Most breeders spend a lot of time and research into trying to get rid of genetic diseases in their lines. This enables them to produce the healthiest puppies possible. However, some amateur breeders and puppy farms breed without screening the parents and perpetuating poor genetic health.

Some breeds are more prone to inherited diseases over others. When researching dog ownership, make sure you thoroughly research the genetic diseases common in your chosen breed. This information can be found on breed clubs websites. Make sure you buy a pup who’s parents have been screened for these diseases.

It may be that these breeders are asking for more money for pups, but getting a disease free dog will save you much more money in the long run. Buying a dog from an unethical breeder, such as a puppy farm dog, may be cheaper, but these dogs are more prone to inherited diseases.

Doing whatever you can to ensure you have a dog free from inherited diseases will not only save you heart-ache from seeing them potentially suffer in later life, but will also save you money through vets bills and surgery.

Pet insurance companies will ask you if your dog has any know inherited diseases and you will have to pay a lower premium if you can prove that your dog is disease free.

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1. Brush and bathe your dog regularly. A bottle of shampoo and a brush can be bought for very cheap and it will lengthen the time in between visits to the groomer. This will also help keep the dog’s hair from matting, and groomers generally charge an extra fee for de-matting. It’s a good idea to brush a long or medium haired dog at least once a day; short haired dogs may only need to be brushed a couple times a week. Dogs should be bathed about once ever two or three weeks. Bathing too often may make their skin dry and cause itchiness.

2. Trim your dog’s nails yourself. Nail trimmers for dogs are usually very cheap and will save your groomer from doing it. Prices range usually from £5-£10 depending on the groomer, and this is usually an additional fee added to the bill. As long as you keep a regular routine your groomer wont have to trim your dog’s nails. Just be careful that you don’t cut them too short or they will bleed and cause pain to the dog.

3. Brush your dogs teeth and clean the ears. There are lots of styles of toothbrushes, toothpastes and ear cleaners in pet stores. They are very affordable and can save you not only in grooming charges, but can prevent large vet bills. Brushing their teeth helps prevent tooth decay and gingivitis which can become very severe and require expensive medical treatment. Ear cleaning is another fee groomers like to charge clients for, but that fee can be eliminated by keeping up a routine of your own. It will also help prevent ear infections.

4. Get your dog’s hair clipped. Doing this will drastically lengthen the time between grooming visits. It makes coat maintenance easier and also makes the dog more comfortable. And if you don’t like the way it looks, it will grow back. There are a variety of clips that your groomer can discuss with you, or if you’re handy with clippers you can even do it yourself. Just remember to keep safety first.

Following these tips can drastically reduce or even eliminate those pricey grooming visits. Spending the little bit of money to start your own grooming routine will save a lot more in the long run.

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Most veterinarians will base their surgical fees around several factors; the length of time that the operation will take, costs of all surgical materials used, and the costs for additional surgical help with an assistant (or more if necessary).

Many dog owners get upset when they receive the bill which turns out to be much higher than the price range quoted by the veterinarian. But stop and think about it for a moment. You have to understand that surgery is not a cut and dry procedure.

For example, what happens if your dog suddenly starts to bleed excessively during the operation? The veterinarian must then stop the hemorrhaging by tying off the blood vessels involved in the bleeding.

Suppose your dog went into shock. His gums started turning blue and his blood pressure dropped at a rapid pace. To recover from this situation and continue with the surgery as planned, the doctor must then administer liquids intravenously and keep a close eye on your dog for several hours until his body is able to resume the procedure.

Many times a massive infection may be discovered during a surgical operation. A large dose of antibiotics are then necessary to aid in the process. As with the above proposed emergencies, all of this costs money and these occurrences cannot be planned for. So when you receive your bill and it is quite higher than expected, keep in mind these surprises that the surgeon has to handle if necessary.

For many pet owners, finding the right vet is not the problem, but rather the costs of veterinary care. Visits to the vet can be pricey, even with minor cases such as getting his yearly vaccination or a routine checkup. In addition, an illness or severe injury can occur at any time, and many dog owners end up having to pay a lot of out-of-pocket expenses to the vet clinic. This is why it is highly recommended that you get pet insurance as soon as possible.

Having pet insurance is the best way to ensure that your dog is getting the best health care possible. Pet insurance is a practical way to lessen the cost of veterinary expenses, whether it is related to routine care, accidents, or injuries. Pet insurance also covers the cost of minor surgeries, major surgeries, treatments for illnesses and diseases, and other medical procedures such as neutering or spaying.

Finding the right, affordable pet insurance is as easy as picking up the yellow pages or searching online. Most pet insurance plans offer a monthly premium that is less than what you typically pay for your telephone bill.

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1. One of the nice features of dog shows – besides seeing so many beautiful animals – is the plethora of vendors who set up shop to sell their wares to those who enter and attend the show. The products are often cheaper than products you find in a pet store, so relax and enjoy the show and stock up on pet supplies to save some money.

2. Clip and use shop coupons on food and dog items. If you have more coupons than you can use, place extras in the pet aisles of your grocery store or donate them to a local shelter or animal organisation.

3. Watch ads in your local newspapers for sales at local pet stores and pet warehouses. You may find buy-one-and-get-one free promotions or even obtain premium food and products at minimal costs.

4. Buy food in larger sizes that are cheaper on an ounce-by-ounce basis.

5. Shop at car-boots and flea markets to find items that your dog can use. You may be lucky enough to find inexpensive carriers, beds, bowls, toys, and other items. Be sure to clean them thoroughly before use.

6. Take advantage of manufacturers’ promotional sales. These often come with added pet products for minimal costs. Although some promotions require you to send away for the products, the cost of postage is less than the cost of the product if you had to buy it.

7. Shop at flea markets for old wooden shipping crates. Line them with blankets for a comfy sleeping spot. And while you’re there, buy old quilts or blankets for your dog’s bedding. Again, wash them thoroughly before use.

8. Purchase dog beds that have washable covers to prevent replacing the beds as often.

9. Save your old towels and blankets for your dog to sleep on.

10. Fill an old pillowcase with a soft piece of foam rubber. Sew the end shut. You will have a comfortable, washable dog bed, and your dog will appreciate having a bed made from something that is yours.

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Give £4 a month to the RSPCA and stop animal cruelty

You’ve got to admit that there is a special love affair between us Brits and our pets… they occupy a very special place in our hearts. But there are some pets and animals that aren’t lucky enough to be loved unconditionally, which is where the RSPCA comes in by helping to rescue abused and abandoned animals. By supporting the work that they do, you can help make a difference and spread a little love!

The RSPCA is a registered charity and receives no state or lottery funding. We rely totally on voluntary donations and help from people like you to undertake our vital welfare work.

We rescue and rehome thousands of unwanted animals each year; we campaign for better farm and research animal welfare; we prosecute people who neglect and abuse animals; we rehabilitate sick and injured wild animals; we lobby for changes in the law; and most importantly, we rely on your donations to do this, so please donate now.

Sign up to make a monthly donation of £4 via direct debit and you’ll be helping the RSPCA and their 323 Inspectors rescue abused or abandoned animals.

TO DONATE, CLICK HERE

The SHG release reads as follows:

Being prosecuted by anyone, let alone the RSPCA, which has a conviction for perverting the course of justice, is a stressful business. However, if you are unlucky enough to have your pet seized by the RSPCA or the police and taken to a “place of safety” pending your trial, the least you would expect is that the animal will be properly looked after – even if it pines for you until you are triumphantly acquitted.

There is generally no need for animals to be seized, but the RSPCA regularly ensures that animals are taken. It also seeks to recover the (often enormous) costs of boarding them from owners who are successfully prosecuted.

The RSPCA, ever hungry for scalps, has brought a successful private prosecution against ‘place of safety’ kennel-owner Stuart Millington. He has been convicted of cruelty to fifteen dogs, which had already been seized once from their owners. Each dog was therefore the unlucky subject of at least two simultaneous criminal cases.

Tameside Magistrates’ Court heard how the RSPCA began an investigation into Millington after one owner complained about his pet’s poor condition when it was released. He had taken it to a vet.

All 15 animals at Mr Millington’s ‘place of safety’ were ‘found to be in an extremely poor bodily condition’. The kennels were “cold and wet with rough concrete floors, no food or water and little evidence of bedding”.

The dogs had also acquired a number of wounds, including tail tip injuries. Some had to have their tails amputated.

All the dogs had all been placed with Millington because he ran a reputable licensed boarding kennels. Their care was being paid for, and the police and the RSPCA `fully expected them to be given the same high level of care as any other animal’.

Mr Millington, 61, of Hilltop Kennels in Mossley, admitted leaving 15 seized dogs with nothing to eat or drink in bare concrete kennels.

The animals were in his care after being formally seized by Merseyside police during investigations conducted by them and by the RSPCA.

Mr Millington was charging fees for looking after them while their various owners were taken to court.

At least one of the dogs was linked to RSPCA and police investigations arising from the death of Ellie Lawrenson.

The SHG believes that the bizarre and unfortunate case of RSPCA v Millington shows that seized pets suffer in the care of the “places of safety” to which they are taken by the police and the RSPCA.

This suffering is not just being separated from their owners – in the ill-fated cruelty case which the RSPCA brought against Annette Nally, the RSPCA were ordered to provide boarding records for Holly, her pet dog. The “place of safety” produced records for the wrong dog, and it was later revealed that none of the treatments which the RSPCA’s vet had prescribed for Holly had ever been administered.

Holly had died five months into her stay, but Ms Nally was not told until six months after Holly’s death.

When Ms Nally was acquitted, the RSPCA admitted it had lost Holly’s body, but only after they had been told to return it.

No doubt because of his good relationship with the police and the RSPCA – and perhaps also because he was not a farmer – Mr Millington was neither banned from keeping animals, nor sent to prison. He was fined just £2,000 with no further penalty – other than an order for some of the prosecution’s costs of the case, which, for a guilty plea, at £8,000 are significant, but not high by the RSPCA’s standards. The costs of £8,000 are believed to have included further vets’ bills and more boarding charges.

The RSPCA’s Phil Wilson said:

“As a responsible kennel provider Mr Millington ought to have provided these dogs with a far higher standard of care than he did. We feel extremely let down that this did not happen.”

Anne Kasica of the SHG said:

“For once, I agree with Phil Wilson. These dogs, who had been taken from their owners, deserved proper treatment and they did not get it.”

“For the most part, animals are better off staying with their owner.”

“The SHG has been concerned for decades that the standards of care for seized animals in ‘places of safety’ are not uniformly high.”

“Defendants have repeatedly complained about the condition in which animals have been released to them – dead or alive – following the end of the trial.”

“We are also concerned that the charges for boarding which the RSPCA seek to recover against defendants are disproportionately high.”

Ernest Vine of the SHG said:

“Many of the RSPCA’s seizures are totally unnecessary. The RSPCA uses its own ‘independent experts’, some of whom do not know a dangerous dog when they see one. However, the RSPCA still seizes the dog, causing suffering and massive costs.”

“A recent example is John McGowan’s lurcher-cross Duke, who had to endure nine months in an RSPCA ‘place of safety’. Duke was accused of being a ‘dangerous dog’, and Mr McGowan has just been acquitted and reunited with his pet.”

But the RSPCA hit back at several of the claims. Stating that there were factual inaccuracies coming from SHG.

The RSPCA told us:

The RSPCA agrees that in an ideal world pets should live with their owners – unfortunately some owners neglect or are cruel to their animals. Is the SHG suggesting that the RSPCA should leave these animals to suffer or even die? The ‘P’ in RSPCA stands for Prevention and it is our duty to step in and protect an animal when there is evidence of neglect or suffering.

The Society carries out thorough checks on all boarding establishments to ensure animals receive the best standard of care.

The RSPCA does not board animals at Hilltop Kennels. The dogs referred to in the SHG press release were housed there by the police. None of the costs in the RSPCA case against Millington relate to boarding costs.

The claim that the RSPCA has a ‘conviction for perverting the course of justice’ is factually incorrect. Presumably the SHG press release is referring to a contempt of court finding dating back almost 30 years to the 1980s. This was not a criminal conviction.

Ok so where did genetics all begin, it had to start somewhere and Mendel, the first person to trace the characteristics of successive generations of a living thing, was not a world-renowned scientist of his day. Rather, he was an Augustinian monk who taught natural science to high school students. He was the second child of Anton and Rosine Mendel, farmers in Brunn, Moravia.

Medical problems can turn “Puppy Love” into “Buyer’s Hell! But medical problems can be avoided with DNA and other testing. Many breeders are very confused as to what DNA screening /profiling is and more importantly readily available to them from a variety of resources.

Many think that only the KC can screen /test and only the tests they perform are actually valid, that is simply untrue, the KC run many schemes in conjunction with different labs across the UK, they work closely with the BVA and a variety of other genetic testing organisations such as The Animal Health Trust and Optigen who are presently looking
for owners to contact them if they have a canine with PRA and cataracts.

Presently the KC are encouraging DNA Profiling , this is simply an I D Scheme , and should not be confused with DNA testing for specific diseases within the canine world. It is likely when your breeder comments that they DNA their dogs that they are just profiled .Some breed clubs members are reluctant to have their dogs genetically tested as this can have an effect on any breeding programme currently being used. Short sighted yes of course, but that covers a variety of issues within the canine world.

It is clear that genetic disease within any breed can be started with just 1 champion dog that was not tested, it can and does cause havoc in any breed, there is no breed in the UK that remains totally free from genetic disease, that is simply due to the whole semantics of the science involved.

These tests are just not ready yet.

DNA profiling simply identifies parentage , whereas DNA screening or testing, identifies the animals who are affected with the disease, (affecteds) the animals who have the defective gene (carriers) and the animals who do not have the affected gene (clears) .

A concerted effort is required by everyone involved with purebred dogs if genetic diseases are to be eliminated. Science is making progress, but the time and expense required for the research point toward this being a long term solution. In the short term, the situation must be addressed using the tools at hand.

Open registries for purebred dogs, administered by their respective breed clubs or independent registry organizations,
appear to be the easiest and fastest way to a short term solution.

Canine Profiling (Genotyping) is used to establish a secure, permanent ID for your canine in case it is lost or stolen. Using the same technology we use to establish parentage among canine families, the unique set of allele sizes for the dog are tested and recorded.Simply DNA stand for ‘deoxyribonucleic acid’, found in the cells of all living things, including the canine body.

The DNA is a very long molecule and is found in the nucleus of cells.Canine sample collection is quick, easy and painless. Anyone can collect a sample using a buccal swab for collecting cheek cells.

The DNA molecule actually consists of two strands twisted about each other in the shape of a spiral staircase (double helix). The building blocks of the strands are referred to as bases. There are four different types of bases
in the DNA molecule and it is the sequence of these that determines our dogs inheritable characteristics. The bases from each strand bind to each other, holding the molecule together as in the stairs on a spiral staircase.

As each type of base will only bind with another specific type, the two strands are said to be ‘complementary’. Two bases binding together are referred to as a base pair (bp).

Canine Profiling (Genotyping) is used to establish a secure, permanent ID for your canine in case it is lost or stolen.
If we consider DNA screening with the successful mapping of the canine genome, DNA screening tests are now starting to help breeders eliminate certain diseases which can be linked to individual genes.

By submitting a blood sample,or even a cheek swab owners and breeders are able to find out if their dog carries a defective gene, even if they do not express the symptoms of the disease, and thus
avoid using this dog in a breeding programme.

This is particularly helpful with diseases where the dogs may not exhibit symptoms until later in life and the disease may not be easily detected through normal health screening tests.

Dr. Herman Hazewinkel in The Netherlands is studying patella luxation in dogs. Although his study is of Flatcoated Retrievers, the data can be transferred to other breeds now that the canine genome is mapped. His goal is to develop a DNA-screening test for patellar luxation, which would be of great value to m\ny toy breeds which appear to have a predeliction to this condition.

Presently DNA technology complements eye examinations but cannot totally replace physical examination yet. So owners are encouraged to still ID their dogs using microchip and Tattoo and attend
yearly eye tests peformed by registered opthalmic vets, I have heard of breeders stating that their own vets just take a quick look at 7 weeks to see if the pups are okay.

Optigen which has had its patent secured in Europe is asking for volunteers,Any purebred dog that has been examined by a board certified veterinary ophthalmologist (ACVO, ECVO) and that has been diagnosed with PRA is eligible for review for possible inclusion in the Free Testing program. Status of “PRA suspicious” or “atypical PRA” does not qualify.
http://www.optigen.com/opt9_research.html

So in short DNA profling schemes run by the KC are a great starting point for all breeds, they positively ID parents and progeny what they dont do is screen for disease, that is specifically covered for some breeds through testing and is being updated regularly.All breeders must learn the differences, as the information they pass to new owners must be accurate and not mislead or misinform.

It simply would not be feasible for individual breeders without specific genetic training to compare results from profiling for any future use within an individual breeding programme,The problem with all the mass media coverage and subsequent word-of-mouth between people who suddenly find themselves (or their dogs) personally connected with the subject,
is that misinformation and misunderstandings abound.

Hopefully we have managed to dispel some of the misunderstandings which have surfaced among breeders. The Profile test searches out a set of preselected “markers,” short segments of DNA. The entire set of markers makes up only a very tiny portion of the dog’s total DNA– less than one hundredth of a percent.

It provides no information at all about other DNA,including that cataract gene that might or might not have been passed down three generations .You are constantly bombarded by snippets of information by some breeders who like to Empire Build, they are better than you brigade,they can be overheard saying “well the most wonderful thing about all this DNA testing that the clubs are doing is how it will someday end genetic disease! “Unfortunately, it won’t. The current testing programs are for paternity only.

The markers used aren’t even genes. (Not every part of the DNA is.)

No record is being made of anything but the markers, so they can’t be used in the search for disease genes. All the time we hear about “false positive” and “false negative” lab tests.

Some of this DNA stuff has to be wrong sometimes, too. False readings are very unlikely. Paternity tests use multiple markers to minimize the possibility of error or mutation skewing the result.

The possibility that the test result would be incorrect are too minuscule to cause any serious concern. Human error, however, is another matter. As with any test, if the sample is mishandled the results can be incorrect. Blood samples, due to the amount collected and method of collection, are least prone to contamination or mislabeling.

Those who do their own sampling, via cheek swabs or hair pulls, need to follow the directions provided and take care that each sample is packaged and labeled before the next is collected.
At present, there is no standardized marker set for canine paternity testing. Each lab uses different markers, so comparing results from one to the other is comparing bananas to fleas or pears.

If your dog was tested at one lab and he’s bred to a bitch tested at another, the pups would have to be tested at both labs to verify each parent separately. If the owner of a pup wanted to use a different lab than either the bitch or stud owner,the results would be meaningless because there would be noting to compare the puppies’ results with.no test currently available can tell anyone everything about a dog’s genetic makeup. It is unlikely that such a test will be available for many years. There is no way to completely clear any individual dog of carrying unwanted genes.

Understanding what markers are and why they are used is also important. Markers are not genes, but sequences of DNA that occur at specific places (loci) and, ideally, have several different forms (alleles.) Each locus will be given a designation (A, B. C, etc.), as will each allele (1, 2, 3, etc.). The designations are not detailed descriptions of the markers, those would
looks something like this: TCAGGGACCTCAGCAGCAG…. only very much longer. Now you can understand why they use a shorthand designation. In the case of paternity testing, the sire’s and dam’s markers are compared to the pup’s. If the pup has markers that could not have come from one (or both) of its parents, then its breeder was either very sloppy or dishonest.

The use of multiple markers eliminates the need to worry about mutations causing a mismatch. One marker might have changed, but two is unlikely , and mutations in more than that at the same time is so improbable that
it can be dismissed as a practical impossibility.

DNA testing for paternity and disease will become the norm . But now, while it’s still so new, the dog-breeding fraternity of this new tool need to read the “labels” carefully so they understand what it is– and isn’t, and what it can– and can’t– do.

1) You’ve opted for an unbearably ‘cutesy’ name. Pawfect Poochy Pampering Palace – that type of thing. Do you know, I’ve actually lost track of how many times I’ve said to people thinking of starting out in the dog eat dog world (see, even I do it) of pet retail, “To be original, try not to be too clever. In fact just try and be different.

Poochy Paws Pet Polo Shirts, isn’t what I’m looking for. It’s too cutesy, too unoriginal. Actually, maybe it is original. In fact, my publishing it here grants my copyright to use it in the future. I digress. The lesson? Strong name. Original concept.

2) You tell me this at the start of your press release: “Hey, your readers will LOVE this”.

Sorry. You’ve managed to get my back up straight away with that kind of crazy talk. If you knew what my readers would love, you’d be doing my job. Even the tiniest change will get your press release through my screening procedure on this front. Have a got at this: “Hey, I have read your magazine and I think your readers might be interested in this”.

Much better. Editors are a grumpy sort and their readers are on their minds day and night. It’s a real annoyance to be told what they will “love” when we spend every waking hour scratching our heads and sweating about what we hope they will mereley enjoy, let alone love.

3) You visibly copy in every other dog publication on the face of the known Universe and start with ‘Dear Editor’. You’ve lost me.

So, you are probably wondering what this pet marketing masterclass has to do with anything?

Well, occassionally we get to see a company and a website who demonstrate how things should be done.

Oh My Dog Supplies. Excellent name. I’ll remember it.

What do they do?

Well, they are an

“Upscale US dog supplies store that features high quality designer items that aren’t sold in local pet stores. We specialize in dog beds, dog feeders, dog bowls, and dog car seat covers“

Again, excellent. I know instantly what they do and what’s on offer if I visit their website. Which I did. And, it’s another lesson in how pet retailing online should be done. Fantastically easy to navigate, really easy on the eyes and top notch range of up-market pet products. Impressive stuff. If you are a US resident dog owner, pay a visit to www.ohmydogsupplies.com – you won’t be dissapointed.

While we the owners try to reassure them that it is because we care, your beloved pet dents the surgery’s door frame in an attempt to escape and you can’t help but consider the damage to your wallet…….well there is another way.

More & more independent microchip implanters are becoming available and many of these are offering to not only microchip your pet at a fair cost but also visit your home and microchip your pet in surroundings that are familiar to them, reducing the stress for pet and owner as well as the cost.

The thought of not having to go through the trip to the Vet when it is not required & getting your pets microchipped from, in some cases, as little as £10, will put a smile on both pet and owners face.  It is also now possible from a company called PeddyMark for members of the public to loan scanners for as little as £10 for trips abroad with their pets.

PeddyMark is a microchip supplier that in July launched a website (www.peddymark.com) where you are able to find out about many aspects of microchipping, from the Pets passport scheme to a database of trained microchip implanters, which can be located via a county search.

As a responsible pet owner you will  consider microchipping and want to make sure that the products and the people you choose to help you achieve this, care as much about your pet as you do. It is also important that you receive value for money. PeddyMark don’t hide the cost of the microchip from members of the public, in fact they advertise it on their website. This allows the pet owners to truly understand the cost of the service.

Independent implanters tend to be working in the animal industry before they have been trained and therefore can also often offer help and advise on many other pet related questions. All implanters using the PeddyMark products will also be registering the pets they microchip on the Kennel Clubs National database Petlog. Microchipping is the most effective way of identifying a lost pet; Chips don’t come off like collars can.

Visit www.peddymark.com or email anotherway@peddymark.com