CTCV Health Watch Committee Report 2020 31/01/2021
2020 has been a very difficult year for most of us, and unfortunately.
2021 hasnot started in the way we had all been hoping for. On the bright side, many people have been homeschooling, plus working from home and spending much more time with their cairn terriers than usual. The demand for cairn puppies and adults has hit an all-time high, but it is worth mentioning that some of these little dogs may suffer separation anxiety when everyone is back to school and work. Hopefully there is still someone at home to provide companionship, walks and attention.
Litter Reports
We have received 12 Litter Reports in 2020 and all puppies had acceptable Bile Acid scores. The Cairn Terrier Club of Victoria has made the decision that all reporting of litters and claims for rebates will now cease and it is our hope that Bile Acid Testing continues to be an important part of raising and selling cairn terrier litters by all breeders. We would like to thank those breeders who took the time to forward their Litter Reports over the years, from both here in Victoria and interstate.
Below are a few statistics that may be of interest:
The first Meeting of the Health Watch Committee was held on the gth July 2005 at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds.
The first Litter Report of bile acid testing was received on the 191h November 2005.
Below are the results from the commencement of collecting data in 2005 until the end of the year 2020 (15 years) :
Number of puppies tested: 1188 (601 Males, 587 Females)
Number of puppies re-tested: 67 (30 Males, 37 Females) (due to higher than normal scores)
Number of puppies diagnosed with Portal Shunt: 14 (7 Males, 7 Females)
Number of puppies euthanased: 7 (4 Males, 3 Females)
Number of puppies having successful surgery: 6 (3 Males, 3 Females)
Number of puppies managed by diet: 1 (1 Female)
It should be noted that during 2005 there were other instances of cairn puppies who had been diagnosed with shunts but this was before the official reporting of data had begun. Some of these puppies had successful surgery, some were euthanased and others donated to the Werribee University Veterinary Clinic for research.
CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW 2021
Following up on a matter raised at the General Meeting of 16th December 2020.The Club has advised Dogs Victoria that it wishes to postpone its Championship Show scheduled for May 2nd 2021. We have instead requested a change of date for the Championship Show to Saturday 23rd October 2021 at KCC Park.We appreciate the support of Dogs Victoria to ensure all Dog Events are COVID-19 safe
As time has elapsed the majority of cairn breeders continue to test their litters, but not many have chosen to continue reporting the results. Therefore a percentage can only be expressed on the actual data received. So, taking the above figures of a total of 1188 tested puppies, and 14 cases of diagnosed shunts, we arrive at a figure of 1.17 % which is a fairly similar percentage of shunt cases reported overseas amongst their cairn populations.
So what does this all mean for breeders?
Only 14 cases in 1188 cairn puppies,
you may say. However, you donot want to be that breeder who sells a sick puppy, and you certainly donot want to be that family who falls in love with their baby cairn only to discover a severe condition that requires expensive surgery or euthanasia in a few months time. To all cairn breeders we ask you to continue bile acid testing all of your litters and to all prospective cairn owners, please ensure that your breeder is testing before you take delivery of your puppy.
Medical Reports
In 2020 a report was received from the owner of a pet cairn terrier who had been diagnosed with Paroxysmal Dyskinesia (PD). This is a disorder where abnormal movements are only present during an attack. The term paroxysmal means that the signs occur suddenly, whereas the rest of the time the dog appears perfectly normal. The movements are completely involuntary and the dog has no control but is fully aware of its surroundings. There is no loss of consciousness during the attacks, which can last anything from a few minutes to a couple of hours and sometimes occur in clusters. The most common appearance is in the hind limbs although all four limbs can be involved. In some cases episodes can be triggered by excitement or exercise.
The majority of neurologists believe that PD results from dysfunction in an area of the dogs brain. PD is often misdiagnosed as epilepsy as it appears in separate episodes. In Veterinary Medicine, PD has been noted in a number of breeds including Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Border Terriers, Cairn Terriers, Scottish Terriers, Norwich Terriers, Labradors and Dalmations, to name a few. This disease is very difficult to treat as episodes and duration vary dramatically.
It is reported that based on Veterinary experience of trying various medications, treatment is usually only advised if the frequency of the episodes of PD reaches more than one episode per week. The Cairn Terrier who was diagnosed here in Victoria has had only two episodes in 12 months, lives a normal, active life and no treatment is advised.
In Conclusion
Let us hope that 2021 is the start of a huge recovery, both economically and personally and that we can all get out and about with our beloved cairns without those blasted masks!
You can still contact me with any health concerns of your Cairn.
Lyn Barclay - 20 Outawood Rise, Gisborne, Victoria 3437
Email: lkbarclay@bigpond.com Tel: 03 5428 4739
Download Health Watch Committee Report Form
© Cairn Terrier Club Victoria, Australia 2006-2022. Design by Tamara Whalley.