Canine Health Foundation

The first thing I would like to do today is share with you some information about the AKC Canine Health Foundation, its history, goals and plans. Following that, we will discuss some observations and thoughts about the future of pure-bred dogs and the changing role of dog breeders.

The American Kennel Club started the AKC Canine Health Foundation in 1995. While many people do not know this, AKC has been one of the longest and most significant supporters of canine health research for many years. They were the first and principle funder of the research that developed the vaccine for canine parvo-virus. However, in the early 90's they saw a need for a substantial increase and focus in the effort in canine health, particularly in area of genetics.

Thus the American Kennel Club established the AKC Canine Health Foundation as an independent national public foundation in 1995. The mission of the foundation is "to develop significant resources for basic and applied health programs - with an emphasis on canine genetics - to improve the quality of life for dogs and their owners.

Our motto or tag line if you will is – "working together for the health of your dog" This motto was chosen because one of the most important goals of the foundation is to seek ways to integrate the knowledge of dog owners, breeders, veterinarians and other scientists for the purpose of advancing the health of dogs.

All of this is very well, but what do we actually do? Basically the Foundation raises money for canine health research - and we give it away. That sounds easy. Well, not the part about raising money! But where does the money go and how are priorities established?

The Foundation currently has 50 active and pending canine health research grants at 24 veterinary schools, universities and research institutions. In its first four years, since its founding in 1995, the AKC Canine Health Foundation has allocated over $3.6 million dollars in support to canine health research studies.

Foundation funding is competitive. Grants are evaluated in an independent review process that was designed and is managed by Dr. C. Richard Dorn, Professor Emeritus of Veterinary Comparative Medicine, Ohio State University.

Three scientists working in the field addressed by the proposal review each proposal. Proposals are scored for scientific merit and evaluated for their potential to:

additional criteria include:

How do we know what problems are important? Every year in May, we survey the all of the parent clubs for all of the 150 breeds of dogs. We ask these clubs to prioritize their most important health issues. We also use other standard surveys and information. Each parent club has been provided with a model health survey and disc. Many are currently conducting health surveys in conjunction with veterinary epidemiologists.

Now the question comes - how healthy are our dogs? - and what do we see in the fixture? One thing we know is that neither the Foundation, the veterinary profession or the Breed Clubs are likely to run out of work soon. Dr. Donald Patterson of the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine has identified over 350 genetic diseases in dogs. It is likely that as we move forward additional diseases will be added - because over 3,000 genetic diseases have been identified in human beings - and most of us are not linebred.

Genetic disease is not unique to dogs, or humans, we now know that many of these diseases are inherent defects in the mammalian genome. Given a small population, chance, breeding bottlenecks and selection for specific traits, they will inevitably, sadly and randomly strike. What does this mean to the dog breeder? It means that while we are happily selecting for coat, color, behavior and temperament characteristics, we may also be selecting for undesired, and currently invisible traits that we do not know are there.

Some might say, "So what, don't select and then there will be no problems. First, this is not true - mixed breed dogs suffer from hip dysplasia, bloat, thyroid disease, autoimmunedisease, epilepsy and many other diseases. Second, we have come to love, admire and depend on the breeds of dogs we have developed over the years.

Life for shepherds all over the world would be an impossible and lonely task without the many breeds of sheepdogs that have been developed to serve them. Police and service dogs continue to adapt to our call by detecting bombs and drugs all over the planet. Labradors and German Shepherds serve as the eyes of many that cannot see and they are now joined by a legion of therapy dogs that hear for and assist their owners in the tasks of daily living. Search and rescue dogs fly in teams across time zones - to find life in the wreckage of disasters, whether they are natural earthquakes or manmade explosions. Toy dogs serve as loving companions of the elderly - lightening their lives and extending their years.

Since before recorded time - dogs have served man selflessly and for centuries we in turn have provided them with little beyond the necessary comforts of food and shelter. Only in the last century - through modern veterinary medicine - and the health advances of vaccines, therapy, surgery and medicine have we started to provide for their health. Now, we have the opportunity to do something truly remarkable - through research we can and will be able to prevent genetic disease. Now through molecular genetics there is both: promise and reality in gene therapy and genetic testing. Due to research - and the development of the canine genetic map led by Dr. Elaine Ostrander, of the Fred Hutchison Cancer Institute, we have identified genes for two eye diseases, prcd and csnb, and markers for a rare form of canine cancer.

Three years ago before the formation of the AKC Canine Health Foundation the genetic map of the dog did not exist. Now, in only its third generation, with a little over 550 markers on the map it has already been used to successfully identify disease. This year the map of the canine genome with additional funding from the AKC Canine Health Foundation and Ralston Purina the map will enter its fourth generation. Sometime in year 2000 we hope to have 2,000 markers on the map. It will then become an even more effective tool for scientists and breeders. By giving breeders the tools they need to see beyond the physical characteristics of their dogs - they will be able to make informed breeding decisions. We hope that by using these tools in the future we will be able to avoid calamitous diseases, like progressive retinal atrophy, hip dysplasia and epilepsy.

Fortunately for dogs and people - the homology between human genome and the canine genome is approximately 85%. Of the three hundred genetic diseases in dogs - 153 - to date - have been found to have human counterparts. This means that the medical research street even in genetics will be a two way street. Dogs will benefit from the research that has already been accomplished in the human genome and humans will benefit from the unique characteristics of dogs that make them one of the promising and fascinating species for genetic research. They are the most variable mammalian species in the world.

It seems to have taken a while, from the wolf cave to modern molecular genetics -but here is the question, "How will molecular genetic research and testing affect the breeder and the veterinarian?

First, as the general public becomes more aware of health issues they are asking more questions about the health of their pets, particularly their dogs.

Second, as consumerism continues to grow, questions are increasingly asked about the quality of the dogs that are purchased.

Third, veterinary and medical science is providing us with more tools and tests to answer these questions.

Fourth, breeders are joining together in their national parent breed clubs to identify and prioritize health issues, raise funds and participate with their dogs in canine health research. Currently, we are working with over SO breed clubs to assist them in locating, funding and co-ordination research projects.

These trends are forcing a division in the world of dog breeding - much as "papers" and "no papers" did in years past. Serious breeders and their dogs are in one group and casual breeders and their dogs are in another. Serious breeders are those who know and study their breed. They keep up with the latest medical advances, purchase good foundation stock and apply appropriate health screening and genetic tests. Casual breeders simply breed two dogs together of the same breed and depend on the luck of the draw. Educated consumers are beginning to discern the difference and it is our job to help them continue to understand and make decisions based on these differences.

The "serious breeder" will pose several opportunities and challenges for the veterinary profession in the years ahead. Some of these are:

Remember the "casual breeder". Veterinarians will soon have at their fingertips a computer program that will provide detailed information on over 300 genetic diseases in dogs. While we may know that a disease occurred in a given breed - in most cases we can only guess at its prevalence. The veterinarian may increasingly become a counselor to their clients seeking a dog or seeking to breed their dog.

With the exploding amount of specific genetic information available veterinarians will be able to provide more information to their clients than ever before. But -- how will this information be organized, marketed and provided to breeders and owners? Most importantly, how can we continue to communicate to the public the importance of a thoughtful purchase of a dog as a lifetime companion?

This is a task that we all must share, dog organizations, veterinarians and breeders. Finally, how can we best develop, apply and utilize the promising and powerful genetic tools now being developed? The first sheep has been cloned. The Swedish dog registry just registered its first multiple sire litter.

These events challenge our priorities and values and change our world. In the application of new tools and new science we need to continue asking questions. Not just if we can, but, if we should? How we should? And if we do - what are the consequences for the future? We see a bright and increasingly healthy fixture for dogs. With the vision and talent of breeders, and, scientists, veterinarians and geneticists working together - we will arrive at that future sooner than we ever thought possible in a shippowered by science and guided by our love of dogs.

Dr. Richard Hill MA VetMB PhD DipACVIM MRCVS

Waltham Assistant Professor of Clinical Nutrition, University of Florida.

"Holistic veterinarians" claim that dogs and cats should be fed home cooked food because commercial pet food is potentially harmful to dogs and cats. This is a dangerous misrepresentation of the truth. The safest way to feed a dog or cat is to use a commercial pet food made by a major name-brand pet food manufacturer. Use a pet food which says on the back of the can that it has undergone AAFCO feeding trials and is complete and balanced. There is a lot of science behind pet food manufacture. Pet food manufacturers try to avoid problems but there is still much to know. Manufacturers keep abreast of the latest information and change their diets to prevent deficiencies. It is not in the interest of pet food manufacturers to make pets sick.

Home-cooked food can be fed to dogs and cats if properly balanced. Nevertheless, most home-cooked diets fed to pets are deficient in vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients. Human cooked food is also time consuming to prepare. Some people prefer to cook human food for their animals but advice from a veterinary nutritionist is essential to ensure that diets are nutritionally balanced. Cats, in particular, are very specialized carnivores and I strongly advise against feeding a home-cooked diet to cats. Veterinarians do recommend home-cooked diets for some specific purposes. For example, home cooked diets are used to treat dogs with food allergies but food allergies are rare. If an owner is concerned about a food allergy then they should first consult a veterinarian to establish whether their animal does have a food allergy.

Nutritional problems usually occur in my veterinary practice as a result of feeding human foods and supplements and do not occur from feeding pet food.

Pet foods are mostly made from good quality ingredients. Most pet foods are more than 80% digestible. It is recognized that pet food ingredients are slightly less digestible than human foods but the difference is small. For example, the amount of energy derived from pet food ingredients is generally accepted as being slightly less than that from human food. Pet food contains extra ingredients to make up for this difference.

Human food Pet food Unit

Protein 4 3.5 kca/g

Carbohydrate 4 3.5 kcal/g

Fat 9 8.5 kcaUg

Byproducts consist of parts of the animal not used as human food such as lung, liver, tripe and kidney. These are good quality digestible ingredients. They are just not popular human foods.

Should we worry about "processed" pet food?

balanced so if you eat too much then your diet becomes unbalanced. Processed pet food is balanced so does not have excess salt and fat. Also heart attacks and high blood pressure are extremely rare in dogs and cats so salt and fat are not usually a problem. A higher amount of fat is good for dogs which undertake a lot of exercise.

Animals do not require changes in diet. If you want to change the diet, it is better to change slowly over a week or two, not quickly. If you wish to feed a variety of foods then feed a variety all the time so the animal is used to it.

Keep pet food as you would your own food. Keep it in a cool dry environment. Do not feed cans of food that have been open for a week. Keep fresh meat away from cooked meat.

Many people like to give human food as treats to their pet. Try to keep these to a minimum. The bulk of an animal's diet should come from pet food.

No! A pet food that is complete and balanced does not require supplements. Do not feed extra meat, calcium or vitamin supplements especially in growing or pregnant animals.

Not necessarily. Pet foods are often made out of similar ingredients. Inexpensive dog food is often OK for the average `couch potato', but dogs which exercise a lot, growing dogs, sick dogs and very old dogs may need more expensive food. Inexpensive dry food contains less fat and may not give optimum performance in an exercising dog. A high fat dry dog food or canned food is recommended for a Frisbee dog, hunting dog or a search dog.

It is best to give dog food to dogs and cat food to cats. Dog food should not be given to cats but cat food may be OK for dogs.

Choose a pet food that says it is complete and balanced. A name-brand manufacturer is probably best because they have a vested interest in the well-being of your dog and know a lot about making safe pet food. Look on the back of the can and see if it has undergone feeding trials. Call the 1-800 number on the back or look at the manufacturers web site.

No. Preservatives prevent oxidation of fat. Fat is needed by dogs and cats. Oxidation of fat makes food smell bad and causes toxicity. Preservatives prevent this. Vitamin E, for example, is a preservative. It prevents oxidation of fat in the body and plays a similar role in pet foods.

Not to our knowledge. Most controversy surrounds the synthetic preservative ethoxyquin. Nevertheless, ethoxyquin has undergone long-term multigenerational trials in dogs and other species. Ethoxyquin was fed at twice the maximum levels allowed in human and dog food without causing any problems. Some veterinarians believe that ethoxyquin may cause itchiness but there is no scientific evidence to support this claim and the FDA has said there is no evidence for any concern. Other artificial preservatives such as BHA and BHT have undergone extensive toxicity trials in dogs.

What is the most important nutrient in pet food?

Animals should not be fed too little or too much protein. Fortunately, the upper and lower limits are quite far apart. Major manufacturers aim to shoot between these two goal posts so the amount of protein in most pet foods is not a problem. Nevertheless, animals with kidney failure sometimes require less protein and sick and working animals need more protein. There are specialized diets made for this purpose so owners of animals with special problems should consult their veterinarian.

Working dogs need extra fat: either a high fat, greasy to the touch dry food or a canned food

Obese animals: Severe obesity is dangerous. There is only one treatment: feed fewer calories. Minimize treats and table scraps. If an animal is gaining weight despite eating only small amounts of food then a special diet designed for weight loss must be fed. "Lite" diets are not sufficient.

1. Feed a national brand dog food which is complete and balanced for the particular life stage

2. Are supplements necessary? Answer: No! A pet food that is complete and balanced does

3. Are treats OK? Answer: Yes, but try to keep these to a minimum (<10% of diet). Many

Richard Hill MA VetMB PhD DipACVIM MRCVS

Fiction 1: Feeding uncooked meat is OK.

Why feed uncooked meat ?

4. `Holistic' veterinarians are advocating the feeding of uncooked food on the grounds that

5. Many dog owner have reported that uncooked meat improves coat quality

6. Many greyhound owners feed meat mixed with a dry diet because they believe that meat

Why you should not feed uncooked meat or unpasteurized milk?

7. Greyhound owners feed 4D (dead, diseased, dying and down) beef because it is

8. Fatal sahnonellosis may occur in young animals given live virus vaccine if they or their

9. The disease of racing greyhounds called "Alabama rot" is caused by a Shiga-like toxin

10. Other food-borne pathogens that that affect humans are also likely to affect dogs fed

How to reduce the risk of problems when feeding meat?

12. Cook the meat: Hamburger is a greater risk than steak because chopping up the meat

carries bacteria into the center of the food so it has to be cooked all the way through to

kill all the bacteria whereas searing the outside of steak kills the bacteria on the outside

and there are few inside

13. Do not mix uncooked meat with cooked food or other foods that will not be cooked

14. Add calcium to meat to ensure proper bone mineralization.

Adjust food intake to maintain optimum body weight and condition. Do not feed too

Feed a pet food formulated for all life stages. Do not feed supplements. A pregnant bitch

does not need extra food for the first 5 weeks of pregnancy. Her intake should be increased by

10-15%/week for the last 3 weeks of pregnancy. Lactation requires a very large increase in food

intake up to 3-4 times normal. Feeding calcium supplements during pregnancy before pups are

Feeding puppies: Pups must consume mothers milk (colostrum) immediately after birth. It is an important source of antibodies. If pups do not consume this colostrum they may need to receive antibodies from their mothers blood by injection to protect against infection. Cow's milk contains less protein, fat and more water than milk from the bitch. Commercial milk replacers should, therefore, be fed to pups if mother's milk is inadequate. Milk replacers are not perfect substitutes for mother's milk, however, so constipation and diarrhea is common. Keep pups in warm and humid environment (85-90°F, >50% humidity). Offer puppy food 4 times daily at 3 weeks of age but throw away any not consumed soon after it is put down. Pups will gradually start to eat more puppy food and drink less mother's milk. Worm dogs every 2-3 weeks from 3 weeks of age. Wean at 8-12 weeks of age; do not wean earlier. Start heartworm medication at 6-8 weeks of age. Vaccinate from 6 weeks of age. Large breeds take 18mths to 2 yrs to reach adult weight whereas small breeds reach adult weight at 8 mths.

Feed a puppy or growth pet food. Each pup should consume approximately what their mother eats but there is great variation. Adjust intake so the puppy maintains a lean conformation with a waist. Food intake must be restricted irrespective of what type of dog food is fed Unrestricted growth in large breeds is associated with increased hip dysplasia and other growth deformities. Do not feed supplements A well-formulated puppy food is complete and balanced so no supplements are necessary. Human foods, table scraps, meat or calcium supplements are not necessary and may cause problems.

Fiction 5: Fat causes loose feces: false

Factors which affect fecal firmness:

Insoluble fiber Soluble fiber

Fat Carbohydrate

Calcium Magnesium

Morning Evening

15. What is AAFCO? The sale of pet food is regulated by the FDA and individually by the

1. uniform definitions for all feed ingredients

2. some rules concerning labeling

3. minimum and some maximum recommendations for nutrient requirements

4. testing procedures for pet food claims of "complete and balanced"

16. Enforcement of the Regulations

1. There is no-one in Florida actively doing this

1. Texas is the most active and strict "policeman" so foods sold in Texas probably conform to the regulations. This is why I recommend "National Brands"

17. Pet foods tend to be similar because:

18. The major differences are often not obvious:

Complications n develop after routine vaccination that can be immunologic or non-immunologic. Immunologic reactions include Type I immediate hypersensitivity or anaphylaxis usually used by killed vaccines especially Leptospira bacterin and rabies vaccine. Miniature Dachshunds seem to have a higher incidence of this type reaction than other breeds. Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia are examples of Type II hypersensitivity. Modified live adenovirus-1 vaccine can cause Type III hypersensitivity (uveitis). Non-immunologic reactions include local injection site reactions, cutaneous granulomas, especially in Poodles and Bichon Frises, systemic fever and malaise. If modified live vaccines are given during pregnancy, vaccine infections can result in fetal malformations, death or abortion. Neonatal infections can occur if puppies less than 4-5 weeks of age are vaccinated with MLV vaccines. Some related Akitas have developed polyarthritis after receiving vaccines especially MLV. The dogs often must a euthanized by 2 years of age due to progressive disease and renal failure. Young Weimeraners with a primary immunodeficiency defect can develop hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD) and juvenile cellulitis usually associated with attenuated distemper vaccine. Vaccines can also cause illness if given to an immunocompromised animal, if the vaccine given is incompletely attenuated or if the vaccine is contaminated with another virus. Adverse reactions should always be reported to the manufacturer of the vaccine and to the U.S. Pharmacopia on-line at http://www.usp.org/prn/vprp.htm or by calling 1-800-487-7776.