle incentive to the big pharmaceuticalcompanies. It is the big pharmaceuticalcompanies that keep vets informed of thelatest discoveries. Millions of dollarsare spent in research. Pharmaceuticalcompanies need a patented product topromote and thus recoup theirinvestment.Various glucosamine/chondroitinproducts available at some local petstores or: www.animalanimal.com orwww.vitamincircle.com

Adequan (PolysulfatedGlycosaminolycan): This product helpsprevent the breakdown of cartilagethrough a product administered in aseries of shots given over a few weeks.Although there are favourable results, theexpense and inconvenience of weeklyinjections are a deterrent when many oralglucosomine products are available andeffective.

Corticosteroids: These prescriptionproducts, in pill or injectable form, wereused for many years to treat the pain andinflammation of osteoarthritis. Their useis now controversial. They have manyundesirable side effects - excessivedrinking and urination, skin thinning andhair loss, redistribution of fat throughoutthe body and liver problems. They arenow used only in older animals where allother products have failed.

Rimadyl: The Rimadyl drama has beenplayed out on the Internet and in themedia. Here is an example of a largepharmaceutical company, Pfizer, seeingan opening in the $3 billion annual petdrug business and developing Rimadyl.Millions of dollars were spent onmarketing. TV ads featured elderly dogswho once hobbled around now runningand romping free from pain. It seemedlike the fountain of youth. When Rimadylfinally came out on the market inJanuary 1997, vets had waiting lists ofclients clamoring to get the popular newwonder drug for their arthritic dogs.Rimadyl promised to be more tolerant onthe gastrointestinal system than aspirinand produce fewer side effects thansteroids.

While some dogs were having greatsuccess with Rimadyl other dogs werehaving serious medical problems leadingto death. Five months after release Pfizercomplied with requests to change thepackage insert and letters were sent toveterinarians with the latest informationon side effects. By April 1999, Rimadylwas believed to cause a possible49 adverse side effects from mildgastrointestinal upset to changes inbehavior to serious liver or renaldysfunction resulting in death.

On the Internet there are happy storiesof miraculous cures with Rimadyl in dogswho were suffering debilitating arthritis.There are also heartbreaking stories ofdeath from the side effects of Rimadylas well as information on a class actionsuit against Pfizer. A group known asB.A.R.K.S (Be Aware of Rimadyl’sKnown Side Effects) has been formed onthe Internet.

If Rimadyl has been recommended, oryour dog is currently taking it, informyourself of potential side effects. Yourveterinarian may not have warned you ormay not know them. If your dog has anyadverse reaction take him to the vetimmediately. Prompt action may saveyour dog’s life. Your vet should then file

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an adverse reaction report with Pfizer.Some veterinarian costs related totreatments for adverse reactions or deathcaused by Rimadyl are being reimbursedby Pfizer.

For a balanced view of Rimadyl’sbenefits and safety problems, includinga complete list of adverse reactions, do aSearch for Rimadyl at:www.gooddogmagazine.com - a sort ofconsumers reports for canines.

For more information from people whohave had bad experiences with Rimadylvisit the Senior Dogs website at:www.srdogs.com The B.A.R.K.S. Groupmentioned earlier can be found at this siteas well. Pfizer’s Rimadyl web page is:www.rimadyl.com

EtoGesic: Manufactured by Fort DodgeAnimal Health, EtoGesic acts likeRimadyl. It is also a non-steroidalanti-inflammatory. Gastro-intestinal sideeffects may occur in some dogs as wellas dry eye syndrome and photosensitivity.Some dogs respond better to EtoGesic,some better to Rimadyl. Either drug maycause side effects. Either drug couldcause relief.Anecdotal reports and more information: www.srdogs.com/Pages/etogesic.html

Cartrophen Vet: This drug wasdeveloped by Arthropharm Pharmaceuticalsin Australia before Rimadyl. The drugsare radically different in that Cartrophenpurports to promote the regrowth ofcartilage and the generation of synovialfluid. It can be obtained by prescriptionin capsule or injectable form. Lethargyand a rise in body temperature have beenreported in the first 48 hours.Anecdotal reports of success withCartrophen Vet can be found at:www.srdogs.com/Pages/care.cd.htmlunder “Arthritis”.Arthropharm Pharmaceuticals websiteis: www.arthritis.au.com

Vitamin C: Studies have linkedVitamin C to the control and preventionof many diseases. It is an antioxidant andimportant in the synthesis of collagen andcartilage. The benefits of Vitamin C fordegenerative joint disease are onlyspeculative. Reasonable doses ofVitamin C do not seem harmful.Research may someday show it preventsor treats joint disease. Do not use ahuman form of Vitamin C for your pet.Powdered ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) isavailable at health food stores and canbe mixed into your dog’s food. It doeshowever, have a bitter taste. It would bemore effective to use a canine formulasuch as C-Flex. This is a unique calciumascorbate complex specifically phbalanced and non-acidic, making it easierfor dogs to digest.

Surgery: Some forms of degenerativejoint disease can be treated with surgery.An example would be hip replacementin dogs with hip dysplasia. A new formof surgery to ward off hip dysplasia hasbeen developed by veterinarian professorsat North Carolina University. Thedrawback is that it must be performed ona puppy less than 22 weeks old.Dysplasia is often not diagnosed until adog is much older.

Chiropractic and Acupuncture:Chiropractic adjustments followed byacupuncture treatment helps painmanagement in some arthritic dogs.

Homeopathy: The sooner treatment isbegun, the more likely deterioration willbe slowed. Some of the remedies for usein the early inflammatory stages are asfollows.

• Rhux Tox. 6c. This is an importantremedy for musculoskeletal pain.Rhux Tox is used when arthritispains are aggravated as the animalfirst moves but symptoms easeafter continued movement. Othersymptoms in this patient includepain that worsens with cold andlying at rest.

• Bryonia 6c. When the patient’spain is intensified by movementand the dog does not want to budgethis remedy may be helpful. Theaffected joints in this patient maybe swollen and hot. The dog maybe irritable and prefer to be leftalone.

• Arnica Montana This is useful forthe patient with an intense pain thatfeels like a bruise. Other symptomsof this dog are his preference to liestill and fear of touch due to thepain.

• Ruta Graveolens This remedy maybe helpful for spinal arthritis wherethe patient is worse when sittingand lying around, but better whenmoving about.

These and other remedies can be foundin the books: Dogs: HomeopathicRemedies by George MacLeod,MRCVS, DVSM, Vet FF Hom andHomeopathic Care For Cats and Dogsby Don Hamilton, DVM

Herbal Treatment: A rosemary brewis recommended. Feed chopped, rawparsley and comfrey leaves mixed in withthe dog’s meat. Comfrey is the “arthriticherb”. Boiled nettles are thought to becurative. Massaging the painful area witha lotion composed of 4 tablespoonsolive oil, 1 tablespoon linseed orsunflower oil, and a half teaspoon ofeucalyptus oil is helpful.This advice is from The Complete HerbalHandbook for the Dog and Cat byJuliette de Baïracli Levy

MSM: This is methylsulfonylmethane,a source of biologically active sulfur,which is critical in the formation ofcollagen and glucosamine - vitalcomponents for healthy bones, joints,ligaments and tendons. Good results maytake 6 - 8 weeks. MSM is for long termmaintenance. Without the supplement,limping and discomfort could return.Available at some local pet stores or:www.animalanimal.com

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Chinese Herbal Remedies: Theseherbal remedies have proven safe andeffective for over 3,000 years. Speciallyformulated remedies are vet-tested andcome in easy to swallow pills. Chineseremedies often work when Westernmedicine doesn’t.Available at some local pet stores or:www.animalanimal.com

Shark Cartilage: Available in tablet orpowdered form, shark cartilage mayprovide relief from the pain and cripplingeffects of arthritis. It can be successfulin many severe cases where traditionaltreatments have failed or produced harshside effects. Some shark cartilageproducts also contain glucosamine.Available at some local pet stores or fromPet Supply House 1-800-268-3716

Magnets: Some people think that a strongmagnetic field stimulates circulation,boosting the healing process. Magneticcollars and magnetic pet mats may beavailable at some local pet stores or:www.animalanimal.com

Copper: The “Freedom Collar” is madeof 99% fine copper thread woven into asoft band which fastens with a bucklearound the dog’s neck. The collar isbelieved to work the same way ascopper bracelets to relieve the pain ofarthritis in some humans. FreedomCollars available at:www.freedomcollars.co.uk

Arthritis Preventative Measures:• Most important of all, provide

the best possible nutritionthroughout life - good foodbuilds and maintains goodbones.

• Maintain an optimum weight.• Do not improperly jerk on

collars and leashes - you may putundue stress on your dog’s uppercervical vertebrae.

• Keep your dog from stressingjoints with abnormal jumpingfrom heights - i.e. help himdown from the grooming table.

President’s ReportOur president, Margaret Stewardson, is recovering from a second surgery to repair abroken femur suffered in an accident in September. Margaret hopes everyone had agood summer and all the Wheatens survived the heat. She’s sure they will be lookingforward to the cooler Autumn weather. Margaret hopes to be moving well enoughwith her walker to get to the Wheaten Walk to see everyone. She’s been somewhatlonely being confined to the hospital or her home. A big thank you from Margaret toALL who helped out in various ways and came to the rescue with the care of herdogs. As well, a sincere thank you to the club for the fresh fruit basket she receivedin the hospital.

Birth Announcement

Margaret Stewardson’s “Beatrice” - Ch.Medwinn’s She’s Got Wil’ Power CD TT -had 7 healthy puppies on June 6, 2001. The 4 girls and 3 boys survived the HOTHOT summer without an air-conditioner. All are in their new homes except for“Prissy”, the one Margaret has kept.

Correction

Please note that in the last issue, “Paxton’s” name should have read: CH. WicklowJonaire Kaxton E-male in the National Director’s Report and in the captionaccompanying the Specialty 2001 congratulatory picture.

In MemoriamIn MemoriamIn MemoriamIn MemoriamIn MemoriamIt has come to our attention that these Wheatens have passed away.

The Cibart’s Murphy in May - age 15James Bastion’s Bandit in December

The Fritz’s TregoThe Hamilton’s Keely in August - age 5

The Johnson’s Malley in September - age 14The Clark’s Shreddie in September - age 14

Our thoughts and our sympathy goes out to the loved onesof these wonderful Wheatens.

The Prairie Wheaten


Grooming A Wheaten by Carolyn Fox

Grooming is an important part ofWheaten ownership. Often the Wheatenis chosen because of its beautiful, soft,non-shedding coat. The non-sheddingfeature, although a wonderful advantage,is often the bane of a busy owner. If thehairs that loosen from the body remainin the coat and begin to mat, that busyowner may have a nightmare on hishands. A matted Wheaten may be forcedto endure hours of painful pulling andtugging on its hair and skin to removethe mats with mat rakes and other toolsof torture. Wheatens beyond “mat rake”recovery may simply have to be shavedto the skin.

Most reputable breeders supply a newpuppy owner with a manual covering allaspects of Wheaten care which includesgrooming information and perhaps evena grooming chart (trimming guide). Ifyou were able to visit your breeder inperson you probably got a hands ondemonstration. If for some reason youwere overlooked, or simply need arefresher course, we offer this groominginformation.

Getting Started: Get your puppy usedto the grooming routine from thebeginning. It won’t be so hard on him(and you) when he is larger and has morecoat. If he will lay on his side whilebeing combed you are better able to getunder all the layers - he will learn to relaxand may even sleep during the wholeprocedure! It’s much easier to train an 8to 10 week old puppy to relax and getused to grooming than it is to “fight” withan 8 to 10 month old full grown puppy.It takes time to teach them to relax but ifyou are persistent in your efforts it is wellworth the effort. Remember, he may bestubborn at first and not want to lie there- you must firmly but gently teach himthat he does what YOU want.

A grooming table of some sort isconvenient and comfortable. If you donot wish to purchase one, groom on topof a regular table using a non-slip rug or

mat. By the time your puppy reaches 8to 10 months, more frequent groomingfor a few months may be required as thecoat goes through a transition stage frompuppy coat to adult coat. As it matseasily at this time, don’t let the coat getahead of you!

Regular Combing: For grooming, usea pin or slicker brush and a good metalcomb. Many Wheaten owners find the“Greyhound comb” works well. This isa metal comb without handle - one halfhas fine teeth, the other half has mediumteeth. Some prefer to groom with a combthat has a comfortable handle. As he getsolder, you will learn how often to combyour Wheaten to maintain a mat free coat.Our Max is combed thoroughly once aweek. Even though his coat is very thickit only takes 20 - 30 minutes to do a goodjob. Alan uses the slicker brush to brushthe hair back against the grain starting atthe skin and brushing upwards. Withmetal combs (fine and medium) he thencombs from the skin downwards with thegrain. As well as getting loose hairs awayfrom the skin it allows all skin to bevisually examined for rashes, wounds,ticks or other problems. It is importantto get to all areas including “armpits”.

Removing Mats: THE BEST CUREFOR MATS IS PREVENTION. AWheaten who is combed regularly willnever have mats. Mats form when loosehairs are left in a dog’s coat to kink, knotor intertwine with one another and some-times with dirt, grit or vegetative matteras well. The formation of mats can pullon tender skin causing pain. Mats alsoaid in the formation of hot spots orirritation of the skin with eventualinfection, skin outbreaks, or possiblefungus or insect invasion. When removinga mat work gently to avoid irritation ofthe skin. Start at the outside of a tangle,slowly progressing toward the skin. Ifthe coat is severely matted work in shortsessions and praise your dog often forputting up with the painful process. Avariety of mat rakes or dematting toolsare available for severe mats. These havelong razor sharp blades that can slice

through mats and tangles allowing acomb to then pass through. Blades withserrated edges seem to work best. Theonly solution for felted mats may beshaving. This should be done verycarefully, possibly by a professional, toavoid nicking the dog or causing furtherirritation to already inflamed skin.

Bathing: BEFORE BATHING YOURWHEATEN ALWAYS COMB HIMOUT. Loose hair and mats tighten up tobecome even worse problems during abath. A hand held shower attachment forthe bathtub is useful for bathing your dog.A non slip rubber bath mat in the tub willmake your pet feel secure on his feet.Apply an ophthalmic ointment to protectthe eyes and insert a cotton ball in eachear to prevent water from entering theear canal. Thoroughly soak your pet andapply the shampoo, massaging it all theway through the hair and into the skin.You may wish to use a gentle, nonirritating “tearless” shampoo. Don’tforget to wash behind the ears as well asthe top and bottom of the ear flaps. Rinseaway all shampoo completely, payingparticular attention to the armpits, groinand between the toes and pads. Asecond application and rinse may berequired. Apply conditioner or cremerinse with the last rinse for a softer moremanageable coat. Squeeze excess waterfrom the coat then rub vigorously headto tail with a large towel, first with thegrain then against the grain. Combthrough wet hair to prevent tangles, thenlet the pet dry in a warm draft-free area.For a full fluffed appearance or on coldwinter days, blow dry the hair with awarm, not hot, setting. While blowdrying (or combing or trimming), agrooming arm is beneficial to keep yourdog from jumping off the groomingtable.

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Nails: KEEP NAILS TRIMMED - notsimply as part of the grooming processbut for your pet’s health as well.Untrimmed nails can cause a variety ofproblems including limping and/orpainful broken nails which can bleedprofusely. If the hook is cut off each weekyou can keep this under control and itdoesn’t become a traumatic experiencefor either you or the dog. Stypticpowder such as “Kwik-Stop” is availablefrom most pet supply stores and will stopbleeding immediately if you accidentallydraw blood. When styptic powder isn’tavailable, kitchen flour will do the trick,but it is not as effective. If he will laydown on his side relaxed, it will be mucheasier. Using good quality nail trimmerscut the nail below the quick on a 45degree angle, with the cutting edge of thenail trimmer toward the end of the nail.It is a good idea to make several smallnips instead of one larger one. Trim untilyou see a black dot towards the center ofthe nail when looking at it head on. Thisis the start of the quick you want to avoid.If the nail should splinter, several strokeswith a “pet” nail file will leave the nailsmooth. After trimming, the nails shouldnot touch the floor while the dog is standing.When the nails start to click on the floorit is time to trim them again. If thisbecomes part of your regular groomingroutine, your pet will learn to accept itquite willingly.

Ears: Ear infections can be excruciatinglypainful. Examine the ears for problemsand clean them once a week to fend offinfection. Dampness in the ear canalpromotes formation of bacteria andfungus - the reason for placing cottonballs in the ears at bath time. To keepthe ears clean do the following: Whileholding the ear up and back, use a cottonball to remove surface dirt in the earcanal. Place recommended amount of earcleaning solution in the ear. Gentlymassage the base of the ear betweenthumb and forefinger to work solutionthroughout ear. Gently wipe out the earwith cotton ball or gauze pad. Repeatuntil canal is clean and dry. If your dog

has a very hairy canal you may wish topluck those hairs from the inside of theear canal, using your fingers or hemostats(round tipped tweezers) which may bepurchased from your vet or pet supplystore. Astringent ear powder makes thisprocess a lot easier. Use extremecaution in the ear canal. Long hairs leftin the ears of a long-haired dog providea perfect breeding ground for bacteria.Any foul odour, discharge, red inflammationor pawing at the ears may be signs of earmites or infection. The sooner anexamination by your vet, the better.Recurring ear infections are often causedby allergies to food or environment (i.e.dust mites).

Eyes: Keep the corners clean of dirt ona daily basis.

Pads: Keep the hair clipped out frombetween the pads on your dog’s feet.Small blunt-nosed scissors are good forthis job. With long hair growing aroundthe pads the dog will have troublegetting traction on tile floors and will alsohave a tendency to bring in more dirt,mud or snow than necessary.

A list of basic grooming supplies:

! grooming table - grooming armoptional, but very useful

! slicker brush! fine and medium combs with

comfortable handles! Greyhound comb! small blunt tipped scissors! good quality nail clippers! pet nail file! styptic powder to stop bleeding! thinning shears for trimming! straight shears! dental care kit! pet shampoo and conditioner! dematting tools are available, but

hopefully not required! quality hemostats (to remove hair

from ear canals)! ear cleaning solution and powder

If you should have trouble finding anyof these supplies, all are available in ThePet Supply House Ltd. catalogue at1-800-767-9991

Teeth: Dental care kits with toothpastespecifically prepared for dogs, tooth-brushes and finger brushes are availableat most pet supply stores. Brushing yourdog’s teeth helps prevent gum disease andplaque build up. You can obtain an oldtooth scaler from a dentist to carefullyclean all the yellow build up from theyour dog’s teeth if necessary. If youchoose not to do this, have your vet do itfor you as needed. A dog who is used tohaving his mouth opened and handledwill make your vet’s job easier during aphysical examination.

As a young puppy, Max was taught to cooperateon the grooming table for his weekly comb out.

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Trimming: Included with this newsletteris a basic trim and grooming guide.Using this guide you could learn to trimyour own Wheaten. Should you feelintimidated, remember that all Wheatenowners who trim their dogs started at apoint of “zero knowledge” on thesubject. Some of us who now have anumber of years of experience arewilling to demonstrate groomingtechniques. (See “Proposed GroomingSeminar” ) It is hard to go too wrong ifyou use thinning shears. Thinning shearskeep the Wheaten coat looking naturalby avoiding scissor marks. Trimming afreshly bathed dog produces the bestresults. A grooming table with agrooming noose and arm provides theideal work area. As you scissor, combthe thinned hair out of the coat often.Step back to view the results thencontinue with small sections at a time,keeping the final “look” in mind.Working in front of a large mirror allowsyou to see both sides of your dog at the sametime and gives you a good prospective onhow your final “look” is advancing.Copies of the grooming guide pagescould be laminated and pinned up nearyou for guidance.

For those who have neither the time orinclination to trim a Wheaten we arecompiling a list of professional groomerswho do a good Wheaten trim. Pleasesubmit your choice of good groomer andtheir location and we will publish acomplete list in the next issue. So far wehave: Lydia at Petcetera in Regina andReg at Furs Made Fabulous in Regina.If you happen to have a groomer who isunsure of the Wheaten “look” you maywish to make a copy of the guide forthem.

Before After

PROPOSED GROOMING SEMINAR

Local club “experts” are willing to put on an informal groomingseminar if enough interest is shown. Combed and bathedWheatens would be welcome for demonstration purposes.Trimming with thinning shears or with electric trimmers couldbe demonstrated. We could also help with your Wheatentrimming problem areas. Other club “experts” would be onhand to answer your questions and demonstrate groomingprocedures on your Wheaten, from combing to cleaning earsto clipping nails to trimming pads. Other club “experts” wouldkeep us supplied with coffee and food.

If you are interested in such a seminar contact Alan or CarolynFox at 306 543 7004 or email us at [email protected]. Ifenough interest is shown we will set a time and place.

Max is securely in place for his trim with a grooming arm and noose on the groomingtable. Carolyn uses thinning shears on his coat to prevent scissor marks. Three anda half hours of work - that’s after his comb out, bath, pad trimming and ears havebeen done by Alan - and Max is transformed into a “handsome” trimmed Wheaten.

The Prairie Wheaten


St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program by Christine Mirka, Ponteix, SK

Casey and I participated in the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program in Kelowna, B.C. in 1997. Thefollowing information about this program has been copied from the St. John Ambulance website athttp://www.sja.ca/english/volunteer/therapy_dog_program/index.asp

“St. John believes that anyone, anywhere can benefit physically and emotionally from regular contact with the unconditional love ofa dog. St. John Ambulance recognizes that many people spend time isolated from their families, often in hospitals, seniors’ residences ornursing homes. It was a natural extension for St. John Ambulance to look for a way to care for these people.

The St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program began in Peterborough, Ontario and has expanded across the country. Partnershipshave been established in hospitals, palliative care units, day care centres, senior residences, rest homes, special needs schools and psychiatrichospitals where people are often restricted from having pets.

The medical profession has for many years widely acknowledged that petting and stroking pets can have a calming effect, lowerblood pressure and relieve tension. Many stroke patients will lift their “useless” hand to feel the touch of soft hair. Alzheimer patients unableto remember what they had for lunch will chatter about the dog they had for many years.Those who can walk receive pleasure from holding a dog’s lead and walking the corridors.The completely paralyzed Multiple Sclerosis patient is able to cuddle a small dog on theirbed. Consumers of mental health services find peace in the quiet love and petting of a dog.Mentally challenged children learn gentleness.

The Therapy Dog Program takes a volunteer and their dog into organizations ona weekly basis. Through regular visiting, a bond is created between the client, dog andvolunteer. The Therapy Dog Program is an officially recognized program conducted by St.John. Every age group is helped by this type of activity.

Any dog of sound temperament can become a Therapy Dog. The St. JohnAmbulance Therapy Dog Program assesses each dog’s temperament to ensure theirsuitability for the program. Before being accepted as a St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog,the dog must demonstrate certain capabilities, such as:

1. Accepting a friendly stranger,2. Sitting politely for petting,3. Walking on a loose leash,4. Walking through a crowd (including wheelchairs),5. Sitting on command/staying in place, and6. Reacting well to another dog or to distractions (noise, jogger).

Regular feedback and reassessment of goals and expectations from members ofthe medical, nursing, therapy and recreation personnel have contributed to an increaseddemand and heightened interest in the program. Currently, over 30,000 people isolatedfrom the community are receiving visits from over 2,500 volunteers and their dogs. On-going dialogue and support have also ensured that program expectations are being met forour volunteers, the client and the organization.”

I have found that the Wheaten temperament is ideally suited to the Therapy Dog Program. Casey and I enjoyedmany visits to Nursing Homes including an Alzheimer’s unit. I found that the residents and Casey both benefited fromthe experience and the staff in the facilities looked forward to our visits as much as the residents did. During oneparticular visit, I was chatting to the staff with Casey at my side. An Alzheimer’s patient was sitting near us, seeminglyoblivious to the world around him. I was told that this resident was unlikely to realize we were even there. Casey seemedto take notice of him and walked over and put his paws on his lap. The gentleman seemed to come to life, smiling andrecognizing the dog as a friendly visitor and giving him a pat.

Since moving to Saskatchewan, Casey and I haven’t been formally involved in the Therapy Dog Programalthough he does make occasional visits to the Nursing Home where I work.

Casey the Therapy Dog

The Prairie Wheaten


An “Athlete’s” Story by Sue Luchuck The only cure is surgery. The surgery happened on July 12.An overnight stay was required. The entire leg was shaved, aswell as a patch at the back of the neck for the pain medicationpatch, and a place on a front leg for the IV. Taffin looked likea war casualty with all of her bandages. My little soldier!

The surgery involved opening the knee and moving the patellato get to the meniscus, which was removed. A stabilizingnonabsorbable suture, much like fishing line, was used to actin place of the torn ligament. The knee is reassembled. About12 stitches were needed to close the incision, which I took outafter 11 days. Antibiotics were the only additional medicationrequired.

The hard part (on both of us) was the recovery. Orders werethat Taffin was not to put any weight on her rear legs, that I wasto use a towel around her middle to support her weight. Thiswas to happen for the first week. Well, once was enough forTaffin. I mean how dignified is that?! Limited movement onlyaround the house until the fourth week when we could go onshort leash walks. Leash? Yeah, right! Absolutely no stairsfor something like 6 weeks. Try 6 days. Well, she is a Wheaten,don’t you know!!!

It is now the middle of October. The hair has almost grownback and life is back to normal. Taffin still carries her leg offand on when she gets tired, but occurrences are lessening. Thereally lasting part of the whole ordeal is that her tail now listsslightly to the right! I don’t know why but I guess that’s whyshe is unique and I love her!

Lateral view showing how the heavy nonabsorbable suturepasses through deep fascia surrounding the fabella and

through a predrilled hole in the tibial crest.

A limp! How did that happen? What’s wrong? What’shappened to my Taffin?

As it turns out, no one can really tell me how. There are manytheories, such as running on an uneven surface (a fieldperhaps) and stepping into a depression or jumping off ofsomething and landing strangely, or jumping on to something.And Taffin won’t tell!

The what’s wrong part was easy to diagnose. Taffin, who is 11years old, had torn the meniscus and ruptured the cruciateligament on the right rear leg. Huh, you say? Well, so did I.I didn’t think I’d ever heard of those terms but once theVeterinarian explained them to me, I realized that they happento athletes with some regularity (you know, the anterior cruciateligament “ACL” injuries). Imagine, my Taffin havingsomething in common with athletes!

The meniscus is the soft pad that separates the kneecap fromthe knee joint. The cruciate ligament is the one right behindthe knee that holds the knee assembly in place. With aruptured cruciate, the knee moves around. The injury is alsomore common in our four legged friends that I realized andsince Taffin was diagnosed I have heard many similar stories.Taffin is hypothyroid and it is more common in animals withthis condition, for some reason.

The Prairie Wheaten


These nutritious yet delicious recipes areappropriate for everyday enjoyment orfor gift giving. Use holiday shapedcookie cutters for treats and biscuits topackage in festive containers orcellophane bags to give as gifts to yourfavourite canine friends. Do remind therecipient’s owner that the biscuits shouldbe kept frozen or refrigerated.

The recipes presented here were testedin Carolyn’s kitchen and heartilyapproved by the enthusiastic TasteTesting Panel: Taffin, Ceilidh, Chelsea,Sadie, Chinzia, Lexi and Max.

Nutty Fruit Treats

2½ cups whole wheat flour (or variousother flours)1/3 cup chopped unsalted pecans and/or other nuts1 cup oatmeal½ cup dried fruit (apricots, raisins,cranberries, apples, bananas)¾ cup milk4 tbsp margarine1 egg

Combine dry ingredients. Gradually addmilk, margarine and egg. Knead until adough forms.Roll dough to ¼ inch thickness. Cut withcookie cutter and place on ungreasedcookie sheet. Bake at 300° for 45minutes. Keep in fridge or freeze.

Very Veggie Biscuits

3½ cups whole wheat flour (or variousother flours)½ cup cornmeal½ cup diced celery1/8 cup diced red bell peppers (optional)½ cup shredded carrots½ cup unsalted sunflower kernels1 tsp chopped parsley½ tsp each oregano leaves and kelp1 clove minced garlic1¼ cup broth (vegetable, chicken)3 tbsp corn oil

Mix broth and oil. Add flour, cornmeal,vegetables, garlic, parsley, and sunflowerseeds. Knead dough for a few minutes. Rollto ¼ inch thickness. Cut shapes and place onungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 350° for30 minutes. Keep in fridge or freeze.

Delectable Dog Cookies

3 cups whole wheat flour (or variousother flours)¼ cup chopped unsalted nuts and/orseeds2 tablespoon vegetable oil2 eggs2 tablespoons molasses any or all of the following, to taste:grated cheese, fresh garlic or garlicpowder, nutritional yeast

Combine all ingredients and knead intoa firm ball; add milk if more moisture isneeded.

Roll the dough out and cut it into yourdog’s favourite cookie shapes. Placethem on a greased cookie sheet and bakeat 300° for 30 to 40 minutes or until thecookies are crispy.

Doggie Biscotti

3 eggs, well beaten½ cup unsweetened applesauce1 cup chicken stock2 cloves garlic, pressed2 cups kamut flour1 cup millet flour1 cup ground unsalted sunflowerkernels2 teaspoons baking powder1 teaspoon kelp

Mix the wet ingredients together. Do thesame with the dry ones, thoughseparately. Blend all ingredients well.Combine both wet and dry materials,adding flour or more liquid to make thedough stiff enough to handle, yet stillslightly sticky.

Preheat the oven to 350°. Form thedough into three logs, about 14” long and4” wide. Lay them on one baking sheet.To keep the dough from sticking to yourhands, slightly oil your hands with oliveoil. Bake for close to 30 minutes. Takefrom the oven and let them cool for 15minutes on a wire rack.

Reduce the oven temperature to 300°.Slice the biscotti in the traditionalangular way, about ½ inch per cookie.Lay the biscotti flat on a cookie sheet andbake for another half hour or until dry.Turn off the oven and let the slices stayin the oven for a harder biscotti. Freezeto retain freshness.

Recipes For Dog Treats

The Prairie Wheaten


Delicious Dog Cookies

1½ cups cooked rice*, oatmeal, orother whole grain cereal¼ cup whole or skim milk powder¼ cup vegetable oil¼ cup wheat bran¼ cup whole wheat flour, rye flour, orcorn meal any or all of the following, to taste:grated cheese, nutritional yeast,fresh garlic or garlic powder, oregano,fennel seed, unsalted seeds or nuts

Combine all ingredients into a firm ball;add milk if more moisture is needed.Roll the dough out and cut it into yourdog’s favourite cookie shapes. Placethem on a greased cookie sheet and bakeat 300° Fahrenheit for 30 to 40 minutesor until the cookies are crispy.

* I used cooked rice and found I neededto add an egg and more flour to get a firmball of dough that held together.

Carob Chip Biscotti

2 eggs, beaten6 tbsp. carob chips2 tbsp. honey or molasses½ cup beef or chicken stock½ cup chopped unsalted nuts and/orsliced almonds¼ cup unsalted sunflower kernels2 tsp. baking powder½ tsp. kelp2½ cups dark rye flour

Combine and gently heat 2 tbsp. carobchips in stock. Add honey or molasseswhen chips are melted. Remove fromheat, add beaten eggs. Set aside. Inseparate bowl combine nuts, seeds,baking powder, kelp and rye flour. Mixwell. Incorporate liquid into dryingredients. When thoroughly mixed,add remaining 4 tbsp. of carob chips anddistribute throughout dough.

Divide dough in half and form 2 logsabout 10” long by 4” wide. Place on acookie sheet. A bit of vegetable oil onyour hands will prevent dough fromsticking. Place logs in a 350° oven forabout 25 minutes.

Remove logs from oven. Reduce ovento 300°. Allow logs to cool on rack forabout 15 minutes, then slice ½” slices inthe traditional angular way of biscotti.Lay the slices flat on the cookie sheet andbake for another 25 minutes. Turn offoven and let slices stay in the oven for aharder biscotti. Freeze to retainfreshness.

Note:Kamut flour, millet flour, unsaltedsunflower kernels, kelp, carob chipsand nutritional yeast are available athealth food stores.

U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U U

I talk to her when I’m lonesome like,and I’m sure she understands.

When she looks at me so attentively,and gently licks my hands;

Then she rubs her nose on my tailored clothes,but I never say naught thereat,

For the good Lord knows I can buy more clothes,but never a friend like that!

-W. Dayton Wedgefarth

The Prairie Wheaten


Deborah Saucier, of Saskatoon is shownhere with Lastingimage’s Shania Kwain,co-owned with Helen and Jerry Larsonof Winnipeg. Zoe has been doing wellon the show circuit and is shown heretaking Best Puppy In Show at theSaskatoon Dog Show in September.

This is Ch.Wicklow Jonaire Kaxton E-male,bred by Mike Dumelie and BarbOsborne, winning a Best Puppy In Showand First In Group, one of many wins“Paxton” has been awarded throughoutthe summer.

The Prairie Wheaten


Sunday, October 21was a cool but sunnyday for our AutumnWalk. 40 humans,21 Wheatens, and 3other breeds cameout to walk. To ourdelight, people camefrom as far awayMoose Jaw,Saskatoon andPrince Albert. Asyou will see in thesepictures, a fun timewas had by all.

Wheaten Walk

The Prairie Wheaten


The Prairie Wheaten


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****** DEADLINES ******

Deadline for submissions for the next issue is February 1 Please make your submissions

(preferably on disk or good clear hardcopy) to:Carolyn or Alan Fox74 Cooper Crescent

Regina, SK S4R 4J7or email at [email protected]

The Prairie Wheaten is the official publication of the Assiniboine Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier Association. The opinions expressed herein arethose of the authors and not necessarily those of the editor. The editorreserves the right to reasonably edit all material submitted for publica-tion. Permission to reprint is granted, provided proper credit is given tothe author, ASCWTA and The Prairie Wheaten.

This bar code doesn’t look much like adog but it actually is a Wheaten,Canadian American Champion GlenngayMaximilian - “Max”. If Max becomeslost this bar code would identify him andhe could be returned home. This isbecause Max has a microchiptransponder implant the size of a grainof rice containing an alpha-numericalnumber code implanted under the skinbetween his shoulder blades. A microchipreader passed over the microchip by aveterinarian or The Humane Society willread his identity, which can then beverified by records stored in theCanadian Kennel Club data base.Identification tags and collars can fall offa lost dog. Tattoos are painful whenapplied and can be difficult to read and trace.A microchip causes no discomfort andalways remains in place, the one downfallbeing that is not readily visible.

Microchips: Do YouRecognize This Dog?

Updates

The only way we can keep our files up todate is for you to inform us of yourchange of address, phone number, oremail address, a new puppy, or the deathof a Wheaten. If you know anyone inSaskatchewan with a Wheaten who is notreceiving our newsletter please inform usof that too. We will add them to ourmailing list. Contact Alan Fox, the recordkeeper, by email or phone as listed onfront cover. As you know, the newslettercomes to you free of charge but we arealways willing to accept donations tooffset postage costs. Donations can besent to Sue Luchuck, our treasurer. Heraddress is also on the front cover. Ideasfor topics to be included in futurenewsletters are also welcome.

Vol 7 No. 3 / Fall 2001 Autumn Issue The Executivewheatenguy.tripod.com/Tpw/fall2001.pdfArthritis is...

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