Health in Deerhounds
Cotherstone’s owners guide to Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV)
GDV (bloat) is one of the most serious of all pet emergencies. If left, dogs with GDV will die. However, the survival rate of dogs that have surgery after being diagnosed with GDV can be high is why it’s essential you contact your vet if you suspect your dog has bloat. DO NOT WAIT! This is a true emergency!
What is a GDV
A GDV or gastric torsion is a life-threatening condition in dogs. In a GDV the stomach twists and expands with gas. Some dogs can get bloat without the stomach twisting but most of the time the stomach will twist once very bloated.
What are the signs of a GDV?
Some of the early signs of GDV include a change in behavior or restlessness, increased breathing rate or effort, excessive drooling, trying to vomit. A dog with GDV is likely to feel pain, and as the condition progresses, you may notice your dog’s abdomen looks rounded, their gums become pale and their heart rate increase. They may also collapse.
Changes behavior and restless
Arched back or reluctance to lie down
Abdomen looks enlarged and feels very hard to the touch.
Unproductive vomiting
Hyper salivating which often very thick, gluey, white and frothy.
Difficulty breathing
What happens when a dog has a GDV?
The distended stomach puts pressure on the diaphragm and internal organs, causing problems with the circulation and respiratory system. This makes it difficult for your dog to breathe and for their heart to get blood and oxygen around the body, as it should. Dogs will very rapidly go into hypovolemic shock which can be fatal. While the stomach is twisted, the blood supply to the stomach can be cut off causing it to die, this can also affect the spleen and the spleen sometimes also needs to be removed during surgery.
What are the causes of GDV in dogs?
GDV It’s usually seen a few hours after a meal particularly when a dog has eaten a lot of food and then sometimes having a large drink or by strenuously exercising. Another idea is that GDV is caused by a sudden change in the rhythm of a dog’s stomach contractions which results in trapped air and the stomach expanding.
How to avoid a GDV in dogs
Feeding and exercise.
You can help prevent your dog from developing GDV by feeding them small meals regularly through the day and avoid exercise for at least 1.5-2 hrs after/before feeding. Try to encourage slow eating.
Never feed or water when very hot and panting. Little sips of water only and not cold (room temperature).
In hot summer conditions, feed early morning and late evening when their core body temperature has cooled.
Further prevention.
If your dog needs emergency surgery, ask your vet to perform a gastropexy.
This is a procedure to tack the stomach to help to prevent a torsion in the event the dog bloats in the future. Ask your vet before surgery.
GDV (bloat) is one of the most serious of all pet emergencies. If left, dogs with GDV will die. However, the survival rate of dogs that have surgery after being diagnosed with GDV can be high is why it’s essential you contact your vet if you suspect your dog has bloat. DO NOT WAIT! This is a true emergency!
What is a GDV
A GDV or gastric torsion is a life-threatening condition in dogs. In a GDV the stomach twists and expands with gas. Some dogs can get bloat without the stomach twisting but most of the time the stomach will twist once very bloated.
What are the signs of a GDV?
Some of the early signs of GDV include a change in behavior or restlessness, increased breathing rate or effort, excessive drooling, trying to vomit. A dog with GDV is likely to feel pain, and as the condition progresses, you may notice your dog’s abdomen looks rounded, their gums become pale and their heart rate increase. They may also collapse.
Changes behavior and restless
Arched back or reluctance to lie down
Abdomen looks enlarged and feels very hard to the touch.
Unproductive vomiting
Hyper salivating which often very thick, gluey, white and frothy.
Difficulty breathing
What happens when a dog has a GDV?
The distended stomach puts pressure on the diaphragm and internal organs, causing problems with the circulation and respiratory system. This makes it difficult for your dog to breathe and for their heart to get blood and oxygen around the body, as it should. Dogs will very rapidly go into hypovolemic shock which can be fatal. While the stomach is twisted, the blood supply to the stomach can be cut off causing it to die, this can also affect the spleen and the spleen sometimes also needs to be removed during surgery.
What are the causes of GDV in dogs?
GDV It’s usually seen a few hours after a meal particularly when a dog has eaten a lot of food and then sometimes having a large drink or by strenuously exercising. Another idea is that GDV is caused by a sudden change in the rhythm of a dog’s stomach contractions which results in trapped air and the stomach expanding.
How to avoid a GDV in dogs
Feeding and exercise.
You can help prevent your dog from developing GDV by feeding them small meals regularly through the day and avoid exercise for at least 1.5-2 hrs after/before feeding. Try to encourage slow eating.
Never feed or water when very hot and panting. Little sips of water only and not cold (room temperature).
In hot summer conditions, feed early morning and late evening when their core body temperature has cooled.
Further prevention.
If your dog needs emergency surgery, ask your vet to perform a gastropexy.
This is a procedure to tack the stomach to help to prevent a torsion in the event the dog bloats in the future. Ask your vet before surgery.
Deerhound Breed Standard UK
Description shared from the www.Deerhound.co.uk - Deerhound Club Website
The Crufts catalogue used to feature a recent winning hound - the Description is Copyright, and reads as follows:
There is certainly no breed whose carriage asserts his noble descent as plainly as the Deerhound. Centuries ago he was so highly prized by the Highland Chieftains as to be jealously guarded, so much so, indeed, that a specimen was almost unknown even as far south as the Lowlands. The Deerhound today is valued for his picturesque appearance, fidelity and docility. His dignified bearing has earned for him the title of the "Aristocrat of the canine world". The gunsmith's art has practically robbed him of his natural calling in this country, but he gives a good account of himself in other lands to which he has been exported for work. A tall rough-looking dog, the Deerhound is the quintessence of grace with strength. Dogs average 30 - 32 inches, bitches 28 - 30 inches at shoulder. Colour wheaten, brindle, grey, the last being the most popular. White is a blemish save for a blaze on the chest or a tip to the tail, which should be carried low without curl. Shoulders well laid back, great depth of brisket and well-sprung ribs. A characteristic is width and strength across the loins, which should be well arched. Stifles well bent and hocks low to ground. The head carried high on a long, strong neck, with prominent nape. The clean-cut skull, flat with the ears set high, is coated with softer longer hair than the body, and plenty of shaggy eyebrow. The muzzle strong, teach and lips level. Eyes dark, deep set, full of expression. This wistful, faraway expression is the keynote of the character of the breed.
To summarise:
Typical - A Deerhound should resemble a rough coated greyhound of larger size and bone.
Movement - easy, active and true.
Height - As tall as possible consistent with quality.
Head - long, level, well balanced, carried high.
Body - long, very deep in brisket, well sprung ribs and great breadth across hips.
Forelegs - strong and quite straight, with elbows neither in nor out.
Thighs - long and muscular, second thighs well muscled, stifles nicely bent.
Loins - well arched, and belly well drawn up.
Coat - rough and hard, longer and softer beard and brows.
Feet - close and compact, with well knuckled toes.
Ears - small, with greyhound-like carriage.
Eyes - dark, moderately full.
Neck - long, well arched, and very strong with prominent nape.
Shoulders - clean, set sloping.
Chest - very deep, but not too narrow.
Tail - long and slightly curved, carried low.
Teeth - strong and level.
Nails - strong and curved.
The Deerhound, by A.N. Hartley (available from the Deerhound Club) goes on to say "One or two of these points might bear a little amplification. Movement is most difficult to describe - viewed from the side the hound should take a good free stride with both fore and hind legs, covering plenty of ground at each step. The feet should be lifted clear of the ground - 'daisy clipping' is not desirable but neither of course is anything resembling a hackney action.
The Crufts catalogue used to feature a recent winning hound - the Description is Copyright, and reads as follows:
There is certainly no breed whose carriage asserts his noble descent as plainly as the Deerhound. Centuries ago he was so highly prized by the Highland Chieftains as to be jealously guarded, so much so, indeed, that a specimen was almost unknown even as far south as the Lowlands. The Deerhound today is valued for his picturesque appearance, fidelity and docility. His dignified bearing has earned for him the title of the "Aristocrat of the canine world". The gunsmith's art has practically robbed him of his natural calling in this country, but he gives a good account of himself in other lands to which he has been exported for work. A tall rough-looking dog, the Deerhound is the quintessence of grace with strength. Dogs average 30 - 32 inches, bitches 28 - 30 inches at shoulder. Colour wheaten, brindle, grey, the last being the most popular. White is a blemish save for a blaze on the chest or a tip to the tail, which should be carried low without curl. Shoulders well laid back, great depth of brisket and well-sprung ribs. A characteristic is width and strength across the loins, which should be well arched. Stifles well bent and hocks low to ground. The head carried high on a long, strong neck, with prominent nape. The clean-cut skull, flat with the ears set high, is coated with softer longer hair than the body, and plenty of shaggy eyebrow. The muzzle strong, teach and lips level. Eyes dark, deep set, full of expression. This wistful, faraway expression is the keynote of the character of the breed.
To summarise:
Typical - A Deerhound should resemble a rough coated greyhound of larger size and bone.
Movement - easy, active and true.
Height - As tall as possible consistent with quality.
Head - long, level, well balanced, carried high.
Body - long, very deep in brisket, well sprung ribs and great breadth across hips.
Forelegs - strong and quite straight, with elbows neither in nor out.
Thighs - long and muscular, second thighs well muscled, stifles nicely bent.
Loins - well arched, and belly well drawn up.
Coat - rough and hard, longer and softer beard and brows.
Feet - close and compact, with well knuckled toes.
Ears - small, with greyhound-like carriage.
Eyes - dark, moderately full.
Neck - long, well arched, and very strong with prominent nape.
Shoulders - clean, set sloping.
Chest - very deep, but not too narrow.
Tail - long and slightly curved, carried low.
Teeth - strong and level.
Nails - strong and curved.
The Deerhound, by A.N. Hartley (available from the Deerhound Club) goes on to say "One or two of these points might bear a little amplification. Movement is most difficult to describe - viewed from the side the hound should take a good free stride with both fore and hind legs, covering plenty of ground at each step. The feet should be lifted clear of the ground - 'daisy clipping' is not desirable but neither of course is anything resembling a hackney action.
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Wondering what puppy growth plates really look like? Here's a side by side puppy/adult comparison I put together so you can see the difference. That blank space in between the puppy's joints is precursor boney material that fills in as they grow up. If you haven't already read our article on puppy exercise and growth plates, you can read it here:
http://puppyculture.com/appropriate-exercise.html |
Health in Dachshunds
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