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Rotten timber? Dogs can sniff it out!
Cystitis
New Year: New Home?
Prize winners!
Has your dog had puppies?
Rotten timber? Dogs can sniff it out!
Did you know that by using their heightened sense of smell, dogs can be trained to detect fungi which we can’t smell and is not visible to the human eye? Dry rot (Serpula lacrymans) is a fungus which takes hold when there is sufficient moisture, causing timbers to deteriorate and decay, which weakens the supporting structures in buildings. The smell of dry rot has an odour similar to mushrooms (as the fungus is related to toadstool and mushroom fungi).
There are two trained dry rot sniffer dogs working in the UK, now labelled ‘Rothounds’, both of which are Labrador Retrievers. Training starts with dogs hunting for a toy, and then the scent is added to the toy. The toy is then taken away so that the dog is only working with the scent of the dry rot in an affected area. Detecting the smell of dry rot is part of a game for the dog and they receive a reward once they have detected the scent. The dogs have been taught to track the particular scent of dry rot caused by Serpula lacrymans rather than that caused by other fungi which might be present so they can differentiate between the smells of each.
It’s not just a dog’s finely tuned sense of smell that helps to find dry rot; dogs can also access places which are difficult to reach and can cover a large surface area to find dry rot which may be located in concealed positions. Rothounds may have to work in areas of buildings which are many hundreds of years old and their skills are not only used to detect the fungus, but how far it has spread, and locate its source so that treatment can begin in the correct location.
Training a dog to locate a specific scent can be completed within just two weeks, but in total training can take up to two years to complete (and is just the same training any other type of sniffer dog may receive) as dogs have to be able to operate efficiently, accurately and safely in specialist environments, such as old properties like stately homes.
For more information on ‘Rothounds’ please click here.
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Cystitis
Cystitis is a condition we see reported in the Dogslife cohort from time to time; so far there have been over 20 dogs which have had this condition diagnosed. Cystitis means “inflammation of the bladder”, but there are many different potential diseases and conditions which may trigger this inflammation. The most common cause of cystitis is a bacterial infection of the bladder. We see this more commonly in female dogs as they are less resistant to bacterial infections because they have a shorter “tube” (the urethra), connecting the bladder to outside, compared to male dogs. In some cases there may be a predisposing condition which increases the likelihood of infection, such as abnormal anatomy, weakness of the bladder neck (sphincter which keeps it closed), bladder stones or, occasionally, growths in the bladder. Sometimes the inflammation of the bladder can occur in the absence of an infection, which may be associated with stress or the presence of crystals in the urine.
The clinical signs of cystitis can be quite varied. Affected dogs may show signs of discomfort trying to urinate, may urinate more frequently than normal, producing only small volumes of urine, and may strain to urinate. Additionally you may see blood in the urine which has been passed.
To confirm cystitis the veterinary surgeon may palpate the bladder and take a sample of urine to test for the presence of inflammatory cells, bacteria and blood. Further tests, such as an ultrasound examination of the bladder or x-rays of the bladder may be required to ascertain whether a predisposing condition is present, but in many cases treatment will be instigated first.
Bacterial infections are usually treated with antibiotics, and medications to address the pain associated with it. Where specific causes are identified they may require specific medication (for example, when the bladder neck is weak, contraction can be improved with certain drugs), special diets (where bladder stones are identified, to dissolve them) or surgical treatment (for example where bladder stones can’t be dissolved, or to correct anatomical abnormalities).
Thanks to Dr Tobias Schwartz for providing the image used in this article.
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New Year: New Home?
Moving house is often very stressful with so many things to think about and organise, but packing up the old house and trying to settle into the new one can be stressful for your dog too. This article outlines some of the things to think about when you move house with your dog.
Dogs may show signs of becoming unsettled or distressed when you are packing up your old house. It’s a good idea to set aside a room with their bed and toys so they have a secure, quiet place to be. They will have familiar things around them, and it will keep them safely out of the way of items being moved and away from open doors and windows through which they could escape.
If your dog is particularly stressed when moving home, you may wish to ask your vet about methods help reduce their anxiety. Devices that release Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP) can help calm some dogs. Be sure not to pack away your dog’s toys and bed until the last minute and don’t wash them as the familiar smell of these things in the new home will comfort them.
If possible, it may be best for your dog to stay with a friend or family member that they know over the few days of the move when you will be at your busiest; lots of strange people and items being moved, is likely to unsettle them. If your dog does stay with you on the day of the move make sure that you have a name tag made up and inform your microchip provider of your new address and contact details in case your pet escapes or becomes lost during the move.
Once you have arrived at your new home, unpack your dog’s bed and toys and place them in a quiet and secure room. Also check the boundary fencing to make sure there aren’t any places they can escape from, before letting them off the lead. A new environment, territory and smells will be a lot for your dog to take in. Try to retain your dog’s usual routine of walks, feed and attention so that they have their normal daily routine to help them settle in.
For more information on moving house with your dog please click here.
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Prize winners!
Congratulations to the winners of our latest prize draw! The following Dogslife members have each won £10 of Pets at Home vouchers: Mr H from Wiltshire, Mr D from Edinburgh, Mr B from Surrey, Mrs W from Berkshire, Mrs D from Wiltshire, Miss T from Northamptonshire, Miss M from Warwickshire, Miss B from Cornwall, Ms G from Essex, and Mrs P from Dorset. We hope you enjoy spending the vouchers!
Thank you to everyone who continues to update their dog’s record; all the information provided helps the study enormously. Don’t worry if you haven’t won a prize this time, by keeping your dog’s record up to date, you will automatically be entered into the next prize draw which takes place in March.
DOGSLIFE WOULD LIKE TO WISH EVERYONE A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR & ALL THE BEST FOR 2014!
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Has your dog had puppies?
If your dog has had puppies, we would be very grateful if you could email us with the details of when they were born, and how many were born. Unfortunately we are currently experiencing an error with regards to this specific question on the website. We apologise if you have already entered the data and have been asked again, but would be very grateful if you could contact us by email (info@dogslife.ac.uk) with the information instead.
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Don't forget to come back to Dogslife to update your dog's record www.dogslife.ac.uk. If you have entered data since your dog turned ten months of age, the questionnaire should be quicker and easier to complete as some of the questions will be prepopulated with your previous answers.
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