Science Based.....I love it!

A very good friend of mine and I have talked considerably about young dog exercise. I'm not talking about running your pup on the concrete or asphalt. I'm talking about getting them out in the field, not on a leash, allowing them free time to run, chase, navigate, swim etc. For a very long time I've been a strong believer in natural, organic muscular and skeletal development in dogs less than a year old.

"You're allowing those pups too much play time Jed!" You'll ruin them! And yet I got three more EXCELLENT prelims this last year.

IE Mia's Mile 2.98 sub 3 minute mile by a 18 month old golden. Hip prelim = EXCELLENT

I'm so fortunate/blessed to have training grounds that allow me to not only train, hunt, test the goldens each day but to allow them free time in the field. I believe it contributes to their mental, cognitive, muscular and skeletal developments. In addition, the free time builds trust in our relationship. The only place on earth I'm the alpha male. What the heck am I talking about? I know dog owners who can't let their pooch off the lease. The dog will bolt are get into trouble. While I'm a strong believer in leash training, my dogs have learned to obey and cue off the whistles and signs I use everyday in the field.

The science - Source :www.vetlessons.com
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Long-distance running doesn't cause cartilage degeneration: Domestic dogs, like wolves, are born to run. A team of Finnish researchers proved this point in shocking fashion. In two studies, Beagle puppies ran for 5 days/week on a 15-degree incline treadmill. In the first study, they ran for 1 hour/day for 15 weeks. In the second study, they ran up to 40km/day (24mi) for an entire year. How did their developing cartilage respond? Could it handle the strain or did it crumble? When researchers examined their cartilage under a microscope, it appeared normal. The joint lining and lubricating fluid were also normal. The only difference compared to control joints was superficial cartilage matrix change. This lack of degeneration should be no surprise. Human studies show a similar lack of arthritis risk when runners are compared to couch potatoes. The awful experience these puppies endured taught us valuable lessons. We should use this information to help today’s puppies. Sadly, society has chosen to ignore or misinterpret the data.

Common response: "This is a bad comparison. My dog's not a Beagle."
Science-based answer: Breed is important, but not because of differences in exercise. The genes which code for size and shape overlap the genes which code for joint disease. We can reduce genetic risk, but not by limiting exercise.

If running caused joint disease, dogs would be extinct: Extensive genetic analyses of domestic and wild dogs prove that all domestic dogs originate from gray wolves. Their cubs are famous for their vigorous play and awe-inspiring endurance. Wolf cubs can maintain a tireless gait for hours at 8-9kph. In Winter, adult wolves usually bring the whole family with them when they hunt. Some of the longest recorded wolf migrations involve immature wolves. For example, one radio-collared pack including an 8 week old pup travelled up to 32km per day. There’s a single case report of non-clinical hip dysplasia in a Timberwolf. If exercise was the trigger, wolves wouldn't have survived for 750,000 years.

Common response: "This is a bad comparison. My dog's not a wolf."
Science-based answer: Wolves teach us that endurance exercise doesn't harm developing joints. Guide dogs teach us that restricted exercise doesn't help developing joints. According to popular opinion, guide dog puppies get "ideal" exercise. In theory, a puppyhood of low-impact leash walks should protect their "vulnerable" joints. Unfortunately, the theory isn't supported by reality. The commonest reason for guide dog health withdrawal is musculoskeletal disorders. In 2016, it accounted for 28% of retirements. Historical guide dog hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia prevalence is 20-30%. Cruciate ligament injuries are also common. Guide dog charities have reduced joint disease risk over several decades. Their success owes everything to careful breeding and nothing to limited exercise.

Restricted puppies have a higher risk of hip dysplasia: The hip is a ball-and-socket joint. It's surrounded by muscles which form part of the core. Puppies with hip dysplasia develop loose hips during their growth spurt. If the hip capsule is loose, an affected puppy depends on their core to stabilize their hips. Advocates of puppyhood restriction cite the "5-minute rule". This means restricting twice daily exercise to 5-minutes per month of age. Such extreme restriction is the last thing a high-risk puppy needs. It weakens core strength, promotes weight gain and impairs socialization.
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Common response: "The 5-minute rule is a guideline. It prevents irresponsible exercise."
Science-based answer: We call this response a slippery slope fallacy. How would it sound if we applied the same argument to diet? For example, imagine a friend suggested a diet of one carrot per month of age. There's no question this is an unbalanced and unhealthy diet. If you told them so, here's what their slippery slope argument would sound like: "This is a guideline. It's a good way to stop you feeding nothing but hamburgers and chocolate." It might be reasonable to accept the guideline fallacy if exercise restriction was safe, but it isn't. There's published evidence that restricted puppies have a higher risk of hip dysplasia. My professional advice is to focus on keeping puppies lean and fit. They can choose their own exercise without being forced to do too much or too little.

​There’s been a lot of questions/discussion about golden retriever skin and health care. I searched the internet looking for some answers. As most of you know, science based research rather than opinion.  Admittedly, I have mentioned many times on this forum that I think the environment IE home contributes to certain skin conditions.  Well, it seems someone else agrees. In fact it’s listed as the #1 cause. I’ve been wrong enough that reading about skin and the pet’s environment kept me from pit of despair today. (Princess Bride Reference)
 
Animal Trust is a group of not-for-profit vets. Here’s what their research suggests.
 
Itching is one of the most obvious symptoms if your dog has a skin condition, but it’s difficult for pet owners to determine exactly what’s irritating your dog without a full veterinary examination.
While it is quite normal for a dog to occasionally itch, just like a person may occasionally scratch their skin, frequent or prolonged itching is a tell-tale sign of something more serious going on.
 
Dogs may try to relieve the itch by rubbing their head against an object or scratching the irritated area with their paws. You may also see your dog licking their paws or other areas of the body to soothe the irritated skin.
 
Other signs suggesting an issue with the skin condition includes the following symptoms:

• Skin Sores
• Skin sores or skin lesions
• Dry skin/flaky skin/scaly skin
• Rashes
• Lumps
• Redness
• Dandruff
• Bumps
• Intense itching
• Excessive licking
• Excessive scratching
• Hair loss/bald patches
• Hot spots of inflamed skin (also known as acute moist dermatitis)

 
1. Environmental Allergies
A sudden onset of itching – particularly to the face, feet, chest and stomach – can indicate an environmental allergy, triggered when your dog is in contact with the cause of irritation.
2. Food Allergies
Increased itching often involving the face, feet, ears and anus are signs of a potential dog food allergy, and are one of the most common skin conditions in dogs. Dogs can develop food allergies from the type of protein consumed as part of their diet – for example, beef, eggs, chicken and dairy – although some dogs also suffer from allergies to wheat or even vegetables.
3. Folliculitis
Folliculitis means inflamed hair follicles and often occurs when your dog is experiencing another skin problems such as mange or skin allergies, as the hair follicles become infected by the underlying skin condition. It appears on the body in sores, bumps and scabs over the skin. Shampoos, oral antibiotics and antibacterial ointments are prescribed by a vet to help treat and soothe the infection.
4. Impetigo
Puppies are more prone to impetigo, which may also indicate an underlying skin condition. As with all conditions in young animals, expert treatment is recommended as soon as you suspect something is wrong.
Impetigo lesions can appear on the dog’s belly as blisters, which can burst and scab over. Dogs can be treated for impetigo with antibiotics or washes and your vet can run a few tests to diagnose the existing problem.
5. Ringworm
Ringworm, despite its name, is not a worm but a fungus that is highly contagious to other animals and humans. The fungal infection appears as crusty, circular patches and is often found on a dog’s head, paws, ears and front legs. Your dog’s skin can also appear inflamed and red from where they have irritated the area from scratching. It’s imperative that you contact your vet straight away if you spot any signs of irritation, who can prescribe a topical treatment to kill the fungus and prevent it from spreading.
6. Yeast Infections
Warm areas on a dog’s body attract yeast infections, which love to grow in hard to reach areas, such as the ear canal, in between your dog’s toe, groin and perineum. With a yeast infection, the skin can thicken, causing your dog to itch and bite at the infected area. Yeast infections and similar skin diseases can lead to discoloured skin and tend to smell unpleasant. A topical cream, washes and tablets will help to relieve the symptoms and help cure the infected site, leading to healthy skin.
7. Ticks and Fleas
Ticks and fleas affect your dog’s skin by biting and sucking their blood. Flea saliva enters the body after insect bites, which can cause an allergic response that irritates your pet’s skin, causing them to itch profusely. Severe parasite allergy symptoms in dogs include inflamed, red skin. Pets will often scratch the bite marks, and dogs may chew at their fur to relieve the itching. In extreme conditions, their fur can fall out in patches.
Fleas are tiny parasites that can survive in our carpets and bedding, which is why it’s so important to vacuum regularly, wash your pet’s bed and make sure they’re up-to-date with their preventative treatments to kill off any bugs.
8. Mange
Mange is a severe skin condition caused by several species of mites that live on the dog’s hair and skin.
There are 2 main types of mange: one caused by the demodex mite ‘demodectic mange’, which tends to affect dogs under one year old, older dogs or pets with another underlying condition.
Sarcoptic mange caused by sarcoptes mites, which is an intensely itchy condition and is often first seen on the dog’s ears. Symptoms of mange include hair loss on the face and legs, along with severe itching and redness around the affected areas.
As with fleas and ticks, if your pet has mange, wash their bedding and make sure any other animals avoid contact with this pet. Mange is diagnosed by the vet looking at a sample of some of the skin under the microscope. Treatment includes tablets and dedicated shampoos to kill the mite, ease the itching and inflammation – in fact, some of the flea and worm products that vets prescribe can also protect against mange.
9. Dandruff
Like humans, dogs can get dandruff or ‘scurff’ and dry skin; this can be a sign of an underlying problem, like an infection. Some dogs are prone to having dry skin, particularly in winter and it may be affected by their diet; high-quality sources of protein, omega 3 and 6 fatty acids can all help keep the coat healthy. Simple cases of dandruff are normally easy to treat with shampoos but the vet will want to check there is nothing underlying.
10. Lupus
Lupus is an autoimmune disease which means the body’s immune system attacks its own cells. Unfortunately for our pets, open, crusty skin sores which take too long to heal can indicate an immune disorder, these will often be seen around the nose, eyes and paws. If left untreated, lupus can be very serious so making sure the vet gets to the bottom of any skin condition that isn’t improving is very important for your pet’s health.