I have been receiving questions regarding the new injectable heartworm preventative from Fort Dodge called ProHeart6®. This is a formulation ofmoxidectin and one injection provides 6 months of heartworm prevention. It’s a relatively new product and I have not heard much about problems associated with the injection other than occasional pain and/or inflammation at the injection site. The product is also effective for treatment of hookworms. It is used in dogs 6 months of age or older. We are not currently stocking the product at this time and probably won’t for another year or so. One of the major problems...

Plan of Action for Amyloidosis This article by Dr. Vidt presents a plan to monitor Shar-Pei with the goal of uncovering renal amyloidosis as early as possible and then instituting appropriate dietary and medical intervention. It does contain some technical terms which your veterinarian may be able to simplify for you. The author urges you to discuss this article with veterinarian and then both of you can work together in dealing with this troubling disease. Renal amyloidosis has hit the Shar-Pei fancy in recent years and left many of us feeling helpless as we watch young Shar-Pei sicken and die...

I recently returned from the canine cancer conference titled “Genes, Dogs and Cancer: Emerging Concepts in Molecular Diagnosis and Therapy” sponsored by the AKC Canine Health Foundation, the Heska Corporation and hosted by the AMC Cancer Research Center of Denver, CO. The conference was held at the beautiful Keystone Resort in Colorado May 21 and 22. I was especially interested in attending since the Chinese Shar-Pei Club of America Charitable Trust was a contributing sponsor along with the American Boxer Club Charitable Trust, the Flat-Coated Retriever Club of America and the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America. The conference brought...

In this issue of the Shar-Pei News I want to begin a discussion of the history of the Chinese Shar-Pei. Most of the information presented is based on my own research and the conclusions reached are solely my own opinion. I get a lot of questions concerning the background of the breed and I thought this series would provide some interesting details and insight. Further newsletters will contain more on the history of the breed. Remember heartworm season is just around the corner! Call the hospital to schedule your dog’s heartworm test soon. Another article in the newsletter deals with...

Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome (STSS) *There is a PowerPoint presentation in the VetsOnly Section that contains more pictures and information for veterinarians. While the vast majority of the episodes of Familial Shar-Pei Fever (FSF) seen in Shar-Pei run a fairly benign course there are occasional exceptions which can have live-threatening consequences.  Over the last few years Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome (STSS) has been seen more frequently as a complication of FSF in the Chinese Shar-Pei.  STSS involves infection with a group G streptococcus called Streptococcus canis. In the Shar-Pei cases I’ve seen this streptococcal infection is a rapidly progressing, highly...

This issue of the newsletter deals with cancer in the Shar-Pei. Cancer research in people has discovered the underlying cause of cancer – genetic mutations in the instructions in the instruction book for our cells, the genes. Genes are made up of chromosomes and chromosomes are composed of the basic building blocks of life, DNA. Any mutation in the DNA translates up the line to give bad information to the cells. Cancer can result. Research is being conducted into how we can reverse or correct this process. The question now is how can we prevent cancer? Certainly good diets, a...

Greetings I hope everyone had a happy and safe holiday season and are ready to begin the new millennium with energy. I’m taking some time in this column to thank you, my Shar-Pei clients, for your continued support over the years. Many of you started with me at LaGrange Park in 1983 and many have just been with me over the last few weeks, but I want you to know that I value each and every one of you. And of course that applies equally to your Pei. This past year has been a tough one for many of you...

Familial Shar-Pei Fever (FSF) has been reeconginzed problem in the Chinese Shar-Pei breed since the early 1980’s. Research has given us much information concerning the hereditary aspects of the disease and some of teh pathophysiology of the condition, but unfortunately, no blood test to diagnose the disease. Recent advances in molecular genetics have demonstrated that FSF is not the same disease as Familial Mediterranean Fever in man, even though the symptoms are very similar. With advances in melecular biology and break throughs in other genetic diseases, it is only a matter of time before we have enough information to make...

What’s new? Sentinel® — You may be hearing a lot about this particular product which is a combination heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, whipworm and flea preventative made by Ciba Geigy. It actually is a combination of their heartworm and intestinal parasite preventative, Inerceptor® and their flea preventative, Program®. It’s a good product although you still need a flea adulticide product such as Advantage®, Frontline®, etc. as Program® does not kill adult fleas. I think in most cases using a heartworm preventative such as Heartgard®, Heartgard-Plus® or Interceptor® plus a flea adulticide (my favorite is Advantage®) will work better. Year ’round heartworm...