B C G R

2

Boxer Chat

PatronAnne

Manduell-Carkeek

Hon. PresidentPercy Green

Vice-PresidentsHorst KrantzJohan Kieser

Colleen PatienceMarlien Heystek

Committee

May Oosthuizen Chairperson

082 857 3037 email: che-jane123@

absamail.co.za

Erna Faber Secretary

082 749 3275 email: maroelani@

gmail.com

Chiz JudgeCommittee member

PR & MediaNewsletter editor 083 408 2977

email: chizjudge.design@ gmail.com

Mani de LimaCommittee member

082 492 9430mdelima@global.co.za

Richard BaterCommittee member

079 898 4566email: richardbater@

vodamail.co.za

‘Tis that time of year again and we hope that this festive season heralds the beginning

of a much more active year for our Boxer Club. We are hoping to have more events in which our member Boxer owners can participate, and we started off with a dog walk at Goldfields to kick off our Christmas braai last weekend.

Our timing coincided with the latter half of the annual Christmas Charity Show at Goldfields Show Grounds and we caught Santa getting ready with his sleigh before his grand entrance into the show ring. What we saw and the show spectators did not, was poor Santa’s first attempt to board his sleigh. The dogs bounded off with a somewhat over-enthusiastic start and Santa went flying! He must have been bruised but he regained his composure, remounted the sleigh and with the dogs under better control headed off towards the ring undaunted. His trusty pack of sled dogs looked as if they were having a whale of a time – see below!

I had visions of the sleigh being pulled by a team of Boxers next year – but then I doubt whether Santa would be able to get anywhere near the sleigh to begin with! Can you imagine it? Maybe NOT such a good idea!

I have been racking my brains trying to think of nice Christmas prezzies for Zeno and Koko and came up with the idea of buying some fur fabric off cuts and cutting them into large circles,

sewing them together then stuffing them and inserting one of those plastic squeakers inside. I bought something similar last year and the dogs loved them, and they lasted much longer than toys with ears and other bits which encourage instant appendage removal and they are easy for the dogs to “operate”. They wander round the house ...squeaksqueak-squeaksqueak. At least I know where they are!

But now I have to find the squeakers, so am heading off to the Chinese market to buy in bulk, I think I’m on to a winner! It’s going to be a rather noisy Christmas..... – Ed.

Boxer Club Gold Reef wishes you a very happy festive season – and time to chill after what for many has been a difficult year. We hope that better times are on the way!Merry Christmas and a peaceful new year from all of us on the BCGR Committee.

Zeno & Koko practising for Christmas morning...

B C G R

3

Giving your pet special food treats at Christmas might seem like a nice way to include him in the festivities, but you could be harming his health.

Pet owners often like to give their dog or cat a little bit of the Christmas lunch, a bit of turkey, some stuffing, a roast potato or two, and even some trifle or Christmas pudding. Unfortunately, these foods are some of the ones that can trigger a food intolerance reaction in your pet. Symptoms can be itching and scratching, or upset stomach, with sickness and diarrhoea. Very fatty foods can also lead to problems such as pancreatitis, which is a very painful inflammatory condition.

If your pet shows signs of an allergic skin condition, itching and scratching, a special detoxifying diet should be followed to cleanse the system. To treat the condition, give Garlic and Fenugreek tablets to deal with any minor infections on the skin. Mixed Vegetable tablets will help to relieve the irritation and cool the skin. Comfrey and Calendula Skin Balm can be used to soothe dry, sore, scaly or damaged skin.

Some pets have a more a delicate digestive system than others; so over indulgence can cause these pets to develop an upset tummy. Protex is a useful aid to restoring the natural balance in the gut. It is important however, to consult your veterinary surgeon if diarrhoea persists for more than a few days.

Dis-chem produces an anti-flatulence powder for dogs which will alleviate a windy tummy and give relief to owners as well as dogs! These are all useful remedies to keep in your pet’s first aid box. If you are using herbal remedies for your pets, please make sure they are manufactured and licensed for animals, and not for human use. The dosages can be very different.

Top Tips• Make sure all your leftover chicken or turkey

is put away, somewhere safe, where your dog or cat cannot reach. Your pet can easily choke on cooked chicken and turkey bones.

• Do not feed your pet grapes or raisins as these can cause poisoning. Just a handful of grapes have been shown to cause kidney failure. The toxins may be due to a type of mould found on the skin of grapes and raisins.

• Be careful that children’s toys are not left lying around, especially if they have small parts that your pet, including kittens and puppies, could tear or chew off and choke on.

• Children, playing with young animals, should always be supervised as one or the other could become over excited and end up being hurt.

• Plastic bags, balloons, tinsel, string, Christmas tree decorations, or any sharp objects can be dangerous if your dog swallows them.

• Keep houseplants out of your pet’s reach, as many of them are toxic. They include the ones we tend to have around at Christmas time, such as: Poinsettias, mistletoe, spider plants and ferns.

• Death by chocolate. Be careful of those vast quantities of chocolate lying around at Christmas time. Human chocolate should not be fed to dogs, as it contains a substance called theobromine. This can cause poisoning and even be lethal if consumed by your dog. Plain dark chocolate is more dangerous, as it has more theobromine than milk chocolate. There have been cases of dogs dying after eating a box of dark chocolates. Drinking chocolate can also have the same effect. So far this year, 135 cases of chocolate poisoning have been reported to the Veterinary Poisons Information Service.

Symptoms of chocolate poisoning are: excessive drinking, vomiting, diarrhoea, collapse and heart failure. If you suspect your dog is suffering from chocolate poisoning, you must call your vet immediately.

Why not give your dog some raw or cooked vegetables instead of chocolate, as a healthy alternative. A great way to boost your dog’s immune system.

Stress BustersIt’s not only mum that gets stressed at Christmas. Changes in routine, lots of visitors, Christmas crackers, party poppers and the increasingly popular fireworks at New Year, can all take their toll on your dog’s nerves. Try plugging in a DAP, (Dog appeasing pheromone) unit at least one week before the Christmas events. This should help to keep your pet calm and stress free over the festive period. An excellent early Christmas present for your dog. The herb Valerian also has calming effect.

Mum could try this too.

Keep your dog amused, as well as the children, by purchasing him an interactive toy, such as a Kong or activity ball. Stuffed with his favourite food these will keep your dog entertained.

If you are considering buying a puppy or kitten for Christmas, please remember that they will need constant attention for the first few weeks of settling in. Young animals do not know the household rules, and will find anything a game. In a puppy or kitten’s mind, a draped tablecloth is great for pulling at. A heavy falling dish could injure your pet if he tries this game. A Christmas tree is a wonderful source of entertainment. It is fun to climb, to find coloured baubles to paw at, and may even have chocolate decorations to eat. Trailing wires from the Christmas tree lights or the television are just waiting to be chewed. Puppies and kittens are not safe to be left unsupervised in this type of environment, with so many tempting things to do.

Why not wait until after the festivities before bringing your new pet home? Then all the family will have the time to enjoy the new addition to the family, keeping him safe and healthy.

Canine Therapy Centre would like to wish all pets a safe, healthy and happy Christmas.

www.dogclub.co.uk

Get your pet through Christmas without going Crackers

B C G R

4

I HATE HEALTH TESTING! There! I said it!

Yes, health testing is the right thing to do. No, it isn’t OK to choose not to know. Yes,

we must do it. But I didn’t become a Boxer breeder because I relished the anxiety of waiting for the results of a myriad of tests on my newest champion. I didn’t become a Boxer breeder because I looked forward to spending hundreds of hours combing the Internet for a stud dog whose health testing would complement that of my bitch without forcing me to give up on my vision of the ideal Boxer. I became a Boxer breeder because that clean, square outline combined with a mood-mirroring expression and a loving, exuberant personality captured my imagination and stole my heart.

The Internet has made possible unprecedented learning and sharing of information. That’s a good thing. Worldwide email lists let us see same day show results from many countries. Fun! The not-so-fun topic of health testing, however, tends to dominate list conversations. In an effort to get back to the reason we love the Boxer breed (while still doing the right thing for health), consider the following:

• Just as there are no fault-free dogs in conformation terms, there are no perfect dogs in health terms. If you require perfection, dog breeding isn’t for you.

• You should do all of the recommended testing, but you shouldn’t expect perfection. If you’re waiting for perfection, you won’t breed at all. Is the breed well served if you quit because you couldn’t obtain perfection?

• No one gives us absolute mandates for what we can and can’t breed health wise. Guidelines? Yes. Mandates? No. We shouldn’t want mandates! Get some backbone and make your own decisions based on the tools we have.

• More on the “get a spine” theme: No matter what you do, some people will disagree with you. So what! You aren’t required to get their permission before doing a breeding and they aren’t required to approve of your choices.

• Will we usher in a day when 90% of Boxers live to be 15? Probably not. Frankly, I don’t think that was ever the case in the breed as a whole – even if anecdotal accounts of individual dogs or families of dogs living that long are retold frequently.

I believe in what I call “informed consent”. You do the recommended testing on your Boxer. You ask that studs you breed your bitch to and bitches you breed your stud to do the same. NOT KNOWING ISN’T OK. Don’t over emphasise any one test result, but see each test result as one factor among many in a balanced breeding program.

As we (correctly) try to improve our breed’s health, we need to resist the tendency to focus so much on test results that we lose sight of the qualities that attracted us to the Boxer breed in the first place.

Long live the Boxer. Long live the ultimate canine athlete whose infectious enthusiasm and melting expression make the Boxer a breed so many of us never want to live without. Stephanie Abrahams akcgazette

I hate Health Testing.Beth Pariseau, Bix-L Boxers Guest column, American Kennel Club Gazette, Jan 2011

Lucy handling Chiswick’s French Spice “Kendal”, when she won the Nationals Reserve

Working Dog in Bloemfontein in September 2011

“I never married because I have three pets at home that answer the same purpose as a husband. I have a dog that growls every morning, a parrot that swears all afternoon, and a cat that comes home late at night.” – Marie Corelli

Lucy Young will be competing in the prestigious International Junior Handling event at CRUFTS in the UK next March.In early October, out of the blue, Lucy was approached to travel up to Kenya with the prospect of qualifying to represent East Africa at Crufts for Junior Handling, so off we went.

Lucy was a hit; she worked with many dogs, helping the various owners and expertly handling their dogs to some super awards.

It was a wonderful experience with a great crowd of show exhibitors. The organisers of the East Africa Kennel Club were so welcoming to us both, and when it came to the Junior Handler class, they gave Lucy a glowing account of what she was going to do for the club and this region of Africa.

Lucy is so proud to have this opportunity, especially as her Granny was born in this region of Africa, and meeting all the committee members and exhibitors gives her a real bond with them.

Lucy will do them proud, and she will give it her all.

Sally Young

Lucy with ‘Kendal’ Nationals Res.Working Dog

Bloemfontein Sept 2011

B C G R

5

B C G R

6

Current reCOMMenDeD VACCinAtiOn GuiDeLines fOr DOGsA Boxer friend recently sent me a link to an article on the Internet concerning vaccination for dogs. It outlined studies done some 15 plus years ago which demonstrated that vaccination protection for dogs and other pets lasts much longer than the one year we are led to believe and that most standard disease vaccinations should only be given once every three years. The arguments indicated that we are at best, falling victim to the vets’ and pharmaceutical companies’ desire to rake in their profits and at worst, potentially causing harm to our pets by over-vaccinating.

While browsing the internet I found a feature by an American vet, written in 2005, which seemed to give a well-rounded overview of the vaccination situation, extracts are given here with thanks to Dr Karen Blakely. If readers are interested in more detail I suggest they search “Dog vaccinations”, etc on the Internet and sift through the search results, it is still an ongoing debate which could eventually result in changes of vaccination policy. – Ed

Vaccines have long been known to be a beneficial part of the overall preventative health strategy for animals and humans. But are the risks of vaccines really worth the benefits that they provide? This article will review what vaccines are, how they work, the benefits and risks of vaccination, the vaccine controversy, and recommendations for vaccination. Please note that this article is not intended to dictate a vaccination protocol for your pets but to help you, the pet owner, become more aware of the issues at hand.

What are vaccines?

Vaccines are made of whole organisms or portions of organisms (typically bacteria or viruses) that can cause disease. Vaccinations may also contain some sort of carrier and preservative. Vaccines can protect against single organisms, as with a rabies vaccination or multiple organisms, as with a distemper vaccine. There are many diseases that do not have vaccinations available.

How vaccines work

Stated simply, when a vaccine is given to an animal it stimulates the immune system to make antibodies. These antibodies are specific for whatever organism the vaccine is protecting against. The antibodies are then “stored” for future use. If the animal becomes exposed to an organism that it has been previously vaccinated for, the antibodies will help prevent or minimise illness.

the benefits of vaccination

The major benefit of vaccination is the prevention of disease or lessening of the severity of illness. For the single animal the significance is obvious. Protecting our pets from disease or illness is important. On a larger scale, disease prevention in large groups of animals,

THE VACCINATION DEBATE

B C G R

7

especially our food-producing species, such as cattle or pigs, is critical. Another potential benefit of vaccination is to prevent human illness. There are several diseases that animals can transmit to people, e.g. rabies. If the animals that can spread these diseases to people are vaccinated then we (humans) get some protection against illness as well.

Potential side effects

Like any drug, vaccines can have side effects. The most common are lethargy, pain and swelling at the site of injection. These are typically short-lived, often lasting less than 48 hours, and mild. More serious side effects can include allergic reaction, autoimmune haemolytic anaemia and vaccine-induced fibrosarcoma, an aggressive tumor. These side effects can vary from mild to severe and are less likely to occur.

the vaccine opponents

Given the potential severity of some of the side effects of vaccination and the perception that some of the diseases we vaccinate for are rare or unseen, some people believe that vaccination is no longer necessary. But the reason that we do not see the diseases we vaccinate for may be because we have done such a good job of preventing them by vaccinating.

Consider Parvovirus. Parvo was a major killer of dogs when it first became widespread in the 70s. Since it was a new virus, dogs had no protection and became very ill when exposed. When a vaccine was developed and used, the numbers of animals becoming ill declined. Today, we still see Parvo but not nearly as often as we used to and the animals that become infected with Parvo are most commonly animals that have not been vaccinated.

Alternative recommendations

Another group of people recognises the benefits of vaccination but suggests that it protects against disease for longer than was thought.

Currently, we mostly revaccinate annually except for Rabies which is done 3 yearly, depending on the country. The frequency of vaccination is recommended by the vaccine manufacturer, based on initial tests done for FDA approval. But these tests did not include studies to find out how long the vaccine lasted. A few smaller studies have suggested that some vaccinations last longer than one year. So this group is recommending vaccination every third year.

There may be a few problems with this recommendation. Firstly, no large, long-term studies have been done to determine exactly how long these vaccines last. Some animals may have protection for more than three years, some for less. Animals with shorter immunity may therefore be left unprotected with every tri-annual vaccination. Secondly, regardless of the length of time between vaccinations, some animals will still have vaccine-related side effects.

Duration of immunity (DOi)

Duration of immunity (how long a vaccine gives protection for) is at the heart of the vaccine controversy. The lack of information here is the problem.

There have been attempts to quantify duration of immunity through the use of titers, which measure the quantity of a particular antibody in a dog’s bloodstream. However, there are problems here:

Firstly, the animal can be protected but not show a significant titer reading. Secondly, titer technology is not available for all vaccines offered. Thirdly, often there is not enough data available to determine what a protective titer is. So, if an animal has a high titer for a particular disease, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the animal won’t become sick if infected.It is at present a very imprecise science. If we knew how long vaccines lasted and had an accurate way to determine the level of protection, we would not be having this discussion.

What should you do?

Given the information available at this time, there are several questions and concerns:

First, what is the true rate of complications from vaccines? In my experience, mild vaccine reactions (lethargy, soreness, etc.) are fairly common and rarely fatal. In the eight years

B C G R

8

since I have graduated from veterinary school I have seen only two cases of vaccine-induced fibrosarcoma and one case of autoimmune haemolytic anaemia. (i.e. these side effects have been very rare in my experience.)

Second, if we decrease our frequency of vaccination will we increase the number of cases of the disease?

Third, how can we easily and safely determine duration of immunity and be assured that the data is correct and accurate? (i.e. if a titer tells us that the pet is protected, is it really protected?)

Thus, given the current information, one should consider the risks and benefits of vaccines in relationship to the individual pet. How at risk is the pet for the diseases that we are vaccinating for? Typically, pets that are higher risk for disease spend time outside, live in multipet households or have exposure to other animals, and/or have a history of fighting with other animals. There are certainly other risk factors and they vary by disease. How likely is the vaccine to cause side effects? This is a difficult question as individuals vary greatly. Has the pet had side effects from vaccination in the past? Is the pet healthy or does he/she have a history of illness? Discuss these things with your veterinarian and come up with a reasonable plan for each individual pet. Hopefully with time, additional studies

and testing methods will make the decision to vaccinate or not to vaccinate more clear cut.

The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to take the place of your regular veterinarian. Please do not hesitate to contact your regular veterinarian if you have questions regarding your pet.

OUR BOXERS

This girly used to be called ‘Bailey’, then she found a lot of mud to play in and became ‘Unrecognisable’... photos from Sally Young!

Two more beautiful Maroelani puppies

‘Ziggy’ bred by Erna and owned by

Nicola Featonby-Smith

B C G R

9

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.

He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.

When he was standing before it, he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold.

He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.

When he was close enough, he called out, ‘Excuse me, where are we?’

‘This is Heaven, sir,’ the man answered.

‘Would you happen to have some water?’ the man asked.

‘Of course, sir. Come right in, and I’ll have some ice water brought right up.’

The man gestured, and the gate began to open. ‘Can my friend,’ gesturing toward his dog, ‘come in, too?’ the traveller asked.

‘I’m sorry, sir, but we don’t accept pets.’

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.

‘Excuse me!’ he called to the man. ‘Do you have any water?’

‘Yeah, sure, there’s a pump over there, come on in.’

‘How about my friend here?’ the traveller gestured to the dog.

‘there should be a bowl by the pump,’ said the man.

they went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it. the traveller filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog. When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.

‘What do you call this place?’ the traveller asked.

‘this is Heaven,’ he answered.

‘Well, that’s confusing,’ the traveller said. ‘the man down the road said that was Heaven, too.’

‘Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? nope. that’s Hell.’

‘Doesn’t it make you mad for them to use your name like that?’

‘no, we’re just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind.’

Dogs and Heaven

the sA Boxer Breed Council is a body to which all KusA-affiliated Boxer clubs in south Africa belong. it has a very informative website which will be of

interest to all Boxer lovers. Our BCGr newsletters are posted on the website.

Visit www.saboxer.co.za

B C G R

ADVERTISE YOUR

BOXER LITTERSABOX is now offering an

advertising service for Boxer litters on the SABOX website. This is only for breeders who are paid-up members of any KUSA-affiliated Boxer Club.

R100 will be charged for a 4-week listing, which includes a photograph, details of the puppies, and contact details.

Contact the Club Secretary with the litter details and photo to organise a posting on the

SABOX website.

10

More Websites for Boxer Lovers:South Africa Boxer Rescue on the web... go to http://boxer.rescueme.org/za to find Boxers wanting homes or to advertise Boxers needing rehoming.

www.boxerworld.com The largest Boxer dog website.

www.worldwideboxer.com. Everything you want to know about judging or breeding the Boxer – there are hundreds of photos of Boxers from all around the world pictured on this very informative site.

www.planet-boxer.com for fun, facts and everything else Boxerific, a site where you can read about other people’s Boxers and post pics and news of your own.

“The difference between cats and dogs is, dogs come when they are called, cats take a message and get back to you.”