The North Central Newfoundland Club

North Central Newfoundland Club
NewfNews - Bimonthly Newsletter

NovDec 2004  -- Sep-Oct 2004  -- Jan-Feb 2004

Jump to:     President's Column

                    Health Education Corner

                    Birthdays/Boasts & Brags

President's Column - Joan Gunn/Claire Hernandez

From Joan Gunn:

Each of us knows when it is time to make a change. The one thing in life we know with certainty, there will be change. I knew a few months ago that is was time for me to step down as President of NCNC. It has occurred to me, and I am sure to others, that I have been President for over 10 years. That is a very long time. The club has accomplished much and is strong with active programs for members of a variety of interests. We’ve even hosted two National Specialties along the way.

The Board is now in the very capable hands of Claire Hernandez, who as Vice-President, ably stepped in to the role of President. Board members are anxious and committed to generate more programs to meet the many interests of our members. I know the club will continue to grow, be stronger and do more and different things for our members in order to share our love and passion for this wonderful breed, our Newfoundlands. I will remain on the Board in an ex-officio capacity and, of course, be an active club member.

As has been in the past, members are welcome here at Blackwatch Farm at any time. Mike and I will continue to share our love, knowledge and surrounds with all.

I am so very grateful to the many members who have worked so hard to volunteer their time and energy – this is truly a community. Thank you all for being the best of friends and the best of clubs! Hope to see you at an upcoming event.

Best to all,

Joan

From Claire Hernandez:

I would like to start this column by thanking Joan Gunn for all the years of dedication to the North Central Newfoundland Club, its members and the Newfoundland breed in her function of president. It is a tough job to follow and I will do my best to fill in her shoes!

As I’m stepping up as NCNC president, Rick Hartke was appointed to the Vice President position.

On Sunday October 10, NCNC members and spectators gathered at Rock Cut State Park, in Rockford, Illinois, to watch Newfoundlands at their best during our annual draft test. This year’s judges were our very own Christine Brigham and Linda Stierle-Dunn, who traveled from Michigan. Thank you Pat Matela, who flew back from her new home in Pennsylvania to co-chair with Rick Hartke and support the rest of the committee for another well-planned event. Congratulations go to the new Draft Dog and her handler!

Dinner at Gia’s Restaurant nearby the evening before gave everyone a chance to catch up. A General Membership meeting was scheduled in conjunction with the Draft test banquet, but we did not have a quorum and no business was conducted.

The Gunn/Reese residence was the site for our Education Day again this year, where club members and their dogs gathered for grooming tips and some Rally Obedience. Mary Trauernicht came thru again this year with her team of volunteers!

The Holidays are upon us, but Rick Hartke has been hard at work organizing a conformation clinic for Sunday January 16, 2005, to be held at Kings Kennel in Riverwoods, Illinois. (For more info contact Rick Hartke).

Our next General Membership meeting and luncheon will be held on January 23rd, following the Wisconsin Kennel Club show in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The upcoming Regional Specialty will be on the Agenda. There are lots of jobs big and small to be done before and during the event. The committee is looking for volunteers. Remember no training or previous experience required for a lot of these jobs! If you cannot attend this meeting to volunteer your help, you can get in touch with Melissa Torres or Joan Gunn.

Until then, Happy Holidays to all!

Claire Hernandez-President

Health Education Corner  - Pat Matela

My last column was a reprint of my hot spot article. I did that for all the new Newfy people who are bringing these wonderful Newfoundland companions into their homes. Our guys are high maintenance, and any help we can give to the “new kids on the block” is worth the repetition. It seems to be that time of year for updates and reminders relating to our Newfy’s health.

This update was from the AKC GAZETTE October 2004 article by Dyann S Rivkin, “Research Discover New Risk Factors for GVD”. GVD is Gastric Dilatation Volvulus, AKA Bloat. In bloat, the stomach swells with air and twists (torsion), cutting off blood supply, and sending your Newfy into shock and death. Our giant breed is at a risk of one in five developing this crisis during their lifetime. This is a medical emergency, and having lost a dog to bloat, a horrible way to lose your guy.

In my last article, I discussed the risk factors where the risk of bloat increases with age, having a first degree relative with a history of bloat, having a narrow deep chest or abdomen, feeding from an elevated food dish, and having a fearful or nervous temperament. Ms. Rivkin also mentions a risk factor of experiencing a major health problem before age 1. I had not heard of this risk factor before, but my Thor also did have this factor before he bloated.

In this article, she talks about the research done at Purdue University by Dr. Larry Glickman, VMD, Dr. PH, (an AKC Excellence in Canine Research Award winner), and Dr Malathi Raghavan, DVM, PhD identifying feeding and dietary factors that increase the risk of bloat.

“These include feeding only one meal a day, feeding only dry dog food, feeding food with only small particles, and feeding a large volume of food per meal. Other feeding factors found to increase risk....were eating rapidly, increased physical activity before and after eating, restricting the dog’s water intake before and after feeding, moistening dry dog food before feeding, and eating from a raised feeding bowl. Thus, some of the recommendations commonly made to prevent GVD were shown by the research to actually increase the risk of GVD.”

“The latest research not yet published has shown an increased risk of GVD in dogs who consumed dry foods containing fat among the first five ingredients, and an increased risk in dogs who consumed dry foods listing citric acid as a preservative-with this risk rising when the food was moistened.. A modest increase in risk was found with...dry foods that listed more than one corn ingredient among the first four label ingredients,....while a decreased risk was seen in foods increasing the ingredients of animal origin, including beef, poultry, lamb, and fish among the first four ingredients.”

“Based on all of the GVD research to date, recommendations for owners of large and giant breed dogs include:

*Feed two or more meals a day.
*Feed no more than one cup per 33 pounds of body weight per meal when feeding two meals a day.
*Feed an energy-dense diet to reduce volume, but avoid a diet where a high amount of calories are from fats.
*Feed a variety of different food types regularly. The inclusion of human foods in a primarily dry dog food diet was associated with a 59% decreased risk of GVD, while inclusion of canned pet foods was associated with a 28% decreased risk.
*When feeding dry food, also include foods with sufficient amounts of meats and meat meals, for example, beef, lamb, poultry, and fish.
*Feed a food with larger particles, and include larger pieces of meats in the diet.
*Avoid moistening dry foods.
*If your dog eats rapidly, find ways to try to reduce his speed of eating.
*Avoid raising the food bowl-feed at ground level.
*Try to minimize stress for your dog. Stressful events have been reported to be precipitating factors in GVD occurrence.
*Restrict vigorous exercise one hour before and two hours after exercise.
*When you are not in close proximity to your dogs, use a baby monitor to alert you if your dog is in distress.
*Learn to recognize signs of GVD, which include pacing and restlessness, head turning to look at the abdomen, rapid shallow breathing, nonproductive attempts at vomiting, and salivation. These symptoms can progress rapidly to shock and death. Get to your veterinarian or emergency hospital that moment you suspect GVD.
*Gastropexy (surgery to tac down the stomach to the abdominal wall) at the time of surgical correction of Bloat is recommended to prevent or minimize the reoccurrence of bloat. Once a dog has bloated, chances are quite high it will reoccur.
*Discuss with your veterinarian the benefits and costs involved with a prophylactic gastropexy before your dog ever experiences GVD. (I have heard of some Great Dane owners who are doing this procedure because of their very high risks.)
*If you live far from veterinary care, have your veterinarian instruct you in first-aid measures to help your distressed dog while in route to the hospital. (I personally, have not heard of any first aid measures that would help.)
*Avoid breeding dogs who have had GVD and notify owners of first-degree relatives of dogs who have had GVD to be especially alert.

Dyann Rivkin lives in Nashville with the 14-year-old daughter of her first Irish Setter and his grandchildren. Irish Setters are another breed, like Great Danes, who have a very high risk of bloat. Our breed is, as well as those, in the top 10 of high risk breeds for Bloat. Please be aware, and dietary prevention is worth the trouble to prevent this lethal outcome.

November & December Birthdays

November

11/30/94 – Calvin (CH BlueMoon’s John Calvin Davis, TDD) Christine Brigham

December

12/1/96 – Remo (CH Whisperbay’s Ulterior Motive) Julie Poulin Siefert and Lisa Allen
12/22/97 – Rigel (VN CH Dryads BLKWT Rigel’s Rescue CD, WRD, DD) Roger and Jan Danielson
12/30/90 – Alchemy (Waidin’s Alchemy’s Panacea, CD, TDD) Robert and Deanna B. Bassett
12/9/91 – Whaler (CH Waidin’s Frostip Whaler, DD, CGC) Robert W. Bassett and Bonnie J. Sider
12/27/94 – Jeannie (CH Blackwatch Magic Jeannie, DD) Joan Gunn and Mike Reese
12/28/94 – Jib (VN CH Holokai’s Catch the Wind, CD, WRD, DD, TDD) John and Denita Jackman

Show & Tell

CH Pouch Cove’s Cambriol CD, WD, CGC
Call Name: Cambri
Breeder: Peggy Helming
Owner: Rick Hartke
Cambri went back to back Best of Breed at the Goldcoast Kennel Club October 23rd & 24th.

CH Emmabay New Age Composer WD DD
Call Name: Yanni
Breeder: Sid & Meredith Reggie
Owner: Barbara Hearn
Yanni went back to back Winners’ Dog on October 23rd & 24th at the Sioux Empire Kennel Club
(3 point Majors both days) to earn his Championship!

CH Dryads Blackwatch Travesty Alarm WD DD
Call Name: Travis
Breeder: Dryad Kennels & Joan E Gunn
Owner: Dryad Kennels & Joan E Gunn & Tara Martin.
Travis went Best of Winners to win Majors at the Mid-Continent Kennel Club of Tulsa on
October 29th and the Bartlesville Kennel Club on October 31st to earn his Championship!

CH Dryads Blackwatch Maid D'Orleans
Call Name: D’Arce
Breeder: Dryad Kennels & Joan E Gunn
Owner: Pat Matela & Joan E. Gunn.
D’Arce earned her 1st point at Kenosha Kennel Club, Sept. 4, 2004,
She earned both majors at Freeport, IL, Sept 25th and Sept 26, and
finished at West Bend, WI on Nov 13, 2004.
Quite a productive 2 1/2 months from start to finish!

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September/October 2004

Jump to:     President's Column

                    Health Education Corner

                    Birthdays/Boasts & Brags

President's Column - Joan Gunn

On Saturday and Sunday, September 18 and 19, North Central held it’s second water test at the Pleasant Plains, Wisconsin site. For those who did not come out, you missed a wonderful time. Our committee (I chaired, but that’s the easy job!), our Secretary, Karen Clancy (that’s the hardest job) and our Chief Steward, Roger Danielsen (that’s a job with a lot of work the day of the test), banquet and luncheon chair, Linda Larsen (that takes a lot of organizing and time), and all our willing stewards, combined with our judges, Frank and Carol Winnert made this a truly wonderful event. We usually have a good time at water trials, everyone seemed to do so. This is remarkable as our pass rate was less than good with one junior qualifier and a senior re-qualifier. So many dogs were oh-so very close to qualifying.

What is next with our Newfs? Drafting, of course. The weather is cool enough to harness and hitch your Newf and walk thru the woods. This will of course be practice for our Annual Draft Test, Sunday, October 10 at Rock Cut State Park in Rockford, Illinois. Get your entry in now! Even if you will not have a draft entry, please come out to this event. It is a wonderful family affair, Newfs, who are under control, are always welcome. Information on the event was in the premium mailed to you a month ago as is information on our website at www.northcentralnewf.org. Our co-chairs for this event are Pat Matela (she will make the trip from Pennsylvania to see us all) and Rick Hartke, Tara Martin is Secretary and Bob Ohle third committee member. Judges for this year are our own Christine Brigham and Linda Stierle-Dunn. As always volunteers are needed. Please give one of the committee members a call to let them know you can help. No experience is needed – for example, stewards are needed, these people walk behind the cart of the dog being drafted. It’s fun and easy to do. We are also planning a pot luck lunch for Sunday about noon time. Please bring a dish to share.

Saturday evening of the Draft weekend, we will hold a dinner and membership meeting at Lenas Restaurant in Rockford. Call Carol Thonn to make your dinner reservation. Please come out an support our exhibitors and the club.

To finish out our year’s activities, our Annual Education Day is planned for November 7 in Harvard, Illinois. Members at the June meeting requested the day include a grooming clinic and a Rally Obedience Workshop. This should also be a fun day as rally obedience is intended for dogs with enough manners to pass a CGC test, but not the level of skills and precision needed for an obedience title. Sounds like a lot of our dogs, I think. Please come out an enjoy the day, fellow Newfs and their owners. There is lots of room to roam. A pot luck lunch is planned, please bring a dish to share. Chairman for this event is Mary Trauernicht.

Health Education Corner  - Pat Matela

Am rushing around like you all know what trying to pack and get ready for our move to Pennsylvania. Stress is a factor with hot spots, and sure enough, Ivanhoe just got a hot spot by his ear. I trimmed a perimeter around the hot spot, am using Veterinarian’s Best hot spot relief and hoping for the best. I will miss you all very much, but am coming back for our annual Draft test and dinner, October 9th and 10th. I am planning on continuing the Health/Education column, so let me know if you have any special requests or questions.

Acute Moist Dermatitis, a.k.a. “Hot Spots”

For those long time Newfy lovers and owners, the term “hot spot” is a familiar one. A hot spot is a warm, painful, swollen area of skin that gives off a foul odor and drains pus. Hair is lost rapidly turning the sore red and moist. The areas are itchy, appear suddenly, and enlarge quickly, often within hours. These spots progress as the dog licks and chews the painful sore.

I decided to write this column on hot spots as I battled my five year old Newfy’s worst hot spot ever this past fall. Then I was looking through an old Newftide from Spring 1987 and saw an article on hot spots, and realized this skin condition has been pestering and frustrating Newfy lovers forever.

Hot spots can occur anywhere of the body, often in more than one spot. Our newfys are susceptible to this condition because of their heavy undercoat. The hot spots make their appearance twice a year, usually just before shedding season, when moist dead hair is trapped next to the skin. Add a change to the normal bacteria found on the surface of the skin such as fleas, mites, bee stings, skin allergies, scratches or abrasions and your newfy has this extremely painful sore.

Prevention consists of frequent brushing during shedding season to remove the dead undercoat. This also gives you the opportunity to inspect the skin as you groom.

But, despite your best efforts, you glance over at your best friend and see him/or her frantically licking at their body. First and foremost inspect the area and cut the hair at and around the perimeter of the spot to provide good visibility of the sore. Trapped hair in the hot spot can mat over the sore and prevent healing. Air drying of the moist sore is necessary.

I spoke with several club members to get their personal choices for dealing with hot spots. After cleaning the surface with an antiseptic/ antibacterial agent such as dial soap, Novasan skin cleanser, many mentioned using Medicated Gold Bond powder. Also used are Veterinarian’s Best hot spot/ itch relief, Athletes Foot Spray, Witch Hazel, Holiday ear powder, Listerine mouth wash in a spray bottle, and Ben Gay applied around the area as dogs don’t like the taste and will leave the spot alone. Products from vets include Gentocin spray and Dermavet cream. For our water-loving dogs, remember to rinse and dry thoroughly after swimming and bathing. One of our club members uses Caldesene Powder on the bare skin of the belly, insides of back legs and arm pits after swimming for its anti-bacterial and drying qualities.

Larger hot spots may require oral antibiotics, so don’t hesitate to see your vet when the hot spot continues to grow despite your best interventions.

September & October Birthdays

September

9/4/93 – Cassie (Brookhill’s Cascading Thunder) Bob and Janet Ohle

Show & Tell

CH Dryad Lotta Love Blackwatch WD
Owner: Mark & Linda Larsen
Hanna finished her Championship at the Burlington WI Kennel Club show on July 26.
Then, she went on to earn her WD at the Great Lakes NC Water Test on September 11.

VN CH Holokai's Rainforest Delite CD, DD, WRD
Owner: John & Denita Jackman
On August 8, at the River King Newfoundland Club Water Test, Chunky successfully passed her WRD, earning her the VN. She requalified at Great Lakes Newfoundland Club Water test on September 12. Chunky was not done yet—she also requalified at the North Central NC Water Test on September 19.
We are very proud of her. John and Denita

CH Nighthawk-Dryad vom Trieberg
Owner: Joan Gunn
Breeder: Sibylle Welzbacher, Germany
We are proud of our boy who finished in just over two months!
Burlington KC July 26 – BOW 3 Pt major
Elgin KC Aug 21 – BOW

CH Dryads Tailwind of Blackwatch TDD,WD
Owner: Joan Gunn
Kitty earned her WD at the Great Lakes NC Water Test on September 11.

CH Pouch Cove’s Cambriol CD, WD, CGC
Owner: Rick Hartke
Breeder: Peggy Helming
Handler: Cathy Hartke
On Sunday, August 8, CH Pouch Cove’s Cambriol CD, CGC, passed the junior division test at the River King NC water test in Litchfield, IL, to earn his WD title on the first attempt. He swam beautifully and executed all commands without hesitation. He gave Cathy his all!

Shadrack’s Keeping the Spirit CD, WRD, CGC, TDI
Owner: Rick & Cathy Hartke
Handler: Cathy Hartke
On Sunday, September 12, at the Great Lakes NC water test, Cheers earned her WRD! As one judge put it, she appeared to be “on a mission” and sailed through all the exercises. Cathy adds: “Water work is one of the best gifts we can five to our Newfs and ourselves! We can’t do it alone though—many, many thanks to everyone who helped us with training this summer—we couldn’t have done it without you!“

Emmabay New Age Composer WD DD
Owner: Barbara Hearn
On August 1, in Canfield OH, Yanni went WD/BOW for 3 points!
Way to go, Yanni!

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January/February 2004

Jump to:     President's Column

                    Health Education Corner

                    Birthdays/Boasts & Brags

President's Column - Joan Gunn

Happy Newf Year! I hope everyone and every Newf had a wonderful holiday season!

As we look ahead to this new year we see an exciting and challenging list of events. In addition to hosting our now routine activities – Picnic, Draft Test, Water Test, Education Day and training – we will host the 2004 Newfoundland National Specialty, April 19–24, at beautiful Lake Lawn Resort in Delavan, Wisconsin. Much of our focus the next several months will be directed to assuring that we put together a memorable event for who attend.
Brochures about the event accompanied the last issue of Newf Tide. NCNC members who are not members of the Newfoundland Club of America will receive one shortly.

National Specialties are truly wonderful events. Once you have attended a National, you begin to organize your calendar and your vacation time so that you can attend the next. If you haven’t had an opportunity to attend one, this is your chance! It is literally within reach for you. Next year, the 2005 National will be in California. Please take the time to come out and support the club and volunteer your time to help make this another wonderful Specialty.

The NCNC website containing information about the National Specialty is being finalized. Contacts, committee chairs, forms, site information are now on the website.

Our next General Membership meeting, (Sunday, January 25, 11:00 am at the University of Illinois Extension Building in Grayslake, Illinois) will be an opportunity to update members on the progress of the Specialty and, hopefully, enlist volunteers to help. There are many activities to be accomplished both in the next couple of months and at the Specialty. Our March General Membership Meeting will be Sunday, March 21 in Harvard, Illinois. After the meeting we will put together registration packets for the National Specialty.

Our Water Test Committee has changed slightly. Joan Gunn is now the Chair, Karen Clancy, Secretary and Roger Danielsen, Chief Steward. A huge debt of gratitude is owed Roger who put together our first test at this new site. Thank you. This year’s Water Test will be Saturday and Sunday, September 18 and 19 at Prairie Springs Park, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.

Our Draft Test Committee has also changed. Pat Matela, Chairman, Tara Martin is now Secretary and Bob Ohle is committee member. Another big thank you is owed Claire Hernandez for her work as Secretary the last few years. Thank you.

Health Education Corner  - Pat Matela

What is the Nose?

As a loyal reader of the Health Ed column, you know the question was, “What is the topic for this continuing series of Discovering our Newfies?” After discussing eyes and ears, we need to move on to the nose.

The nose of our little guys is a very sensitive organ, an incredible collection of nerves that connect to the olfactory center in the brain. This accounts for their sense of smell which may be more than 100 times greater than a person’s. Obviously this is one of the keys to their success in search and rescue. A friend of mine at work told me she had recently seen a television show which said that the Newfoundland is the only dog to be able to sniff out cancer. I don’t know what training is involved or if this would be only in certain cancers, but that nose you love may be attached to something more amazing than you believe.

Inspection is again your best guide. Knowing your guy’s normal allows the abnormal to stand out to be recognized when something is wrong. A dog’s nose is normally cool and moist, but may be dry and warm under certain conditions such as exercise, outdoor temp and humidity, and status of hydration.

Dogs are nose breathers except when they are panting. If your guy is breathing through his mouth, but not hot or panting, this is not normal. His nasal passages are blocked, and an investigation as to why they are blocked is necessary. Pronto.

Any type of a nasal discharge that persists more than several hours is not normal. As in humans, a clear watery discharge is usually from allergies or a cold (viral rhinitis). A thick nasal discharge can be caused by a bacterial or fungal infection that requires veterinary attention.

Nasal solar dermatitis (collie nose) is more common in sunnier climates than Illinois and Wisconsin, but I am mentioning it because of our Landseer kids with white blazes on their noses. With prolonged sun exposure, the skin between the muzzle and nose gets irritated, the hair falls out, the skin begins to crust and ooze. Yuck! This cycle can lead to skin cancer. The treatment is to limit sun exposure, and use of sunscreen

Do you use plastic feeding bowls? You may want to consider changing to stainless steel (They are so bright and shiny!). Plastic dish nasal dermatitis is actually a diagnosis. This is a loss of pigment color of the nose and lips from eating out of plastic or rubber dishes that contain the chemical p-benzylhydroquinone. The chemical is absorbed through the skin and blocks the synthesis of melanin which is what causes the dark pigment in the skin. The involved skin can also become inflamed and irritated.

Idiopathic nasal callus (hyperkeratosis) is a fancy name for the dry thickened hornlike nose my eleven year old boxer has. Idiopathic means it happens for an unknown reason. Old guys can get this hard, fissure-type nose, and there is no cure. It seems to be only mildly irritating to Ali Baba, and I monitor for infection. I haven’t put any ointments or creams on his nose. If this appears out of the blue with your old guy, discuss it with your vet.
Of course, you are not going to go on any search and rescue of foreign bodies in the nose. The nasal cavity is made up of mucus membranes that will easily bleed if you go poking or prodding around. You certainly can do more damage than not, and in some cases your vet may need sedation or anesthesia to visualize the nasal passages. If you see blood streaked mucus, this could be from a foreign body, tumor, or the result of a bleeding disorder. Nosebleeds need to be controlled as soon as possible. Keep your dog as quiet as possible and apply an ice pack to the bridge of the nose. For any visible bleeding from a cut or wound, apply direct pressure with clean cloth or gauze. Follow up with your vet to determine cause if there was no obvious injury that could have caused the bleed.

Nasal polyps are growths that begin as an enlargement of one of the mucus glands in the nose. It looks like a “cherry on a stalk”. Polyps can cause bleeding and blockage of the nasal passage. (Remember about the mouth breathing I mentioned?) Surgical removal is the treatment and unfortunately they can recur.

Give your Newfie a kiss for me, on my favorite place, the nose! Questions? Email me at newphs3@aol.com.

January & February Birthdays

January

1/7/97 – Shadow (Evergreen’s Shadow) Bob Jacobson & Teressa McEvoy
1/13/96 – Decker (CH Dryads Blackwatch Commander, CD, WD, DD) Joan Gunn and Dryad Kennels

February

2/7/91 – Pink (Polarseas Major Pinkerton) Pat Matela and Joan Gunn
2/23/93 – Molly (Evergreen’s Molly Pop) Ronald L. Mahon
2/14/95 – Eternity (Hickory Ridge’s Eternity) Julie Poulin Siefert and Kathy Smith
2/14/96 – Thatcher (CH Pouch Cove’s Antares Trustee) John and Cindy Baertschi

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