BLOAT OR GASTRIC DILATATION AND VOLVULUS (GDV) BLOAT can kill a dog in hours and is extremely painful! It is ALWAYS an EMERGENCY situation! Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), or bloat, is a serious, life-threatening condition of large breed dogs. Deep chested dogs such as German Shepherd Dogs are particularly at risk. Bloating of the stomach is often related to swallowed air (although food and fluid can also be present). It usually happens when there's an abnormal accumulation … [more]

KEEP YOUR DOG MENTALLY SOUND I receive a daily report on Alzheimer's news and research throughout the world. It really offers a lot of hope and information to those of us who have relatives or friends with Alzheimer's. An interesting article showed up in the news tips on Alzheimer's, though, related to dogs. Dog study sniffs out ways to help humans as they age By LEE BOWMAN Scripps Howard News Service January 18, 2005 -Regular exercise, mental stimulation and a diet rich in antioxida… [more]

THE PET ARTHRITIS CENTER http://www.arthritis-cats-dogs.com/article-specific.php?petid=Dogs… [more]

BABESIOSIS We learned about a relatively "new" (for up here) tick disease that you all should learn the signs for: it's called babesiosis, or infection from the Babesia canis tick. The dog we found this in was lethargic, wouldn't eat much, and had a bad fever. He went to Tufts where he got an ultrasound because his bloodwork was actually ok. On ultrasound, some of his organs looked enlarged. Seemed like he had an infection. They did some tick tests, and bang, they found Babesia canis! This is… [more]

DEAF DOG RESOURCES Deafness in Dogs http://www.lsu.edu/deafness/deaf.htm Information on deafness prevalence, causes, & management For owners, breeders, and researchers includes a comprehensive list of where to get the brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAER) test done. The BAER test is the most accurate measurement of hearing in animals, and is the same test given to infant humans. Deaf Dog Education Action Fund (DDEAF) http://www.deafdogs.org. The mission of this organizati… [more]

WHAT IS DEGENERATIVE MYELOPATHY (DM)? Degenerative myelopathy is a slowly progressive ataxia and paresis of the hindlegs. Marked muscle atrophy is common and fecal and urinary incontinence often develops. The etiology is unknown, but an immune-mediated mechanism is suspected as a depression of T lymphocyte responsiveness has been demonstrated in affected dogs. There is a yahoo group for those with DM that's very helpful. They've been around since 2003 and have a lot of resources and exper… [more]

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a genetically linked condition where the pancreas becomes severely atrophied. It is most commonly seen in German Shepherd Dogs but increasingly occurs in other breeds as well. Wayde, one of GSRNE's foster dogs, had EPI. He is now a poster boy for the disease. Please print out a brochure for educational purposes.… [more]

Here in New England, we rejoice when winter loosens its grip and spring finally arrives. But along with the warmth of the season come pests that make both our lives and our pets' lives miserable: fleas and ticks. Fleas can be both a nuisance and a health hazard to you and your pets. Not only are their bites itchy and painful, but many animals have flea allergies causing severe itching, chewing and biting of their tail, hips, and legs, oozing lesions from the chewing, and hot spots. Along with fl… [more]

KILLING THEM WITH KINDNESS by Chris Harriman Studies show that as Americans continue to gain weight, so do their pets. Their obesity is just as dangerous to them as it is to humans. Like humans, dogs develop certain diseases when they are overweight. If not corrected, obesity can lead to more serious complications such as diabetes and heart disease so it’s important to make sure that your dog eats a healthy diet and receives plenty of exercise. There are several reasons that your… [more]

POISON CONTROL NUMBERS FOR PETS Fees noted on this page are at the discretion of the service provider and subject to change without notice. Pet Poison Helpline 1-800-213-6680 www.petpoisonhelpline.com $39 fee per incident payable by credit card The Pet Poison Helpline™ is a nationwide (now also serving Canada) 24-hour service available to pet guardians and veterinary professionals requiring assistance with a potentially poisoned pet. We have the ability to help every pet, with … [more]

YOU'RE INVITED TO JOIN! The German Shepherd pictured to the left is a GSRNE fellow. His name is Holling and at age 12-13 he is experiencing some challenges that are all too common to senior dogs.  In the interest of making Holling and other senior German Shepherd Dogs more comfortable in their advanced age, a new forum was born. All caretakers/parents and friends of senior German Shepherd Dogs are welcome to participate. Let's exchange information and learn about experiences with o… [more]

STRONGHEART MAY SUFFER FROM STRESS German Shepherd Dogs can suffer from stress Strongheart, the "wonder dog", was a German Shepherd whose story was published in 1926. Like his predecessor, Rin Tin Tin, he was a movie star in the 1920s and '30s. In their films, these brave dogs caught clever criminals, delivered messages across war-ravaged battlefields, and fought wild animals without faltering. Nothing stressed them. These dogs did not tremble in animal shelters, nor whimper an… [more]

VESTIBULAR DISEASE FAQ: Our old dog suddenly became dazed and confused, staggering around the house, losing his balance, and wandering in circles. Our veterinarian diagnosed his problem as vestibular disease. What causes this disease and how serious is it? Idiopathic Vestibular Disease (IVD) is a disorder of the organs of balance (vestibular apparatus), situated in the middle ears. Their function is to maintain equilibrium (balance) by coordinating movements of the head with the eyes, t… [more]

How many times has this happened to you!!! You park your vehicle in a parking lot at the beach, shopping mall, grocery store, etc. It's warm, if not hot outside and lo and behold...there's a dog or animal sitting alone in a hot car. Unfortunately, it happens all too often.  If you see this,, please contact the local police or animal control officer.  There have been numerous reports of dogs being left in hot cars during the summer, including some with terrible endings. Please remember that … [more]