The Sou’Wester’ Newsletter of South Bay Kennel Club Inc. 8/1/2015 Edition 21 Volume 8 MEETING REMINDER: TUESDAY, AUGUST 4th AT 2:00 PM. POT LUCK LUNCH AT TONI'S HOUSE. PROGRAM: Final preparations and assignments for our upcoming South Bay Kennel Club dog show on August 8th and 9th. PREZ SEZ The numbers are in and the shows look pretty good! We have over 1100 dogs entered each day, so as hoped, it's a nice increase over last year's entry. That is wonderful, considering that a lot of shows a locally that are significantly smaller than this. There are going to be obstacles at the High School, but I think with this size entry, we should be able to get over all of them. I only got the total, not specifics, but none of the judges overdrew which is another positive. Now is the time for everyone to pitch in and make our show is great as we possibly can, a terrific experience for everyone. -UPCOMING SHOWS South Bay Kennel Club 8/8-9/15 All Breed Show, Obedience Trials and Rally Trials Torrance Simi Valley Kennel Club Santa Barbara Kennel Club Los Encinos Kennel Club 8/21-24/15 All Breed Dog Shows Earl Warren Showgrounds, Santa Barbara As was previously published, the meeting for this month will be on Tuesday, August 4th at my house, 17817 La Salle Ave, Gardena, CA at 2:00 pm. Will do a range of pre-show tasks, including judges hospitality bags, ring steward boxes and packaging trophies..... Lots to do, but it will be a fun time, I promise. We also need to make sure those who are picking up judges at the hotel are all present and accounted for--correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Marilyn is coordinating that. And again, bring whatever kind of goodies you want for our potluck, make it snack like, lunch like or dessert like. We'll try everything! Keep in mind that the heavy work will be on Friday at the school. Ryan and the Empire Staffing guys will be there, as well as my nephew, Tony, to set up brings, mow the grass and get everything set up for the big event..... And Larry will be there working on getting hospitality set up. Remember, there are lots of things to do for the show, so step up and volunteered to help if you have the time, energy and inclination! All that, plus, I believe Cheryl has new club shirts in the works..... Thanks to everyone for all you are about to do! See you at my house on Tuesday, August 4th at 2 PM! Toni On The Grapevine… John Sidney is doing much better and promises to see us all at the show! BRAGS, BRAGS, BRAGS!!! Pamela Regan has just passed her second Field Rep observation at the Long Beach Kennel Club trial and she now has "regular" judging status for Novice Obedience. It's now on to Open for her, and she is hoping it takes less than 2 years to accomplish. Congratulations Pam! Our breeder friends at Amore` & Chaulait Italian Greyhounds had a great weekend at the Ventura Summerfest! On Friday Diana (Lorenc’s Crime of the Century), took BOB earning another 4 point major, bringing her Grand Championship point total to 12 along with her 2 majors. Spirit, (Amore and Chaulait’s Spirit of the Rebel) took WB; now she needs both her majors to finish. On Saturday Luc (Diavolino’s Lost In The Moment) took BOB for his 4th major in pursuit of his Grand Championship. He currently has all his majors and 20 points. Joining Luc in the winner’s circle was Lilly (Amore’s Wish Upon A Star), who finally got untracked and took WB and BOS, gaining her first 2 points towards her championship. Lastly on Sunday, newly minted champion, Paisley (Amore’s One Enchanted Evening), who made an appearance after a hiatus, took SB, and Lilly took RWB Minutes from the South Bay Kennel Club Meeting, July 2, 2015 Meeting called to order 7:25 pm. Members in attendance: Marilyn Day, Toni Woods, Larry & Tami Kittiver, Michael & Janet Lekov, Barbara Millman, Gary Shiozaki, Cheryl Head, Tony and Jackie Zambrano. Guests: Tony and Jackie Zambrano Secretary Report Motion to approve lasts months minutes. Approved. Trophies have been received. Gary working on AKC Marketplace. Web site is having problems. Presidents/Show Chairman report Need quote from Ryan for tenting. Marilyn to make appointment to check on grounds and room for club at North High and have Larry there too. Cheryl has 4 helpers for the show. Marilyn to draft letter for service hours so youth can get credit. Will meet at Toni’s on Aug. 4th at 3:00pm Zambrano’s and Lekov’s to pick up judges at hotel and bring to the show. Performance Chairman Judge must be listed for obedience title. Treasurer report Storage unit rent due. Larry delivered a check to the hotel. Rabies, The Science & the Current Law There is the science behind having sufficient rabies immunity; then, there is the current United States law on rabies vaccinations for dogs. To synchronize the law with the science, the Rabies Challenge Fund Charitable Trust (http://www.rabieschallengefund.org/) is financing clinical trials to extend the legally required interval for rabies boosters to 5 and then 7 years. Kris Christine and I are Co-Trustees of RCF and Ronald Schultz, PhD of the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine is the Principal Investigator. The testing is being conducted according to the USDA’s vaccine licensing code, Title 9 Section 113.209, and at the Kansas State University (KSU) Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. My team at Hemopet runs the administrative end at no cost to the RCF. Over the years, I have written extensively on vaccine issues and have provided more information in the links below. The purpose of this article is to address the common misunderstandings that can lead to concerns and criticisms of the current laws about rabies vaccines. While I fully appreciate your concerns, the law is still the LAW. Below is information on rabies laws throughout all 50 states. If you have questions, I recommend that you discuss specific laws that apply to your state or local area (counties and cities can enact more stringent laws that the state or federal government) with your veterinarian or local public health authority. The Rabies Vaccine • Rabies vaccines are provided either annually (1-year vaccine) or every three years (3-year vaccine). The one year vaccine is given initially and then is followed up by a booster within 12 months; the booster given is the 3 year vaccine. Thereafter, boosters are required every three years. Please note that some states or locales still allow annual rabies boosters as an option at the discretion of the attending veterinarian. • Both the 1-year and the 3-year rabies vaccine contain essentially the same amount of rabies antigenic material and adjuvant (potency). • The law recognizes the label on the vial. So, a veterinarian cannot legally substitute a 1-year rabies vaccine for a 3-year and vice versa. • The law states that the vaccine must be administered by a veterinarian. • The whole vial must be administered to have a pet considered “vaccinated” by law. The size of the dog – whether a teacup Yorkie or a 180 lb. Newfoundland – does not matter. • If a dog misses a 3-year rabies vaccination deadline, some states require a 1-year rabies vaccination as the next dose. This is expected to change in the near future based upon recent published data from the KSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (Moore, MC, et al. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2015; 246:205–211). • I strongly recommend using the thimerosal-free (mercury-free) canine rabies vaccine (Merial IMRAB TF1 or TF-3). Rabies Titer Test • A titer test measures the antibodies in the blood as an indication of the level of immunity an animal has to a particular disease or infectious agent such as rabies virus. • The purposes for rabies titer tests are: o To ensure an animal has sufficient immunity; and, o To be able to transport animals to Hawaii or other countries. • KSU is the only laboratory recognized by the USDA to verify sufficient rabies immunity. (Note: Hemopet/Hemolife Diagnostics sends the required serum sample to KSU to assay the rabies RFFIT endpoint titer, which gives an actual numerical titer, rather than an estimated titer from a rabies screening test. We report the titer results and our interpretation, but, the interpretation does not supersede the law of the United States or other countries.) Rabies Medical Exemptions • Rabies medical exemption laws are available in a number of states, and are regulated at the state level. • 18 states currently have medical exemption laws. To find out your state medical exemption laws, please visit States with Medical Exemptions (http://www.rabieschallengefund.org/latest/states-with-medicalexemptions-in-lieu-of-rabies-vaccination) • RCF also helps to introduce medical exemption legislation; please contact us to help with this worthy endeavor. • Medical exemption laws vary state by state, but the common language invokes that if a rabies inoculation may significantly compromise an animal’s health, a licensed veterinarian can write a waiver exempting the animal from further rabies inoculations. • SUFFICIENT RABIES IMMUNITY PROVEN BY A TITER TEST DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR A MEDICAL EXEMPTION WAIVER. (I wish it were the case, but it is not. Remember the law is the LAW, and veterinarians risk their license to practice if they fail to comply.) Rabies Quarantines/Isolation Periods In many states if a dog is bitten by a wild or other animal, the dog may be quarantined or isolated for a period of time regardless of current rabies vaccination status. This requirement will also be changing based upon the published KSU study cited above. Please note that the presence of rabies can only be accurately determined by examination of the brain tissue of a dead animal; no valid test exists for rabies infection in a live animal. Positive Things You Can Do • Please keep your dog up-to-date on his rabies vaccinations, preferably every three years after the initial 2-dose series, or as required by law in your area. • Request the thimerosal-free rabies vaccine, listed above. • Contact your state legislators to help pass a rabies medical exemption bill in your state, if one does not exist. Let Kris Christine of the RCF know and we will be able to provide significant assistance. • Support the Rabies Challenge Fund Charitable Trust. Resources Importing and Exporting Animals to the United States Hawaii Requirements for Importing Cats and Dogs The Rabies Challenge Fund Clinical Approaches to Managing Adverse Vaccine Reactions Mercury Induced Inflammation: Yet another example of ASIA Syndrome Frequently Asked Questions about Titers and Vaccination Protocol W. Jean Dodds, DVM Hemopet / NutriScan 11561 Salinaz Avenue Garden Grove, CA 92843 Canine Mythbusters We’ve all heard common dog myths – dog mouths are cleaner than humans, or one human year is equal to seven dog years. Here are some of those myths – BUSTED! Myth: Dogs’ mouths are cleaner than ours Fact: Sadly, humans have nothing to brag about with regard to dental hygiene. Our mouths are petri dishes for bacteria, and an extraordinarily high percentage of human bites become infected. Most of us practice some form of dental prophylaxis—regular brushing, flossing, antibacterial dentifrices and mouthwashes, and regular dental care with a professional. Unfortunately, most owners do not consistently brush their dog’s teeth, provide tooth-friendly foods, or schedule regular dental checkups or cleanings with their veterinarian. As a result, many dogs’ mouths house a variety of potentially harmful bacteria. Dogs bitten by other dogs are at risk of not only serious damage from the bite itself but also a potentially life-threatening secondary bacterial infection. Compared with most people, a dog’s mouth is not cleaner than a human’s. In addition to less attention paid to oral hygiene, infrequency of regular brushing and dental cleaning, and a variety of unhygienic feeding and grooming practices, a dog’s mouth harbors a large population of potentially dangerous organisms, including zoonotic organisms such as Giardia. So, any contact with dog mouths should be minimal. Any dog bite, whether to another dog or to a human being, holds the possibility of infection and should be examined by a trained health professional. Myth: Dogs eat grass because they are deficient in a nutrient in their diet or to make themselves vomit. Fact: Dogs on well-balanced rations and in remarkably good condition regularly eat grass, and many dogs can be observed to routinely eat grass and not vomit. Research has revealed most grass to be a relatively poor emetic, and other studies have documented several wild canid species who also commonly eat grass. So the idea that dogs eat grass because they are missing something in their diet does not stand up under scrutiny for a variety of reasons. Likewise, the notion that grass is used by dogs needing to vomit cannot be supported experimentally. Some dogs might just like the taste. Be careful, particularly in teething puppies—excessive ingestion of leaves, sticks, grass, and other plant material can lead to gastrointestinal obstruction. Myth: One human year is like seven to a dog. Fact: For all living species, life expectancy is the result of several factors. Nutrition, exercise, availability of medical care, and genetics all play a major role in how long a dog lives. Generally speaking, a dog’s size will influence how long he lives. Giant breeds and larger dogs appear to age faster, and many of the smaller dogs are incredibly long-lived. Research your breed of interest. Your breeder, people who own that breed, and your veterinarian can give you some idea about your dog’s life expectancy. Can dogs eats grapes? Absolutely not. Grapes (and raisins) are toxic to dogs, and they should never be allowed to eat them. Why, you ask? Well, veterinarians aren't quite sure. But it has been proven that the fruit can cause kidney failure in dogs—a very serious condition that can be fatal. As little as one grape per pound of body weight is enough to cause an issue in some dogs. Symptoms of kidney failure include vomiting, excessive drinking, and lethargy. Eventually, urine production halts and tremors start. Another weird fact about this toxicity: It occurs in certain dogs (but we’re not sure why some are affected and not others) and has never been seen in cats. What do you do if your dog eats a grape or raisin? Call your veterinarian immediately and tell them the amount of grapes your dog ate and how much your dog weighs. If it just happened, they may suggest you bring him in to induce vomiting and offer activated charcoal. A dog demonstrating signs of kidney failure (mentioned above) should be taken to veterinarian right away—more intensive care may be required. 2015 LIST OF OFFICERS & DIRECTORS President: Toni Woods Vice President: Mike Lekov Secretary: Marilyn Day Treasurer: Larry Kittiver Show Chairman: Toni Woods Assist. Show Chairman for Performance Events: Barbara Millman Directors: Cheryl Head, Tami Kittiver, Janet Lekov, John Sidney and Lynn Brown `