Join Rommel, Pickett and the rest of the hounds as we hunt our way across the country.  During the season there are several other breeds hunted over, including a golden retriever, flat coated retriever, nova scotia duck tolling retriever, and many more.  We even take a trip with Lucy the labrador retriever and have her run with the sled dogs. 

Our 13 episodes will make viewers appreciate the great work by the dogs we feature on the show.

I hope everyone enjoys it!!

The timing of the retriever training workshop/seminar is perfect to get your gundog ready for the fall. We will cover how to get your dog to a level of training that will set your best friend up for success in the nearing hunting season.

Learn the secrets we have used in our training program to put out numerous quality hunting dogs.

Three Day Workshop

As with our other foods in the past we are set up to sell Native dog food to the public on a retail basis. I have chosen Level 2, which is a 26% Protein and 16% fat, for our hounds.

Call or email me with questions about this high end food! Feel free to stop out and purchase a bag as well!

Here is a link for the Native site http://www.nativedogfood.com/

I will have an introductory price for the next month on the food. Shoot me a call and learn about our special promotion for this food.

Soggy Acres Retrievers will have a booth at the S.E. Wisconsin Fishing and Hunting Expo.  We will be in booth number 41 and have our full compliment of training supplies, litter info and ofcourse Rommel and Lucy in attendance.

This show is at Olympia in Oconomowoc, WI from March 5th thru 7th.

This is the first time we are trying this particular show.  I felt it was a great opportunity for us to connect with Soggy Dog Fans in the area.  It likely wont be as busy as other shows so it will be a great chance to talk everything Soggy Acres!  If you cant make our other shows this one should be smaller, but have a lot of great attractions (besides Lucy and Rommel).

Feel free to shoot us a call or email if you want any particular info at the show.

Whether you buy a labrador retriever puppy from our kennel or someone else….Make sure the parents have been tested for EIC and CNM!

Canine Nuero Myopaty CNM in Labrador Retrievers

Clinical Symptoms and Histological Signs

Excerpt and modified from Article by Drs. Tiret and Blot
Published in Retriever Field Trial News and Retrievers On Line ; winter 2005

At birth, affected puppies are indistinguishable from their control littermates but as from two weeks of age, a progressive significant weight loss is observed. At one month of age, the absence of tendon reflexes is noticed and used as an early and reliable diagnosis. The age of onset of the disabling phenotype varies between 2 to 5 months, with an awkward gait and a decreased exercise tolerance, associated with a generalized muscle weakness. The pup will never recover from this disabling disease.

A movie of how a CNM pup looks when trying to move will give the reader
a clear picture of why one would want to avoid ever having an affected pup in a Labrador litter.

 

The age of onset of the disabling phenotype varies between 2 to 5 months with an awkward gait and a decreased exercise tolerance, associated with a generalized muscle weakness leading to a ventroflexion of the neck, abnormal postures and movements. The condition is worsened with cold (see figure 1).

 

Clinical signs are progressively accentuated and generally stabilized at one year of age. In adults, the most striking macroscopic feature of the disease progression is the atrophy of temporal, cervical and leg muscles. As of today, the oldest affected dog is 13 years old and no significant premature death in the colony could be observed. Nevertheless, dogs require medical care, essentially because they suffer from respiratory complications due to megaœsophagus.

A hallmark of muscles from Labradors affected by muscular myopathy is a centralization of nuclei in muscular cells (Figures 2 and 3). This can be observed on an histological section of a biopsied muscle.
In a normal muscle, some rare nuclei can be observed at the center of cells (<1%). But most of nuclei are difficult to see because they are pushed away (under the membrane) by intracellular contractile proteins. In affected muscles, 10 to 70% of fibers have centralized nuclei (arrow heads on the right picture of Figure 2 and Blue staining on Figure 3).  

 

The muscular myopathy has thus been called “centronuclear myopathy”, abbreviated CNM (Blot et al. 2002; Tiret et al., 2003; Blot et al. unpublished results). The main reason for deciding to change the name is that this Labrador myopathy is the only known mammalian model for a similar human myopathy, called centronuclear myopathy of man. It is also much more precise than “muscular myopathy” that, strictly speaking, should involve several distinct myopathies.

A metabolic remodeling of myofibers is also observed on histological sections (Figure 4). Fast contracting fibers (type II; strong staining on sections depicted Figure 4) are replaced by slow contracting fibers (type I; weak staining on sections depicted Figure 4).

During the time course of the disease, fat and fibrous tissue replaces some fibers that seem to have disappeared.

Ill post he link to the show once we have it done.  Dont miss out on seeing what Soggy Dogs are all about int he field!

Our kennel has been completely tested because we strive to put out healthy puppies…..I hope everyone else will do the same and help prevent the unwanted spread of this aweful disease.

The syndrome of exercise intolerance and collapse (EIC) is being observed with increasing frequency in young adult Labrador Retrievers. Most, but not all, affected dogs have been from field-trial breedings. Black, yellow and chocolate Labradors of both sexes are affected, with the distribution of colors and sexes closely reflecting the typical distribution in field trials (black males most common). Signs first become apparent in young dogs – usually between 5 months and 3 years of age (average 14 months). In dogs used for field trials, this usually coincides with the age at which they enter heavy training. Littermates and other related dogs are commonly affected but depending on their temperament and lifestyle they may or may not manifest symptoms. Affected dogs exhibiting symptoms of collapse are usually described as being extremely fit, muscular, prime athletic specimens of their breed with an excitable temperament and lots of drive.

DESCRIPTION OF COLLAPSE

Affected dogs can tolerate mild to moderate exercise, but 5 to 20 minutes of strenuous exercise with extreme excitement induces weakness and then collapse. Severely affected dogs may collapse whenever they are exercised to this extent – other dogs only exhibit collapse sporadically.

The first thing noted is usually a rocking or forced gait. The rear limbs then become weak and unable to support weight. Many affected dogs will continue to run while dragging their back legs. Some of the dogs appear to be incoordinated, especially in the rear limbs, with a wide-based, long, loose stride rather than the short, stiff strides typically associated with muscle weakness. In some dogs the rear limb collapse progresses to forelimb weakness and occasionally to a total inability to move. Some dogs appear to have a loss of balance and may fall over, particularly as they recover from complete collapse. Most collapsed dogs are totally conscious and alert, still trying to run and retrieve but as many as 25% of affected dogs will appear stunned or disoriented during the episode.

It is common for the symptoms to worsen for 3 to 5 minutes even after exercise has been terminated. NOTE: A few affected dogs have died during exercise or while resting immediately after an episode of exercise-induced collapse so an affected dog’s exercise should ALWAYS be stopped at the first hint of incoordination or wobbliness.

Recovery

Most dogs recover quickly and are normal within 5 to 25 minutes with no residual weakness or stiffness. Dogs are not painful during the collapse or after recovery. Massage of the muscles or palpation of the joints or spine does not cause discomfort. Affected dogs are not stiff or sore or limping upon recovery.

Body Temperature

Body temperature is normal at rest in dogs with EIC but is almost always dramatically increased at the time of collapse (temperature >41.5 C, >107.6F). We have shown experimentally, however, that clinically normal Labrador Retrievers doing this type of exercise for 10 minutes routinely had similar dramatic elevations in body temperature yet exhibited no signs of weakness , collapse or disorientation. (American Journal of Veterinary Research 60(1):88-92, 1999). Dogs with EIC will pant hard during the time of collapse, in an attempt to cool off, but this is similar to normal dogs exercised in the same manner. The time it takes for dogs with EIC to return to their resting temperature after exercise is not different from normal Labrador Retrievers. Although temperature may play some role in EIC, and may even contribute to the death of some affected dogs, inability to properly regulate temperature is not the underlying problem in dogs with EIC.

FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO COLLAPSE IN DOGS WITH EIC

Ambient Temperature. Actual ambient temperature does not seem to be a critical factor contributing to collapse, but if the temperature is much warmer or the humidity is much higher than what the dog is accustomed to, collapse may be more likely. Excessive panting (hyperventilation) in hot weather may be a contributing factor. Affected dogs are less likely to collapse in cold weather or while swimming, but some dogs have exhibited collapse while breaking ice retrieving waterfowl in frigid temperatures and some dogs have drowned when experiencing EIC -related collapse in the water.

Excitement. Dogs that exhibit the symptoms of EIC are most likely to have intense, excitable personalities, and it is very apparent that their level of excitement plays a role in inducing the collapse. There are some severely affected dogs who, if they are extremely excited, do not even require much exercise to induce the collapse. Dogs with EIC are most likely to collapse when engaging in activities that they find very exciting or stressful. This can include retrieving of live birds, participation in field trials, training drills with electric collar pressure and quartering for upland game.

Type of Exercise. Routine exercise like jogging, hiking, swimming, most waterfowl hunting and even agility or flyball training are not very likely to induce an episode in dogs with EIC. Activities with continuous intense exercise, particularly if accompanied by a high level of excitement or anxiety most commonly cause collapse. Activities commonly implicated include grouse or pheasant hunting, repetitive “happy retrieves”, retrieving drills or repetition of difficult marks or blinds where the dog is being repeatedly corrected or is anticipating electric collar correction, and excitedly running alongside an ATV.

VETERINARY EVALUATION OF AFFECTED DOGS/MAKING A DIAGNOSIS

Cardiovascular and musculoskeletal examinations are unremarkable in dogs with EIC as is routine blood analysis at rest and during an episode of collapse; however, nervous system examination is normal at rest, but patellar reflexes are diminished or absent in dogs with EIC during collapse and these do not reappear until after the dog has completely recovered, which usually takes 10 to 30 minutes. These dogs do not experience heart rhythm abnormalities, low blood sugar, electrolyte disturbances or respiratory difficulty that could explain their collapse. Body temperature is remarkably elevated during collapse (average 107.1F [41.7C], many up to 108F [42.2C]), but this magnitude of body temperature elevation has been found in normal exercise-tolerant Labradors as well. Affected dogs hyperventilate and experience dramatic alterations in their blood carbon dioxide concentration (decreased) and their blood pH (increased) but these changes are also observed in the normal exercising dogs. Testing for myasthenia gravis (ACh-R ABy) is negative.

Thyroid gland function (T 4, TSH) and adrenal gland cortisol production (ACTH Stimulation test) appear to be normal. Affected dogs are negative for the genetic mutation known to cause malignant hyperthermia in dogs (mutation of the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor RyR1).

EIC is the most common reason for exercise/excitement induced collapse in young, apparently healthy Labrador Retrievers. Until recently, EIC could only be diagnosed by systematically ruling out all other disorders causing exercise intolerance and collapse and by observing characteristic clinical features, history and laboratory test results in affected dogs. Any Labrador Retriever with exercise intolerance should always have a complete veterinary evaluation to rule-out treatable conditions such as orthopedic disorders, heart failure, anemia, heart rhythm disturbances, respiratory problems, low blood sugar, cauda equina syndrome, myasthenia gravis, hypoadrenocorticism, and muscle disease. Genetic (DNA) testing for EIC is necessary to confirm a suspected diagnosis of EIC.

LONG TERM OUTLOOK

Dogs symptomatic for EIC are rarely able to continue training or competition. It seems that if affected dogs are removed from training and not exercised excessively the condition will not progress and they will be fine as pets. They are able to continue to live fairly normal lives if owners limit their intense exercise and excitement. Many dogs will seem to “get better” as they age and slow down their activity and their excitement level. It is important that owners of dogs with EIC be made aware that the dog’s exercise should be stopped at the first hint of incoordination or wobbliness as some affected dogs have died during collapse when their owners allowed or encouraged continuing exercise. Not all of the EIC deaths have occurred in dogs rated as severely affected based on their number of episodes of collapse or the amount of activity required to induce an episode.

TREATMENT

The best treatment in most dogs consists of avoiding intensive exercise in conjunction with extreme excitement and ending exercise at the first sign of weakness/wobbliness. A few dogs have, however, responded to medical treatment to the degree that they can re-enter training and competition at a high level. There are now numerous reports of severely affected dogs improving when they were treated with Phenobarbital (2 mg/kg every 12 hours or every 24 hours). The actual mechanism underlying its effectiveness in dogs with EIC is uncertain. It is possible that this drug just “takes the edge off” and decreases the dog’s level of excitement, thus making it less likely that they will have an episode. This drug should only be administered with strict veterinary supervision and monitoring.

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR EIC AFFECTED DOG COLLAPSES

If a collapsing Labrador Retriever is confirmed to have EIC (i.e. blood test confirms two copies of the EIC mutation), it should be recommended that participation in trigger activities be limited and that the dog be monitored closely so that exercise can be ended at the first sign of weakness/wobbliness. If the dog does collapse, (1) make sure that it has unobstructed breathing so it can hyperventilate to blow off heat, (2) offer water and ice orally, and (3) cool the dog by immersing it in cool water or wetting it down. Enforce rest until the dog is fully recovered.

DIFFERENTIATING EIC FROM HEAT STROKE

There have been a number of good veterinary reviews of heat stroke in dogs recently and the syndrome we are seeing with EIC is very different. With heat stroke – induced collapse in dogs you expect to see a very slow or prolonged recovery that can take hours to days, or else progression to death. Laboratory evaluation reveals a dramatic increase in muscle enzymes (CK usually 7-11X normal). Mentation changes that are severe, progressive and persistent (for hours to days) occur in 80% of affected dogs and significant endothelial injury leads to microvascular thrombosis, DIC, thrombocytopenia and bleeding as well as acute renal failure in most patients. In contrast, dogs with EIC collapse without showing laboratory abnormalities and they recover quickly – happy and running around within 5 to 25 minutes.

DIFFERENTIATING EIC FROM MALIGNANT HYPERTHERMIA

We have also learned enough about EIC to say with certainty that it is not the same as malignant hyperthermia (MH). The Minnesota collaborators in the EIC Project (Mickelson et al) recently confirmed that in dogs as in other species MH is caused by a mutation in the calcium release channel of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in skeletal muscle – the ryanodine receptor. All of the affected EIC dogs evaluated at the WCVM were genotyped and tested for the known ryanodine receptor mutation and for linkage to other sites on chromosome 1, eliminating this mutated gene as the cause of EIC. Dogs with collapse due to MH typically look very different from our dogs with EIC. Their muscles are rigid (not flaccid/floppy like EIC) and they have increased CK in their serum. Histologically their muscles show rhabdomyolysis (our dogs muscles are normal). Dogs with MH often hypoventilate due to persistent muscular contraction so they are hypercarbic (where dogs with EIC hyperventilate).

DIFFERENTIATING EIC FROM A MITOCHONDRIAL MYOPATHY

Although our initial study of dogs with EIC was designed to detect a mitochondrial myopathy (a defect in the oxidative metabolism leading to energy production in muscle), we now know that EIC is not a metabolic myopathy. Most dogs with mitochondrial myopathies have severe exercise intolerance that can be consistently demonstrated with even mild exercise. Most develop extreme lactic acidemia with even mild exercise and an elevated lactate to pyruvate ratio. Many have “ragged red fibers” demonstrated on histopathology which are really just subsarcolemmal mitochondria as well as ultrastructural changes to the mitochondria – none of this is evident in dogs with EIC and it has become apparent that dogs with EIC suffer more from neurologic dysfunction than from muscular weakness.

DIFFERENTIATING EIC FROM EPILEPSY

Some Labrador Retrievers that we have evaluated because of collapse episodes do not have EIC but instead have an unusual form of epilepsy. The “collapse” episodes that these dogs experience typically have a very sudden onset and very sudden resolution and are sometimes very brief (less than 2 minutes) – unlike EIC where there seems to be a more gradual progression of weakness, incoordination or collapse and a gradual recovery taking from 5 to 30 minutes. In this unusual form of epilepsy (almost exclusively seen in Labrador Retrievers) the dog maintains consciousness but exhibits a problem with gait, balance, or muscle tone. Excitement and exercise are common triggers for these seizures in affected dogs (perhaps because of hyperventilation), leading to confusion between this seizure disorder and EIC. In some dogs with this form of epilepsy the episodes do not progress further, but other dogs will develop more typical generalized seizures later in life with loss of consciousness, muscle twitches, paddling of the limbs, etc

HEREDITY

EIC is a hereditary condition, with littermates and other related dogs commonly affected. Clinically unaffected dams and sires commonly produce litters with more than one affected dog and pedigree analysis strongly supports an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance.

DNA harvested from the blood of affected dogs and their relatives was used to perform a full genome scan at the University of Minnesota in order to identify a genetic marker for EIC, and to find the genetic mutation causing EIC. In 2007 the chromosomal locus (site) of the mutation was found on chromosome 9, and the genetic mutation responsible for susceptibility to EIC was identified. This is a mutation in the gene for dynamin-1, a protein expressed only in the brain and spinal cord where it plays a key role in forming synaptic vesicles containing neurotransmitters. DNM1 is not required during low level neurological stimulation, but when a heightened stimulus creates a heavy load on release of CNS neurotransmitters (as with intense exercise, a high level of excitement and perhaps increased body temperature) DNM1 is essential for sustained synaptic transmission in the brain and spinal cord.

Dog breeder Jeff Fuller of Delavan, shown with his Labrador retriever Lily, wants to teach people how to find the right dog.

For Jeff Fuller, owner of Soggy Acres Retrievers in Delavan, making sure people walk away with the right dog for their families is important.

At the Journal Sentinel Sports Show, Fuller will give a seminar on “Picking a Pup and the First 6 Months.”

According to Fuller, doing some research is one of the most important steps to finding the right dog.

“It’s more than picking a puppy, it’s finding the right breeder,” he said.

Fuller and his wife, Robyn, started Soggy Acres in 1998 with their first Labrador puppy, Lily. They started with only one or two litters a year. But, after a squad car accident forced Jeff to retire from his position as a police sergeant in Muskego in 2005, the couple expanded their breeding program and training facilities.

Whether you’re looking for a Labrador retriever or any other dog, there are a few things to keep in mind.

When selecting a breeder, Fuller said it’s best to narrow down your search to about four or five breeders. It’s important to find out the pedigree of the dogs, seek a quality health guarantee and look at the fine print. Some breeders will offer a health guarantee, but if a dog has health issues, they will make owners return the dog – which may have already become part of the family.

And, there are other warning signs.

“The first thing that would stop me in my tracks is if they didn’t want me to visit their kennel,” Fuller said. “Second would be that they don’t want us to see all their dogs.”

Once you feel like you have found the right breeder, the next step is letting the breeder know exactly what you want.

“My suggestion is to tell breeders what you’re looking for in terms of personality,” Fuller said.

Breeders will be the ones spending the most time around the puppies and will have notes on each dog.

“You can tell which one’s the little stinker, which one’s the bold one and which one cowers in the corner,” he said.

Although it’s hard to tell what kind of dog a puppy will grow into, Fuller said he wouldn’t suggest the cowering puppy for a hunter; instead he’d go with the bold one.

Does it mean the cowering dog will not become a good hunting dog? No. But the bold one would be a better choice.

At Soggy Acres they not only want you to get a good hunting dog, they want you to get a good companion.

“Here, we breed for temperament first because if (a dog) can’t perform in the house, it doesn’t matter how great they are in the field,” he said.

He said although some breeders ask you to select a dog weeks before you take it home, Fuller likes to wait until the day a customer comes to take home their puppy.

Fuller selects three puppies he thinks would be a good match and then lets customers play with the dogs for about an hour to really see which one is best suited for their new family.

Taking the time and not making an “impulsive” decision is key.

During his Sports Show session, Fuller will bring one of his latest “success stories.”

Lucy, a 19-week-old chocolate Labrador, was one of a litter of 15 who had suffered from a bacterial infection and was nursed back to health by the Fullers. Now, their newest family dog is training to run American Kennel Club and Hunting Retriever Club hunt tests this summer.

Fuller also will give tips on how to research breeders, more things to look for when selecting a dog and how to begin training your dog. He will have a question-and-answer portion, too.

“They will get tips on finding a pet as well as a hunting dog,” Fuller said. “We’re trying to help people find the right breeder and the right dog.”

Jeff Fuller will give a seminar on Picking a Pup and the First 6 Months at 2 p.m. Sunday.

The original article, written by Ana M. Menendez, appeared on jsonline.com on February 27, 2009.

Dont miss out on these pups!

Contact us for more information!