Dog's Thyroid Glands

Introduction to Hypothyroidism

A condition resulting from the malfunctioning of the thyroid gland, leading to too little circulation of the hormone it produces. Idiopathic Hypothyroidism is one of the most common types seen in animals. This type of hypothyroidism is characterized by the absence of any biological reason for the malfunctioning gland. Familial thyroid inflammation – thyoiditis – is a close second. When left untreated, hypothyroidism can turn into a debilitating disease while it is curable, if treated properly.

Disease Symptoms

Initial symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

• Hair loss – tail or flank 

• Desiccated, scaly skin

• Brittle hair that has lost its shine,

• Bleached coat

• Oily skin

When allowed to go untreated, other symptoms may develop. Your canine will:

• Become overweight and lethargic

• Look for warm places to settle down

• Have cold, clammy skin

• Experience a drop in libido

• Go through a protracted anestrus or an abbreviated estrus

Disease Identification

Prior to diagnosis, your veterinarian will run a blood test and then prescribe medication on confirmation of the disease. Soloxine – Levothyroxine Sodium –tablets are a vet’s usual preference for this disease. He will most likely direct you to administer the tablets, once or twice daily.

Improvement in health is expected within two to four weeks while the dog’s coat will take longer to heal – it could take as less as one month to as long as six months, based on his hair growth rate.

Following Up

After a time of four to six weeks, go in and hand over a blood sample to your veterinarian as part of the follow up procedure. After the blood test, he might adjust the dose, so that proper thyroid blood levels are reached. Routine check-ups are required, if you want to keep your canine healthy and happy. Read more www.ccprotectiondogs.com

What Drives - Prey or Defense ?

Introduction

We have heard of the days when administering drugs, like Ridlin and Prozac, to our children, prescribed by a psychologist, was considered an acceptable practice. Society today frowns on drugging children, but now, the so-called dog psychologists have taken over. They put our canine friends through a very similar indignity with almost the same drugs! 

K-9 Drives

Today, everybody seems to be an expert on the subject of K-9 drives. The ever-changing opinions do not stay the same for too long. However, I have always believed a dog is driven by two things – his prey and defense. His drive for prey would be the one during play while the drive to defend is a serious one.

Philosophy of Working Service dictates that while a wolf may be considered a pack animal, a dog cannot, since dogs have been known to leave their littermates and follow humans. A true pack animal, like the wolf, would avoid humans and stick to his own breed. Just as socializing with your colleagues at work does not make you a party animal, a dog that can work with other dogs is not necessarily a pack animal, based on just this criterion.

Personifying Dogs

Trouble starts when humans begin crediting dogs with human emotions or as having human traits. This is just as silly as thinking a human could possess canine traits. At the top of the list is the level of discernment that a dog can have. Humanizing the dogs has led to creation on multiple drives. Some of which that I have come across during my research are explained here.

Contradictory Terms and Misconceptions

Let us look at the term drives first. Initially described as "subconscious impulses to react to stimuli", this term curses the dog to exist as a creature unable to think. Overreaction to stimuli is a very real possibility that most kennelized dogs display but it is only a result of excessive kennelization, instead of allowing the dog to socialize. A dog’s innate drive has nothing to do with its response to stimulus, rather it is dictated by the environment.

Next up is the word temperament. Used to describe a dog's attitude towards life, and its qualities of a thinking animal, this term is contradictory to even the existence of drives. If this confuses you, as a handler, imagine what the dog feels like!

When asked to describe courage, most people would say that it is the absence of fear. However, to me not being afraid of objects or situations does not make you courageous, it makes you stupid! I believe courage is facing one’s fear and mustering the strength to work even when afraid. Veterans will tell you both courage and fear go hand in hand.

Types of Drives

• Hunt, Tracking and Air-scent 

Described as the need to pursue objects not within sight, they essentially mean the same thing. Attesting to that is the fact when tracking a dog who is hunting for a man’s scent during a Search & Rescue mission, most trackers will see the canine will use all of the senses at his disposal. Giving three names to a single drive only adds to the confusion of the handler and consequently, the dog.

• Retrieve

Described as the drive that allows a dog to bring an object back to his handler. I consider this a sporting term much the way forced retrieve is one. Since we often dogs refusing to retrieve stuff, we can say that this is an obedience exercise not dissimilar to other training exercises. It has nothing to do with the subconscious of a dog.

• Prey

Described as the subconscious need to bite and kill his prey. It is also displayed in a dog’s refusal to let go. We need to understand one crucial thing – if a dog is biting to kill, he is not playing anymore! This example will illustrate the difference between defensive and play modes. A dog chasing a cat is in play-mode or nonserious while the cat is fleeing for its life and is defensive or serious mode. 

• Rank

• Survival/Flight 

• Homing 

• Play

The subconscious need for physical contact with other packmates.

• Pack

Described as the subconscious need for emotional contact with the packmates.

• Activity

The list goes on and on. For an animal that is under the subconscious control of these drives, a dog seems to have a lot of them! He seems to me, a very complicated creature.

Further Collusion through Misinformation

Men and dogs have worked alongside each other in complete harmony. Misinformation like the “drives” is bent on destroying that human-dog relationship. Under stress or during intensive work, neither man nor the dog can indulge in such folly and must fight to survive.

Dogs were a part of defense during World War II; their dexterity amazed more than one person back then. The reason for a relationship that worked was that it was necessary. They did all they could to survive, instead of theorizing things that did not even exist!

Room for Improvement

I firmly belief a dog is driven by prey – play – and defense – serious. Reiterating this only means that I refuse to add confusion – whether on the training field or in my life. An unstable environment and misguided human attitude are the creators of K-9 problems. When training with your dog, try to think of the reason for each step of the training, even if constructive. Think on the practical applications, instead of theorizing about stuff or following blindly. Since I work in the field every day, I consider it the right thing to always ask, "Why?" Read more www.ccprotectiondogs.com

The Misconception about Dogs

Introduction

There is a widespread belief that a dog considers his owner/handler to be another dog. I disagree with this notion since I know dogs to be remarkably intelligent creatures who know how to distinguish between humans and their own kind. 

Another bone that I have to pick is my dog putting me at the head of a pack that does not even exist! Here are some reasons to support this claim. Whether they seem to be of sound logic or not, you be the judge.

Dogs are Social Animals

Firstly, the domestic dog is no more a pack animal but a social one. Let us look at a true pack animal – the Wolf. He behaves in a very particular way by choosing to shun the company of humans and prefers living with others of his kind. Even when you see one in captivity, people’s presence bothers him. Imagine the horrifying implications of such Jekyll & Hyde – wolf hybrids – on sale to the general public! Now compare that to a dog; he will follow his owner while leaving his littermates behind.

The bond between a dog and his human is one of the most natural bonds there is. It is unique yet very clearly present. However, when man, in his folly, considers introducing abstract concepts like drives or attempts to be the head honcho/ alpha of the “pack”, he throws the balance off by adding a third wheel to the equation!

A dog’s superior sense of smell is so amazing that he uses it to differentiate between minute scents. A master of reading body language, he can also detect the presence of death, evil, cancers, and even seizures before they even happen! How can I keep from cringing when I observe a human being mimic a dog’s actions or canine rituals to dupe the dog into thinking that they are dogs too? Such clownish displays aimed at establishing a sense of superiority over a canine just make me laugh!

Conclusion

A dog knows his role better than a human does. The social instinct draws a dog away from his siblings towards a human voice, not the pack instinct. He freely gives his commitment and is the only animal to do so. Why conquer something that is a gift to us? Read more, www.ccprotectiondogs.com

Around The Kennel : Change in the Season

Springtime around the kennel is the most exciting time of the year. It means warmer temperatures and longer daylight hours. This translates to more time spent exercising and training our dogs, more hours practicing agility on the course and extended bite work time.

Although we have an indoor training rink, we prefer to work outside. The Great weather also allows us to perform aquatic exercises. The dogs will be deployed across the pond, engage the target suspect and are then commanded to release and return to the side of the handler. Giving our dogs challenges like this prepare them for any situation they may encounter in the real world.

Spring is also whelping season. Cindy, one of our top Belgian Malinois, just whelped five strong, dense pups. Our newest litter still has a few pups not reserved; please feel free to contact us with any questions.

Lastly, CCPD has started a series of landscaping projects, including ingenious dens on the westside of our 5 acre state of the art facility.

We’ll keep you posted. To see more visit www.ccprotectiondogs.com