With the completion of the Canine Genome Project and ongoing research at several schools of veterinary medicine, dog breeders have information and tools available to them to help identify inherited and acquired breed-specific and general health problems, as well as the dangers of medications and treatments. This section provides a brief description of several of them. For more information, please see www.offa.org, www.vetgen.com and www.poodleclubofamerica.org. The Internet also has many in-depth web sites on canine health subjects.

Bloat and Torsion (Gastric Dilation-Volvulus, GDV)

Researchers have not established that this FREQUENTLY FATAL MEDICAL EMERGENCY is an inherited disease, but it is common in large, deep-chested breeds. While cancer and heart disease are the number one killers of all dogs, bloat claims the lives of far too many Standard Poodles, even though they are a medium-sized breed.

Bloat is an extremely painful condition in which the dog's stomach fills with air, swells up, becomes hard and often twists (referred to as torsion), cutting off blood and oxygen to vital organs. A bloated dog will die within hours or Even Minutes unless veterinary emergency action is administered.

Every Standard Poodle owner MUST learn the warning signs of bloat and torsion and get IMMEDIATE veterinary attention when ANY of these signs occur:

To reduce the risk of bloat:

Feed your Poodle high quality food with no animal fat at least twice a day.

Do NOT use a raised food or water dish; keep dishes on the floor.

Change his or her diet gradually over three to five days.

Keep your vet and Emergency Clinic phone number by your phone .

At the first sign of bloat, give Liquid Gas X (unlike antacids, the essential ingredient in Gas X is fast-acting simethicone) then go IMMEDIATELY to your vet or 24-hour emergency clinic.

If the staff minimizes symptoms, go immediately to another clinic.

Keep an emergency bloat kit in your vehicle when camping, hiking, etc.

Vaccinations

Many years of research into the health consequences of over-vaccination of dogs and cats have concluded that annual booster vaccinations are not only unnecessary, but have contributed to serious and even life-threatening illnesses and disease.

Please refer to Jean Dodds', DVM, vaccination protocol (click here to view) and follow it carefully to give your Poodle lifetime immunity once Dr. Dodds' recommended vaccination protocol is completed. If subsequent annual vaccinations are given each year (the infamous annual booster vaccine), the antibodies from the first vaccine will neutralize the antigens of the second one and there is little or no increased immunity. However, the 27 vet schools in America and the American Veterinary Medical Association have concluded that annual vaccinations are not only unnecessary, but can be dangerous.

Unfortunately, many veterinarians still recommend annual vaccinations. It is up to us to protect our animals and to stay informed about the threats and benefits of the care we provide for them. For further information, please use the Internet to research the dangers of vaccinations as well as the side effects of any medications prescribed for your Poodle.

Hip Dysplasia

Many breeds suffer from hip dysplasia, or looseness of the hip joint, which can cause increasingly severe pain, arthritis and hip degeneration as the dog ages. It is a complex condition caused by the combination of many genes (polygenic) interacting with environmental factors. To minimize the risk, Standard Poodle owners are advised to avoid over-strenuous activities until bones are fully developed at 18 to 24 months.

Radiography is the accepted procedure for evaluating hip status. X-rays taken at two years of age or older are sent to a panel of three OFA-approved orthopedic specialists who classify the appearance of the dog's hips and assign a rating that may be reported to OFA and entered in its database. "Normal" hips are rated as Excellent, Good, or Fair. Dysplastic hips are rated according to severity. The occurrence of hip dysplasia is reduced by breeding males with Normal x-rays to Normal females.

New rules require that a dog must have a permanent tattoo or microchip identification for inclusion in the OFA registry. The hip OFA rating is permanent, so the exam does not have to be repeated.

Sebaceous Adenitis (SA)

Several breeds suffer from this disease of the sebaceous glands of the skin, including the Standard Poodle, where it seems to be inherited as an autosomal recessive gene (one recessive gene from each parent). However, variations in the severity of clinical symptoms indicate that multiple genes may modify inheritance or the expression of the disease.

SA can be difficult to diagnose, as the symptoms are similar to those of other diseases, such as hypothyroidism or allergies, and it can vary greatly in its severity. Visible symptoms include excessive dandruff or scaling, hair loss, lesions, a musty odor, and skin infections. A dog may carry the gene for SA, yet show no outward signs of the disease. Males and females are equally affected.

Treatment involves curing skin infections and weekly baths and oiling to keep the skin clean and replace lubricants missing due to the loss of the dog's sebaceous glands.

Research is currently underway to develop a DNA test to identify SA. Meanwhile, testing requires a skin punch that is submitted to an OFA-approved pathology lab for evaluation. Findings are reported as Normal, Affected, Subclinical or Equivocal. The minimum age for testing is 12 months and the procedure should be repeated at intervals, as the disease can manifest itself throughout the Poodle's life, even long after the Poodle has been bred. The lab report may be submitted for inclusion in the OFA registry.

Eye Disease/CERF (Canine Eye Registration Foundation)

Standard Poodles do have some heritable eye diseases that can be diagnosed and reported to the OFA registry using a CERF-approved canine ophthalmologist. There are no DNA tests at this time for Standard Poodle heritable eye disease, and the exam determines only whether or not the Poodle is clear of eye disease as of the date of the exam, based on the appearance of the dog's eyes. Therefore, to reduce the risk of inherited eye diseases, CERF exams should be repeated at intervals and be current prior to breeding a bitch or stud dog, as heritable eye disease can show up at any time in a dog's life.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is caused by inadequate hormone production of the thyroid, due to both inherited and acquired disease. Symptoms include: skin conditions, obesity, excessive hunger, irregular heat cycles, excessive coarse coat texture, inability to stay warm and lethargy.

The thyroid function of Standard Poodles over 12 months old can be evaluated by sending a blood sample to an approved lab. Females should be tested after sexual maturity, between heat cycles. Results are reported to the dog's owner and can be posted on the OFA registry.

Tests should be redone at intervals until the dog is 8 years old, as thyroid changes can occur as a dog ages. Additionally, annual wellness blood tests are useful for the early detection and treatment of many health problems which may not be observable until they are well-advanced.

von Willebrand's Disease (vWD)

This is an inherited blood clotting disorder similar to human hemophilia, caused by an autosomal recessive gene. Von Willebrand's leaves dogs susceptible to excessive bleeding following injuries or surgery. Thanks to a very simple, once-only cheek swab DNA test evaluated by an approved lab, even very young puppies can be tested and assigned a permanent number for listing on the OFA registry.

CLEAR/NORMAL: This finding means that the mutated gene is not present in the dog. Therefore, when used for breeding, a Clear dog bred to another Clear will not pass on the disease gene; all puppies will be von Willebrand's Normal.

CARRIER: This finding indicates that the Poodle has the mutated gene. Standard Poodles with Carrier status bred to a Normal Poodle will produce approximately 50% Carrier and 50% Normal offspring.

AFFECTED - If the DNA test report states the dog is Affected, this indicates that two copies of the disease gene (one from each parent) are present in the dog. Affected dogs will always have a potential to bleed given adverse circumstance, and if bred will always pass on the disease gene to any progeny. For additional information on vWD genetic inheritance, please see www.vetgen.com.

Neonatal Encephalopathy (N. E.)

Neonatal (newborn) encephalopathy (disease of the brain) is a disease affecting newborn Standard Poodles, as well as other breeds. N. E. has unique characteristics (such as the length of time an affected puppy can survive) in each of the other breeds; affected Standard Poodle puppies die shortly after birth.

The disease is inherited as an autosomal recessive gene; that is, one recessive gene from each parent. This is the most common mode of inheritance for genetic conditions in dogs. The disease was first identified in l997, and by 2006 the University of Missouri had mapped the disease locus, identified the mutant gene and the mutation causing the disease, and devised a DNA test which identifies Normal, Carrier, or Affected Standard Poodles. A blood sample is required for testing.

The symptoms of N. E. are very similar to noninherited conditions that cause neonatal death, such as infection from herpes virus. The N. E. DNA test is a tremendous asset in identifying and combating the causes of death in newborns because with testing and responsible breeding practices, eradicating N. E. in Standard Poodles is now possible.

The N. E. DNA test produces three possible results: Clear, Carrier, and Affected. Below is a description of what each result means to Standard Poodle owners and breeders.

CLEAR/NORMAL: This finding means that the mutated gene is not present in the dog. Therefore, when used for breeding, a Clear dog bred to another Clear will not pass on the disease gene; all puppies will be N. E. Clear/Normal.

CARRIER: This finding indicates that the disease gene is present in your Poodle, but that it will not exhibit disease symptoms. Standard Poodles with Carrier status can be enjoyed without the fear of developing any medical problems associated with the disease. However, if he or she is used for breeding, the N. E. gene will be passed on.

AFFECTED: This finding means that two copies (again, one from each parent) of the disease gene are present in the dog. The puppy would be medically affected by the disease, and he or she would not survive the neonatal period, nor would any siblings.

Cushing's Disease (Hyperadrenocorticism)

This is a serious nonhereditary disease caused by an overproduction of hormones by the adrenal glands. There are three causes of the disease, and all three are treated differently and have different prognoses, so diagnosis is important. However, the clinical signs are the same, and include excessive appetite and weight gain, excessive thirst, frequent urination, a large pot belly, poor coat condition, panting, lethargy, and thin skin.

Eight-five percent of Cushing's is caused by either a benign or malignant pituitary gland tumor, which results in the production of too much cortisone by the adrenal glands. Treatment focuses on controlling the disease with medication.

A benign or malignant tumor of the adrenal gland can also cause Cushing's disease. Treatment involves removal of the tumor when possible; the prognosis varies.

Cushing's disease can also be caused by veterinary treatments involving the long-term use of cortisone; careful monitoring of treatment protocols is essential to prevent this outcome.

Addison's Disease (Hypoadrenocorticism)

Addison's disease is an insufficient production of adrenal hormones by the adrenal gland. As with Cushing's disease, these hormones are essential for life; although rare, this is an extremely serious illness, yet it is treatable with medication and the prognosis is good with correct life-long management.

Early symptoms are vague and associated with other diseases, so Addison's can be missed until the dog collapses and goes into shock. The disease occurs when adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones and other chemicals to regulate many bodily functions, such as metabolism, blood pressure and the stress response. Symptoms include loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss and excessive thirst. Diagnosis is confirmed by an ACTH stimulation test that confirms lack of adrenal gland hormones. The treatment chosen by most veterinarians is prescribing and carefully monitoring replacement hormones.