Tick Removal
How to prevent and eliminate parasites? Especially infestations in summer.
People from the countryside say that the hotter it gets, the more parasites there are: flies, mosquitoes, fleas, ticks in all their stages… and it’s absolutely true.
This summer of 2015, so hot and dry, ticks have made a massive appearance, and people who have dogs, sheep, goats, cows, etc., are complaining that they have “never seen” so many ticks before. They even say that ticks are entering homes through doors or windows.
A photographer friend who is an ornithologist sent me photos of birds with ticks on their heads, in their “plum” or “ammunition” phase. Rabbit hunters complain that the rabbits they shoot are infested with ticks more than ever, and they cannot put them in their backpacks or sacks until they are completely cold and all the “critters” have fallen off.
It’s true, a “tick year.” What does a family with a dog do if they find one or more ticks that the dog may have picked up on the street, beach, countryside, park, etc.? They go to the veterinarian and get the pipette, collar, pill, or injection… Yes, there are products of all brands and prices… but not all of them work the same, nor are they suitable for all dogs… some may suffer allergic reactions to certain components of the medication.
What about those who have multiple dogs, kennels, breeders, hunting dog owners, stray animal shelters, dog boarding facilities…? They don’t buy one pipette for each dog; they look for large-scale rapid solutions.
You can fumigate kennels with “Neocidol – 60,” but be careful with the amount of product diluted in water. It’s a super-effective product but extremely toxic; it can even kill puppies if they drink it, so dogs cannot be put back into the kennels until they are dry. There are other fumigation products: Zotal, Parasitiven, Zoogama Cuper, Supona, etc.
And what about dogs, horses, and other domestic mammals? A few years ago, a good veterinarian from Seville told me, “for me, the best is ‘BUTOX.’ It’s a whitish, somewhat thick liquid… that you can put on the back of the neck, on the skin, as if you were applying a pipette from the best brands. The amount is indicated on the bottle itself; the bottles are half a liter… I have tried it, and it works; so far, none of our dogs has had an allergic reaction. Also, based on a recommendation from a friend in Ronda (Malaga), I am using another product in the same way that gives good results; it’s called ‘SPOTINOR,’ and so far, it has not caused any rejection or allergic reactions in our dogs either.
There are hunting dog owners who inject IVOMEC into their dogs. I bought a bottle but have never used it because I heard it caused reactions in some dogs of different breeds. I haven’t verified it, but I know it’s very effective for cattle, both internally and externally, according to friends who have cattle.
In summary, I recommend, above all, thorough weekly cleaning of the places where dogs spend most of their time, with products containing “chlorine.” We do it with a spray gun that has a small container with a chlorine tablet inside. Wash the dogs every 10 or 12 days with a good shampoo; once they are thoroughly dry, you can apply the external antiparasitic treatment… and check the dog daily. Ticks, fleas, mites, mange… are very annoying, they bother dogs, make them nervous, make them scratch themselves, ultimately causing suffering, preventing them from being happy and healthy…
And our dogs deserve the best from us, in addition to our affection. HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!
Antonio García Pérez, Encina Grande (Ubrique-Cádiz) August 2015.
A Young Promise
Podiums of Spanish Breeds and Best In Show at the International Dog Show in Badajoz on May 10th, Reserve in both finals: Nenucolisid de Ubrique.
Umbilical Hernias
I am going to allow myself, without being a veterinarian or consulting the internet, as everyone does nowadays; but based on my nearly 60 years of experience in breeding, to define an umbilical hernia as a protrusion, a prominent lump, more or less large, or an anomaly that can be observed in the navel of a dog, horse, human, etc…
Why? For a long time, I thought they were caused by mothers cutting the umbilical cord of the puppies as they are born… perhaps because they pulled too hard…? I have seen bitches that, from licking their puppies’ navels too much, have caused severe wounds that left clearly visible holes that would not heal due to the moisture produced by constant licking. It’s necessary to prevent the mother from licking them by paying attention while they suckle and by separating the puppies from her until these unpleasant wounds heal. The excessive maternal zeal for possession and care of the puppies has led mothers, not of our breed (as far as I know), to even eat one.
Continuing with the answer to the question… I have tried collecting the puppies as they were born directly from the mother, before she proceeds to cut the cord, cutting them myself with clean scissors three centimeters from the navel and tying a double knot at the end of the cord with regular sewing thread to prevent possible blood loss (because sometimes they bleed a lot). Needless to say, always with utmost care not to pull on the umbilicus; I have also cut them with my thumbnails pressing on the floor of the whelping box when I didn’t have scissors, a knife, or another tool available during an emergency with a newborn still inside the sac that the inexperienced or excessively nervous and overwhelmed mother has just given birth to without taking care of it. I quickly break the sac so it can breathe, cut the cord, remove the sac, place the puppy face down to release any fluid it may have swallowed, give the mother the placenta and everything that came with the puppy for her to eat and stimulate colostrum production (the first milk produced by all mammalian mothers)… the result of puppies with hernias was more or less the same as in the previous litter.
After much thought, I have come to the conclusion that umbilical hernias are another genetic characteristic of dogs of any breed. They follow Mendelian laws just like any other: Free, carrier, and affected. By this I mean that it is an inheritable trait from parents to offspring, from grandparents to grandchildren, etc.
Is it serious if a dog has an umbilical hernia? It depends on the size of the hernia and the size of the open hole it has, because if we gently press with a finger, we will see that most hernias can be pushed back into the dog’s belly through that opening, which can be quite wide and easily allow the hernia to protrude outward. In the past, we used to fix them with a coin wrapped in gauze securely placed over the hole to prevent it from popping back out once it was pushed back in, and we would put a belly band on the puppy (I have often used trimmed socks) tightly fitted. After about 20 days, if the hole was not too large, it could close up and the problem would be resolved. Today, I recommend going to a good veterinarian and having the hole sewn up well after the hernia has been pushed back into the belly.
A large hernia is uncomfortable and runs the risk of being injured, bleeding, or even bursting with any rubbing. They need to be surgically repaired. A small hernia may not be bothersome, but I would also operate on it or fix it in the old-fashioned way…
I recommend, to try to eradicate them, not to use affected dogs in breeding and to use carriers (who do not have them but transmit them) as little as possible…
New section for frequently asked questions
There are many people that send emails or call Antonio García with frequently asked questions about the spanish water dog. So we have opened a new section to answer them. Antonio Garcia will personally respond to most of them.
For the well being of the dogs
Every day there are more webpages, more advertisers, more breeders… more available litters at many different prices. I ask myself where this breeding boom of Spanish Water Dogs is headed.
Almost forty years ago I took the initiative to show to the world MY BREED, I made the standard, I acted… without any subsidies from the government, dog houses, etc.
I never would have imagined that my passion for the Spanish Water Dog could infect so many enthusiasts and lovers of this race as there are already, but this also brings a serious risk motivated by the large demand of puppies that a fashionable breed implies.
After the boom of Dalmatians, there was a downturn; after the boom of Siberian Huskies, there was a debacle… could the same thing happen with the yorkshire Terrier, the French Bulldog, or the Spanish Wate Dog, some of the most desired breeds in the present day?
Regarding our breed, more than 1000 puppies are being registered annually in the book of spanish origins, LOE or in the RRC, and there are also many puppies raised without a pedigree, without health control, without taking into account the most basic norms of breeding… these puppies are sold in pet stores, street markets, to whoever and for whatever price.
My question is: those who sell a dog as well as those who buy and take it home should think if they are acting correctly, since this dog, so cute at first, will grow up and live for around 15 years. Have you ever asked yourself how you would like to be treated if you yourself were one of thes dogs?
I applaud those breeders who respect and love their dogs as if they were members of their family and require of the new owners certain conditions of good treatment and love for the dogs, as he who is not ready for a dog should neither be able to have children.
I again think of how the use of chains with humans was abolished long ago– when are we finally going to stop using them with the innocent dogs who only want to be with us all the time? There are true dog abusers who condemn their dogs to be restricted like this for life. Certainly, they have not thought what this poor dog must be feeling. One should neither sell nor gift a puppy or an adult dog to an irresponsible person.
Locked-up dogs, without direct sunlight or freshair, in wet environments, spending cold winters and suffocating summers… how many hours would these owners themselves bear these conditions? One cannot sell or gift a dog to someone who is going to leave it abandoned in a kennel, in a closed patio almost without light, or on a terrace with “weak sunlight.”
Perhaps I am repeating myself in what I write year after year, but I cannot keep quiet when someone calls or writes me reporting that in so-and-so town lives so-and-so breeder or owner who keeps his dogs in poor conditions.
If anyone who reads this feels alluded to, they should know that it is not my intention to offend anyone; but it is an outcry for the wellbeing of dogs wherever they be, regardless of their owners, be they rich or poor.
Are we ready to have a Spanish Water Dog?
What does it mean to have a dog? Is it just a birthday gift, or a Christmas present? Is it meant only to satisfy another of our cravings? How do we know that we are prepared at home to have a dog for fifteen or more years? Would a psychological test be necessary to know if we are capable or not of living with a dog as another member the family?
If I were a Spanish Water Dog, with whom, where, and how would I like to live? With a good pastor or goathearder, helping him work with his cattle? But what would I hope for in return? Good food, attention, and a nice bed?
If I were a fisherman or seaman’s dog, would like to go with him on his boat to help him to catch dying fish floating in the water or would I stay at the port to jump around in the water and pick up the mooring lines of his boat and bring them ashore?
If I were a hunter’s dog, would I be scared of the firing of his shotgun, by the animals that he would want us to chase?
If I were the dog of a surfer, would I like to get on his board with him?
And if I were a football player’s dog, would I like that he bring me to his practices to run behind the ball while some players passed it to others?
If I were the dog of a paralyzed person, how would I treat him? Would I help him to better make do?
If I were the dog of some very lively children, would I go on adventures with them? Would I jump on their beds or on the sofas in the livingroom?
If I were the dog of a presenter of dogshows, would I be a mere statue, like a robot or toy doll, like a stupid clown just to satify his whims and shallowness although I would never understand them?
If I were the dog of a fireman, policeoffice or security guard, what would I have to do? Look for drugs, explosives, or missing peope?
Why do I, a Spanish Water Dog, have to do all this work? Because I am alive because I have been a dog used for work all of my life, and to that ends I owe my existence…
Please, possible owner of mine, dont chain me up, don’t lock me in a kennel, don’t condemn me to a terrace or patio. I will conform to your way of being and living, to your environment, and I will respect and love you as long as I live. What do you think your contribution to our long relationship should be? Please think about this before bringing a dog into your life– that we may love our dogs for life and never abandon our loved ones.
Murdo in Galicia doing therapy with elderly people
Our dog MURDO in Galicia doing therapy with elderly people, March 2014. Thank you Iria for making Murdo and those elderly people feel so good.
Dogs around the World
A few months ago, we were visited by Russian television, specifically from a program similar to “Travelers on the Streets.” This Russian version travels around the world in search of the most spectacular dog breeds.
That or that brown, chocolate, chestnut color?
During the weekend of May 25th and 26th, 2013, I attended the Spring International Dog Show and the Special Spanish Breeds Show organized by our Royal Canine Society of Spain, as I have been doing every year since the early 1980s. However, this time without my dogs, just as a spectator, because by the time I sent in my entries, the deadline had already passed. It’s customary for the RSCE to close the registration period more than a month before the event.
It’s clear that when you attend as “just a spectator,” you notice a lot of details that often go unnoticed when you’re there with your dogs and always focused on them.
Setting aside whether I liked the judgments of Mr. Arrúe on Saturday and Mr. Haro and Mr. Sartre on Sunday, though I heard comments from everyone, the complaints from the many who didn’t win and the joy from the few who did, because that’s how the world of beauty shows goes—there are only two CAC and two CACIB awards for most breeds, and ours is among them—I’ll say the same as always: the judges rule the ring, and their decisions are final. I applauded many times and got others to applaud when the dogs I, from the outside, thought were the best were placed first.
But beyond the issue of judgments and results, whatever they may be, what caught my attention the most was the large number of dogs registered with LOE/RRC as brown, chestnut, or chocolate, who start to lose that dark chocolate, dark brown, or chestnut color at just over a year old. It was in response to a question from a foreign woman, whose accent seemed Scandinavian, who seemed to be looking for an explanation and a solution to the problem of “fading brown coat.” The lady had bought a puppy, and when she groomed it at three months old, she was stunned to find a lot of very light or even grayish hair on the dog’s hindquarters.
It’s true that those of us who attend shows frequently seem to have developed a trained eye for all the various shades of faded browns, and we often justify it with the brightness of our sun, chlorine from pools, saltwater from the sea… and even diet, without realizing or wanting to admit that it’s a “pigmentation problem” we’ve created in the breed.
The standard allows for brown in all its shades, that’s very clear… but at the rate we’re going, soon puppies will be born very light brown and eventually turn almost white… Perhaps that mahogany brown color that Irish Water Dogs enjoy is what many breeders would like to establish for our browns, although others might prefer that golden tone with a shine like wet straw or barley.
I was able to count and photograph more than 15 different shades of brown in a single class of open females. What variability, I thought? Of course, I always say that a dog’s color doesn’t predispose it to be better or worse, just like with people. There are good people and bad people, regardless of skin or eye color. But since this is a chromatic degeneration in our Spanish Water Dog, we’ll have to find a way to start darkening or reinforcing that dark brown tone that, when curly and coiled, gives such a rustic, beautiful, and splendid appearance to our dog’s structure.
Are there solutions? Yes, of course: crossing brown with black is the easiest and quickest. I asked several brown dog owners about the color of their dogs’ parents, and very few said they had crossed brown with black. If we cross brown with black and breed the resulting browns again with blacks from black parents, we’ll be reintroducing the melanin factor that our dogs’ chromosomes so desperately need to stabilize dark brown.
Can the club force breeders to act in this way? Would this measure be reckless if other very important factors aren’t considered when breeding: temperament, dysplasias, eye diseases…?
They also asked me: Which fur gets damaged more, white, black, or brown? Which needs more care? I answered that it’s not fur, it’s wool, pure wool like that of sheep. Of course, just like with sheep, there are many different qualities of wool.
I’ve always had a preference for a specific color in the Spanish Water Dog, which I won’t write here and which I never take into account when judging because wonderfully beautiful and perfect dogs come in all colors…
I recommend a balanced diet for our brown dog, in this case, including fresh carrots grown in direct sunlight occasionally, not in greenhouses.
Avoid breeding with dogs “past their prime” or too young.
When selecting a brown puppy, consider the color of its nose; the standard says the nose should be the darkest tone of the coat…
They say there are algae that help maintain skin and fur pigmentation in humans; they’ve been tested on Labrador Retrievers and have worked. Could they be good for our brown dogs? It would be worth trying…
I leave this reflection… thought… exposition… comment… all for the sake of preserving this wonderful “peculiar” breed…