Entries are done for ASC, crate reservation and hotel reservations are completed. I sent the trophy list in to the Show Chair for Friday Obedience and Rally, Saturday classes and Sunday classes, and it will be published in the catalog. Rich has sent in the trophies for ASC Obedience and Rally and completed his flight. Only things left to do are make a hotel reservation at Staunton VA Red Roof Inn for going down and coming back home, and make kennel arrangements for Quinn and Molly to stay at Stradbrook Kennel-guess I better get those reservations done tomorrow!

Figured I"d let everyone know what we are offering for trophies at ASC for this year. Rich and I are donating all trophies for the Obedience and Rally, Puppy and Veteran Sweepstakes and Saturday/Sunday judging. This will be our 35th year of attending ASC and we felt it was fitting to acknowledge how much we appreciate the support of the WSSCA and GCWSSC and the WSS fanciers who are regular attendees of this show. 

As in past years, all the trophies are in memory of WSSCA members and past WSS members of the fancy who have passed away since Rich and I have been involved in the breed.The Welsh Springer Spaniel rosettes and trophies for this show are dedicated to the Welsh Springer Spaniel breeders and exhibitors we have known and lost over the past 35 years. These breeders and exhibitors were friends, acquaintances, judges and mentors who were often involved with the WSSCA and regional clubs. Many served as officers, show chairs and committee members for national and regional events, and some even served stints as national club President or Officers of the Board of WSSCA for multiple terms. Many were teachers of today’s breeders and they forged the path for our emphasis on healthy, well-tempered and typey dogs who can still work in the field. The dogs they produced live on in the pedigrees of many dogs exhibited even today and they have left an indelible mark on the breed. We pay tribute to them so that all of the breeders and exhibitors among us will see their names, and be reminded of the pivotal role they played in the historical development of our beloved Welsh Springer Spaniels. 

FRIDAY JUDGING

Puppy and Veteran Sweepstakes 
Rosettes for Puppy Sweepstakes and Veteran Sweepstakes classes (BiSw Puppy, BiSw Veteran) are offered in
memory of Beth Wegner, Harmony Welsh Springers by Sandy and Rich Rohrbacher, Rysan Welsh Springers

-Puppy and Veteran Sweepstakes Class Placements 1st -place - WSS Decal
-Best in Puppy Sweeps - Clipper Case 
-Best OS to Best in Puppy Sweeps - Shears Case
-Best in Veteran Sweeps - Clipper Case 
-Best OS to Best in Veteran Sweeps - Shears Case

Obedience and Rally
Obedience: Trophies for Welsh Springer Spaniels participating in Obedience offered by Sandy and Rich 
Rohrbacher, Rysan Welsh Springers

High Scoring Welsh Springer Spaniel in regular obedience classes: 
-Novice A/Novice B-Pet Bowl Mat
-Open A/Open B-Stainless steel bowl
-Utility A/Utility B-Stainless steel bucket
High Scoring Welsh Springer Spaniel in Obedience Trial - Tote Bag

Rally: Trophies for Welsh Springer Spaniels participating in Rally offered by Sandy and Rich Rohrbacher, Rysan Welsh Springers

High Scoring Welsh Springer Spaniel in each rally class: 
-Novice A/Novice B-Treat Canister
-Advanced A/Advanced B-Treat Canister
-Excellent A/Excellent B-Treat Canister
 High Scoring Welsh Springer Spaniel Champion of Record in Rally Trial - Tote Bag

CONFORMATION TROPHIES  (Saturday and Sunday Judging)

Rosettes for all conformation classes are offered in memory of Beth Wegner, Harmony Welsh Springers by her 
many friends.

Trophies for Welsh Springer Spaniels participating in the ASC 2015 show are offered by Sandy and Rich Rohrbacher, Rysan Welsh Springers in appreciation for the many years of support and participation of 
Welsh Springer Spaniel owners, breeders and exhibitors from all over the country.  

Best of Breed: Limited Edition Welsh Springer Spaniel head study print by John Trickett in memory of Beth Wegner, Harmony Welsh Springers, who left us far too soon and whose presence at shows is sorely 
missed by her many friends.
BOS to Best of Breed: Ruth Maystead Limited Edition Print offered in memory of Colleen O’Keefe, DVM, 
Limberlost Welsh Springers.
Awards of Merit (4): Cross Pen offered in memory of Tom Tracy, Tomjoy Welsh Springers, Connie Christie, 
Killagay Welsh Springers and Betty and Ned Cummings, Wynfomeer Kennel.
Grand Champion Select Awards (2):Cross Pen offered in memory of Carol and Maurice Krohn, Tydaky Welsh Springers.
Best of Winners: Blade case offered in memory of D. Laddie Carswell, DL’Car Welsh Springers.
Winners Dog: Crate Pad in memory of Carl and Fran Bloom, Fracas Welsh Springers.
Winners Bitch: Crate Pad in memory of Jerome Guiab, J-Welsh Springers.
Reserve Winners Dog: Blade Case in memory of Janet LaForge, Glyndwr Welsh Springers.
Reserve Winners Bitch: Blade Case offered in memory of Ron Mengel, Sandy River Welsh Springers.
Best Puppy in Breed: Cross Pen in memory of Lowell Tracy, Suffolk Welsh Springers 
Best Owner Handled in Breed: Cross Pen in memory of Bill and Jane Pferd, Deckard Welsh Springers
Best Veteran in Breed: Cross Pen in memory of Sue Spahr, Su-Dawn Welsh Springers 
Best Bred by Exhibitor in Breed: Cross Pen in memory of Emily and Rick Preston, Olympian Welsh Springers

REGULAR CLASSES:
First place award for dogs and bitches: Slicker Brush offered in memory of Hobart Randolph, Randhaven 
Welsh Springers for the following classes: 6-9 Puppy, 9-12 Puppy 12-18 Months, Am-Bred, AOH, BBE, Open
Second thru Fourth place award for dogs and bitches: Dog Toy

VETERAN CLASSES:
First place awards-Dogs and Bitches: Welsh Springer Spaniel 2015 Calendar
Second thru Fourth place award for dogs and bitches: Dog Toy

FIELD TRIAL CLASSES:
First place awards-Dogs and Bitches: Welsh Springer Spaniel 2015 Calendar
Second thru Fourth place award for dogs and bitches: Dog Toy

We hope to see you all in Knoxville for ASC Friday Jan 9-Sun Jan 11.

So now it's final-our friend Beth Wegner has been remembered fondly, eulogized, and returned to the earth. It all was done in fine fashion, just the way she requested. The memorial service was lovely, with a beautiful song by Erin and Ryan accompanied by students, with fond remembrances from her colleague Cathy North of the Severn School, where Beth taught music for 14 years; from her good friend Wendy Jordan, who recounted Beth and Kent's attempt to acquire their first Welsh Springer from Rhonda Kuhn; and from Chuck Gandy, Beth's brother, who explained how his sister made him work harder and be better, if only to keep up with her.

Beth was, to me, a remarkable woman who looked the adversity of her cancer diagnosis squarely in the eye, knew exactly what the end game was going to be, and then went on to live her life the way she intended. If anything, she went on with a renewed vigor, refusing to miss opportunities to see new things, go to new places, do things that she maybe would have put off to later. She had the opportunity to see her dog Colin win Best of Breed at Westminster Kennel Club and at a Regional Specialty weekend, and she continued showing and breeding her beloved Welshies when she was feeling strong and well. 

Losing Beth has left a big hole in the fabric of the Greater Chesapeake Welsh Springer Spaniel Club, where she was President. She was able to bring people together, get them to volunteer and cooperate and make the events the club hosted successful. She and Kent were breeder-owner-handlers of their dogs, and that in itself is turning into a rarity in this breed. Her presence in the breed ring will be greatly missed, especially by those of us who savor the company of other owner-handlers in the ring.

Wendy and Nancy Matthews and I were quiet and frayed and exhausted after the Saturday service and the reception and then gathering with the family at their home. So we decided to recharge ourselves on Sunday with a visit to downtown historic Easton, MD. It was Mothers Day, and a perfect day for window shopping and wandering the shady tree lined streets. At lunch, we three toasted this most remarkable woman-a mother and grandmother- who lived more fiercely in the last five years of her life than many of us do in a lifetime. 

Farewell my friend-you inspired us with your courage, you taught us to live life to the fullest, and we will miss you every single day. 

With love and prayers to Kent, Erin and Ryan,

Sandy Rohrbacher
Rysan Welsh Springers

I started writing this as a Facebook post-then realized I was out of date on my blog and thought this was a perfect topic to talk about on 'All Things Welshie'. I saw a mention of this Paw Print Genetics company on a Scott Linden newsletter I get, and thought I'd check it out...you can find it at www.pawprintgenetics.com if you want to see what they do. I found a page where you can type in your breed of dog and see what genetic tests the company can perform for heritable diseases. Well-the thing I am *REALLY* happy about is there are NO genetic disease with tests suitable for our good ol' Welshies. At least I think I'm happy about that?!!!?

If you type in English Springer Spaniel or English Cocker Spaniel, or click on the link to see tests for dogs who are 'related' to your breed, you'll be happy (?)- or sad, I think -get a boatload of tests that you can pay to have done for your dog. WOW!  I am thankful EVERY SINGLE DAY that we share our lives with a breed of dogs with comparatively healthy genes. Not to say we don't have our share of issues, and make no mistake about it, I intend to be first in line with my dogs if or when that epilepsy research ever pans out with a genetic test. But take a look at the diseases of related spaniel-like breeds-kidney disease, eye disease, exercise induced collapse, thrombocytopenia, PRA and on and on. Sheesh. Makes me glad those Welsh folks were so isolated and reclusive they didn't get involved with a lot of other breeds for centuries. Just remember, folks, while the health of our Welshies could be a LOT worse, there's always room for improvement in our own breed's health profile.

And on the subject of health, since I'm chairing the WSSCA Health Committee now, I'll make a plea or two to my friends and puppy owners and breeders. If we want to keep this breed healthy, then we need to TRACK the health of our dogs. That means we need to get the diagnostic (different from genetic) testing for thyroid and hips and elbows and eyes done that your breeder has asked for and maybe even written down for you on your dog purchase agreement. And it needs to be available to the public at large on the OFA web site, so we can find it and review it. While no one likes bad news, if you don't talk about the bad stuff, you can't make it turn into good stuff later on, when we can identify dogs who throw certain characteristics, or identify families of dogs with disorders. Each health report that's posted about a group of puppies in a litter becomes a building block of information for the next generation of dogs. It becomes vital for dog breeders who are looking for stud dogs with a propensity to throw healthy puppies. It becomes vital for dog buyers who want to a high performing agility dog who won't have to worry about elbow or hip dysplasia. It becomes important for the pet owner who doesn't want to pay for testing and medicine for thyroid disease for the dog's lifetime. 

So please, folks, get that testing done! Remember to go to the vet for your dogs tests with a copy of all their AKC names and numbers, (hey, just type it up and keep it in your wallet for when you go to the vet!) and make sure the techs write the correct number on each sample for the thyroid tests and send them to the proper lab (like Michigan's) for evaluation and posting to OFA. And look for Eye Clinics in your area and take all your dogs, or find a vet certified by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmology (ACVO). They are often affiliated with major vet schools in less populous areas of the country. And if you are going to a vet and not an eye clinic for eye exams, pay a bit extra for the gonioscopy test for glaucoma. While the Ophthalmology books are all listing WSS as having glaucoma, we know it is rarely seen in the US. But we are finding Welshies with the narrow iris to cornea angles that may be precursors of future glaucoma. There are certainly cases of glaucoma in Welshies diagnosed in the UK, and a small incidence here, too. And when the breeder emails you and says it's time for the hip and elbow tests, don't argue about the cost, just 'Get 'Er Done'. You knew about the cost when the breeder talked with you at the time you agreed to buy a puppy. It's really PENNIES A DAY that it costs you for the testing when you figure it all out. Do it because if you want your best friend to be healthy, you have to know if they are going to have problems with arthritis that could shorten their hunting career or their dock diving career or their lure coursing or agility or rally or obedience career. You won't know if you don't test...simple as that!

In other words, JUST DO IT! Get that TESTING DONE! I'm just sayin'-breeders need to know ALL this information-it's IMPORTANT to all of us who love this breed to be not only the caregivers for our dogs, but the guardians of their health-both in their genes and in their furry and warm and funny little bodies.

Till the next interesting sideline I click on that lets me get on a soapbox...

Sandy

Well, now we can finally put all the updates to the recent WSSCA rescue effort in one posting. So, here we go:

Belza Louise (now affectionately known as Bella) traveled to Harrisburg with me on Friday January 25, and was transferred to Margaret Hilliard, who met Crystal Nolen outside Warrenton VA to get Belza on her way to Crystal's house in the Richmond VA area. She was set up Friday night in Crystal's home and whelped her litter on Monday, January 27 with the capable assistance of Crystal and Angela Wrenn. There were some tense moments after the first puppy was born, when Angela texted me that Bella had no milk and wasn't showing much in the way of maternal instinct. I suspected she was stressed and her hormones hadn't kicked in yet-something I had with my very first whelping with Kismet. So I asked them to hang in there and monitor her progress, check with the vet about whether a supplemental oxytocin shot may be in order, or if she just needed some time. Bella's milk ultimately came in and she began caring for the six boys and a girl just like she was supposed to. The first-born, a male nicknamed Tiny because he was the smallest at under 8 ounces, developed feeding difficulties and it was evident he required veterinary care by Wednesday morning. He was taken to see a vet at Angela's practice, who determined he had a small cleft palate that did not allow him to nurse adequately. He felt that it may close on its own and he should be tube fed for awhile to see what would happen. He did not feel there was a reason to euthanize Tiny at this time. Angela Wrenn, experienced in tubing technique, took Tiny home with her and tube fed him every 2 hours during the day and every 3 hours at night, through Thursday afternoon. She reports that he tolerated the feedings very well, was active and she even identified his tickle spot behind his right ear. The Mia Foundation of Rochester NY agreed to adopt Tiny and see to his tube feedings and eventual surgical correction of the palate defect. Shannon Gandee, the WSSCA Rescue Coordinator and Cindy Ford, the WSSCA President were consulted about this request and agreed to move forward to place this special needs puppy. Since the Mia Foundation had a representative in the VA area picking up another puppy, Tiny was transferred to their care on Thursday evening by Crystal and Angela. This is a wonderful opportunity for him to have a great life with people expert in the care of cleft palates. As to Bella's forever home, that is yet to be determined. Her breeder in Wisconsin had expressed interest in getting her back, and that may still be a possibility after the litter is placed. People interested in acquiring one of Bella's puppies can see the information on Crystal Nolen's web site regarding how to apply.


Katie Louise (known as Katie) was picked up on Saturday January 25 to be fostered by a couple in Florham Park NJ. There is an elderly Beagle in the house, so she won't be alone, and her new family hopes to transition Katie from a foster dog to become a part of their family shortly. A followup call indicated that she was doing fine in adapting to her new environment, but that it looks like she's come into season. This means that the planned mandatory spay surgery will be delayed for 4-6 weeks until her season is over and the swelling subsides. She needs to be taught how to walk on a leash since she is a tugger. Her yard is not fenced and Katie has a history of running free, so she'll get a lot of practice walking on a leash for awhile. The family is also considering fencing a portion of the yard for her to use for daily exercise and running. There's an excellent chance that Katie has found her forever home, and we are grateful for her foster parents seeing to her safety and care during this time.


Jasper Lou (known as Jasper) was picked up on Sunday January 26 to be fostered by a young man in Schwenksville Borough, PA. Jasper became fearful upon exiting the car and backed out of his collar and ran towards the woods near his new home. His fosterer and his mother prepared flyers and flooded vet offices and the neighbors with Jasper's information, and various lost pet web sites were contacted with information, also. The dog refused to come towards anyone or to accept food from anyone, but did stay in the area. Multiple sightings of Jasper were reported for several days. The foster parent and his mother were quite distraught, but we were all hopeful that eventually Jasper would be hungry enough and cold enough that he would approach someone for safe haven. A HaveAHeart trap was acquired and food was placed in it, but Jasper was not fond of crates and refused to use the shelter it provided. We asked Katie's owners if they would be willing to bring her to Schwenksville on Saturday to see if a familiar dog would entice him out of the woods, as a longshot. On Friday morning I got a text from Jasper's foster parent that they 'got the dog'. It turns out that a neighbor was able to entice Jasper inside his house or into his car, and the dog was transported to a local vet's office. We don't even know who the neighbor was at this point. Because the vets in the area had all been given Jasper's Lost Dog flyer, the staff recognized him as the missing dog and called the foster parent and sent him a photo of the dog to verify. Jasper was pronounced a little thinner but healthy in spite of being outside from Sunday night until Friday morning. He has been reunited with his foster family and will be securely harnessed and leashed from now on. He is due to be neutered and microchipped, and I've sent them the information for registration with AKC Reunite to assure he's never unidentifiable again. There's an excellent chance that Jasper has also found his forever home, and we are immensely thankful that there was a happy ending to this Lost Dog tale.


As you can see, doing any sort of rescue 'takes a village'-people to collect the dogs, people to transport them, people to care for them, and people to adopt the adult dogs and the puppies. The success of Bella's whelping experience was entirely in the hands of Crystal and Angela, and we couldn't have asked for a better outcome. They volunteered their time and effort and care and knowledge to Bella and her puppies to assure that the puppies were all healthy and well cared for. The next 7 weeks will be full of untold hours of training and cleaning up after those puppies, and socializing them properly and sorting through applications for adoption. While other breeds may routinely have pregnant dogs arriving into rescue, this is a first for us involved with WSSCA Rescue, and we're learning as we go along. But the selfless volunteering that Crystal and Angela have displayed is way above and beyond the call of duty, and we are eternally grateful to them for their efforts on behalf of WSSCA Rescue and Bella. Please take a moment to acknowledge them both for doing their best for a pregnant dog in need of some love and care.

Things moved along quickly by the middle of the afternoon today. Advised by Shannon this AM that the owner finally signed the private surrender papers, so the dogs were now eligible to go into WSSCA Rescue and be placed. Yeah! Then, the boarding kennel found out Belza was confirmed pregnant and wanted her OUT TODAY! We were planning on a leisurely trip Thursday to retrieve all the dogs, but moved it up to Wednesday afternoon. Barb and Piper Smith met me in Bartonsville and we drove to Danville PA and got the dogs out, along with two bags of food, their medical records and a couple of blankets from their former owner. 

As to the status of the dogs-Barb and I took one look at pregnant Belza and we both felt that she was pretty far into her pregnancy-probably more likely 8+ weeks. She is carrying the puppies low, so it looks like she's dropped already. Haven't even had a chance to feel for movement or get a temperature on her-I'd like her to settle and relax before I start sticking thermometers into her and poking and prodding... She's quiet, subdued, and I'm worried she could deliver at any time. We have no info on prior litters, maternal behavior, whelping history, etc. So it's a blank slate here.

While I was driving around PA, Rich was back home setting up crates in the basement for the three of them and also the whelping box in the puppy room for Belza, just in case. Shannon advised me this evening that Belza's breeder agreed to take her back if her condition would allow her to travel. I don't think it does at this point and in my opinion it would be very high risk to move her all the way to the Midwest unless someone picked her up tomorrow and had her in a new location by Friday at the latest. So we are formulating Plan B as we type this...We still need a committment from a breeder to take her or else we whelp her here...since I have to take care of getting the other two dogs placed and satisfy a request to do a stud service on a bitch in season, I'd really like someone else to whelp the litter. Any volunteers???? PLEASE????

Jasper and Katie seem fine-Rich has them loose in the basement trying to get them to chill out while I babysit our crew upstairs. They are so stressed right now they won't even take biscuits but they are drinking and they are quiet while they are out of their crates. Katie was noisy in the van on the way home for about half an hour and then fell asleep. She walks the crate across the floor and is somewhat barkey but we're cutting her some slack since she's obviously not in control of her situation. Jasper is quiet but displaying some 'lemme outta here' behavior in his crate. They both have the owners blankets in their crate-thought it would help if they could smell something familiar. They just need readjustment time, I think. Can't really make any evaluation of them now with them inside our home for less than 2 hours.

Awaiting responses from both foster/adopter families-they both indicated paperwork completion for Shannon is in progress, so I'm hopeful they will be off to their new homes before the weekend. I have the vet records and the dogs are all up to date on their vaccines, and while they are being fed substandard commercial food (really crappy, trust me...) they are in good shape physically and look like pet WSS should look. Ears need to be trimmed since they are all looking a bit English Springer-y, but I'm not really going to worry about that right now. I just want them to settle and NOT to have Belza have her puppies tonite!

Stay tuned for more as I try to get photos and make contact with the foster families...

One of the perks of writing a blog is choosing what I want to say on it...so to that end, today is the day we're talking about American Spaniel Club 2014. I have prepared the trophy list and sent it out to the two WSS list-serves, and I am posting the information here, also. I encourage you to donate to support this wonderful show. There is no trophy funding support from WSSCA or ASC for these trophies. The rosettes are purchased by ASC, but we cover the cost of the rosettes to assure that everyone gets a special memento of their win. We here at Rysan Welsh Springers acquire all the trophies on our own nickel, and we're asking only for reimbursement to cover their cost. Any unassigned trophies are donated by us-all listed trophies will be awarded, regardless of whether a sponsor is found.

We are offering a BEAUTIFUL print by WSS breeder and talented artist Pat Pencak as the Best of Breed trophy this year. It will be mounted and matted to make a great addition to Welshie art work. This year we are showcasing the lovely GCWSSC Tapestry/Throw Blanket as our BOS award. We hope that when people from all over the country see how beautiful it is, they will be interested in buying one for themselves. If you can't attend the show and you want to own one yourself, contact Carla Vooris for information. I am indebted to the Greater Chesapeake WSS Club for their ongoing support of the ASC show and their generosity in providing help in managing the trophy donations and the trophy table at the show site.

The ASC show is to be held on January 10-12 , 2014 in Knoxville TN at the Knoxville Convention Center, directly ACROSS the street from the host hotel. Access to the KCC will be much easier since there are multiple bays allowing drive-up access-YEAH! The host hotel is is still the Holiday Inn Worlds Fair - 525 Henley Street, Knoxville, TN. I've confirmed with the Show Chair that the rate is still $101/night, but you must tell them you are part of the ASC group to get the rate.

The schedule for WSS on the show weekend is:
Friday, 10 January 2014:  
Obedience and Rally Trials
Sweepstakes for Puppies and Veterans - Welsh Springer Spaniels
Saturday, 11 January 2014:
Breed judging by Sandra Lex-Classes through WD/WB
Sunday, 12 January 2014:
Breed judging by Sandra Lex-Veteran/Hunting, Best of Breed, Best Puppy and Best Veteran in breed (NEW)

We had several of our breeding stock evaluated for eye diseases at the Red Bank Veterinary Hospital on earlier this month. This final round of exams will complete their health testing needed for awarding of a CHIC number by OFA. We brought Kian (Ch Rysan's Road to Deythur), Tigg (Ch Ky-Bryn's As Requested for Rysan) and Eliza (Ch Limberlost My Fair Lady). The dogs were examined by Dr. Michael Ringle, a well known and respected ACVO specialist who I have known professionally for more than 20 years. He examined all three dogs for functional eye conditions (entropian, distichiasis, PRA, cataracts, PPM, etc.) and also performed gonioscopy to evaluate the iridocorneal angle in all three dogs. In addition, we had a discussion regarding the value of gonioscopy to dog owners and breeders, its reliability in diagnosis of narrowed angles, the professional ability and reliability of vets performing the exam, and lastly, how the gonioscopy exam information could be used to improve the eye health of the breed.

In preparation for the gonioscopy exam, anesthetic drops were administered, and the exam has a thick contact lens placed on the cornea of each eye. The procedure was extremely well tolerated by all our dogs, with no objections to placement of the lens or examination by the vet with a strong light. The vet was using the lens to visualize the iridocorneal angle (see larger picture). This is where the base of the iris attaches to the peripheral cornea and sclera. It is important to examine this part of the anatomy of the eye, because it is where fluid drains from the eye's anterior chamber. If the angle is so narrow that it prevents drainage of fluid from the anterior chamber of the eye, the dog could be at risk to develop glaucoma. 

Dr. Ringle classifies the status of the iridocorneal angle as being normal, slightly narrowed, moderately narrowed, or severely narrowed. His recommendation for treatment was for none for a normal angle, optional (i.e. at the owner's discretion) for dogs with a slightly narrowed angle, but strongly recommended use of eye drops to reduce intraocular pressure for dogs with moderately or severely narrowed angles. 

We discussed breeding recommendations with him based on particular findings, and he was reluctant to say that all dogs with a narrowed iridocorneal angle should automatically be excluded from breeding programs. His reason for this is that a) there is no good information on the prevalence of narrowed angles in our breed at this time and b) the incidence of glaucoma in Welshies is very low. Not enough breeders and owners are obtaining gonioscopic evaluations of their dogs and publishing this information, and it is entirely possible that there are significant numbers of dogs with narrowed angles being used in breeding programs even now. In fact, he mentioned that it was possible that some degree of narrowed angles may actually be the norm in the breed, since so few dogs are being examined for the status of the iridocorneal angle and there is no preventive breeding program in place except after the fact when glaucoma is identified in bloodlines.

We asked Dr. Ringle about how reliable the test was and how readily it could be performed by other ACVO-certified veterinarians. He was emphatic that all ACVO-certified vets are trained on performing this exam and they are equally competent in interpreting the findings of the exam. He essentially minimized any 'intra-operator' differences between vets in the performance of this test, and felt that was an excuse used to dismiss the value of the test results. Based on my reading of available information, the test itself has some limitations, but for first-level examination it certainly provides useful information. There are new imaging modalities available now should owners wish to pursue further studies, including High Resolution Ultrasound. More information about other imaging studies and the current state of breed specific research about glaucoma can be found in the article Glaucoma in the Bassett Hound.

The current OFA eye examination forms do not have a place to list the status of the iridocorneal angles or results of gonioscopy. I asked Dr. Ringle to use the COMMENTS section of the form to specify the status of the angle that he identified. I will check if this information shows up on the OFA website when the forms are submitted. 

Bottom line-folks, it's time to wake up and smell the coffee. There is a need to determine if the WSS gene pool has predominantly normal or narrowed iridocorneal angles. Perhaps we should recommend that gonioscopy become a standard for awarding a CHIC?  Remember, when instances of glaucoma are documented it can require huge modifications to a breeding program. But, with testing and evaluation of information, all breeders gain valuable information that can be used to make wise choices. The test itself is not costly or dangerous, and it increases the level of understanding of our dogs and their genetic predisposition to disease. I don't really see a difference between this test and the TGAA testing we all routinely perform.

So, what do you think-is it time to recommend that we add gonioscopy to the CHIC testing requirements? Or at least add it to the list of things we should check for routinely, the way thyroid testing has become ubiquitous? I look forward to your comments!

This AM I received my daily 'Dr. Becker newsletter' and there was an article that caught my eye because I hadn't heard of the topic before. The article discussed treatment with Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) for conditions where the dog has pain or non-healing fractures. The treatment itself has been used with humans for over 25 years-it's the same as the lithotripsy procedure now routinely used for treating kidney stones. It is also used for treating painful plantar fasciitis and for promoting healing in bones that refuse to knit together. The same treatment is now being offered to horses, cats and dogs to treat a variety of conditions.

In dogs, ESWT has been used to relieve pain associated with osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease, hip/elbow dysplasia, tendon and ligament injuries, even lick granulomas and non-healing tissue conditions and bone fractures. It is thought that the high-powered shock waves work within the dog's body to promote new blood vessel development, reduction of inflammation, and stimulation of collagen production. All these factors contribute to promoting accelerated healing and reducing pain in the affected areas.

I have seen conflicting information about the need for anesthesia prior to an ESWT procedure due to the noise and possible pain associated with treating an already painful injury. I could not always tell if the dogs in photos I found in association with articles about the treatment were anesthetized or sedated. Perhaps it depends upon the type of ESWT device used to generate the shock waves and where the device is placed and the injury that the animal is being treated. So, if you are interested in this procedure, that's an important question to ask, since the anesthesia/sedation certainly has its own expenses and risks.

As far as how often the treatment is given, it depends on what conditions are being treated and what the specific device manufacturer protocols recommend. For example:
Musculoskeletal conditions: every 2-3 weeks for 1-3 treatments until resolution
Wounds: once per week for a treatment, but more than three treatments may be needed if wound is large
Osteoarthritis management: every 1-1.5 weeks for up to 3 treatments, and then repeated at 6-12 months for treatment intervals since CHD is a chronic condition that is not cured by the ESWT.

There can be side effects of the ESWT procedure, including swelling, red or purple discoloration at the site of the shockwave focus, or short term aggravation of the condition. And pain relief may not be noticeable for up to four weeks after the last ESWT session. The literature indicated that side effects are short lived and usually gone within 1-2 days. Some dogs may require standard NSAID's like Rimadyl or Deramax temporarily.

I reviewed professional journal articles about ESWT available through ivis.org, and there have been presentations at veterinary proceedings in Europe since 2004 promoting the use of ESWT, first in equines, followed by canine research. A few canine discussions of veterinary uses for ESWT in both research articles and articles for veterinary professionals are listed below. They may not be available to you without registration at the ivis.org site or the Clinician Briefs site. Both are free registrations, though. If you cannot access these links, the Dr. Becker article is highlighted above and is an excellent overview of the treatment.
-Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) for Hip Osteoarthritis
-Effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy on elbow osteoarthritis in dogs
-Mobility; a multi-disciplined approach (Iams Proceedings)
-August 2013 Clinicians Brief-Shockwave Therapy as a Treatment Option
-July 2012 Clinicians Brief-Nonsurgical Management of CHD
-September 2012 Clinicians Brief-Treating Patellar Ligament Desmitis

So, if your dog has pain due to an injury or a chronic condition that is not getting better, you may want to discuss the use of ESWT with your veterinarian. If your vet practice is not currently authorized to perform the treatment, they should be able to refer you to a veterinary orthopedic specialist who has the training and equipment to provide the treatments your dog needs.

If you and your dog have undergone ESWT, leave a comment and share your experiences with us! 


A future topic will review very new stem cell therapy for canines for treatment of injuries and various conditions...