Canine World News

NEWFOUNDLAND dogs are being used to discover more about the human heart disease, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a heart ailment in middle to old age in humans as well as Newfoundland dogs aged four to eight years. In dogs it results in heart failure and death. In humans the treatment is usually heart transplant. The progression of the disease occurs over years and is a single gene disorder. One parent with one copy of the gene can transmit the disease to up to half the offspring in a litter. Studying the genetic basis of the dog disease will help to find the cause of some human cases.

Newfoundlands transmit DCM through each generation as an autosomal dominant trait, despite the inbred nature of dog pedigrees. The British Heart Foundation is funding research into genome-wide genetic linkage analysis using specific canine micro-satellite markers on the Newfoundland dog family. If the mutation in the gene responsible is identified and found to be mirrored in humans, it will lead to potential new treatments or gene therapy.

Skunk attack

A skunk with rabies attacked a dog recently in a Pennsylvania town and both animals had to be destroyed. Health officials think that hundreds of cases of the disease are sure to follow. The dog was injured by the skunk and had not been vaccinated. Officials ask all dog owners to have their pet vaccinated against the disease as any dog that has not been vaccinated and tests positive for the disease is destroyed immediately. Vaccination saves a lot of sadness over a lost pet.

Canine heart surgery

A German shepherd has had keyhole surgery to repair a heart murmur in Lancashire, UK. The operation was thought to be the first such operation in Europe. Two-year-old Jenny's problem was similar to hole-in-the-heart that is found in humans. Jenny's owner was told she would die of the condition within two years, but now Jenny is one of the lucky ones - she is completely well again as the condition was diagnosed before she suffered any lasting damage.

Children with rabies

Two children in a Lesotho village are suffering from rabies, after dogs suffering from rabies bit them. Even with vaccination against rabies donated freely in the village some residents failed to vaccinate their dogs, which have since contracted the disease. Public rallies were held to inform villagers about the prevalence of the disease in the district and the vaccination programme, but not enough was done to see that all dogs were vaccinated as the disease is still prevalent in the area and this is very dangerous as it affects people and other animals if they are bitten by dogs or cats. There will be a new vaccination programme launched very soon.

Vet tackles sponsorship

An Australian vet is hoping to save a voluntary organisation she set up to tackle Thailand's stray dog population. Her work led to the sterilisation of nearly 3000 animals since she arrived in Phuket two years ago and now she is worried that the Atigaro Project could fold unless she can attract new sponsors. The Thai government estimates the number of stray animals in Phuket at more than 3000, but Mrs Montgomery thinks it could be as many as 10,000. They suffer from malnutrition and skin diseases and are health risks to local people.

She rented a truck and started touring beaches, poor neighbourhoods and Buddhist temples which give refuge to strays. During the stay she sterilised about 2000 dogs, and since the project was made official, it has sterilised almost 800 animals with the help of volunteer vets from round the world. The government provides anaesthetic and other basic medical supplies free and the organisation receives some donations.

Dogs as oxygen carriers

In Japan an 'oxy dog' has been trained to pull an oxygen cylinder for a patient with breathing difficulties. He has already started work. Ben, a two-year-old Labrador, pulls the 2kg cylinder on a cart for his new 70-year-old owner. A dog trainer spent a year training Ben after a charity asked for help. The oxy dog will help patients suffering breathing difficulties such as emphysema to lead more normal lives. The trainer wants to see more dogs trained to handle the cylinders for patients with emphysema and similar breathing difficulties.

Society geared to help

Humane Society Paws and Claws was quick off the mark after the September 11 attacks. Realising there would be pets in need of veterinary care and new homes they began working with relief agencies like the American Red Cross to publicise their free services. They helped with injured or sick pets, assisted people who wanted to adopt a new pet after losing one, and found homes for pets that had lost their owners or caregivers. Help also extended to funding vet visits, inocculation updates and spay or neuter surgery.

Man injured by puppy

A German man suffered cuts and shock after a puppy landed on his head as he walked along a street. The Doberman-Rottweiler puppy, Buddy, had fallen from a balcony as the man was passing by. The 68-year-old was taken to hospital for treatment, but Buddy died at the vet clinic later that day.

Spaniel gets help for pal

A spaniel spent two days on guard while its playmate lay trapped in a rabbit hole. The black and white bitch spaniel was saved after a bus driver noticed the other dog sitting on the roadside. Police, RSPCA and firefighters managed to free the bitch, which had gone without food or water for days. Both animals were taken to a Police Station in Durham were they were given food and water. Police commented on the loyalty of the dog who would not leave his trapped pal's side.

Buffy lured out of hole with chocolate

Firefighters used a chocolate Easter egg to lure a trapped dog out of a rabbit hole. Buffy the Jack Russell became stuck chasing rabbits. She was hungry and thirsty but unharmed when she emerged from the rabbit hole. She had been stuck for about two hours, and was just hungry enough for the chocolate lure to work.

Poodle saves owner

A miniature poodle raised the alarm when her elderly owner fell down the stairs and suffered broken ribs in the fall at her London house. Three-year-old Andriette ran barking into the street to get help. She attracted the attention of a passer-by who called an ambulance. The passer-by said "The little dog came up and was barking like crazy at us and then she ran away. Then she came back, still barking and then she ran away again. Finally, I realised something was wrong, so I followed the dog, then called an ambulance."

Dedication to duty

Ullie, a three-year-old police dog, was so determined to catch an alleged thief that he was lost for two days while trying to trail the suspect. Ullie's owner, Constable Shaun Govender, was worried sick when his favourite dog failed to return after chasing a criminal. After a shoot-out between police and the occupants of a stolen car, Ullie was set free and caught one of the men before running back into the bushes after the second man. He failed to return, but two days later Govender was told Ullie had been found about 60km from where he was last seen, highly traumatised, thirsty and hungry.

Canine Houdini

Sebastian, a Bernese mountain dog, was rescued from a perilous perch after he chewed through the bottom of a door on the second floor of his owner's home, leaped over the wrought-iron railing on a balcony and landed on the blue canvas awning over a second-storey window. Neighbours noticed the dog and called Salt Lake City police, who asked the Fire Department to send a truck with a ladder, but by the time the fire truck arrived, police had come up with another plan for nabbing the dog. The dog, owned by the city's Mayor, has a reputation as an escape artist. However, when the Mayor's other dog, a golden retriever, joins in the team is even more formidable as the retriever can open doors.

The Mayor cut his journey short to retrieve his dog from the police station.

Collie spends eight weeks in hole

A collie survived for eight weeks after falling down a hole on a Cumbrian cliff-top. The dog had no food in that time, but would have been able to drink rainwater to survive. He was eventually found by a couple walking their dog, when the dog started running around the hole and barking. Once they got the starving dog out of the hole he was taken to the vet and has since recovered completely.

Kayak used to save dog

A fireman used a kayak to cross a frozen lake in Hertfordshire and save a terrier which had fallen through the ice. A rope was used to keep hold of the fireman as he slid across the thin ice in the kayak. The dog was rushed to a vet after the successful rescue, and later made a full recovery.

Stranded on rocks

A Bernese Mountain dog was pulled to safety after five days stranded on a rock face. The dog disappeared while walking with his owners in Somerset. He was eventually noticed about half way up the rock face of a local quarry, about a stone lighter as he had not eaten, but he would have been able to drink from the stream. He was winched to safety by the fire brigade.

Dog dies a hero

A dog recently died a hero in Germany after saving her owners from their burning home. The family of five would have died if the dog had not raised raised the alarm when she smelled the smoke. The nine-year-old mongrel unfortunately ran back into the house to see if anyone else needed rescuing, and was overcome by the heat and fumes.

Swallowed by sweeper

A white Pyrenean dog last month became jammed between the conveyor belt and broom of a street sweeping machine when she ran out to investigate it and was swallowed by it. Luckily a man driving behind the machine saw it all happen and told the driver to stop. When they looked inside the machine, she was standing there firmly wedged. With the help of local authority workers, Zoe was released and needed nothing more than some painkillers and a shampoo.

Trapped dog released

Passers-by who noticed a dog trying to get out of a burning house threw stones and a pumpkin to break the window. The owners were not at home, but the 12-year-old chocolate Labrador retriever was inside. A neighbour threw the pumpkin, which smashed through two layers of triple-glazed glass. The dog then jumped out to safety and was unhurt.

Hunter saved from bear

A dog saved its owner's life recently by attacking a bear that had his master's head in its mouth. The dog bit the bear's leg, making it release its grip, then ran off with the bear chasing it. The dog was later found unharmed. The hunter had 50 stitches in his head wounds, and said that he thought his time had come.

Devoted dog

A faithful dog lay beside his dead owner for almost a month before being discovered on the verge of death itself. Neighbours of the woman, who lived in Edinburgh, had not seen the woman for some time and called the police. The Labrador-cross was found lying by the armchair where his owner had died of natural causes. Police contacted the Scottish SPCA and the dog has now been nursed back to health.

Police dog revived

A Canadian police dog has been resuscitated by its handler after stepping on an exposed electrical plate. The officer gave the dog the 'kiss of life' after the German Shepherd's heart stopped beating and he fell unconscious. The dog's chest was pumped by another officer while the mouth-to-snout was carried out. An officer said the dog handlers are trained to deal with their animals and to treat them the same as a human partner. They will do anything they can for their dogs. Dogs are at risk of a build-up of fluid in their lungs. The dog has since recovered. - British trade and industry reports