The Modern Bark | Dog Training Tips

The AKC lists 19 breeds as having hypoallergenic qualities. Do the dog breeds on this list really produce less dander and allergens? A study, based in Detroit, Michigan, sought to find out. Here's what they learned. The Coton De Tulear , a low shed dog and recent addition to the AKC registry.  Image by CVF-pfs The breeds listed below have been touted by the AKC and breeders as being hypoallergenic, mainly because they shed substantially less than other dog breeds.  However, hair itself is not allergenic; it's the dander attached to it that causes the sniffles and asthma attacks. The assumption has been, less hair in the air means less dander floating around. As a result, an industry of mixed breeds claiming hypoallergenic status has flooded the dog market. Americans are prepared to spend big dollars ($1500-$5000) on purportedly low allergy mongrels. The AKC's "Hypoallergenic" Dog Breeds List: Afghan Hound Bedlington Terrier  Bichon Frise  Chinese

Between 6000-8000 dogs in the United States receive treatment for Osteosarcoma each year.  Typically a disease of large breed dogs, Osteosarcoma can affect breeds of all sizes.  As the disease progresses, it reshapes normal healthy bone tissue and changes it to tumorous bone.  In dogs as in people, this remodeling process becomes increasingly more painful as the disease progresses, impacting activity levels and quality of life. Dr. Vladimir Osipov Sarcomaimages.com The Dorothy Cimino Brown, DVM and Kimberly Agnello DVM University of Pennsylvania Study Seventy dogs suffering from Osteosarcoma participated in this study.  A variety of breeds were represented including Rottweilers, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrieves and various mixed breeds. The average size of the dogs in the study was 90 pounds, and the average age fell between 8 and 9 years.  The study was conducted by splitting the group in half and treating both groups with standard care, while the second group also recei

Intact male dogs tend to live longer healthier lives Image: Courtesy of PublicDomainImages.net Images of frightened, discarded cats and dogs in shelters tug at our hearts and serve to encourage the public to embrace the spaying and neutering of pets as a way to reduce the unwanted pet population.  The burgeoning population of abandoned cats and dogs has increased in tough economic times. A growing trend in the animal welfare and rescue community has been to spay and neuter cats and dogs prior to releasing their charges to their new adoptive families.   In the case of young kittens and puppies, some of the more zealous of these organizations have begun spaying and neutering puppies as early as 6 -8 weeks of age.   Research regarding the long term benefits and risks that such early intervention may have on the physical development of the adult dog is many years away. However we can look to existing research for the effects on the health of dogs spayed or neutered prior to

Courtesy of Public Domain Images Hemangiosarcoma is a form of cancer found almost exclusively in dogs. A relatively common canine cancer (6-8% of all canine cancers) it is estimated that 2 million of 73 million dogs currently alive in the United States will develop the disease and ultimately die from it. At this time, it is considered incurable, as it remains symptomless until the advanced stages of the disease.  The current standard of care, surgery and chemotherapy, have proven to extend the life to the affected dog a mere median of 180 days, with surgery alone, and an additionally 180 days with chemotherapy added to surgical intervention. In the wake of these poor treatment outcomes, research has focused on early detection of the disease as well as a new, very promising alternative medical approach. Hemangiosarcoma Hemangiosarcoma is an indolent cancer, meaning it initially develops very slowly, asymptomatically and painlessly.  The most common primary sites of the di

Mighty dogs to the rescue. Once again, our canine companions are assisting in providing invaluable medical advances to mankind.  Previous studies have shown that dogs can detect early stages of cancer as well as super bug infections in patients with hospital acquired infections. Now comes another gift from Man's Best Friend! Researchers at the University of Georgia have discovered that a virus commonly found in dogs, the parainfluenza virus (PIV5), could serve as the foundation for the next great breakthrough in human vaccine development.  PIV5, which does not cause disease in humans , contributes to upper respiratory infections in dogs, and therefore is  targeted in many canine vaccines.  As the virus does not affect humans, researchers turned their eyes towards it as a potential delivery mechanism for human   vaccines against  diseases that have previously alluded  development. Science has successfully used viruses to create vaccines in the past, although for some perilou

A diagnosis of cancer in your pet is devastating. However, the earlier it is detected, the better the prognosis for your companion. Researchers are now testing methods to improve early detection of cancers such as hemagiosarcoma and osteosarcoma.    While a comprehensive cancer screening program is still  far off in the future, it makes sense to learn the early warning signs of cancer, especially if your dog's breed is predisposed to one of these deadly canine cancers. Over the last three years, there has been an explosion of cancer treatment testing on dogs.  As dogs are larger than mice and closer to our body mass and their cancers are very similar to human's, canine cancer research on naturally occurring cancers benefits both species. Check out our listing of ongoing trials and their criteria below. Your pet may be eligible for one of the trials.  New advances in early detection and Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment protocols are extending dogs' lives, while off