Health Reports sent off

Good or bad, it's important for our breed to report the health of our dogs so that the breed can be taken forward. I've sent off a completed health questionaire to the Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer Breed Club and also to the new Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer Health website. I've also emailed Grey's breeder, Sandra Rowbury from Stormdancer.

Grey's Histology Report

                                                             
Here is Grey's histology report. The difficulty we have in comparing them to other MCTs is that most of the comparable data is for dermal MCTs. Grey's was subcutaneous within the tissue.  

I've been invited to join a weim group on Facebook where there is more experience of dealing with MCTs. So far have only heard of Grey as the Slovak with this condition.

He's on fine form. Being very well behaved at home without being offlead for over a week.                                                                   
                                             
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      ASG  : 4.7mth m SlovRHairPoint    
      Report Date  : 04/12/12  
      Request Date  : 30/11/12  


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Histology
Diagnosis        Mast Cell Tumour
Prognosis        Fair but possible recurrence, requiring attention.

Mass caudal right shoulder -
Breed: Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer (SRHP)

1 sample received; 3 sections examined
Adipose tissue: Expanding the subcutaneous fat tissue is a
neoplasm composed of loosely arranged sheets and cords of
neoplastic mast cells. Neoplastic cells are round, with distinct
cell borders and moderate amounts of pale amphophilic
cytoplasm with fine granulation. Nuclei are round and centrally
located, with finely stippled chromatin and small or
inconspicuous nucleoli. Mitoses are rarely observed, averaging
less than 1 per 10/400x fields, and there is minimal cellular
atypia. Larger numbers of eosinophils are scattered throughout
the neoplasm. The center of the sample is cystic. The neoplasm
appears to have been completely excised in the section
examined.

COMMENT:
This is a subcutaneous mast cell tumour. A recent study
suggests that most subcutaneous mast cell tumours are cured
surgically with a low incidence of recurrence and lymph node
metastasis. There is a more favourable prognosis for mast cell
tumours such as this that have a low mitotic index with only
minor invasive growth. Please note that the grading schemes
used for dermal mast cell tumours have not been validated for
subcutaneous mast cell tumours like the one present here.
However, if this mast cell tumour was present in the dermis,
then it would be compatible with an intermediate grade (Grade
II) neoplasm.

Animal Health Trust are conducting research into Mast Cell Tumours MCT

The Animal Health Tust are conducting research into Canine mast cell tumours. I would like the Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer community to participate in this research. Grey was referred to the AHT in 2010 to neurology regarding his acute pain attack. 
http://www.aht.org.uk/cms-display/science_oncolres.html

Using molecular genetics to help predict whether canine mast cell tumours will metastasiseMast cell tumours (MCTs) are the most common skin tumour in dogs, and display variable behaviour. MCTs are classified by histological grade, with the majority categorised as intermediate grade. Intermediate grading does not accurately predict how an individual MCT will behave. A study at the AHT demonstrated that frequency of expression of the proliferation marker Ki-67 was a more accurate predictor of survival, but a subset of MCTs did not behave as predicted, and a less subjective prognostic method is desirable. For human cancers, gene expression ‘signatures’ are predictive of metastatic outcome. Identification of genes most likely to stratify MCTs according to whether they metastasise is the first step towards developing an assay that will accurately predict whether a MCT will metastasise, and therefore whether a patient would benefit from chemotherapy.In this study, a whole genome microarray will be used to screen RNA from biopsies of 15 MCTs to identify genes that exhibit differential expression between tumours that metastasised and tumours that did not. Since clinically-relevant mRNA profiling-based tumour classification is possible using fine needle tissue aspirates (FNAs), expression profiles will be generated for FNAs of 3 of the MCTs to investigate whether they are representative of the tumours.How vets can help our researchIdentification of the inherited gene mutations responsible for the susceptibility of Boxers, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and Weimaraners to developing mast cell tumoursCertain breeds of dog are much more likely to develop cancer than other breeds, with some families within these breeds being particularly susceptible. A study in 2004 of the incidence of mast cell tumours in dogs diagnosed at the AHT between 1997 and 1999 identified a high prevalence in Boxers, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and Weimaraners. The inherited susceptibility probably results from the combined effects of many modified genes, each of which alone, confers a low to moderate increase in risk. The risk of developing a cancer is thought to increase according to the number of altered genes carried.We are seeking to identify the genes that, when mutated, are associated with the increased risk of the four breeds developing mast cell tumours. As these breeds develop these tumours more often than other breeds, the gene mutations that confer the increased risk will be more common than in other breeds, and thus easier to identify. Future work would aim to investigate whether the same gene mutations conferred susceptibility to developing this cancer upon other breeds.In the long term, it is hoped that the research will lead to the development of tests to identify dogs that carry the gene mutations conferring an increased risk. This information will be useful to vets as it will identify dogs who may benefit from careful monitoring for early detection of cancer, and thereby early treatment. These tests will also assist breeders to reduce the incidence of dogs affected with these cancers. The research will also increase understanding of how these tumours develop, ultimately assisting the development of new therapies.How pet owners/breeders can help our research How vets can help our research

The C word - Grade 2 MCT (Mast Cell Tumour)

Oh buggeration. If the number of past serious conditions in one dog would enable us to be able to cash in our chips to avoid a future bad result, we'd be in. But nope. Grey's vet called today with his results. Unfortunately at four and a half years old, we've now added the dreaded cancer word to our vocabulary. But as many dear friends have been quick to point out Mast Cell Tumours (MCTs) are really common in dogs. I've not had time or inclination yet to delve into the depths of Google to find out our chances of this being hopefully the first of few lumps to have to remove and consequently many happy years ahead of us, or this being an agressive bugger of a thing that might get the hold of him.

MCTs are a form of skin cancer. Normally the tumours are subcutaneous. In Grey's case the tumour was in the tissue, which our vet said was unusual. They confirmed they were able to completely get all of it out. Which is good.

Grade 2 MCTs are a bit of a hard one to tackle. They're above the lowest risk which would be a Grade 1. But they're the equivalent of fence sitting in terms of estimating where on the scale they fit between the 1 the lowest and 3 the highest. Grade 3s have a very poor prognosis.

My friend Jo has blogged about the ins and outs of Grade 2 MCTs over on the excellent Galody blog after her bitch Slate was diagnosed with one last year. It seems we really need to know more about the mitotic index and the Ki-67 tests. This will tell us much more what we're facing and what our chances are. I'm very grateful Jo has done this research and published it. Not sure I'd be as able.

As soon as we get the vet report in we'll be sending off a health report to both the Breed Club and http://www.srhphealth.org/ With such a young breed (I believe most Slovaks are under the age of five in the UK?) it's important that we get as much information as possible collated for the breed as a whole.

For the moment, we'll have to embark on training to desensitise Grey to future needle aspiration at the vets for any future suspect lumps that are likely to appear. Unlike Jo's dog Slate, Grey gets very stressed at the vets and won't allow for sample taking. This reminds me of this excellent footage as inspiration from Denver City Zoo. 



And of course Kathy Sadao's excellent advice on spending as much time training general husbandry as tricks. Everything you ask a dog to do is really a trick.

For now, Grey is happy. Blissfully unaware that anything has changed. He's fit, healthy and insured. Of course I'm worried and really don't want to think about anything happening to my best boy.

Grey had a lump removed today

Grey went in for surgery yesterday to have a lump removed at the back of his right shoulder. It was quite a difficult lump to find. I'm not sure how long he's had it for. While he was under, he had his teeth cleaned and his nails cut. His teeth had got a bit or tartar build up. He doesn't have bones now, so I think I'd better get a toothbrush.

He was fine going in to the vets. Simon checked him in.

Had a chat re Polka's permanently inflamed eye. The next step if we want to do anything is to flush the tear duct under sedation. But there's no rush.

I took Polka out for a walk nearby on her own. I think, to my shame,  this is the first offlead walk I've done with just Polka. We walked in an apple orchard opposite Howlett's wildlife park. Polka was really good. But also really good at ignoring me when she was eating apples. But when she could hear she came bounding up full of smiles when I called her. She's super lovely.

The vet called a few hours later with the news that they weren't happy with the lump they removed. Rob said it was surprising. It looked grey, rough and slimy and had a good blood supply. I've had loads of people tell me that even if it was a growth and even if its a malignant growth, it might all still be ok. But one can't help but worry. Grey is only 4 years old and I've not heard of a Slovak cancer case I think.

He cried all the way home in the car. Was generally unsettled. He was happy for Polka's cuddles. She tried her best to mind her own business for a good 3 minutes.

He wouldn't settle with us in our bedroom to sleep which is his usual place. He asked to go downstairs on his own. This morning I woke up to him howling at the kitchen door. He been out for a wee and poop ok, eatcn breakfast and had a dose of Metacam. He's now asleep on our bed with us.

He'll be on lead walks for a week or so. I'd forgotten about that aspect. For some reason it didn't dawn on me. So I'll have to decide where to walk Polka while I leave Grey home.

We love The Original Raised pet bed

I've had one of the large sized Original raised pet beds for a couple of years now. I can't speak highly enough of the them. They deliver really fast, come packaged in a sturdy carry case and are really amazing quality. I have the mesh covered one as opposed to the solid. I don't bother with changing the frame cover, But pile up blankets on top in the form of vetbed pieces (another amazing quality brand that can be washed and washed for years and not deteriorate or get destroyed) and supermarket single duvets for humans. The latter usually come in at £6 each, so a far better economic option than covers for animals and they can easily be chucked in the washing machine.

I've just bought another of the beds so we have one in the bedroom as well as downstairs. That way there might be some room for the humans in their own bed. So I ordered the same bed in large with a mesh chocolate brown cover and a mink coloured vetbed sleeve to go with it.

Polka helped unwrap it and attempted to guard it from Grey as soon as it was put together. So I guess we can say that was a success.

Edited to add: Oh dear, I don't know what has got onto their feet on our rainy walk, but both went mad biting their paws. Polka has bitten through her pads on two. Both have been bathed in Hibiscrub, given Piriton and now asleep on their old bed.

Lazy but never boring - that's a rule!

I'm now a self confessed lazy dog trainer. I'm short on time, hate stress (as discussed yesterday), and generally have come to the conclusion that the best thing for me and my dogs is to find ways to hang out together and be happy. When we're home we don't play games. No ball chucking stuff. I've noticed how much harder work and demanding the dogs are if they have been under exercised, but not just in the physical sense, mentally. I know a lot of Slovaks are gundog trained. Seeing as I don't want to do that, I've found a happy medium of our own. What is more important is how they've been using their brain. In particular, in what mode. The picture above is a small snapshot of the large country area where I regularly walk.

By this I mean there is a difference in seeking and chasing. Especially important for a dog like Grey. I want to switch off the reactive side of him and switch on the seeking. Chasing of objects isn't really a natural state for dogs anyway and not one that I want to encourage. So no toys on walks, no thrown objects falling from the sky with all the associated injury risks. When Grey was an only dog I would hide objects for him to find. Basically, when Grey starts charging around looking for falling things whizzing through the air it's just mental and not in a good way. Not an ideal state to meet other dogs in if we bump into some on our travels.

The other aspect of my daily routine is I do one full stimulating walk rather than two or three separate trips to a more stressful environment. By stimulating I mean, thinking not just mad running. So I head out to the countryside to an environment where they are encouraged to use their noses in a good way, rather than multiple trips to a local park where they would focus on undesirable stimuli and I would have to work much harder to distract them and to avoid undesirable behaviours such as lunging, barking, pulling, chasing, possessiveness.

Here are Grey and Polka checking out hedgerows and ditches. Polka, despite her thin fur is of hardy working stock and thinks nothing of crawling through brambles. They have miles of open country to run in. And run they do. But when there is terrain to investigate like this, running is put to one side and the noses are put to use. I've found they will literally sleep the rest of the day and evening from this.

Grey's Days now with added Polka

It's been a long while since I updated this blog. Thankfully, this can mean that at 4 years old, Grey is settling down and has less issues for me to work out how to deal with. It's also true that I've grown to live with Grey's issues and in some cases, even love him for them. It's what makes him him. What makes our life together what it is. The other reason for not updating the blog is that I've been run off my feet with home life and the other massive change in our lives...Polka.

Polka is an english pointer girl, rescued from Ireland and seems to be of working stock. She was thought to be around 15 months to two years old when she came to live with us in April. Polka knows a lot and not much at the same time. She's very skilled at play, loves people, dogs, an ardent thief of epic proportions, and expert at standing on tables. She's soft, but a madam at the same time. She didn't know her name when we got her, so we called her Polka. Polka Poo for short. She's a fast learner at clicker training, if only I had as much time to put in as I did with Grey as a pup. She's way harder to train to recall, so I've changed where I walk to areas with less on lead dogs. So we hardly ever hit the beach these days unless it is in the midst of deep country.

I'll write some more on life with them both. Grey has adjusted really well to living with an in house madam. The cuddle lots have a whale of a time on walks. It's really worked out very well.

I had to start a photoblog as somewhere to post the hilarious daily occurrence of Polka sitting on Grey and Grey allowing it. Polka probably grew up in a pack of friendly dogs. Pointers. And she's probably used to lying all over the other dogs. She thinks nothing to doing most things while sat on Grey.

She's also used to saying hello by standing on hind feet at the cage door. Hence, she is also highly skilled at standing on two legs.

I didn't think I'd have anymore room in my heart for another dog. But in she came and I have a whole new compartment in there with Polka's name on it. Grey is still my best boy, but Polka is my best girl. Of course.

And this gets me on to training. It never crossed my mind to take Polka to a training class locally. When I got Grey, I fretted about where to take him. And we had some pretty awful experiences. All I want now is for them to be happy. To come back when called (working on that one!) and to be nice. So I spend more time studying their body language, thinking about environment and what kind of mode they're in in different locations. I have my pocket of cocktail sausages, I have my whistle. I take them on an amazing walk every day where they get to explore hedgerows riverbanks, fields, hills, sea, pebbles and more. And I go with them, so it's all good de-stressing for me. I hate taking them to the park or busy beach. It wouldn't work. They're Pointing dogs. They need stuff to point at. In essence, best advice I ever had was take your dog where he's not stressed and where you aren't stressed. Start from there. Stress is bad. If there is stress, go away from the stress and work with that until you're not stressed.

Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer health website

A fantastic new website has been launched for anyone interested in the health of Slovakian Rough Haired Pointers. SRHPHealth.org 

Given my early experiences with Grey and his various health issues over the years, this is a great step forward. For Slovak owners to be able to help compile a better picture of the health of this relatively young breed is going to really help.

My blog covers all the issues Grey has personally come through and some others of Slovaks we have met over the last four years, some online and some in person. We're now in the happy position, touch wood, that he's in great health and is very happy. He has cost thousands though in vet bills. If I have one piece of advice, it is to make sure you have insurance. Make sure it is lifetime cover. If the premiums seem a great deal, check via Google and forums to see if there have been any problems in getting the company to pay up or continue cover. Grey's premium is now £50 per month! I'm loathe to change it because we may not get cover given his previous pain and shoulder injury. Insurance that doesn't pay up isn't worth it.

Through sharing and compiling issues and information we can start to ensure the Slovak breed is the healthiest it can be. And also for owners to feel supported and part of a community.

I urge anyone with a Slovak to use the site and if your dog has had a health issue, no matter how small, just fill out the form and send it off. It's confidential. All about learning and building up a picture.

Great work!

Microchip trying to escape

Grey's microchip is on the move. He was chipped by our old vets. It's very close to his skin and is moving around his neck and up to his ears. Occasionally it is forming a scab which isn't ideal. It could fall out! So we're off to the vets tomorrow (joy) to have it looked at. We're booked in with Grey's favourite vet and hopefully it won't be as stressful as the last three visits. At least tomorrow no one will be trying to look or touch his bum, hold his paw. Hoping we can get a nice session in of a cuddle and a stand still. Here's hoping.

Cows and Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer at Pegwell Nature Reserve Kent

We went out to Pegwell Bay Nature Reserve yesterday. It was a glorious sunny day. Crisp and bright. We had a good trot round. Met a few dogs as usual. Avoided a pack of barking dachsies. Grey saw the buffalo type cows and was good with them. He was happy and had a spring in his step.

A general walk

Here is a video I shot the other day while out walking at Minnis. I apologise for the rough camera and shaking, but I wanted to keep filming while I walked so I could capture how far Grey generally ranges from me without me stopping to film. When I stop walking Grey usually comes back to me when he's realised.

In this he goes ahead about 20 metres before he turns and sees that I've stopped. He then comes back on his own, no recall. By a coincidence, the point I stop in the film, there is also a passing cyclist on the upper sea wall. A few years ago, Grey would have chased this. He's still not 100% but he's so much better.

After we reach the point we're going to leave the lower sea wall and go up the slope, I use the much easier 'this way' to get him back down the slope than a recall. This gets him out of potential trouble as the sea wall can be quite busy with bikes and joggers and it gives me the opportunity to catch up and make some headway up the slope. From there, on the hard sea wall surface, Grey has less to sniff at and is far more attentive in keeping an eye on how near I am to him. He spies a couple of dogs and their owners on the beach and ignores them. Again, previously he'd have been off down the beach to the dogs.

As a Slovak that is in a pet home and we don't do any working training or gun dog work, this is the kind of terrain and habits that I've grown to do with Grey. Basically, having fun, keeping it neutral and hanging out. What I've learnt to do is watch his energy levels and arousal I think. I try to go places where I can manage him off lead and work up from there.

Can you help? 6 year old Eva (Aucassin Despina) very sick with suspected AI Disease

Sadly the new year didn't get off to a good start for this 6 year old female Slovak called Eva (Aucassin Despina, d.o.b. 17/12/2005). I was contacted by her owner who is desperately looking to bring her back to health. She's been struck down with what looks like another of those mysterious Auto Immune Disease (AI) conditions, and has lost the use of her hind legs with suspected hind limb ataxia. She comes from what sounds like an awfully sick litter of Slovaks with a few of her siblings having died at young ages. Her brother had hind limb ataxia at 18 months of age (he later died). Eva herself has had a life of overcoming sickness, since 16 weeks old she suffered with AI issues and meningitis problem. Her pedigree is the same mating that was repeated two years later and produced one of the main stud dogs in the UK, Bruce (Aucassin Tonto of Rosetinted). They both therefore share the COI of 20.3%. You can see from the pedigree their breeding, hence the high COI. The inbreeding coefficient of Slovakian Rough Haired Pointers is 11.5%.

Eva's parents are Sholto de ''Etang aux Colverts x Aucassin Comfrey.

The problem I've seen with so many of these mysterious AI pain issues that have come to light that result in steroid or anti-biotic treatment, there seem to be as many diagnoses as there are dogs. But one thing they all share is how distressing it is for the dogs and their owners. So if you think you can help with advice or experience, or if your Slovak is related to Eva, please get in touch: greytheslovak@gmail.com and I'll forward it on.

If you suspect your own Slovak might have had a health concern, no matter how minor, that you can now recall, please do take the time to fill out a health report for the breed club. Did you have a pup that reacted badly to vaccinations? Any pain incidents that seemed strange? It is only through reporting of issues within our breed that we can help get to the bottom of conditions like this. The link to the health form is on the breed club website to download.

Here is the lovely Eva (aka giant Doof) in happier days spaniel sitting this summer.

Eva has now had a max dexamethasone jab, after which she picked up so it does look to be auto-immune related rather than trauma.

She is now on prednisolone at 4x original dose ie maximum plus antibiotics in case there is a spinal infection. Problem looks to be at L4/5 or thereabouts.

When Eva was small she had recurrent bouts of elevated temperature, pain, neck stiffness, loss of appetite all responsive to steroids from around 16 weeks on. The attacks put her on a drip in the surgery if not spotted quickly enough. Then decreasing attacks and almost no problems for 2 years with the last 12 months clear. One week ago she was looking for pheasants in fields. She had slightly stiff neck next day, no temperature, but over 3 days reducing hind limb proprioception ending up in loss of motor power and no response to pain. Very sudden and a new manifestation.

Her brother died in England at around 2 years after a lifetime of the symptoms suffered by Eva although he had some loss of proprioception earlier. Another sibling died at a few months of age in the breeder's vets. Another sibling was ill.

Really hoping that Eva recovers soon. If you think you can help, please do get in touch.