briards
Coeurs Celestes
titrate
We use a different vaccination policy for our puppies than usual. We are happy to explain it to you!
When the puppies are born, they absorb antibodies with the first milk (colostrum) they receive from their mother. Antibodies are proteins that protect against viruses, bacteria and other parasites that can make the body sick. How many antibodies they ingest depends on how many antibodies the mother has and how much milk the pups take in until about the first 12 hours. These antibodies remain present in the puppies' blood for an average of between 6 and 12 weeks, but longer is also possible.
During this period, this protection of the puppies against important viral diseases such as parvo, distemper and hepatitis will decrease and cease. As long as those antibodies are in the blood, not only are the puppies protected, but a vaccination will not work either.
The reason we vaccinate puppies 3x (6, 9 and 12 weeks) is because we don't know when those antibodies are gone and we don't know if a vaccination will work or not. The vaccines we use are live vaccines and a vaccination with a live vaccine is sufficient to provide protection for a longer period of time (read: years). So actually, of the 3 vaccinations they normally receive, only one is effective and then the chance is greatest when the pup no longer has any antibodies from the mother.
Now there is a test (the VacciCheck) where we can see whether there are still antibodies in the puppies' blood. So to avoid unnecessary vaccination, we can use this test to first see if there are still antibodies and only give a vaccination when these have disappeared. Then the puppies will only receive 1 vaccination instead of 3. The best thing is to check about 4 weeks after the vaccination whether the vaccination has indeed been successful. In the first year, the antibodies can still change, so it is only after a titre determination at the age of 1 that it can be seen what the course has been in the first year and they will most likely have years of protection with 1 vaccination, so that there will be no recurrence. need to be vaccinated.
So instead of blindly vaccinating, we first have a titre determination done. The results of this are stated in the passport, as well as when the puppy needs to be titrated and/or vaccinated again. Not all vets do this and not all titers also titrate puppies, so we will always provide our puppy buyers with an address of an experienced doctor in titrating puppies in their own region. Or we organize a fun return day where we also titrate at the same time, just how it goes. Since January 2015, the VacciCheck titre determinations have been fully accepted and recognized by the Raad van Beheer and the WSAVA and are valid at Dutch shows, most dog schools and also at more and more boarding houses.
Especially in the first year, this policy costs a little more effort from both us and the future puppy owners, but if vaccinated at the right time, the dog has achieved the maximum range of antibodies due to a minimal burden on the immune system. Just to be clear: we are absolutely not against vaccination, but we are against unnecessary and / or unnecessary vaccination. After all, why put so much strain on a young dog's body if it is not necessary at all?
In the Facebook group 'Titering with VacciCheck' (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1170151009673305/) you will find all information about this, as well as the veterinarians who titrate according to the latest guidelines and insights. There you will see for yourself how long most dogs are protected that would otherwise have been 'normally' vaccinated when this was not necessary. But also young dogs where the owners were convinced that their young dog was protected because it had had the 3 puppy vaccinations and who were therefore unprotected throughout the first year because they were vaccinated while they still had the natural antibodies.
It goes without saying that we expect the new owners of our puppies to be positive about this and to follow this line.
Titling Benefits:
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The puppy needs much less stressful vaccinations (if vaccinated while the puppy still has the natural antibodies, the vaccination will almost certainly not work)
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There is a very good chance that, if vaccinated at the right time, the dog will be protected for years with just one vaccination.
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The body is not unnecessarily burdened by vaccination while sufficient antibodies are still present
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Only 1 drop of blood is needed for testing
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There are animals that (may) react hypersensitive to vaccinations. By titrating, vaccination is minimized, so that the body is not triggered and causes other problems.
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You know exactly how your dog is doing and that it is well protected.
Titing down any cons:
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If the puppy still has the natural antibodies for a long time, titration will have to be done more often in the beginning
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Because not all veterinarians with experience in titration also have experience in titrating puppies (this is different from adult dogs), you may have to go to another doctor in the region.
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Sterilization/castration
My advice in this regard is: rather not cut into a healthy briard. Of course there are medical reasons or reasons to do it, but only if your dog has grown mentally and physically. For the briard this is an age after at least 1.5 years, preferably after 2 years. If you want to sterilize / castrate before this time, please consult with me as a breeder. If your dog is helped at a very young age, I cannot guarantee the health and growth of your dog.
As a small puppy (before the age of 6 months)
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Musculoskeletal system: Abnormal growth of the musculoskeletal system leads to longer and lighter bones. Research also shows that there is a greater chance of an anterior cruciate ligament lesion, of ED and of HD. In males, joint problems arise due to rapid growth and muscle weakness; the role of testosterone (for muscle development) is no longer fulfilled.
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Genitals: Relatively underdeveloped external genitalia (penis and vulva). This often leads to inflammation of the foreskin and the skin around the vulva. Greater chance of castration, bladder infection and vaginal infection. The neutered male can become attractive to other (intact) males. Neutered males can start riding each other.
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Tumors: Increased risk of developing haemangiosarcoma (malignant blood tumor) and bone tumors. Depending on the race, the risk of other types of tumors may also be increased.
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Behavior: More anxiety-related behavioral problems. For example, an insecure male can become more afraid, so that his behavior can turn into fear-aggression. In bitches a clear risk of aggressive and masculine behavior (driving, urinating with leg up) after castration if the bitch had several brothers. Negative influence on behavioral development, especially with castration in the socialization period.
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Brain function: More decline in cognitive functions (dementia).
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Thyroid: Greater chance of underactive thyroid and getting fat.
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Anesthesia: Greater risk of anesthesia than with no castration or with castration at a later age.
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Prostate: Increased risk of prostate tumors.
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Coat: chance of developing a “fluffy” coat, especially in long-haired dogs: the coat becomes thicker, more curly, more difficult to maintain.
From half a year to one to one and a half years
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Musculoskeletal system: longer and lighter bones, greater risk of anterior cruciate ligament lesions, joint problems due to rapid growth and less muscle development.
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Genitals: Greater chance of castration foulness. The neutered male can become attractive to other (intact) males. Neutered males can start riding each other.
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Tumors: Increased risk of developing a haemangiosarcoma (malignant blood tumor). Depending on the race, the risk of other types of tumors may also be increased.
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Behavior: More anxiety-related behavioral problems. For example, an insecure male can become more afraid, so that his behavior can turn into fear-aggression. In bitches a clear risk of aggressive and masculine behavior (driving, urinating with leg up) after castration if the bitch had several brothers. Negative influence on behavioral development.
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Brain function: More decline in cognitive functions (dementia).
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Thyroid: Greater chance of underactive thyroid and getting fat.
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Prostate: Increased risk of prostate tumors.
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Coat: probability of developing a “fluffy” coat, especially in long-haired dogs: the coat becomes thicker, more curly, more difficult to maintain.
As an adult dog
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Musculoskeletal system: greater risk of anterior cruciate ligament lesions, joint problems due to less muscle development.
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Genitals: Greater chance of castration foulness. The neutered male can become attractive to other (intact) males. Neutered males can start riding each other.
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Tumors: Increased risk of developing a haemangiosarcoma (malignant blood tumor). Depending on the race, the risk of other types of tumors may also be increased.
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Behavior: More anxiety-related behavioral problems. For example, an insecure male can become more afraid, so that his behavior can turn into fear-aggression. In bitches a clear risk of aggressive and masculine behavior (driving, urinating with leg up) after castration if the bitch had several brothers.
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Brain function: More decline in cognitive functions (dementia).
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Thyroid: Greater chance of underactive thyroid and getting fat.
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Prostate: Increased risk of prostate tumors.
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Coat: chance of developing a “fluffy” coat, especially in long-haired dogs: the coat becomes thicker, more curly, more difficult to maintain.
Conclusion
There are good reasons to own a dog (male/female dog) to be castrated. There are also good reasons not to castrate a dog (male / female). In general, more disadvantages of castration can be expected the younger the dog is at the time of the procedure.
Various “disorders” that are mentioned as reasons for castration and various disorders caused by castration can be remedied with regular therapy, with homeopathy and/or with behavioral therapy.
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Ectopic ureter in the dog
Ectopic ureter or ureters is a congenital anomaly of the urinary tract in the dog. This abnormality means that the urinary tract draining from the kidneys to the bladder is incorrectly constructed. The condition can occur unilaterally or bilaterally. Breeds in which ectopic ureters occur relatively often and in which breeders (including me as a breeder) also preventive screening of their puppies do include: Briard, Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Entlebucher and Bearded Collie.
Normally, the renal drainage tube ends in the bladder well before the bladder neck and sphincter (red arrow). In the case of an ectopic ureter, the drainage tube ends too close to or even after the sphincter muscle (blue arrow) directly into the urethra. As a result, the sphincter cannot properly keep urine in the bladder and the dog leaks urine.
Dogs with one or two ectopic ureters are also more susceptible to cystitis. In addition, because the drainage tube runs through a longer piece of bladder wall, a disturbed drainage of urine can also cause accumulation (congestion) of urine in the kidney, which can possibly lead to kidney damage.
Early diagnosis of an ectopic ureter is therefore essential. In this way, further damage to the kidneys in particular can be prevented. Because ectopic ureters is a congenital abnormality and is therefore mainly seen in young dogs, the diagnosis can be difficult. People take a puppy into their home and are fully committed to potty training their puppy. When a puppy is not or poorly potty trained, it is often blamed on “being a puppy: he still has to learn”. However, it is important to recognize signs of an ectopic ureter early and to contact your vet if in doubt.
Symptoms
Symptoms of an ectopic ureter can be very diverse and occur to a greater or lesser extent.
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Urinary incontinence (leakage of urine). This can take place while walking, but also often during sleep.
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Pee small amounts more often
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Drink a lot
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Poor or not toilet training of your puppy
Diagnostics
If you recognize one or more of the above, it is wise to make an appointment with your vet. Please also bring fresh urine (max 8 hours old, kept refrigerated) with you when you visit, so that we can examine it. If your pet is suspected of having a malformed urethra, a echo are made from bladder, kidneys and urinary tract. (see also ectopic ureter screening)
Therapy
If it has been established by ultrasound that your animal has an incorrectly constructed urinary tract, it will have to be surgically repaired. In addition, a possible urinary tract infection as well as possible damage to the kidney will be treated. During the operation, an incorrectly constructed urethra is detached and implanted in the correct place in the bladder and sutured.
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HD, what is that anyway?
The abbreviation stands for Hip Dysplasia, and dysplasia means "abnormal growth". In other words, growth or deformity.
It is a condition that is caused for about 2/3 by environmental factors, for 1/3 it is hereditary.
The many international scientific studies that have been done over the years have proven this.
Simply put, a dog predisposed to HD can develop it when the environmental factors are unfavorable, and he can develop it mildly when the environmental factors are favorable. If a dog does not have the hereditary predisposition, unfavorable environmental factors will not have a serious influence on the development of the disorder.
Think of this condition as a house: if there is no foundation (no genetic predisposition) it cannot be built. No HD. Even with many materials (taxing environmental factors) it never works out: that house will not stand. The condition does not progress.
If there is a foundation (hereditary predisposition) but the materials are not there or are incomplete (few environmental impacts), the house will be small and incomplete. Say a mild form of HD or only a radiologically visible predisposition.
If the materials are all there (many harmful environmental factors), then it becomes a complete and large house: HD is then present and developed to a lesser or greater degree.
Incidentally, developed HD does not necessarily mean that the dog has complaints: good muscles can absorb a lot. We will explain how this is possible later in this section.
What exactly are those environmental factors?
The environmental factors include several aspects. For example, nutrition is important, but so is exercise.
The composition of the diet is very important. Many people give nutritional supplements, but that often works in the opposite way, as research has shown.
A complete food, kibble or fresh, is best.
In addition, it is very important that the dog is not too heavy, especially while growing. Too much weight is stressful on the joints.
Too much or wrong movement is also stressful during growth. Think of too long walks: a puppy cannot walk for hours.
Wrong movement is also, for example: constantly slipping on the parquet, plowing through the sand for hours every day or constantly chasing the ball, making quick turns and jumps. All things that are not good for a growing dog.
HD is a bone problem, and it's an irreversible process. If a joint is not developed properly or in the wrong way, it will not work out.
It cannot be seen in advance, a diagnosis can only be made when the dog is at least one year old. Then X-rays can be taken, which are then approved by a special committee of de Board of Directors should be reviewed.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms depend on the severity of the abnormality. In a severe form of HD, a dog may suffer from:
Stiffness
Starting problems after sleeping
Spare a hind leg
It is not that such things mean that your dog has HD: HD can only be diagnosed by taking x-rays, which must then be assessed by an orthopedic specialist veterinarian or by the Board's specialists.
But other things can also be the cause of complaints. In case of such problems, always have your dog checked by your vet!
What does that look like: good and bad hips?
A hip joint is shown on the right.
In the ideal situation as presented here, the joint head of the femur is 100% connected in the joint socket. The head is completely locked in the acetabulum and shows no play.
Unfortunately, such perfect hips are not as common as we would like.
Therefore de Board of Directors already established many years ago a committee of inquiry where X-rays of hips submitted by a team of experts can be assessed. This assessment has a strict protocol: only the breed and age of the animal are known, but the name and owner are not. The photo must meet strict requirements: if the dog is not lying exactly as prescribed, this can influence the result, and for that reason photos are sometimes rejected. In that case, the vet will take a new picture free of charge so that the hips of the dog in question can be reassessed.
In this way, the heredity of this condition can be mapped out and those involved can gain insight into which breeding animals are the best choice.
We do not only look at the hips of the parent animals, but also at those of the litter mates of the parents and the offspring through other lines and kinship.
In these photos you can see the hips of a puppy.
Left the first day of life: the hips and thigh bones are not yet touching each other. The pelvis is barely developed.
That is necessary, otherwise the puppy could not be born. Utmost flexibility of the entire body is needed to fit through the birth canal!
When the puppy is 8 weeks old, it already starts to resemble a hip joint, but it is not really formed yet.
So this is what the hips look like when you get your pup: no wonder they are still shaky on their feet!
And now you immediately understand why you have to be careful with your puppy: it's not all that solid yet!
The right picture shows the hips of a young dog of 20 weeks. It is now a more or less complete hip joint.
