Situations where an ultrasound machine might be used are numerous. Imaging can be made of the entire urinary tract to diagnose bladder and kidney stones, defects in the bladder wall and ureters, and prostate disease. The machine may have Doppler capabilities that measure blood flow to the liver and kidneys. Ultrasound is used to diagnose tumors and abscesses of the liver, spleen, and pancreas. A procedure called an echocardiogram employs an ultrasound to measure the heart chambers and valves, assessing cardiomyopathy or heart disease. A specialist usually performs advanced ultrasound techniques.

Unlike an X-ray that takes a still image of the body, the ultrasound gives real-time visualization of the organs. Blood flow through arteries and urine production from the kidneys can be seen as it occurs. X-rays produce radiation that carries certain risks with long term exposure. Ultrasound is not associated with the ionizing effects of radiation.

An ultrasound is a powerful tool available to veterinarians that can assist in diagnosing diseases, abscesses, and cancers that would go undetected without exploratory surgery. It is a wonderful advancement in medical technology that allows non-invasive assessment of the internal workings of the body.

It seems obvious to control pain after surgery, an injury, or during a painful illness like pancreatitis. But in fact, the practice of pain management has not always been widespread in veterinary medicine. The acknowledgement that our pets do indeed experience emotions like pain was not always a popular belief. Even in human medicine, pain is often under-treated. It is proven that untreated pain suppresses the immune system, delays healing, and prolongs recovery from surgery. It is our greatest responsibility as the caretakers of our pets to alleviate suffering, and there are fortunately many options available to ensure that we are successful.

Pain can be articulated by people. However in pets, it must be observed and measured. There are several pain scales that veterinarians can use to anticipate and measure pain. Dogs and cats exhibit pain differently than people except in the case of acute, excruciating pain where vocalizing occurs. Being pack animals, dogs tend to keep a low profile, staying away from others including human family members. They may refuse food and be defensive, cowering and growling or snapping in anticipation of discomfort. Cats will also hide and guard their wounds, and both dogs and cats may over-groom a tender area. Pain is also measured by empirical methods, assuming that an animal would feel the equivalent of a human after experiencing surgery, trauma, or an illness. Increased blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate may also be used as indicators of pain.

Treatment for pain depends completely on the source and severity of discomfort. Medications, physical therapy, alternative therapies such as acupuncture, and other palliative measures can all be used alone or in combination. Multi-modal approaches to pain control tend to be the most effective.

For minor pain, heat and compression can give relief. Cold increases the perception of pain. Range of motion exercises can keep an arthritic animal limber and strong. There are specialists in physical therapy that utilize tools like water treadmills to increase flexibility and avoid muscle wasting caused by chronic pain.

Medications that alleviate pain are called analgesics. There are different categories of analgesics which have different mechanisms of action. Drugs are used for moderate to severe forms of pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are useful for conditions like arthritis where pain relief is best achieved when inflammation in the joints is controlled. Opiates are reserved for severe pain, like after major surgery. They are usually not given long term because of the potential for side effects on the GI tract like constipation. Opiate drugs come in oral, injectable, and transdermal forms. Local anesthetics can be injected into the tissues around a surgical incision to completely numb the site. Just as in humans, epidurals can be given by injecting an opiate directly into the spinal canal, completely blocking the nerve pathways for entire regions of the body.

Pain should be assumed, predicted, and preemptively controlled in our pets. Because we can not tell an animal “this is going to hurt a bit”, even minor pain can affect their health and wellbeing significantly.

Other names/Nicknames:

• American Black and Tan Coonhound
• Treeing Hound

Country/Date of origin:

• United States
• 1700’s

Height:

• Females:  23 to 25 inches
• Males:  25 to 27 inches
  

Weight:

• Females:  55 to 70 pounds
• Males:  60 to 75 pounds
  

Personality:

• Very active dogs.
• Do better in a country setting.
• Friendly and even tempered.

History:

Generations of breeding have produced this raccoon and possum specialist.  Like the dogs it was created from, the Bloodhound, the Foxhound, and the now extinct Talbot Hound, the Black and Tan Coonhound is a scent trailer and works with his head down.  Coonhounds do not give excessive voice when trailing, but when the quarry is treed, they break into a lusty chorus.  One of the six breeds of American coonhounds, the Black and Tan was recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 1900 and by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1945.  Most are registered with the UKC, which holds many more field events than the rival AKC.

Body Type:

• A large, distinctively-marked hound with loose skin.
• Resembles a lightly built Bloodhound.
• Large, droopy ears are not altered.
• Long tail is held upright when the dog is alert.

Coat:

• Short, smooth, and glossy.
• Black is the predominant color and must be accompanied by tan patches above the eyes, on the chest, legs, and on the sides of the muzzle.  Should comprise about 10 to 15 percent of the total body area.

Health and Wellness:

• Generally healthy.
• Ear cankers typical of breeds with pendulous ears.
• Hip dysplasia.
• Progressive retinal atrophy.
• Blood disorder known as Hemophilia B is sometimes genetically transmitted.

What you should know:

• Each Coonhound has a distinctive voice, and hunters can recognize their dogs by sound alone as they follow a hunting pack.
• Puppies are born solid black.  The tan markings develop when the whelps are a few weeks old.
• Likes to wander off.
• The hunting urge runs strong in the Black and Tan.

Other names/Nicknames:

• Little River Duck Dog

Country/Date of origin:

• Canada
• 1800’s

Height:

• 17 to 21 inches

Weight:

• 37 to 51 pounds

Personality:

• Intelligent, keen worker.
• An all-purpose dog.
• It makes a wonderful companion and playmate, as well as a happy, working, bird dog.
• A good watchdog, but not a guard dog.
• Great sense of humor.

History:

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever was developed in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia as a waterfowl specialist.  Its unique role in hunting is to lure (toll) curious ducks within range of the concealed hunter.  It does this by running and leaping along the shore.  This behavior, for some reason, causes the ducks to approach the dog.  Once thought to be a Fox Terrier mixture, the breed is genetically a mixture of retriever, spaniel, setter and possibly farm collie breeding.  After having bred true for many generations, it was given breed recognition by the Canadian Kennel Club in 1945.

Body Type:

• A medium-sized, Spaniel-type dog.
• The natural tail is long and heavily coated.  It is not altered.
• The hanging ears are never altered.

Coat:

• Medium-long with a dense undercoat that is water-repellent.
• The allowed color is various shades of red, often with white markings.
• Grooming requires frequent brushing to prevent matting.

Health and Wellness:

• Progressive retinal atrophy.
• Some thyroid problems.
• Possible auto immune problems.

What you should know:

• Will amuse you with its clown like antics.  If you are appreciative, the Toller will make up all sorts of amusements.
• An active dog that never tires of retrieving.  Will play ball for hours if it finds a sucker who will throw the ball that long.
• Puppies may be difficult to find.  Best chance is in the Northeast.

Other names/Nicknames:

• Sheltie

Country/Date of origin:

• Great Britain
• 1700’s

Height:

• 13 to 16 inches

Weight:

• 14 to 22 pounds

Personality:

• Good-natured and eager to please.
• Intelligent and trainable.
• On the soft side in temperament, even timid sometimes.
• Excessive barking. Many owners have a compulsive barker’s vocal cords cut.
• Standoffish with strangers.

History:

Looks are deceiving.  The Shetland Sheepdog is not a miniature Collie.  The Highland Collie is a shepherding specialist.  The Sheltie, on the other hand, is a farm dog of all trades.  It herds sheep, ducks, pigs, and cattle. It keeps the barn and garden free of vermin, and warns of intruders (human or animal) on the property.  The harsh, bleak Shetland Islands off the coast of Scotland are known for their miniature animals, such as the Shetland pony and the Shetland Sheepdog.  Life was hard on the islands and the animals were small, but tough, as the conditions demanded.  The breed began to come to prominence in 1908 when the Scottish Club was formed.  In 1911, the American Kennel Club (AKC) began to include this diminutive sheepdog in its registry.  By the 1950’s, the Shetland Sheepdog was close to the top on the popularity chart.

Body Type:

• Resembles a Collie in miniature.
• The tail is long and carried low.  It is never altered.
• The ears are small and set close together.  The tips should fold forward.  Ears are never altered.

Coat:

• A double coat that consists of a long , straight, harsh outer coat and a dense, soft undercoat.
• Hair stands well off the skin.
• Water resistant.
• Sheds heavily and requires frequent brushing.
• Permissible colors are sable (ranging from golden to mahogany), blue merle, tricolor and bi-black.
• Solid white is not allowed, as this color may be linked to a deafness gene.

Health and Wellness:

• Autoimmune thyroid disease.
• Patent ductus arteriosis.
• Collie-eye anomaly.
• Hemophilia.
• von Willebrand’s disease.
• Dermatomyositis.
• Congenital deafness.
• Discoid lupus erythematosis.
• Cushing’s syndrome (AT).
• Bladder tumors.

What you should know:

• Choose a puppy that is outgoing.  Avoid one with any sign of shyness.
• Very popular breed.
• Regularly in the top fifteen of the AKC registered breeds.

Other names/Nicknames:

• Norsk Elghund

Country/Date of origin:

• Norway
• 11th century

Height:

• 19-1/2 to 20-1/2 inches

Weight:

• 48 to 55 pounds

Personality:

• Naturally protective, and friendly to strangers.
• Very intelligent, although notoriously hardheaded and stubborn.
• Tends to be a one-person or one-family dog.
• This is not a frivolous, fun-loving dog.  Elkhounds have a very serious outlook on life.
• Bark is high pitched and piercing.

History:

This is the dog of the Vikings.  It has existed almost unchanged since the Stone Age.  The Norwegian Elkhound is a specialist hunter of the largest member of the deer family—the moose.  A member of the spitz group of dogs, they are versatile animals, hunting, guarding, and even pulling sleds.  The Elkhound’s powers of scent are legendary.  They can detect a moose from five or six miles and will whimper to alert the accompanying hunter.  Also of mythic proportions is its endurance in subfreezing weather.  In 1913, the first Norwegian Elkhounds were registered in the American Kennel Club (AKC) Stud Book.

Body Type:

• Looks like a stocky, medium-sized sled dog.
• Erect ears are not altered.
• Tail is carried tightly curled over the back and is not altered.

Coat:

• The flat, double coat is extremely dense.
• Permissible colors are any shade of gray with black-tipped outer hairs.
• Muzzle, tail tip, and ears are black.
• Requires extensive brushing.
• Sheds excessively.

Health Concerns:

• Hip dysplasia.
• Renal dysplasia.
• Progressive retinal atrophy.
• Pyoderma.
• Glaucoma.
• Fanconi’s syndrome.
• Skin tumors.
• Keratoacanthoma.

What you should know:

• The Elk in the name of this breed refers to what Americans call a moose.  The animal we call elk (wapiti) is not native to Norway.
• Puppies are born black and turn gray in about a week.
• Do not choose a puppy older than a few weeks that has so many black-tipped outer hairs that it appears to be black rather than gray.

Other names/Nicknames:

• Deutscher Drahthaariger Vorstehhund

Country/Date of origin:

• Germany
• 1900’s

Height:

• 22 to 26 inches

Weight:

• 45 to 70 pounds

Personality:

• Even-tempered and sensible.
• Boundless energy.
• Can become destructive if not given ample exercise.
• More often than not, this is a one-person dog.
• Intelligent and very trainable.
• Very suspicious of strangers.  Much more so than the German Shorthaired Pointer.

History;

German sportsmen do not favor a specialist hunter.  They want a dog that can do it all.  The German Wirehair can.  With great skill it does the work of a pointer, a retriever and a spaniel.  It tracks, points, and retrieves on land and water.  In a land where hunting for the table was important, it was bred not for speed or drive, but rather for thoroughness.  In the early 20th century, German sportsmen created a dog that would do all that the German Shorthaired Pointer could do but would have a coat more suited to working through brambles and briars.  In 1928, the new creation (obtained by adding some Pudelpointer and Wirehaired Pointing Griffon bloodlines to the German Shorthairs) was admitted to the German Kennel Club.  It was first introduced to the United States in the 1920’s with its brother breed but did not gain entry into the American Kennel Club stud books until 1955.

Body Type:

• Medium-sized, well-balanced, gun dog.
• Males and females differ considerably in size.
• Broad, hanging ears are not altered.
• Tail is docked to about 40% of its original length.
• Webbed feet to assist in water retrieving.

Coat:

• Coat is harsh and double.  Excellent water repellent qualities.
• Eyebrows, mustache, and beard are required.
• Allowable colors are solid liver or any combination of liver and white.
• Black and white coloration is permissible in Europe but not in the United States.
• Medium grooming requirements.
• Seasonal shedding of undercoat.

Health and Wellness:

• Hip dysplasia.
• Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD).
• von Willebrand’s disease.
• Follicular dysplasia.

What you should know:

• Likes to roam.
• Noisier than most hunting breeds.

Other names/Nicknames:

• Deutscher Kurzhaariger Vorstehhund
• GSP
  

Country/Date of origin:

• Germany
• 1800’s

Height:

• Females:  21 to 23 inches
• Males:  23 to 25 inches
  

Weight:

• Females:  45 to 60 pounds
• Males:  55 to 70 pounds
  

Personality:

• Even-tempered and sensible.
• Boundless energy.
• Can become destructive if not given ample exercise.
• More often than not, this is a one-person dog.
• Intelligent and very trainable.

History:

German sportsmen do not favor a specialist hunter.  They want a dog that can do it all.  The German Shorthair can.  With great skill it does the work of a pointer, a retriever, and a spaniel.  It tracks, points, and retrieves on land and water.  In a land where hunting for the table was important, it was bred not for speed or drive, but rather for thoroughness.  In the 1870’s, the German parent club established physical standards and required that the dogs also be able to demonstrate hunting ability and intelligence.  Dr. Charles Thornton imported some dogs to the United States in 1925.  The German Shorthair’s prowess was so evident that it was able to gain entry into the American Kennel Club (AKC) by 1930.

Body Type:

• Medium-sized, well-balanced gun dog.
• Males and females differ considerably in size.
• Broad, hanging ears are not altered.
• Tail is docked to about 40% of its original length.
• Webbed feet to assist in water retrieving.

Coat:

• Coat is short, thick, and rough to the touch.  Excellent water repellent qualities.
• Allowable colors are solid liver or any combination of liver and white.
• The white is usually a speckled pattern known as ticking.
• Low grooming requirements.

Health and Wellness:

• Gastric dilatation and volvulus syndrome (GDV, also commonly called bloat).
• Sub-aortic stenosis.
• von Willebrand’s disease.
• Metabolic bone disease.
• Muzzle folliculitis.
• Osteosarcoma.
• Oropharyngeal neoplasia.

What you should know:

• The most popular all-around hunting dog in the world.
• Likes to roam.
• Noisier than most hunting breeds.

Lack of proper socialization can cause a dog to be afraid of people outside of the family. They may hide from, growl, or bite unfamiliar visitors and passersby. A common excuse for this unacceptable conduct is that the animal was abused before it was adopted by its owner. While this may be the case with some dogs, most fears of people stem from the fact the pet was not introduced to pleasant experiences with people at a young age. This behavior should be dealt with before fear biting occurs. Help from a behaviorist is absolutely necessary once fear related aggression begins.

Loud noises such as delivery trucks and thunder can cause a dog to become fearful. Consoling the pet during these situations can reinforce the behavior, and confinement to a crate does nothing to address the fear itself. Never reward inappropriate actions with treats and praise. Instead, reward good behavior such as responding to commands during the noises. A recording of the offending sounds can be made and played softly while the dog is praised and rewarded with play and treats. The problem in addressing noise phobias is that the sound itself may not be the only trigger causing fear. The dog must be desensitized to the entire situation, but starting with softer versions of the noises may be a good start. A consultation with a behavior specialist may prove beneficial, and a veterinarian may prescribe anti-anxiety medications to help during the behavior modification.

While abuse may or may not play a role, object-related phobias probably start as a result of a bad experience happening in the presence of the object. Rewarding appropriate behavior while desensitizing the dog is the best way to deal with this problem. Basic obedience training should be in place and practiced while exposing the pet slowly to the feared object.

It cannot be stressed enough that the earlier these fears are addressed, the more likely it is that the dog can be successfully rehabilitated. Behavior specialists can give an unbiased outside look at the causes of the dog’s anxieties and provide solutions that will help keep the household from being disrupted.